Aria’s brows puckered. “Why do you say that?”
“The last time I saw him was the morning after I got shot, and I’ve never seen him look that cold before. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he hated me, but I just don’t know why.”
Aria patted her hand. “Oh, honey, he doesn’t hate you. I know he loves you.”
“I don’t think so. He’s never told me how he felt, and it seems like he’d been pushing me away lately.”
“Men are strange creatures. When they get scared, they get angry, and I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty that my son was more scared than he’d ever been when he found out you were hurt. They don’t like feeling that deeply at first, but eventually, they get used to it and stop being idiots.”
Rebeka shook her head. “It wasn’t fear I saw but loathing.”
“Just give him a little time, honey.”
“I’ve got nothing but time.”
Aria smiled. “How about we go check out your office? I hope you like it.”
“I’d love that.”
The room was bigger than she thought it would be. It had a beautiful desk and chair with a loveseat, table, and chair in the middle of the room. One wall had empty shelves that she’d need to fill. The walls were cream-colored, and the carpet was a shade darker. It was a room she could see herself sitting in for manyyears and being happy.
“This is wonderful, Aria.”
“I’m glad you like it. You’ll have to pick out everything else. I left a new laptop and a phone on the desk. If there’s anything you want to change, just tell me.”
Rebeka shook her head and smiled. “No, I think everything’s perfect.”
“Order whatever you want online. I put the information for the family business credit card on your desk. I haven’t put anything besides that in your desk, so you’ll need to order the basics. too.”
“I’ll do that this morning.”
Aria hugged her. “Call the number eight on your phone, and that gets you directly to me and vice versa.”
“Thank you, Aria. You’ve made me so happy.”
“I’m glad. This is your home. I want it to be everything you ever dreamed of.”
Rebeka sat at her desk and made a list of the things she’d need and even went so far as to find a lamp and a picture she loved.
A maid had brought in a stack of mail that she was slowly going through when she heard her door close.
She was shocked to see her husband standing there and even more shocked at the resentful expression on his face.
“Hello, husband.”
If anything, his expression darkened further.
“Don’t call me that.”
She tried to act blasé and sat back. “Why? Are you not my husband any longer, and you forgot to tell me?”
He ignored her question. “What are you doing out of our room?”
“I’ve been up there for nine days, Dominic. How much longer do you want to punish me?”
He looked surprised. “Punish you?”
“I was fine three days after I was shot, but you gave the order to keep me in our room. I thought it was because you were concerned for me, but now I think it was because you didn’t want to have to look at me. Am I right?”