Chapter 3
I barely slept that night.
Rhys's words kept replaying in my head.
"When did I ever say I didn't want you?"
Even now, I had no idea what he meant.
At breakfast, Callum was already dressed for work.
He sipped his coffee while scrolling through the financial news, as if nothing had happened the night before.
I hesitated, then finally spoke.
"Rhys called me last night."
Callum looked up.
His expression remained calm.
"I know."
That was all.
No questions.
No anger.
Somehow, that made me even more uneasy.
Then his phone rang.
It was Genevieve.
The call wasn't on speaker, but her voice carried clearly through the room.
"The family house is being renovated."
"Rhys just got back, and staying in a hotel isn't practical."
"Let him stay with you for a few days."
My stomach dropped.
"No."
The word came out before I could stop it.
Both Callum and Genevieve went silent.
I quickly tried to explain.
"I mean... the guest room hasn't been used in a long time."
"It isn't ready."
Callum watched me for several seconds.
Then he spoke into the phone.
"That's fine."
"Tell him to come over."
My heart sank.
At five that afternoon, the doorbell rang.
When I opened the door, Rhys stood there in black casual clothes.
One hand rested on the handle of his suitcase.
The other held a potted plant.
He smiled.
"Sister-in-law."
"Thanks for letting me stay."
I said nothing and stepped aside.
He rolled his suitcase into the living room, then suddenly stopped.
Our wedding portrait hung on the wall.
In it, I wore a white gown and smiled like the happiest woman alive.
Rhys stared at the photo.
For so long that I almost expected him to tear it down.
Instead, he gave a quiet laugh.
"Nice picture."
I couldn't tell whether he was complimenting the photo or mocking me.
I lowered my voice.
"Rhys."
"This is my home."
"Don't do anything you shouldn't."
He turned slowly.
His gaze lingered on my face.
"Are you warning me?"
"Or yourself?"
My chest tightened.
Before I could answer, the front door unlocked.
Callum had mentioned that he would be home early tonight.
Rhys immediately stepped back, as though nothing had happened.
He even took Callum's briefcase from him.
"Long day?"
For the first time, the man standing in front of me felt like a complete stranger.
After dinner, I escaped to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
I wanted as much distance between Rhys and me as possible.
Water rushed from the faucet.
Then familiar footsteps sounded behind me.
I didn't turn around.
"Leave."
He didn't move.
A second later, the water stopped.
The kitchen fell silent.
I turned.
Rhys stood directly in front of me.
Too close.
"Why did you disappear?"
His eyes locked on mine.
"Why did you change your number?"
"And why did you marry my brother without saying a word?"
Each question cut deeper than the last.
I clenched my jaw.
"That's none of your business."
A humorless smile crossed his face.
"None of my business?"
"Elena, you were with me for four years."
"And now you're telling me it has nothing to do with me?"
I forced myself to stay calm.
"We ended a long time ago."
He stared at me in silence.
Then his expression hardened.
"You ended it."
"I never agreed."
My heart lurched.
Callum's voice came from the other side of the door.
"Elena?"
"Are you almost done?"
I shoved Rhys away.
"Almost."
He didn't stop me.
He simply stood there, watching as I walked out.
At two in the morning, I woke up thirsty.
The other side of the bed was empty.
Callum often woke in the middle of the night when work was weighing on him, so I assumed he was in his study.
The living room was dark, lit only by moonlight.
I was heading toward the kitchen when I noticed someone sitting on the couch.
I jumped.
"Who's there?"
"Me."
Rhys's voice came from the darkness.
He didn't turn on the light.
His head was lowered, and something rested in his hand.
The moonlight shifted.
Then I saw it.
The watch.
The birthday gift I had given him years ago.
Rhys looked up at me.
His voice was rough and low.
"This watch stopped once."
"The day I found out you had married my brother."
I opened my mouth.
No words came.
He stood.
For one second, I thought he was going to reach for me.
But his hand stopped between us.
"Elena."
His voice was no longer teasing.
"Tell me the truth."
"What did you receive from me three years ago?"
I froze.
Not what happened.
Not why did you leave.
What did you receive?
A cold voice cut through the darkness.
"What are you two doing?"
My entire body froze.
I turned sharply.
Callum stood in the doorway.
He walked toward us at an unhurried pace and stopped only a few feet away.
His eyes moved from Rhys to me.
Then he smiled.
"Looks like I interrupted something."