TRADING MY EX FOR HIS STEP BROTHER

WHAT HAS MY GRANDSON DONE NOW?

CHAPTER 13: WHAT HAS MY GRANDSON DONE NOW?

KIMBERLY:

I went back home after having lunch with Bethany. I wanted to be alone and shed my tears in private.

My parents don't want me, my ex cheated on me with my sister, and now, just one day after our marriage, my husband is out there with another woman.

Just great!

I spent the rest of the evening in our room, scrolling through my phone, trying to distract myself from the reality of the situation.

But my heart was heavy.

Around seven in the evening, I heard the door creak open downstairs, followed by Damien’s familiar footsteps.

"Kim!" he called when he got to our doorstep. His voice was full of confidence. "I’m home baby."

I didn’t answer.

I stayed exactly where I was on the bed, rocking my body back and forth. My knees tucked to my chest, and my face was buried in my arms. I hadn’t even changed out of the clothes I wore to lunch.

I was too confused and worried to care.

A few seconds later, the bedroom door opened.

"There you are," Damien said, stepping inside with a crooked smile. "I thought you’d slept off."

I didn’t respond.

He crossed the room and leaned down to kiss my cheek. I turned my face away.

He paused. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" he repeated. "You’ve barely looked at me. Don’t I even get a proper ‘welcome home’?"

I shrugged, still not looking at him.

"Okay, hold up," he said, standing to his full height. "What happened? Did Barbra say something again?"

I shook my head.

He frowned. "Then what? Did someone upset you? Talk to me, Kim."

I finally looked at him. His brows were drawn together, a genuine look of concern etched on his face.

But the image of him with that woman in the restaurant flashed through my mind and saddened my heart even more.

"I’m just tired," I mumbled.

"Right," he said, voice flattening. "That’s how we’re doing it now?"

I stayed quiet.

Damien stepped back slightly, folding his arms. "You’re shutting me out. Why?"

"I said I’m tired, Damien."

"And I don’t buy that." His tone sharpened. "You were fine this morning. What happened between then and now?"

I pressed my lips together and refused to talk.

"Seriously?" he huffed. "You’re not even going to tell me? I came home thinking maybe I’d finally see a smile on your face, and instead you act like I’m some stranger."

"You don't know what you are right now," I muttered under my breath.

He blinked. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Forget it."

"No. Say it, Kim. You’re obviously mad at me. Just say it."

I stood up abruptly. "You wanna know why I’m mad? Fine. I saw you today, Damien. At lunch."

He stared. "What?"

"At the restaurant. With that woman in the red dress, laughing like you didn’t have a wife waiting at home."

He looked stunned. "Are you serious right now?"

"Dead serious."

"You were spying on me?"

"I wasn’t spying!" I snapped. "Beth took me out for lunch and we happened to be at the same restaurant. I saw you and her getting all cozy."

Damien ran his hand through his hair. "That wasn’t what it looked like."

"Then what was it?"

"It was a business meeting. Her name is Claudia. She’s a marketing consultant. We were going over some campaign ideas—"

"Why did she need to be touching your arm for that?"

He threw his arms up. "Oh, for God's sake, Kim! I didn’t flirt with her!"

"I don’t believe you."

His jaw clenched. "Of course you don’t. You’d rather believe your assumptions than hear me out."

"I didn’t get married to be lied to."

He laughed bitterly. "You didn’t get married willingly, period."

I froze.

Damien took a step back, looking so irritated. "You know what? I didn’t sign up for this. For this cold shoulder crap. If all you're going to do is make me feel like a criminal every time I walk through the door, then maybe I should just pretend you don't exist."

"Fine by me," I whispered, blinking rapidly.

He turned toward the door, pausing briefly. "I told you yesterday, don't try to control me. I can be anything you want me to be to you, Kim, a loving husband or a cold blooded brute."

A cold shiver covered my spine.

By the time I looked up again, he was gone.

The door shut behind him and the room fell silent. I stood there, frozen, until the dam finally broke.

My legs trembled and I slid to the floor, burying my face in my palms as hot tears spilled freely. My chest hurt from my agony like someone had driven a blade through it. I wasn’t even sure which hurt more—seeing him with another woman, or hearing him say those terrible words.

A soft knock at the door made me freeze.

I wiped at my face, hoping to hide the damage, and stumbled to my feet. I opened the door and saw grandma Evelyn standing at the door.

Her silver hair was pulled into a bun and her eyes were full of warmth.

"Kimberly," she said softly. "Can I come in?"

I nodded, too stunned to speak.

She stepped in, took one look at my face, and pulled me into her arms.

"Oh, my dear girl," she whispered, stroking my hair gently. "What has my grandson done now?"