Chapter 3

For the next three days, I kept living like usual, acting like everything was normal.

Every morning, I made coffee for all three of us. At night, I'd pick up groceries on my way home.

Since Charlotte couldn't handle the smell of cooking oil, Dallas took over the kitchen and kept things bland and easy on the stomach.

He never used to set foot in the kitchen.

When I got home late from overtime, there'd be pieces of pizza waiting for me.

He always said work was exhausting enough, and we could hire someone to handle the chores. He thought there was no need to bother with all that domestic stuff.

Now, if Charlotte so much as frowned at the table, he'd immediately pick out every last bit of coriander she didn't like from her food.

At dinner on the third night, I told them about the assignment. "I'm leaving for Dantarcna next Monday. I'll be based there for the next eighteen months."

Dallas's spoon hit the edge of the pot.

Samuel looked up as well. "When did you apply?"

I said, "The day before yesterday."

"Why didn't you tell us about something this huge?"

"It's a job transfer. I don't need a family meeting for it."

Dallas turned off the stove and walked over to me. "Didn't you turn it down before?"

I said, "I want to go now."

"Eighteen months is way too long. My business is just getting started, and we agreed we'd have a baby this year."

Charlotte's fork lightly tapped against her plate.

I saw her instinctively place her hand on her belly. "You've got your baby already."

The whole table went quiet.

Samuel locked his gaze on me.

Dallas's face drained of color.

I took a bite of my food, swallowing it slowly. "You've had your company for three years now. Doesn't that count as your baby?"

Samuel let out a sigh of relief and then scolded me for being so dramatic.

Dallas stayed stone-faced, not a hint of a smile. "Kinley, did you hear something?"

I asked, "What am I supposed to have heard?"

He met my gaze for a few seconds and then looked away. "It's nothing. Can't you delay the project for a while? At least until Lottie finds a place to stay."

"Her living here has nothing to do with whether I go to Dantarcna or not."

"It's not right for her to stay here by herself when you're not around."

Honestly, that was almost laughable coming from him.

Charlotte's eyes turned red as she set down her fork. "Don't fight with Dallas over me, Kinley. I'll move out tomorrow."

"Don't be ridiculous." Dallas immediately put a hand on her shoulder. "You're in no condition to be moving right now."

Samuel said, "Kinley, is this about a promotion or a bigger paycheck? Why pick now of all times?"

I replied, "It means I can go for the project lead in the Vesperian Division, and the allowance is forty percent higher than what I make here."

"It's not like we're hurting for money."

"You aren't, but I am." I looked at Samuel. "This is my shot at a real career."

Samuel was caught off guard, his tone gentler now. "I'm not trying to hold you back. But Lottie just got divorced, and Dallas is swamped with work. If you leave, who's going to look after things at home?"

"You're all adults." I set down my fork. "If any of you can't manage without me, you'll have to figure it out yourselves."

Nobody finished their meal.

Samuel called Dallas into the study. Charlotte sat at the table, quietly crying and apologizing.

I picked up my plate. This time, I didn't go over to hug her like I always used to.

As I walked toward the kitchen, she suddenly grabbed my sleeve from behind. "Kinley, do you know it?"

I turned around.

There was fear in her eyes, but also a flicker of relief. Like she was hoping I'd call her out, so she could finally drop the act.

"Know what?" I wasn't about to make it easy for her.

Charlotte let go of my sleeve and murmured, "It's nothing."

That night, Dallas didn't come back to the master bedroom until late.

He hugged me from behind and asked, "If I'd been ignoring you lately. Do you really have to go through with this project?"

I replied, "I've already signed the contract."

"I'll pay the cancellation fee if you want to back out."

"I'm not backing out."

His arms tightened around me. "Kinley, we're married. You can't leave for eighteen months and act like it doesn't matter."

I stared at the wedding photo sitting on the nightstand. "Married?"

He stiffened all over.

I shrugged off his touch and turned my back to him. "Go to sleep."

He didn't reach for me again the whole night.