"I would just like to say that I was the one who said I love you first." Stuart bent down and placed a soft, feather-light kiss on her forehead.
Edie raised her head and looked into his eyes. "It doesn’t matter who said what first. I’ve been told that love is a balance. A balance between giving and taking and also between letting go and holding on. I don’t think that one of us gives more, and the other gives less," she said, trying to make him understand.
Stuart had a faint smile on his lips. "We all want to be needed, and if we feel like we’re not, we won’t feel cherished. I don’t ever want you to think that I take you for granted. Yes, I have always cared about winning. It was bred in , but love isn’t about winning or losing," he said, his voice soft and lodic. "In relationships, there is never really one winner and one loser; two people either win-or lose-together; that was the hardest thing in the world for to understand until I t you truly."
In short hard sentences, he told her, and Edie never spoke nor moved and only watched him. The light in her eyes is quickening, misting, and growing tender as he talked. He had told her sothing of this before, but not with such emotion, such detail. She looked up through her tears at the bright face, which was now looking down at her with so much compassion. "I want you to know that I could never have gotten through any of this without you. I can’t ever see my life without you, right next to ." Her eyes locked with his, and her voice was low, vibrating. "I have to go now. Cecil’s waiting for ." She placed the gauze on the nightstand and turned to leave, but Stuart grabbed her wrist.
"Can’t he sleep by himself? I’m not feeling well?" He turns again to Edie, but the tone is his voice is a little sharper. "You should take care of ?" he said, seeming unusually sad. He did all he could to persuade her to stay with him. Knowing he’d disappointed her by feuding with Cecil disturbed him. Sooner or later, it would’ve happened, but he wasn’t expecting it to be so soon.
Stuart looked more pale than usual, and his eyes quivered with an uncertain and gloomy fire. Edie looked at the expression on his face and started to giggle. "You’re a grown man who’s pouting. We will have children one day, so this is sothing you need to get used to."
"I don’t want....: Stuart never finished his sentence before Edie interrupted him.
"Don’t you dare say it. I know you, and you will change your mind," she said, giving him a smile. "It’s not like it’s the first ti you’ve ever slept alone. You were single for many years."
"But....." Again she interrupted him
"If you behave yourself, I promise there will be a reward." Then Edie bent down and kissed him on the cheek. She pulled her hand quickly from his grasp, not wanting him to retake hold of it.
He lowered his voice almost to a whisper. "So, you’re leaving?" He gently touched his wound as he looked at her.
Edie lowered her voice. "I don’t want to do this either, but I made a promise. Lie down, and I’ll go," she said helplessly.
Stuart’s phone rang, startling him from his thoughts. He quickly glanced at it. The unfamiliar number on display made him frown. Then he nodded for Edie to go. "Goodnight," he said.
Edie could tell by the worried expression on his face that sothing was wrong. The confusion was heavy on her face as she nodded back and turned to leave the room.
Stuart waited until the door closed behind Edie. He stood up and grabbed his phone and gave it a quick swipe with his thumb. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice cold as ice.
"As a shareholder in the L. N. Group, I would like to invite you to the Brand Fonce celebration dinner. I want you to bring your lovely wife...." The man took in a deep breath and continued. "Please don’t let down." The deep voice with a strange accent was horribly familiar.
"What are you up to, and why is it so important that the wife goes?" Stuart asked in a faint whisper, and his fist clenched at his side, his pulse racing so hard he felt sick.
"Why are you so reluctant to introduce to your wife. I’m not up to anything, and all your accusations are making feel uncomfortable..." William cleared his throat. "Relax! I’m only curious and who wouldn’t be. Mr. Yates, who has never let a woman near him, is now a married man. I’m concerned about the business, and if you don’t bring your wife..." he hesitates, and his voice becos deeper. "I’ll withdraw my investnt." He laughed at the braying sound affecting Stuart like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Stuart’s expression turned murderous, and his eyes grew dark. "I would advise you to be careful what you say."
His voice made William tremble. He took a deep breath and focused. There would be consequences if he defied Stuart. He had to be careful about what he said to him. "I’m not trying to make you angry. I’m looking at my investnt. I need the money. If you didn’t allow to protect her, I would like to et her at least. Our paths would cross one day, and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her." He frowned, and a serious look ca into his eyes.
There was a brief silence. Stuart knew William’s character and knew he couldn’t be trusted. This was how the business worked. He was only trying to find a way back into the company. Stuart finally nodded his head in agreent. "Okay, I’ll let you see her."
William refused, "No!" Then he suddenly raised his voice. "I don’t want you to be there. I want to et her alone,"
"Let think about it," Stuart sighed. Then in his hardest, coldest voice, he said, "Never, will I allow you to be alone with my wife."
William was surprised by Stuart’s answer. A little beat of curiosity pulsed through his brain as he raised his eyebrows. "Do you think that’s in your best interest?" he asked.
"I know who you are and how vindictive and deceitful you can be. Test and see what I’m capable of. See what I wouldn’t do for her!" Stuart’s voice didn’t raise a decibel, but the threat in his tone was unmistakable.
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