Chapter 4
Travis snapped, "If you're burned, go to the hospital. What do you want from me? Am I a doctor?"
Dawn was dumbfounded.
I was also taken aback.
Man, that was savage.
Dawn bit her lip, looking at Travis in disbelief. "Travis, you never used to be like this. Is it because of Clarissa?"
She shot me a nasty glare. "Clarissa, what kind of magic did you use on Travis? You two are getting divorced, so why are you still here?"
Taking my time, I smoothed out my dress and settled onto the couch.
"Who said we're getting divorced?" I flashed her a grin. "Travis was just joking around earlier. We're perfectly fine, so you can stop worrying about us, Miss Keyes."
Dawn was shaking with anger. "You're lying! Travis promised Mabel..."
"Dawn," Travis said coldly, his voice like ice. "Get out."
Dawn stared at him in disbelief. "Travis!"
"Get lost." He didn't pull any punches with that command.
Dawn covered her face and ran out, sobbing.
The study fell silent again.
Travis set down his papers and looked at me, his gaze complicated.
Travis wondered, 'Did Clarissa just say... our relationship is perfectly fine?
'Is she serious? Or just trying to get under Dawn's skin?
'Doesn't matter. It felt great to hear. My wife is awesome.'
He cleared his throat, hiding the smile in his eyes, and put on a stern face to lecture me. "Don't waste your time on people like Dawn. It's beneath you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Worried about me?"
Travis snorted. "I'm just afraid you're too gullible. You wouldn't know when you're tricked."
Travis' thoughts sounded. 'Hell no, I don't feel sorry for Dawn. What I'm really worried about is whether your hand got burned when you carried that soup.
'Come here, Clarissa, let me check your hand.'
Feeling a rush of warmth, I walked over and held out my hand to him.
"It was a little hot when I was holding the bowl," I said.
Travis instantly took my hand, examining it with a worried frown.
"How can you be so careless? Always so clumsy," he scolded.
He might've been complaining, but his touch was so gentle, like I was some rare treasure.
He lowered his head and gently blew on my fingertips.
His warm breath tickled my skin, making me shiver all over.
Staring at his focused face, I suddenly felt I had to be blind these past three years. Who knew there was a volcano hiding under all that ice?
Dinner was strangely harmonious.
For once, Travis actually served me a rib, placing it on my plate.
"Eat up. You're so skinny. It's embarrassing when I take you out," he said.
'Clarissa, eat more. You're much nicer to hug that way,' Travis thought. 'Are these ribs a little too sweet? I'll have the chef cut back on the sugar next time.
'She looks so cute eating, like a little hamster.
I stifled a laugh and ate the rib clean.
Just then, the butler hurried in, looking grim.
"Sir, Madam, Mrs. Mabel Winslow is here," he announced.
Travis froze, his hand still holding his utensils, and his face instantly darkened.
Travis thought, 'The old witch is here. Bet she's coming because Dawn went crying to her again.
'Wifey, just stick behind me. I'll take care of whatever she throws at us.
'God, if Mom makes Clarissa cry again, I won't get any sleep tonight.'
I put my utensils down too, feeling a wave of nerves hit me.
Mabel had looked down at me since I married Travis.
To her, a nobody orphan like me could never be worthy of the Winslow family's lofty status.
Before long, the click of high heels could be heard approaching.
Mabel strode in, decked out in an elegant gown and dripping with jewelry. Dawn followed close behind, her eyes red and swollen. Clearly she'd been tattling to Mabel already.
"Clarissa, look at you, acting so high and mighty," Mabel barked the moment she stepped inside.
She slammed her purse onto the couch and pointed right at me. "Dawn brought you soup out of the goodness of her heart, and not only did you snub her, you humiliated her? Who do you think you are, throwing your weight around in the Winslow family?"
I was about to get up, but Travis gently put a steady hand on my shoulder, keeping me in place.
He stayed seated, leisurely wiping his mouth.
"Mom, this is my house. Clarissa is in charge here. She doesn't need anyone's approval for what she does," Travis said.
Mabel's chest heaved with anger. "She's in charge? Not for much longer. Have you signed the divorce papers yet?"
She shot me a glare sharp enough to cut glass. "Clarissa, do yourself a favor and sign the papers, then get lost. Don't think sticking around will change a damn thing. As long as I'm breathing, you'll never truly be part of the Winslow family."