Page 87 of The Husband Contract

I assumed this was one of the reasons Sebastian was mad at me, but I knew it had nothing to do with me. There is no way my unsubstantiated relationship with Clark Kent caused this. There has to be something else going on—another reason he sold his shares in the company.

He spent his money himself, but I have no idea how to find out. The fact of the matter is I don’t even have enough money to hire a private investigator to find out for me. I’m going nowhere fast with two hundred and nine dollars. Anyone I would ask to take on the job would laugh in my face if I said I’d pay them in ten dollar installments every month.

Sebastian’s company appears to be a sinking ship, and I also feel as like I’m sinking as well. I don’t even know how to react. I feel like I’m in some middle place between heaven and hell, kinda like when my parents died. My emotions feel frozen and too painful to acknowledge.

I feel horrible for Sebastian. I’m disgusted that something like this could happen, but I also by what he’s done to me. He trapped me. He didn’t listen to me. He certainly doesn’t care to hear my truth.

I get up from the dining room table, head to the living room, and turn on the TV. The nice thing about being here without him is that I can actually enjoy the entirety of the apartment without having to worry he’ll try to talk to me or annoy me. I don’t have to worry about him looking at me nor trying to flirt, either.

I turn on Netflix and flip it to a show calledThe Circle. I’m not really a huge fan of reality TV, but right now, I don’t want to watch anything romantic or anything sad. My life is shitty enough without having to see other people be happier—or worse off—than me. My heart stutters in my chest when I hear the front door opening. I jump up and attempt to run to my room, but I’m not fast enough.

“Hi,” Sebastian says. He looks rough. His eyes are bloodshot, his hair is messy, his shirt unkempt. I don’t want to say hello, but I can’t stop myself from responding.

“You look like something the cat dragged in,” I say, and he laughs bitterly.

“It’s been a rough week.”

“It’s been nine days…”

“You’ve been keeping track?” he asks with a slight curl of his lips. Shit, I don’t want him to know that I’ve most definitely been counting the days.

“No,” I stammer out.

“I’m trying to save my business from ruin and disaster.”

“And how’s that going?” I ask, because I do want to know.

“I think it’s going to be okay.” He takes a seat on the couch. “It’s been rough.” His thigh rubs against mine accidentally and I breathe in his expensive cologne. I hate how much I’m still drawn to him.

“I’m sorry for what’s happened,” I say. “It had nothing to do with me, but I’m still sorry.”

He nods slowly but doesn’t say anything, which surprises me. He’s not as accusatory as he normally is.

“Can I go home?” I decide to see if maybe he’s low enough to just let me go.

His eyes bore into me, guarded and intense. And maybe a bit hungrily, too. I try not to shiver at that thought. He doesn’t respond, so I go and sit next to him on the couch.

“Why am I here, Sebastian?”

He runs his fingers through his hair and undoes another shirt button. I watch as he pulls off his tie.

“What do you want from me?” I say again. I can hear the whine in my voice—loud and sad.

“I don’t know,” he says, taking a deep breath. He unbuttons his shirt fully and pulls it off. I stare at his golden chest and swallow hard. I’m still attracted to him.

“I can’t stay here. I have things to do. I have a business to run. I have to make money.”

“I’mtaking care of you.”

I blink at him, astonished at his simple response. “Sebastian, this isn’t helping either of us.”

His gaze lazily drinks me in, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. Sitting beside him was a bad idea.

“Willow, you do realize that we haven’t even been married for?—”

“What’s the point of us getting married? I don’t understand the contract, and you haven’t discussed it with me. You haven’t told me the things I’m meant to do this year. What is going on? I need to figure it out.”

He grabs my hand and pulls me toward him. His eyes are wild as he devours me with them. I tremble when he grabs my face and runs his fingers through my hair. He’s beautiful. Handsome. Enigmatic.