Chapter 116

Logan

I am about to knock again when the door swings open. I take a step back and look down at Emily as she exits the bathroom. She wears one of my T-shirts, the black fabric hanging loose on her body. I have to tear my gaze away, so I don't cross the boundary that would make her feel uncomfortable, especially seeing how sensitive she has been lately.

Like a fucking goddess though. It makes me fall in love with her even more than I already am. I am so lucky to be your husband. It is weird that she is opting for baggy pajamas instead of ones that cling to her body like she usually prefers.

I am not complaining, though. I want her to be comfortable and to do what feels best for her, not to remain the same person throughout the years.

She barely looks up at me as she passes by, monitoring a quiet “excuse me” before pushing past me. I pretend that it doesn't hurt that she completely ignored me, simply watching as she walks by and slips underneath the covers of our shared bed. It does sting, though, that she didn't even give me a kiss like she usually does, trapped in her own head and thoughts that are swirling throughout her mind.

I slowly walk towards the bed, making sure not to get in as she pulls the covers over her entire body, hiding me from her view. I tilt my head to the side and placed my hands on my hips, a sigh escaping my lips. All I feel is a sense of hopelessness as I stare at her, unsure of what to do or say to bring back the old Emily into my life, the one who never failed to put a smile onto my face whenever she was near.

I quietly walk across the room and turn off the lights, making my way back over to my side of the bed, my eyes still focused on the lump where her body is. Worry overtakes my thoughts. Every single thing that I think about in this moment is about Emily and making sure that she is okay.

I hesitate for a brief moment, my eyes focused on her side of the bed where she lays. I wait for a few seconds, I focused on the lump, wanting to see if it shakes or moves, showing me any kind of sign that she is emotional distress. There is none, so I slipped myself underneath the covers beside her body and pull the sheets over my head, so I am also covered and hidden from the world.

“Emily,” I breathe out quietly, my hands fighting her waist and pulling her to me. Her body molds perfectly to mine and I rest my chin on her shoulder. “is everything okay? What's wrong?”

“Nothing's wrong,” Emily lets out a sigh. She does not turn to face me like she usually does and instead focuses on closing her eyes and studying her breathing, her hand over her heart. “I'm just tired.”

“Tired…” I slowly nod my head, repeating her word. I divert my gaze for a brief moment before turning back to her, pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of her job. “are you sure? I want to be here to help you feel better. I know that you're going through something—”

“I'm just tired, Logan, there is no hidden meaning to my emotions,” her statement is firm and sharp. She quietly grows and adjust her body, trying to put some distance between us, but I quickly pull her right back to me, my hands spread across her stomach. “Logan.”

“Emily,” I repeat her name, a slight tinge of humor in my voice. When she doesn't laugh back, though, I quickly shut up and shake my head, quietly apologizing.

I steer the side of her face for what seems like an eternity. The second minutes of the day passes by and we lay in a silence with one another. The silence is deafening, and it makes my ears ring, leaving me, unsure if she is angry at me or at someone else.

Is angry with me, then I will make for damn sure that she knows that I did not mean what I did and that she will forgive me. If it is somebody else, I will make for sure that they pay for what they have done to her.

“you're quieter than you usually are,” I make a comment, hoping that it doesn't set her off. The last thing I want for us tonight is to sleep apart. “you know you can tell me if there's anything on your mind. We're married, after all, and I want to be there for you in anyway I can.”

She does not immediately respond. She sucks in a breath and turns to looking at me from over her shoulder. Our eyes me in my heart breaks at the side of her side and expression on her face.

Emilie opens her mouth to speak, but then quickly closes it, looking away for a brief moment. I reach over and gently grab the side of her face, tilting it back to looking at me. I force a serious yet comforting expression on my face, holding onto the hope that Emilie realizes that I am a safe space for her to confide in.

“It's Delilah,” Emily slowly speaks. I suck in a breath, not sure if I was prepared for that. “she has been on my mind ever since we left the office earlier today. Her presence makes me feel uneasy, you know, seeing how my stepsister tried to ruin our relationship a few times.”

“I know,” I not in response, listening to every single word that false free from her mouth. “will it help you feel better to know that I have no feelings towards her? That I only have eyes for you in my life and not her?”

Emily weakly nods, and turns her face away, looking straight ahead in the darkness under the covers. Her body tenses for a moment, her hands moving to her stomach before relaxing on the bed in front of her. It still feels like she is holding something back for me, hiding another secret that I need to unbury from the depths of her mind.

I also do not wish to argue with her or to cause any more problems between us that may arise from this conflict. We have already been through so much, and I do not wish for us to have to handle more problems, problems that we do not need in the first place.

I pull Emilie closer to my body and press more kisses to the side of her face in the back of her neck. I can feel her body relax against mine and in return, I can feel my own tension relax as well. Emily sighs and closes her eyes, my arm draped over her body, keeping her close to me.

“I am your husband, not Delilah’s,” I murmur into her ear, hoping that she believes every single word that I tell her because it's the truth. “I love you, Emily, nobody else. And no matter what it is that you have to tell me, I will forever be on your side, no matter what.”