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“Abigail told me that the outdated decorations have been here since your childhood,” she continued. “I suppose it might be quite hard for you to agree to changing them and perhaps erasing traces of your childhood from the house.”

Edwin almost sniggered.

She truly thinks I am emotionally attached to this house.

Instead of correcting her, however, he decided to play along.

“I suppose it may be hard for me,” he said in a low voice.

Ava winced, her eyes suddenly full of sympathy. “I am so sorry!” she breathed.

Edwin scrunched up his face even more to show his unhappiness.

“Seeing you speak about my childhood in such a manner simply makes me…” He pretended to choke on his words and threw his cutlery on the table with a dramatic flourish.

“Oh, Edwin!” Ava jumped out of her seat and rushed towards him.

Edwin decided to make it even more believable by sniffing and dabbing at his eyes, as though he were crying.

But Ava skidded to a halt two feet away from him and put her hands on her hips.

“You are not sad about the renovations,” she declared flatly.

Edwin threw his hands up in surrender and sighed. “I suppose you have caught me.”

Ava shook her head in disbelief and returned to her seat.

“Ava, don’t go back,” Edwin pleaded.

But she simply ignored him.

“What made you realize I was lying?” he asked.

“When you pretended to cry,” she said. “A man like you would never cry, especially in front of his wife. I knew then that you were simply poking fun at me.”

Edwin nodded. “Next time, I must make it more believable by not crying.”

“There shall be no next time,” Ava huffed. “I will never believe any display of emotion from you ever again.”

“Ava, now, do not write me off so quickly,” he protested.

“I should have known that you are simply incapable of any feeling at all. You are simply… cold.”

Her words hit himhard. They stung.

Edwin’s jaw tightened, and he nodded. It would be better if she believed he was simply a cold monster who was incapable of feeling.

“I must say, you are right.”

“Does this mean that you do not object to the renovations?” she asked.

Edwin shrugged. “You seem excited about it, so I do not object.”

Ava smiled brightly. “Oh, thank you, Your—” She broke off. “Uh… thank you, Edwin.”

“You learn quite fast, wife.” Edwin smirked.

Ava blushed. “Now, all that is left is for you to release the funds.”