Page 185 of Hidden Ties

Holding on to the railing as she descended the winding staircase, she told herself she didn’t care. She’d never expected to live in a house like this, anyway.

By the bottom step, she knew she’d hate herself if she walked out the door. She might not care for herself, but she did for Glory, Colby, and Tinsley.

She stopped at the bottom step and watched Creed keep walking steadily toward the front door. He was going to make her say the words.

Holding on to the rail for dear life, she forced the life-changing words out of her mouth.

“I don’t want to leave.”

Creed came back to stand in front of her. “We either have a normal marriage, or we won’t have one at all,” he stated unyieldingly. “I’m good with arguing. I don’t even mind if youtry to rip my face off like you did the other night, as long as it’s upstairs, in our bedroom. I’ll take anything you want to dish out, but what I’m not going to do is beg you to stay every time you want to threaten leaving me if I refuse to give in to your demands.”

Sage sat down on the third step from the bottom, hating herself for not letting him open the door. “You knew I wouldn’t deny my family the opportunity to live here.”

“I didn’t choose this house for your family. I’m glad you think they’ll like it, but I bought the house for you. To makeyourlife easier.”

Was he playing her again? Pretending to care about her feelings? What ulterior motive could he have now?

“My sister’s life has come down to having to live in my small apartment. She doesn’t go out unless we go to her doctor’s appointments and splurge to go somewhere else on the way home. Here …” Struggling with the emotions that each day that passed had her coming closer to the day she was going to lose Glory, Sage steadied her voice so she could get out what she wanted to say. “Glory can see what Colby’s and Tinsley’s life will be like before …” Her voice cracked despite her best effort.

“Before she dies,” Creed finished for her. “You want her to rest in peace.”

Sage nodded as she rose from the steps, holding on to the railing. “Yes, so, if I have to play with your ground rules, I will.”

Turning, she started back up the stairs, taking one step at a time. “I’d appreciate it if you’d get my case. I want to get out of this dress.”

Standing at the window,she didn’t bother to turn around at hearing Creed walk into the bedroom.

“I’ll place your suitcase in the closet. I’m going to take a quick shower and get dressed. You can take your time coming downstairs. We’ll have dinner at five.”

“All right. I need to talk to Tayla and Glory to find out if everything is going okay.”

“Reassure Glory she doesn’t have to do anything to prepare for the movers coming in the morning. I’ll make sure I have you back in the morning before they arrive. We’ll drive them here while they pack up the apartment.”

Removing her earrings, she followed Creed to the closet.

He set the suitcase down on a luggage rack against a wall and opened it for her before going to the doorway. “Let me know if you want me to talk to Glory.”

“I will.”

Creed left to take his shower, giving her the opportunity to get changed without him being there. Sliding the back open of the jewelry case, she put her earrings in one of the holders. After closing the sliding door, she looked down at the lone pair of earrings. The fake gemstones were just as out of place in this home as she was.

Removing her clothes, she decided to take a shower before getting dressed.

The warm shower gave her time to come to grips with the fact she was going to have to adjust to being married to Creed for her family to have what she wasn’t able to give them. Could they keep going the way they’d been? Yes. Was having to be married to Creed worth letting Glory, Colby, and Tinsley have the life they deserved after the fire had destroyed the one they should have had? Yes.

She also hadn’t taken into account that there was a hitman out there somewhere, planning to take her life. Finding a jobshe didn’t have to leave the house for with a target on her back to stay alive for the girls should be her main priority. The thought of Victoria gaining guardianship over the girls sent a chill through her. If she had to sell her soul, she would.

Having no clue about Creed’s dinner plans for them, she had brought a few outfits, including one for tomorrow. She chose a light, short-sleeved mauve blouse and a pair of dressy cream jeans, then looked at herself in the mirror as she slid on a pair of sandals. Satisfied with the way she looked, she did her makeup and brushed her hair into a top knot.

When she returned to the bedroom, she didn’t hear any sounds from Creed’s bathroom, surmising he had already gone downstairs. She sat down on a chair by the balcony door to call Tayla.

Checking in to make sure everything was okay, she was reassured that it was. Then Tayla gave the phone to Glory, and Sage spent the next hour talking to her sister about the wedding and assuring her the movers would do all the work and not to stress herself out. Glory passed the phone to the girls when she could hear them demanding from their mom to talk to her.

The girls’ excitement about moving was contagious. Sage told them about the playroom before asking them to hand the phone back to Tayla. She could hear their screams of happiness echoing through the apartment when Tayla took the phone back. Sage told her to call if she needed her, then disconnected the call.

Closing her eyes, she imagined how excited the girls would be in the morning. She hadn’t mentioned their rooms, wanting to save that for them, or neither Tayla nor Glory would get any sleep.

It was only four. She would go down and help Creed with dinner in a minute. She just wanted to get a few minutes of sleep before seeing him again. She hadn’t been able to sleep but for a few hours last night.