Chapter 2

I tightened my grip on the phone for a split second before hanging up.

"Just a guy from my old research program who keeps asking me out. I told him I'm not interested."

Carter's shoulders dropped slightly, though his jaw stayed tight.

"This is exactly why I never wanted you working. Too many men hovering around."

He stepped closer, studying my face like he was looking for cracks. "So you do still love me, right, Serena?"

I didn't answer.

I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at nothing.

Carter waited. I could feel his patience thinning, some edge of anxiety creeping into his silence.

Finally I gave the smallest nod. Barely anything. Could've been nothing.

But he caught it.

The tension in his chest visibly loosened. He reached toward my hair, fingers stopping just before making contact. Fine. She's still grieving, but he could wait.

The front door lock clicked.

Tessa breezed in like she owned the place.

"Carter! You were amazing today!" She spotted him immediately and threw her arms around him without hesitation.

"If you hadn't shown up, those people would've destroyed me. I made one tiny medication error and they're acting like I killed someone. I didn't do it on purpose!"

Halfway through her complaint, she seemed to notice the silence in the room.

Her eyes slid over to me on the bed.

"Oh. Serena. Didn't see you there."

Carter's expression darkened. He didn't want her words dragging me back to Leo. "Enough. Go to your room."

Tessa pouted but caught his look and left, slowly and with obvious reluctance.

That night, Carter showered and climbed into bed beside me, skin still damp.

We hadn't been close since Leo died. He watched my back, turned away from him, then slowly wrapped his arm around my waist and pressed his lips to my neck.

"Serena..."

My whole body went rigid.

I didn't turn over. I just shifted away until I was nearly off the mattress.

His arm dropped. "Serena, what the hell do you want from me? Last time you said you had your period. Time before that you felt sick. What is it now? I'm your husband."

I buried my face in the pillow. "I'm tired."

Three words. He stared at me for a long moment, then threw back the covers. "Fine. Rest."

He grabbed his jacket and left. The door clicked shut behind him.

Only then did I let my body go slack.

Around midnight I got up for the bathroom. Passing Tessa's room, I noticed the door was slightly open, and strange sounds drifted out. It was suppressed breathing and low moans.

Then Tessa's voice, sweet and deliberate: "Carter... does this feel good?"

I froze.

"So good..." Carter's voice, low and rough.

"These past two months, Serena's been so lost in her grief. Thank god you've been here to help me through it."

"Aren't you worried she'll hear?"

"She sleeps like the dead. Nothing wakes her. Don't worry about it."

The floor dropped out from under me.

My ears rang. I clamped my hand over my mouth before the nausea could come out.

So that was it. Carter wasn't defending Tessa out of pity for some orphan. It wasn't family obligation.

They were sleeping together.

I pressed myself against the wall to keep from going down.

I don't remember walking back to my room. I just found myself sitting on the bed, phone in my shaking hands, barely able to dial.

"Dr. Sterling. It's me. How soon can I leave?"

"...Seven days at the earliest. We'll send someone to pick you up and take you straight to the airport. I'll expedite everything on my end. Serena, are you absolutely sure?"

I closed my eyes and breathed. "I'm sure."

I hung up and pulled the blanket tight around myself.

The sounds from next door continued for a long time.

I lay there with my eyes open and let the night go on forever.