Authors Note: I hate to reveal spoilers, but I think this is an acceptation. Victor is the good guy! In this story, he's just the sweet & old uncle that loves his niece very much! So don't worry, he's not going to turn all evil. I promise!

-Breanna

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from this story and all creative rights to the characters belong to Richelle Mead.

The original content, ideas and intellectual property of this story are owned by Ms. Belikov. Please do not copy, reproduce, or translate without express written permission.

*First half of the chapter is rated M*

When I floated back into consciousness, everything around me was warm. Really, really warm. It felt like I was basking in the sun…the perfect kind of heat. The temperature that made you relaxed, content…feel good.

My lids flew open.

Immediately, I was met with a sky of perfect brown. Well, it was more like caramel or honey. That was all I could see. Nothing else. It was strangely comforting.

I blinked a few times to get rid of the blurriness. That's when I spotted a scarlet-brown circle. A nipple.

I jerked and sat up.

The person who had been keeping me warm, who had been sleeping next to me, cuddling with me, was Dimitri. He was laying still, undisturbed in his sleep. And he was shirtless.

I screamed. A high-pitched, girlie, glass shattering scream that ached even my own ears. "Oh, my god!"

Dimitri shot up, panicked and alert. His shoulder-length brown hair was a mess from sleep, pieces sticking everywhere. I noticed that he was still wearing the same pants from the suit he'd worn to the party last night. One glance at the floor showed his tie, button-up shirt, and Armani jacket.

He looked so…tempting. I had a head spinning urge to throw myself at him. To make love to him. To claim him as mine.

But I didn't.

With all the self-control I could muster up, I scrambled off the bed and fell straight onto the hardwood floor. I didn't care about the stinging pain in my ass, or the fact that one of my loose heels dug into the skin of my calf. The only thing that I cared about was getting away from him, because I knew that if he so much as touched me, my shred of self-control would snap and I'd be giving into my desires…I would fall prey to his trap. And I knew that was exactly what Dimitri wanted. There was no way I was going to give him that pleasure.

"What is wrong?" Dimitri stood up and closed the two steps that separated us.

I rapidly crawled on hands and knees to the nearest wall. "Stay away from me."

He looked stunned. At six-foot-seven, he towered above me on the ground like a skyscraper. He blinked, surprised. "What is wrong, Rose?" Dimitri demanded. "Have you been hurt? Did you have a bad dream?"

"No, but I woke up to a nightmare." I growled. "What are you doing in my room? In my bed?"

Realization kicked into Dimitri's features, he knew that I didn't want to have anything to do with him, didn't want to be anywhere near him…and he looked angry.

I'd seen him mad like that before when we'd been dating. Believe me when I say that there is nothing in the world like a pissed off Russian.

Dimitri ripped his shirt from the floor and pulled it over his broad shoulders. He started fastening the buttons.

"You asked me to stay with you," he said behind gritted teeth. "Last night after the party, you were so intoxicated that you were unable to walk." He paused, and then added, "Did you know that I lost one of my major clients because of you?"

I shrugged and smoothed out the wrinkles in my black Chanel dress, anything to avoid eye contact with him. "Don't really care. It's none of my concern."

With graceful and powerful strides, Dimitri was suddenly standing in front of me. He crouched down, grabbed my arms, and roughly yanked me to my feet. "It would be your concern if I was planning on using that money to pay your uncles medical bills, now wouldn't it?"

"Ouch! Let me go!" I whimpered in pain and surprise.

When I stared into his brown eyes, they were colder than ice and hotter than a blazing fire at the same time. Fear washed over me. I pushed against his chest, this only caused him to grip harder.

"Please, Dimitri. Let me go. You're hurting me."

"Not until you let me take you." he growled.

My eyes widened as I let out a soft gasp. Something changed in the air. The pain in my arms turned to pleasure. The lust burning between us was nearly overwhelming. My body flushed with want and need, the heat between my thighs searing. The sensitive skin of my breast puckered and tightened.

Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it...you'll regret it later. I chanted in my head over and over again.

I might regret it later, but I wanted it so badly right now. And I thought I might go insane if I didn't have it.

My lips smashed against his and I gave into desire.

Dimitri hissed and pulled me hard against his body. His mouth attacked mine, drowned it, with a possessive and savage need. Raw male power radiated off of him as he picked me up and threw me to the bed.

I moaned loudly.

He positioned me so that half of my body was hanging off the bed.

I braced my elbows against the mattress, my stomach pressed to the silk duvet. My feet were flat against the cool hardwood ground; my bottom was up in the air.

"I wish I could make love to you, Roza." The way he rolled his R's made me go mad with desire. "But I do not have the control or patience to be slow with you. I need to take you right now."

"Just do it!" I groaned, curling my toes.

Dimitri roughly pulled my dress up until it reached my ribcage, giving him just enough access. He yanked my underwear down until it rested on my ankles.

We were both breathing heavily.

I heard a zipper.

A knocking sound made us both tense.

"Who is it?" Dimitri yelled, obviously a little displeased that we'd been interrupted.

I on the other hand, was grateful and disbelieving. I was so thankful for that interruption. It was like a slap to the face or a bucket of ice-cold water being dumped on my head…it was a wake up call. What the hell had I been thinking?

What if we had gone all the way? What if we had actually...oh, god. I couldn't even finish that thought. Why was I so stupid sometimes?

"Dimitri? Are you in there?" That feminine, French accented voice asked strangely. "Uh, it's Opal. I have prepared breakfast for Ms. Hathaway."

"Just one moment." he shouted, sounding highly irritated.

Dimitri hurriedly hiked my underwear up my legs and fixed my dress. I turned around just in time to see him put himself back into his pants, pull up his zipper, and buckle his belt.

Man did he look...flustered.

It was funny seeing him like that—all hot and bothered, angry. He was usually so calm and collected. Looking at him now, I knew he was anything but.

"Come in." That one command was a deep rumble in his throat.

Opal trotted in, wheeling a silver tray. Her hair was like liquid sunshine and those eyes were brighter than any ocean. God, even wearing that chef uniform she looked incredible.

She glanced at me, then at Dimitri. Her gaze lingered on him a moment, a suspicious gleam in her eye, and then her stare flared dark blue. She was angry.

Uh-oh.

This was probably the last time I was going to eat her food. God only knows what she might do to it in the future now that she believed Dimitri and I were "sleeping together."

Opal quickly regained her composure and forced a smile. "Good morning, Dimitri. Good morning, Rosemarie."

"Good morning." Dimitri smiled politely. But everything from his rigid posture, to the tightness in his jaw, to the squeak of his teeth grinding together screamed, 'I am fucking pissed off and get the fuck out!'

Hmm…maybe this wasn't so bad after all. Maybe I could have a little fun with this.

"Mornin' O." I said lazily, hopping on my bed. "Whatcha' got for me? I'm…starved. I want some meat, maybe some potatoes. I need something that'll fill me right up. Something that will leave me satisfied."

I shot Dimitri a wicked grin. He cleared his throat and tried to nonchalantly rearrange his pants. I stifled my snort and laughter.

I gazed down at the tray. There was an elegant white cloth underneath everything, a clear vase with a single yellow tulip, a pitcher of OJ, a cup of coffee, fruit, butter, silverware wrapped inside a napkin, and a silver tray.

I inhaled deeply. "Everything smells delicious."

Opal smiled as she lifted the top off the tray. "I made you steak, eggs, and hash browns. Is that okay?"

I nodded, my mouth watering.

"Would you like me to get you anything else?" Opal asked sweetly.

"Uh, no." Because I'm afraid that you'll put rat poisoning or antifreeze in it and try to kill me. I silently added to myself. "This is just fine. I'm good."

"Okay," she took a deep breath and gave Dimitri a longing glance. "Enjoy your meal."

Opal closed the door softly behind her.

I grabbed a fork and speared a piece of scrambled eggs. When I scooped it into my mouth, I closed my eyes and moaned. "This is good."

When I opened my lids again, Dimitri was standing there, right in front of me. "How can you be eating at a time like this?"

"Because I'm hungry?" Manners long forgotten, I grabbed the thick steak between my fingers and started chewing on it like a starved animal. It was rare, juicy, and salty—just the way I liked it.

"We need to talk. About what happened."

The steak dropped to the plate, rattling the fork. "There's nothing to talk about. Nothing happened."

"How can you say that?"

I shrugged. "Because that's the way I feel. I just want to forget about it, forget about everything that happened between us and move on."

"So that's it? There's no hope for us? No way that we'll ever get back together?"

"Was that what you hoped to accomplish when you asked me to live with you? Hope that I'd fall back into your arms and forget the pain that you caused me? You need to wake up, Dimitri. That's never going to happen." My voice was rising by the moment. The food was no longer appealing to me.

"Pain I caused you?" he laughed bitterly, those hard eyes bore into mine with an angry passion. "What about the pain that you had caused me? Do you ever think about that? Or are you so caught up in your own feelings that you are unable to think about someone else's?"

"How dare you." I abruptly stood up and got right into his face. It wasn't very intimidating or scary, considering the top of my head didn't even reach his nipples. "How can you say that I caused you pain? You left me, Dimitri!"

His voice was a low and deadly whisper. "Let me make this clear once and for all, I left you because I loved you…because I wanted to make a better life for us. Do you know how excruciating and agonizing I felt when I received your text? It was horrible. Absolutely horrible. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. And then when I found out that your number had been disconnected and there was no way to contact you…" Dimitri shut his eyes and shook his head.

"Do you know how painful it was for me when you left for Russia?" I countered. "I know that I talked to you every night, and that you told me that you missed me and loved me…and couldn't wait until you saw me again. But my insecurities got the best of me...I spent so many nights awake, wondering what you were doing, where you were, who you were with. I kept picturing you with other woman, woman that were prettier than me…woman that you would love more. And I kept picturing you in bed with them, making love to them." I clamped my eyes shut in agony. "I couldn't stand the thought of you cheating on me. I hated to be lied to."

"I never lied to you." Dimitri's Russian accent was incredibly thick. "I was faithful. I was always faithful to you."

I made a weird sound. "I find that hard to believe."

"And why is that?"

"Because you were so far away from me. You could have done whatever you wanted without getting caught."

"I only had eyes for you, baby." His fingers brushed along my cheekbone. "No other woman has held my attention like you have. You were the only one I wanted."

Were? My chest constricted.

"Are you sleeping with Opal?" I blurted out.

"What?" Dimitri tensed and dropped his hand.

"Are you having sex with Opal? Be honest. I want to know."

"Yes. I have many lovers."

"Have or had?"

"Have." he repeated, looking apologetic and regretful. "You asked me to be honest and I am. I have many lovers."

It would have hurt less if he had shoved a knife through my heart.

The lump in my throat was the size of a baseball and burned like I'd swallowed a jellyfish. "Okay." My knees buckled and I had no choice but to sit down.

"Are you sleeping with Andre?"

"I hardly think that's any of your business." Oh, god. I was starting to hyperventilate. I inhaled through my nose and forced myself to breathe slowly.

"Please, Rose. I am asking that you be honest with me as I have been honest with you." Dimitri crouched and touched my thigh.

I flicked his hand off. "Don't touch me." I growled, bringing a shaky hand to my clammy forehead.

And then I answered his question, just in hopes of bringing him a sliver of the pain he'd brought me this morning. "Yes, I've slept with Andre on several occasions."

Dimitri's eyes went black, his lips lifting into a sneer. With a savage hiss, he slammed his fists against the tray, causing it to bang loudly. I jumped, my heartbeat hammered against my chest.

Wordlessly, he picked up the clear vase with the yellow tulip in it and threw it against the wall. It exploded like confetti, shattered glass shooting in all directions.

I yelped in surprise and fear.

"I have to go. You should get to work." he spat, picking up his jacket and tie. "This is not a charity. You are not living here for free."

I gasped and narrowed my eyes. "How dare you talk to me like that."

"If you don't like it, then leave." he said darkly. "I am not keeping you as my prisoner. You can go. The door is wide open."

"I'll do my damn job because of Victor, and because I'm not a quitter." This made him grin widely. The nerve. I jabbed my finger in his face. "But stay the fuck out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours. Deal?"

"With that attitude," Dimitri said. "I'd be more than happy to comply."

"What goes on between the two of us is strictly business from now on. Got it?"

He frowned. "First of all, don't talk to me like that. This is my home. You are merely a guest. And yes, I have…" he quoted the air. "Got it."

With one last hard glare, he left the room.

I collapsed on the bed and cried my heart out.

Thankfully, Dimitri hadn't asked me to wear any ridiculous French-maid outfit.

I hopped out of the steaming shower and threw on an old pair of black sweats and a comfy grey t-shirt.

After shoving on some flip-flops, I slipped out of my room and bumped into something hard.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" I snapped, backing up a few steps and tugging on the bottoms of my t-shirt.

"My apologies miss…?" The man had a thick Russian accent.

My head snapped up.

Gosh, were all the men in this mansion absolutely drop dead gorgeous? The man I'd bumped into had to be six-foot-three or six-foot-four with shoulder-length blonde hair and sharp midnight-blue eyes.

"Rose, my name is Rose." I closed my gaping mouth and swallowed hard.

"Ah, such a beautiful name for a beautiful lady." His eyes traveled up and down my baggy and ripped clothes.

I snorted and put up my hand. "Save it, buddy."

I started walking in the opposite direction. "Wait." he grabbed my arm.

I eyed where our bodies connected. "Do you want to keep that hand?"

The man with the heavy Russian accent dropped it immediately. "My name is Ivan."

I narrowed my eyes. "Ivan what?"

He seemed slightly thrown off by my sharp tone. "Ivan Zelkos."

"Ah, yes." I clamped my hands together and spoke in a sugary-sweet sarcastic voice. "You are Dimitri's best friend. The two of you worked together in Russia while he was on that internship." I paused. "I don't like you. Any friend of Dimitri's is an enemy of mine."

He raised a blonde brow as his lips curved into a bemused smirk. "But you hardly know me. How can you say that?"

I shrugged. "It's easy to be a bitch. After awhile, it just comes naturally."

"You shouldn't be so harsh on him, you know."

"Huh?"

"Dimitri," Ivan said, dark-blue eyes staring down at me. "He loves you very much. And the way you are acting towards him now is tearing him up on the inside—although, he won't show it. I know it hurts him."

I grimaced. "Why don't you mind your own business?"

"Dimitri is my best friend. He is my business."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Look, all I am saying is that he truly does love you. You were all he talked about back in Russia. It was sappy…but I listened to him. And honestly, over these past six years, I'm getting sick of hearing your name. Not to mention the endless search."

My head cocked to the side, curious. "Endless search?"

"Endless search for you." Ivan explained, his voice had an edge to it. "Dimitri has been looking for you ever since you changed your phone number. First it was the phone books, then countless hours on the internet, and then dumping thousands upon thousands of dollars on private investigators." he sighed tiredly. "Somehow, we still couldn't find you. It was like you disappeared off the face of the earth."

I nodded and pursed my lips. "Yep, that's pretty much what I did."

"Anyways, I must get back to work." Ivan smiled and extended his hand. "Mind if we start over? A clean, fresh start? Can we not be mortal enemies?"

Unable to control myself, I smiled and took his offered handshake. "I suppose. But I'm not sure about the last one."

"Fine by me," he winked. "We'll work on it."

Ivan was about halfway down the hall when I called his name.

He turned around. "Yeah?"

"Uh, I'm supposed to be working today. Do you know what I should do first?" God, I sounded so stupid.

Ivan smiled kindly. "Go ask Opal. She works down in the kitchen. She handles everyone's schedules."

I grimaced. "Okay, thanks."

He nodded and disappeared.

I found Opal downstairs in the kitchen, holding a butcher knife.

I tensed and stopped. "Oh, god."

Opal turned around. "Rose is that you? What's wrong?" she set the knife down and wiped her hands with a rag. "You look like you saw a ghost."

I shook my head and forced myself to speak. "Uh, no. I just spoke with Ivan, he said that you would have my schedule?"

"Oh, yes. Of course. Silly me." she tossed the rag onto the counter and went over to a drawer. After a few moments of rummaging through it, she pulled out a blue piece of paper. "Here you go."

I took it. "Thanks."

"You work Monday through Friday." I mentally did a fist-pump. I had the weekends off! "New schedules are put out every week. So make sure you come and get one every Monday."

I nodded. "M'kay. Got it. Thanks again."

"No problem." Opal smiled.

Maybe she wasn't so bad after all. Maybe I had judged her too quickly. She was really sweet. And she did make great food…

No.

That wasn't enough to change my opinion about her. She was still getting it on with Dimitri. And I still hated her guts. She probably felt the same way, too. So I didn't feel bad for hating her so much.

I sauntered out of the kitchen as I studied my schedule, only to stop dead in my tracks. "You have got to be kidding me."

Monday: Scrub toilets, wash floors on level 2 & 3, Laundry – rooms 7, 10, 16, & 22.

I had to do peoples laundry? "Disgusting." My face scrunched up.

And that's when I remembered that room 22 was the master suite. Dimitri's room.

I had to do Dimitri's laundry? OH. HELL. NO.

I wasn't going to touch anything that belonged to him with a ten-foot pole.

'I'll do my damn job because of Victor, and because I'm not a quitter.'

Shit. I'd made a promise. I couldn't back out now.

Biting my tongue and swallowing my pride, I trotted up to room seven which was on the first floor.

And it happened to be Uncle Victor's room.

"UNCLE VICTOR!" I screamed, running and tackling him into a hug.

"Whoa, dear. Someone is a happy camper today, aren't they?" He let out a throaty laugh.

I pulled back and looked at him. He was even healthier than before. He'd gained back all the weight he'd lost over the years, plus more. Probably because all the food he'd been eating since he'd started spending time with Dimitri. The two had a love for Russian food. Apparently, Opal was good at making that too.

"How was your doctor's appointment?"

"Wonderful, just wonderful. Dr. Greene is so sweet. She made me feel right at home." he smiled. "They ran a couple of cat scans and blood tests. When Dr. Greene came back into the room with those X-rays and told me that the Sandovsky's cell growth had minimized…" he shook his head. The look in his eyes made me want to burst out in tears. "I was so overjoyed that I skipped on back to the car."

I laughed.

"Although I know my battle with the disease is far from over, I have new hope, Rosemarie. I want to live a long, healthy life. I want to live to see my grandchildren." I sucked in a breath when he said that. I was the only family he was close to. I knew that it meant he considered me as his daughter and he wanted me to pop out a few babies.

Oh, lord. It was time to find a stud…

"Life is great, isn't it dear?" Uncle Victor let out a delightful laugh and opened his arms.

I hugged him and laid my head against his chest. I thought about how blessed we'd been with his successful surgeries, improving health, and how Dimitri had come back into my life. If it wasn't for him, none of this would have been possible. He was like Superman in disguise.

I sighed. "Yeah, I guess it is."

Uncle Victor pulled back and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

"So how do you like your new room?" There was a basket filled with dirty clothes in the corner of the room. I grabbed it, assuming that was the first step in doing laundry. I really didn't know. I'd never done it before. Fluff and fold is what kept clean clothes flowing to Victor and I in my old apartment.

He grinned so widely I thought it my split his face in half. "Do you really have to ask that?" his face glowed with happiness.

I chuckled as I balanced the basket on my hip. "I suppose not. Oh, god. Uncle Victor! Get down!"

"Why?" he jumped up and down on the bed. "Because I'm old and you're afraid I'll break a hip?"

"Exactly!" I shouted, marching over to the edge of the bed. "Get down now. Before I come up there and take you down myself."

Uncle Victor abruptly fell flat on his back, he started moving his arms up and down on the blankets, as if he was making a snow angel. "I feel sixteen again! Did you know that I beat Dimitri in Call of Duty: Modern warfare 2 last night? Never even touched an Xbox 360 before. And I still beat him."

I snorted. "Good for you. Good for you. Now, I gotta go. Stay out of trouble and no more jumping on the bed."

"No promises, dear."

I shoved the last of the funnel cake into my mouth.

Dimitri's lips twitched. "How considerate of you."

I glanced down at the empty plate. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you want some?" I swirled my fingertips along the plate, gathering powder sugar. "Here." I flicked it in his face. Little white dots covered his tan skin.

I busted up laughing as Dimitri grabbed a napkin and cleaned it up. "Why did you even ask me on a date?"

My good mood vanished and my attitude came back. "Because I want to get into your pants?"

"We could have done that back at the Jiu jitsu Palace. Up against the wall." There was a mocking gleam in his eye. I could see it even though we were in the dark, in a deserted park, near the black forests edge. "After all, my body was made for fucking. It could have been quick. Over with. And we'd be out of each others systems."

I gaped and abruptly got up. "You're an arrogant jerk! I can't believe I even asked you to come here. Just...just forget I ever did. And then we can go back to hating each other. Because that's what we do best."

I picked up my purse and threw it over my shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Dimitri stood from the wooden bench.

"Home." I said. "I need to get away from you. Far away from you."

I marched in the opposite direction.

"Let me walk you to your car. It's the least I can do."

I shot him a haughty look over my shoulder. He was following less than ten feet behind me. "Oh, believe me. You've done enough tonight."

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, Rose." Dimitri said softly. "I need to stay away from you. You don't want me to complicate your life. It's better that we don't get involved. I am your teacher. You deserve someone better than me. A man that will take care of you and love you."

I gritted my teeth and continued to walk. "What if I said that I wanted you?"

"Then I'd say that you were stupid and naive."

I laughed bitterly as I angrily searched for my keys. "Maybe I am."

"Rose, wait. Just hear me out." Dimitri pleaded. "I am-wait! Watch out!"

It was already too late.

I hadn't even seen it coming. I'd been too distracted with the man behind me.

My shins banged against something hard and I went flying forward…straight into the parks water fountain.

When I emerged from the icy cool water, drenched from head to toe, I realized that Dimitri was in the fountain with me…just as soaked. He was the one who had pulled me out so quickly.

"Are you okay?" he shook me, his face was full of concern.

A giggle escaped my mouth. And then another. And another…

I was soon in hysterics, clutching my stomach with tears streaming out of my eyes.

"What's so funny?" Dimitri cracked a smile.

"I-I-I," I laughed even harder. "I fell in, then you jumped in…a-a-a and now were all wet!"

He took one more look at me before he cracked.

We laughed so hard that we had to lean against each other, hug each other.

"Oh, my god! Stop! I can't breathe!" I gasped. "My stomach hurts."

Five minutes later, we were finally able to gain our composure. For some unknown reason, the both of us were still sitting in the freezing water.

I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and giggled. "It's ruined."

Dimitri smiled as he pulled out his wallet. "Ruined." He dumped the soggy bills, they sunk to the bottom.

"Looks like your hoes will have to work extra hard tonight to make you some extra money."

He didn't laugh at my joke.

There was a heat and passion in his dark eyes that made me gasp. I'd only seen it once before…when he'd accidentally walked in on me getting dressed in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Palace's bathroom.

Dimitri's gaze flickered to my lips.

Before I knew what was happening, he'd pulled me into his arms and crushed his lips to mine. I threw my arms around his neck as he covered his body with mine and lowered me further into the water.

I didn't feel the rocks digging into my back, or the freezing temperature of the water…I only felt Dimitri's large hands caressing my body, consuming it.

This was our first kiss. And definitely the best one I'd ever had.

The sound of the dryer beeping brought me out of my daydream. With a loud sigh, I rubbed the sweat from my forehead with my t-shirt before throwing all of the clothes into the basket.

Opal smiled and clapped her hands. "Great job! How was your first day?"

"Completely boring and my feet are killing me." I started matching the socks. "All I want to do is jump in the shower and go to sleep."

Her forehead creased. "Aren't you coming to dinner?"

"Depends on what you're cookin'."

Opal's trademark enthusiastic smile came back. "Filet Mignon, lobster, asparagus, and red wine. And for desert, I'm making red-velvet cake. It's Dimitri's favorite."

"Oh, Opal." I patted her back. "You had me at Filet."

I placed the basket on my aching hip. "Okay, I have to go drop this off, take a shower, and then I'll be down. What time is dinner?"

"Forty-five minutes."

"Perfect. See ya then."

After showering the days hard work and sweat off, I slipped into a pair of jeans and comfy but sexy Dolce and Gabbana top. I was too exhausted to get all dolled up, so I threw my hair into a bun and headed down stairs. It was funny how familiar I was with this mansion. I'd been here less than forty-eight hours and I already knew the place like the back of my hand.

Dinner was okay. The food was great, and so was Opal, Ivan, and Darius...but having Dimitri there wasn't. He didn't even spare me a second glance the entire night. And I hated being ignored. But seeing that hard look on his face broke my heart. Had he really given up on me? Thrown in the towel?

That made me furious.

When I finally collapsed in bed that night, my dreams were filled with him.