The Billionaire’s Burden(10)

Mouth still gaping open like a dying goldfish, I slowly closed my lips, giving a quiet nod.

“Thank you.” I offered, glad that the discussion was done.

My husband’s tone, however, was not a pleasant one at all.

I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable though it was the finest leather crafted. The rest of the ride home remained as uncomfortable as ever.

Normally, Sebastian helped me from the car, or at least waited until I was out to walk in together. This time, though, he simply climbed out and walked into the mansion without a single glance back towards me.

I watched him go, biting my lip. At some point in the ten minute car ride from the restaurant, I’d managed to make a complete mess of things.

Story of my life.

With a heavy sigh, I followed him into the manor. By the time I crept inside, Sebastian had already vanished.

The lights in the kitchen and dining room were off, Harry was out for the evening. There would be no one to talk to about what had happened between Sebastian and myself. There would be no one to talk to about the complete confusion this evening had left me.

I walked upstairs to my room, glancing towards the light under Sebastian’s door at the other end of the hall.

I paced quietly towards his door, almost reaching for his doorknob. In the end, however, I backed away, afraid of making things even worse than they already were.

Disheartened, I retreated back to my room, closing the door after me.

Flopping down on the bed, I sprawled out, studying the ceiling high overhead. The LED fireplace in the corner of the room popped convincingly, as though it were trying to cheer me up.

Why was it that every time I managed to get what I wanted, I ended up feeling even worse than I did originally?

All I’d wanted was to keep the bakery in business, and my marriage had definitely accomplished that but left me unsure and unhappy. All I’d wanted was the bakery back under my control and Sebastian and I had definitely discussed that, and he was fine with it, but now he was being short and gruff.

Frowning, I rolled onto my side, pulling my pillow tight up against my chest.

There was definitely a piece of this puzzle that I was missing, there was definitely something that I just wasn’t thinking of.

Was I being selfish? Was I being delusional?

Marriage was turning out to be much more complicated than I ever could have imagined.

With a groan, I settled down for another troubled night of sleep.





Chapter Six





The next morning I rose from my bed unusually early.

The soft purples of dawn peered curiously through my window as the sleepy sun only just barely began to break the horizon.

Tiredly, I stretched out in the bed like a starfish, my limbs creeping farther and farther away.

With a yawn, I rolled out of the bed, trudging into the bathroom for a shower.

The warm water flowed over my face, caressing away the tiredness from my joints and tense back.

The night had been long and restless. I wasn't sure if I'd even slept for more than an hour or so straight. I could practically feel the bulging bags sagging below my eyes.

It was a big day, a bright day, and a new day. I had a lot to accomplish with the bakery, and to be honest, I wanted to sneak out of the home before Sebastian had a chance to run awkwardly into me again.

I could only hope this wasn't what we were destined to become, husband and wife avoiding each other as much as possible. It would surely lead to a lonely and dull life.

Turning around carefully on the slipper floor of the shower, I planted my palms against the other end of the smooth aqua tile as I let the water pour against the flesh of my back like a burning massage.

Finally, I climbed out of the shower, not pausing to glance at myself as I wrapped the fluffiest towel I could find tight around me.

By the time I emerged, the sun's rays had pierced the magentas of dusk, blue like Sebastian's clear eyes rising quickly.

If I was going to make it out without running into my new husband, I had to get out fast. I had to get out now.

Tossing the towel onto the bed, I snatched out a simple navy blue sundress from the closet, sliding it over my head and stuffing my feet into silver sandals. As my fingers hastily threw my hair into a messy braid, I darted down the stairs.

Behind me, I thought I could hear Sebastian's own shower running through his bedroom door.

I all but ran over Harry as I hastily descended into the foyer, sending the old chef stumbling backwards in startled surprise.

"Well good morning, Macy." He said, rubbing his eyes as though he thought there was a chance he was hallucinating me there.

It was honestly the first time I'd bothered to climb out of bed before 11 in the past few weeks.

"Good morning, Harry!" I said cheerily, "I'm just on my way out now."

"Oh. Okay then." He replied, staring after me as I waved and dashed out the door.