Chapter 4

Damien blinked, as if only then remembering Avery. "Avery, you..." "Not dead yet," she cut in with a bitter laugh. Damien's gaze dropped to her reddened, swollen forearm, and his face changed. "Why is the burn so severe?" Serena rushed to take the blame. "I'm sorry, Avery. It was my fault. I wasn't careful..." She hadn't even finished before Damien interrupted. "Enough. You didn't do it on purpose. Avery won't hold it against you, so there is no need to apologize." Avery suddenly raised her hand and slapped Serena across the face. "Sorry. I wasn't careful either." She hadn't held back, and Serena's cheek puffed up instantly. Damien's eyes became bloodshot with outrage. "She already said she wasn't careful. Why did you slap her?" "I just said I wasn't careful, and I apologized," Avery shot back, her tone full of mockery. "Why are you still harping on it?" "Do you think I'm blind?" Damien gave a cold laugh. "You slapped her on purpose!" "Then how did you miss that Serena did it on purpose as well?" Avery retorted. Serena jumped in quickly. "Avery, I really didn't mean it. If you are still angry, you can slap me again." She looked up at Damien with tearful, helpless eyes. Avery raised an eyebrow. Before Damien could react, she slapped again—this time even harder. Serena stumbled and fell to the floor. Avery ignored Damien's furious roar, grabbed her car keys, and walked out. She went to the hospital alone to treat the burn, then ate dinner by herself. When she returned home, neither Serena nor Damien was there. Nancy said they had gone to the hospital. Avery let out a cold laugh. Two slaps hardly called for a hospital visit. Whether they were really there or just sneaking around, only the two of them knew. Damien finally returned at almost midnight. Half asleep, Avery felt the mattress sink beside her. Damien curled around her from behind, his teeth grazing her earlobe as his warm hand slid under her nightdress. Avery caught his wrist and flung it away. Damien went rigid. It was the first time she had ever refused him. "What's wrong?" he asked hoarsely. Avery drew back, putting space between them, and gave a mocking smile. He had the nerve to ask what was wrong. A moment later, realization seemed to dawn. "You're still mad?" "Shouldn't I be?" she retorted. Damien was quiet for several seconds. "Serena did scald you, but you also slapped her twice. What more do you want?" Too tired to argue, Avery snapped, "Are you done? If you are, get out and stop disturbing my sleep." The air grew heavy, and she could hear his teeth grind. After a moment, he sighed. "Okay, Avery. It's my fault. I shouldn't have gone to Serena first. I was only worried that Thomas would blame you if she was hurt, so—" "Really? How thoughtful," she said coldly. She rolled away, unwilling to watch him act any further. Damien turned her back to face him, looking apologetic. "I'm sorry, Avery. I promise that from now on, no matter what happens, you will be the first one I check on." Avery stared at the man she had loved for ten years, pain tearing through her whole body. She had believed him before, and all it had brought her were lies. A wave of crushing loss and regret surged through her. She dug her nails hard into her palm, reminding herself not to be fooled again. Damien softened his tone. "As long as you aren't mad at me, you can have whatever you want. A house, a car, or jewelry... Just name it." She was about to shut him down, but then a thought clicked. "Really?" "Of course." "Alright." Avery pulled open the nightstand, slid out the divorce papers, and flipped to the last page. "Sign it," she said. Damien didn't even glance at it before scrawling his name on the line. Avery hadn't expected it to go down this easily, and a smile tugged at her lips before she could stop it. When Damien saw her smiling, curiosity got the better of him. He tugged the drawer open. "What did you buy that makes you so happy?"