~~PEYTON~~
”You’re darn lucky you didn’t bail on me.
I would have—”
”Good evening, Momma.” Odin cut his mother off, giving her a peck on the cheek.
She had been waiting at the entrance, and the moment we arrived, she fires at Odin, completely ignoring my presence.
I don’t mind; I’m used to it.
I stand beside Odin like a stranger, hands tucked in my pockets as the squabble between mother and son goes on.
She is crossing her arms, pouting as Odin showers her with praise.
Her name’s Natalie, and she looks lost in her butterfly long gown, but is radiant as ever, with dimples like Odin, and the same hair and eyes.
The twins had taken after their father only.
Odin is a mama’s boy.
When they are done with their fight, it ends with a bear hug.
They laugh and saunter inside, acting like I didn’t exist.
I stood there, waiting.
“Are you coming in, or do you prefer watching the sky?” a voice cut in.
It’s Rafael, leaning against the wall in a simple black shirt, hair damp like he just came out of the shower.
I smiled.
“Oh, I’m waiting for permission. Last time I was here, your momma scolded me for coming in without proper pleasantries, so today I chose not to give those, and now I’m stuck outside.”
Rafael rolled his eyes.
“You’re just as dramatic as Odin. You two are a perfect match.”
I rolled my eyes back at him and strode inside.
The house is the same as I remember.
Not a single speck of dust, every cushion arranged in order like a model posing for the camera.
Even the rugs look vacuumed with military precision.
That’s Natalie for you.
As I scanned the place, my gaze landed on a round corner, and it stayed there as if waiting for something to appear.
And as the universe may have it, someone comes out wet and half-naked save for the underwear that is dripping with water.
“Axel, what the hell is wrong with you?” Natalie shrieks.
Odin stifles a laugh, and Rafael facepalms himself as if wishing to disappear on his behalf.
“I told you not to jump into the pool without having a robe or towel on—”
”Sorry, Momma.” Axel cuts her off, planting a kiss on her cheek.
I heard whispers from behind.
I turned and found a girl—housekeeper, maybe—perched at the corner, face flushed, eyes fixed on some point on Axel’s body.
I can’t help but look at Axel again, and that’s when I notice down below his torso, you can see the outline of his dick.
And instantly, a silly thought flashed in my mind.
okay, I’ll stop there.
I can’t avoid his gaze, which is now boring into me.
It’s like his eyes are trying to send signals or something.
Then…
it hits me.
The text.
My face scrunches…
God, I want to hit him right now.
He did say I’d come to him.
Is this what he meant?
His mother’s small get-together?
He knew this was inevitable.
“Peyton…
Peyton.”
”Um…” I snapped back to reality, eyes unfocused.
Natalie, Odin, and Rafael are all staring at me like I was a ghost caught mid-haunt.
“Zoned out?” Odin asks, eyes narrowed.
Natalie looks at me in disgust, then slaps Axel on the shoulder.
“Go wrap yourself in a robe now!”
I don’t miss the way Axel grins before he obeys his mother.
They are all still staring at me as if waiting for an explanation.
My face flushes.
“I think…
I need to use the bathroom.”
Natalie scoffs, “It’s the first door on your left down the hall.
Try not to track water everywhere, for heaven’s sake.”
I know the way; she doesn’t need to tell me.
I mumble as I practically flee.
The moment the bathroom door clicks shut, I sag against it, taking a deep, shaky breath.
My heart slams in my chest so loudly that I can hear it.
I don’t know if it’s because of the embarrassment or just from seeing the asshole’s face.
Probably both.
I sigh, turn to the sink, and just as I am about to turn the tap on, the door creaks.
I freeze.
And then it slams shut.
He’s so close that I hold my breath, waiting for him to pull away.
But he doesn’t.
He switches on the tap for me, the water gushing loud enough to drown out the sudden hammering in my chest.
I hate how I’m quiet.
I’m supposed to lash at him like the way I did on the phone, but no, I’m suddenly tongue-tied.
And worst, I look like a startled deer caught in headlights, frozen and utterly ridiculous.
I need to say something—anything.
“Where are my panties?” The words come out before I can stop them.
He smirks, now facing me.
“Somewhere safe.”
I raise a brow.
“What century do underpants need protection?”
”Would you have preferred me returning them…
you know,” he shrugs, “with Odin watching?”
I shuffle back; the distance between us suddenly feels small.
“You knew I was Odin’s wife, yet you flirt with me. Why?” I ask, and he frowns.
“Flirt?
I thought we had sex.”
”Answer the damn question,” I snap, and I know deep down it’s not anger.
It’s helplessness and the fact that my body is betraying me.
The worst part is the bastard doesn’t mince words.
His brow furrows like he’s thinking.
Seriously, is he coming up with a reason why he manipulated me?
“Here’s how it was,” he starts.
“You are in a club in a fur jacket and teasing thigh, and then you wet my pants. Judging from the look of that situation, it was obvious you were out to cause some trouble, and I was just the lucky guy you picked.”
I’m speechless.
Is that supposed to be an answer to the question?
So if a lady causes trouble in a club, she should be…
I didn’t cause any trouble; it was an honest mistake.
And I said sorry.
I rub my temples.
“Please speak in a language I understand.”
He smiles.
“You wanted to have fun, and it’s not a secret that your marriage to Odin is a charade.”
I frown.
“What?”
”Everybody knows, Peyton,” he adds casually as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“The whole family. It’s the talk of every dinner party and golf course. So yeah, I figured you were looking for a little excitement outside of your ‘cash’ arrangement.”
I blinked, and for a brief second, my brain shut down.
Has Odin been telling everyone?
Has he been parading our fucked-up marriage around like a badge of honor, painting me as the gold-digger wife?