I’m a mess when I get back to Benedict’s mansion. My whole body is shaking, my heart is pounding, but I refuse to let any tears fall.
No way am I giving Alex that power. Not anymore.
Because for the first time, I stood up to him. Really stood up to him. I didn’t cower, didn’t try to smooth things over or keep the peace. I faced him head on. Matched his anger with my own, and didn’t back down. And as terrifying as it was, it also felt…good. Liberating, even.
I’ve spent so long tiptoeing around his ego, building him up at the expense of myself. But not today. Today, I was done being the girl who let him walk all over her.
The thought gives me a much needed boost of strength. I may be a mess right now, but for the first time, I feel like I’m finally taking control of my life—and Alex is no longer a part of it.
Stepping inside Benedict’s house—I guess my house now—feels good. It’s big and expensive-looking, but there’s a warmth to it too. Soft, overstuffed furniture and shelves filled with books. It’s cozy.
And it’s nothing like the other homes in the Hollywood Hills. This place feels lived-in.
The enigmatic billionaire I married shouldn’t be the type to care about cozy throw blankets on couches, or a fireplace filled with knick-knacks, right?