It is already midnight when we arrive back at his uncle's house. Only a few lights illuminate the hallway, but no one is awake anymore, except for a few men who, surprisingly, are setting up the training room for William rather quietly.

When Leroy sees them, he wishes me a good night and walks toward them. I don't even get to say it back, but that's no problem. Smiling slightly, I turn around and go up the stairs to the bedroom, where I first take a warm shower.

The evening was surprisingly nice. I didn't think Leroy would actually make an effort to stay nice and polite, but it reassures me because, in the end, we both try.

We pretend a little bit are too nice to each other, however, hopefully, this is exactly what leads to acceptance soon and my life turns for the better.

Still, his last words haunt my mind before we left. What does my mother know? Does she know Leroy, then? Is that why she agreed to me marrying him? But why? Precisely because she knows him, she should know that he is very dangerous, shouldn't she?

Sighing, I turn off the water and step out of the shower before wrapping a towel around my body and drying off. I really need to call Mom tomorrow because I need this information. I need to know where I stand in this mess!

It's freezing in the bedroom because the window has been open all day, so I'm lucky to have long fluffy pajamas on today after all. I plod to the window to close it, but at that moment, I notice a movement outside and stop.

It's Leroy.

He has made himself comfortable on a garden chair, right next to the pool, and is bringing a glass to his lips, in which a brownish substance is floating. I recognize the deep furrow between his eyebrows myself and can't help but wonder if he's thinking about our date.

Just as I decide to go down to him, Kelly suddenly appears at his side, whom I hadn't noticed at all before.

When did she come into the garden?

My stomach tightens at the sight of her. She is wearing a black bathrobe, part of which is just lace, and her hair falls down her back in wild curls. She is beautiful and a real catch for the eyes. Every gaze would immediately fall on her, while I am not even noticed.

She says something I don't understand from this distance. Leroy raises his head slowly in a threatening manner, but when he sees that it is Kelly, he smiles slightly. I have to admit that I don't like the look of it at all. Would he have sent me away in her place?

Can't he see what a snake she is?

"Well, darling. How was your date with your sweetheart?" she asks and Leroy first takes a sip from his glass.

He looks down at a point at first and then smiles a little then looks at Kelly again.

"To be honest, it was very different from what I imagined. I actually - and yes, I'm serious - kind of enjoyed it," he replies after a moment's thought.

My heart warms at his words and I can't suppress a small smile either.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. You finally need that too. Rest and fun. Soon you'll have everything your heart longs for and you've truly earned it. By marrying Katrina, power has been thrown into your arms - literally!" Kelly throws her head back laughing, the corners of Leroy's mouth twitch and I merely frown in confusion. What does she mean by that?

"A beautiful woman in bed and her mother's empire," she purrs, clapping her hands in delight. Her look slowly becomes more cynical. "But she didn't deserve to be treated so well by you."

"I can't blame her for something she would never do," Leroy retorts calmly, to which Kelly merely sighs.

"You're not gullible, Leroy. If I were you, I'd lock her in the basement and let her rot," Kelly spits out almost through clenched teeth.

My eyes widen. I can feel my heart pounding up to my throat in shock. Will Leroy see it the same way and just lock me away?

There is silence for a moment before Leroy's harsh laugh cuts through it. I shudder.

"Are you telling me how to treat my wife right now? Kelly, don't reach for my hand because I'm only offering you my finger. Don't allow yourself too much just because I'm smiling at you."

As he says this, he doesn't even look at her, which on one hand gives me satisfaction, and on the other, makes me feel bad for exactly that. I shouldn't feel good about it, because I'm not like her, who likes to witness the suffering of others.

''I love it when you sound so threatening," she suddenly murmurs, smiling slightly, and I get a strange feeling.

Why is she approaching him now?

Leroy says something that I don't understand and Kelly laughs out loud. "She's a wallflower," she exclaims, opening her dressing gown slightly.

My eyes widen because even I can see from this distance that she is naked underneath.

Leroy rises and wants to leave, but when he turns around she calls after him and he looks back at her. She sits down on the chair he was sitting on.

"She doesn't even get it," she gasps and I falter as she touches herself. Her hands find their way to her breasts and massage them.

"You're drunk, Kelly," Leroy tells her, but Kelly merely throws her head back with a moan as her hand slides further down and touches her middle. Leroy raises an eyebrow and is about to turn back around.

"Please, I need you, Leroy," she moans and I can't believe what I'm seeing.

She gasps, her fingers slowing before she rolls her eyes with a moan.

Leroy rolls his eyes in annoyance, I on the other hand am shocked at what Kelly is doing.

But I am even more shocked that Leroy suddenly bends down to her and lifts her in his arms. They leave the garden and something inside me shatters.

Wow.

Does he need it that bad? I mean, maybe we only really got closer today, but doesn't that mean he's not allowed to jump on something like that at all?

Angry and hurt, I lie down in bed and suppress the tears that come from my anger. I am so stupid, so fucking stupid! He's probably laughing at my stupidity with Kelly right now before he's going to fuck her, while I - his wife - am lying in bed a few rooms away.

Just as I'm about to snort angrily, the door opens. I wince slightly and hastily squeeze my eyes shut. My breath catches as I catch his scent. What is he doing here? Doesn't he have to be with Kelly? He's probably just getting condoms!

"You heard everything, didn't you?" his deep voice suddenly rings out and I wince harder this time. Shit! I exhale and only now realize I've been holding my breath.

"Yes," I murmur.

He sighs and closes the balcony door. Oh damn, that's how he knew I must have overheard.

"She was drunk. I put her to bed now," he says and I nod.

"Drunks are known to tell the truth," I whisper into the silence and hear Leroy undo his belt. Can't he change in the bathroom? Leroy says nothing in reply.

"I thought you were going to...", I begin, but immediately falter. Leroy snorts.

"Go for that? Well, you thought wrong."

"The word 'wallflower' came up too," I snort softly.

Leroy laughs and suddenly I feel him lift the covers, lie down in bed and pull me against his chest. Startled, I hold my breath.

"Well, to them you're just a wallflower," he says and I furrow my eyebrows in annoyance.

"To you too?" I ask and immediately regret it. Why do I ask such questions?!

"Not in terms of looks, but you're quite a prude," he says and clicks his tongue. Annoyed, I push away his arm, which is resting on my waist. He laughs softly.

"I'm just kidding. You beat the shit out of me, chica. You're everything, but definitely not a wallflower."

"You had a thing with her once, didn't you?", I ask, not responding to his previous words. It's funny enough that he laughs in my presence, I don't need to dwell on how he sees me.

"With Kelly? No, never."

That liar.

"She said otherwise," I counter, and Leroy straightens up to look me in the eye.

"When did you guys have a conversation about something like that? And why, anyway?" he asks. A furrow has formed between his eyebrows. The dim light makes his stature seem more menacing and with the way he has built himself up in front of me, I feel like a small mouse.

"When...", I begin but hesitate. "I think it was a few days ago. Somehow we got into conversations like that, I don't remember how either."

Inwardly, I sigh. I don't feel like explaining it all to him now with Charles. I'll do it in the next few days though because I think Leroy will give me a chance now and believe me.

"Kelly is weird sometimes."

"She fancies you, Leroy," I say simply in response, raising both eyebrows before giving him a serious look.

He lies on his back, one arm tucked under his head as he stares thoughtfully at the ceiling. Then he sighs softly as I lie back down, shaking my head slightly, and turn my back on him. Has he really not noticed until now that Kelly wants more than friendship from him?

"She's a friend to me because she's given up a lot for me. Someone who is willing to do something like that loves," Leroy says and right after that, I feel him start to play with my hair. I don't say anything to that, especially because it's actually quite pleasant.

"Would you give up something for her, too?", I ask a little uncertainly and wait anxiously for his answer when he doesn't reply anything at first.

"No," is Leroy's reply after a short while. "Because it's not that I owe her anything. I do, however, value her actions and reward her accordingly."

I merely nod as I hear him yawn. Then we both remain silent and ask no more questions. Eventually, I feel his breath fall more regularly on the back of my neck and know that he has now fallen asleep, so it is not long before I too disappear into the land of dreams.

☼ ❅

It's giving WHERE IS MY WIFE energy and I'm here for it.

Got me giggling and shi.

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