A/N: hey guys, this chapter is a little more spicy than the others... thanks for all your feedback on my story. hope you enjoy this chapter!

I wouldn't call it a walk of shame. It definitely wasn't a walk of shame. What did I have to be ashamed about? I had some fun with my husband. The only shame I had was because I told a hitman to kill someone when I was in pain. I couldn't let Thomas go through with it, and I still had time to tell him no. So, I did the responsible thing, I called him while leaving my house.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Thomas. It's Eliza. Look, I hate to be abrupt, but I can't do it. I can't go through with it."

"Okay. That's fine. It takes a lot of strength mentally to go through with this big of a business transaction." He clears his throat, "I hope our drunken encounter last night didn't make you wanna back out."

"No, it wasn't that. I talked to Alexander. Not about this but about last night. He's not mad, I didn't tell him that you sent anything or even responded. The point is that Alex and I were being honest and we made a new rule for us. No secrets between us; going through with this would ruin everything I just set up with him."

"Right, the lying and cheating husband has priority. I see."

"Thomas, I'm still in love with him. I'm sorry you're upset about my choices, but I can't let Alexander not trust me. Alex is still my husband and I'm still his wife."

"Right. Eliza, did you ever think that you are too good for him?"

I don't hesitate, "No. I don't think that I am too good for Alexander. Why do you ask?"

"Because you are too good for him," He huffs into the phone, "You are beyond too good for him but you can't see it. He is terrible, toxic, for you, Eliza. He has made you so upset, and you want to let him back in even though he hurt you to the point of contacting a hit-man about killing his mistress. Who do you actually think you made a mistake with?"

"Pardon?"

"Who do you think you actually made the mistake with? With me or with him?"

"What type of question is this?"

"A mistake at the altar when you go married or a mistake a week ago when you let me into your house?"

"I'll choose the latter. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's true." I pause and we both don't talk, "I want a refund."

"Fine, you can have your fucking refund."

"You can drop it off at Peggy's house, I'll be there all evening, but you are drop-"

He cuts me off, "One last thing before you hang up on me, did you ever think that we could be a thing?"

"A thing? Thomas, are you 12?"

"Before you went over to Alex's, did you ever think that you and I would be a couple?"

"It crossed my mind once, but only because of Angelica."

"She thinks I like you, doesn't she?"

I nod, even though he can't see it, "Yea, she does."

"I'll be by Peggy's around 4:30 to give you the money."

"Bye." I hang up without waiting for his response. He was being really weird. I bet he actually has a crush on me. How the hell did a married woman get into this middle school drama bullshit?I shove my phone in my purse and continue the walk. It was quiet and peaceful, it's not about to be when I return to my sisters. I walk into Peggy's house. Angelica and Peggy sit on the couch looking at a magazine together.

"Hey guys."

"Hey," Peggy gets up, "We've been waiting for you to get back. How are the kids?"

I didn't actually talk to them, make up a lie, "They are good. All good back at the house."

Angelica stands up and walks towards me slowly, "You're lying."

"What? No! Why would I do that?" My face gets red, and I can feel the heat. What a nice way to give my obvious lie away!

"Your face is red! You are lying!" Angelica shoves a finger in my face.

"Okay, fine." I huff at her, "I went to talk to Alexander."

"You didn't?" Angelica asks me, dumbfounded.

I nod to them, "I did. I went to talk to him. I had to tell him what happened last night with Thomas. I felt guilty, and I miss him."

"Did you guys just… talk?" Angelica raises her right eyebrow. Why is she asking all of these hard questions?

"Yea, just some casual conversation with my hubby." I walk past them into the kitchen to get a bottle of water.

Peggy follows me into the kitchen, finally speaking up, "You are a liar."

Angelica nods, "You guys did the deed, didn't you?"

I look at my feet and barely whisper, "Guilty," they squeal at me, "Okay, relax. I missed him and we haven't done anything together in at least a week. I wanted to forget that Jefferson existed, and Alexander makes me forget the world exists."

"Sweetheart, you don't have to justify your sex life." Peggy wraps her arm around me, hand resting on my shoulder.

Angelica puts her hand in the middle of my back, "She's right. You don't have to, in fact, don't."

"Pardon?"

"Don't justify it. Here," She goes back to where she was standing, pulling Peggy back with her, "Let's rewind. Did you guys just… talk?"

"What am I supposed to say?"

"Just use the lie you used and we'll help you out from there." Angelica says to me.

I roll my eyes, "Yep, just some chit-chatting with my husband. That's it…"

"You're lying!"

"You guys did the nasty, didn't you?" before I can respond, Angelica says, "Now, tell the truth and don't justify it with how he makes you feel."

"Yes, we did. I wanted to, so I did…" I pause, looking for a reaction, "Was that… right?"

Angelica nods, Peggy claps, "Exactly perfect!"

Angelica throws her arm around me, "Now, you must tell us, how was it?"

"Nope, not sharing that." I walk away to go sit on the couch.

"Why not?" Angelica follows me, "Is someone ashamed of their bedroom habits?"

I make a barfing face at her, "Gross, why'd you have to phrase it like that?"

"It is more exciting to phrase 'kinks' as bedroom habits."

"Gross," I exaggerate the barfing more, "Look, what Alexander and I do in the bedroom to… satisfy those needs is private. Besides, why do you care what we do for fun when we are having sex?"

"I don't, but I like to know you guys as much as I can. And if it means I have to know sex habits, kinks, and dirty secrets, I'm okay with that."

"That's just a tiny bit creepy." Peggy tells her.

"Okay, fine, it is." She looks at her hands, "I'm going back to London with John in a week. I'm not sure how long I'm staying when I leave. So, I don't know when I'll be back in New York."

"Oh, Angelica! Why didn't you say something sooner?" I ask her.

"I didn't want to blow your problems out of the way with mine."

"Angelica, you are leaving. Alex will still be here in 2 days and in 2 weeks. I can deal with him later."

She leans into me, "I never want to make your problems seem insignificant. And when you called me, I was hoping I would be able to say something, and then you told me about Alex and Jefferson and-"

The doorbell rings and Peggy answers it. Thomas steps inside and looks at Angelica and I on the couch, "Ah, the Schuyler sisters, together forever."

I get up and get the money. Thomas pulls me away from my sisters, "Sorry girls, I need to talk to Eliza for a moment."

He shoves me in the bathroom and pushes me against the wall, trapping me using his arms. He presses his lips to mine. He pulls away, "You have no idea how long I've waited to do that…"