Chapter 19 The Fight
Ginny used to be terrified of pain. Even
the tiniest scratch would send her
running to Chandler, clinging to him, using the moment as an excuse to act cute, to feel like she mattered.
But that was back when they had just gotten married.
Later, Chandler stopped coming home much. And even when he did, he hardly paid her any attention.
Eventually, she stopped trying to catch his eye with things like that.
Now, as he brought it up out of nowhere, Ginny realized for the first time—he had
known all along. Everything she’d done over the years, he’d seen it.
He just didn’t care. So he chose to pretend he hadn’t noticed.
“Don’t move.” Chandler finished tending the wound on her arm, then looked up and noticed the scrape on her neck. He leaned in without a word, reaching for the
medicine.
Ginny instantly felt his breath on her skin, warm and familiar. It had been a long time since they’d been this close.
Her instinct was to move away, but he blocked her, bracing his arms around her, holding her loosely in place.
Chapter 19 The Fight
There was nowhere for her to retreat. If she moved back any farther, she’d fall.
+8 Bonus
Left with no choice, Ginny shut her eyes. If she couldn’t see him, maybe she wouldn’t feel so much.
in his
Chandler saw her flinch and something
gaze darkened. He bent down and pressed a kiss to the wound on her neck.
The moment his lips touched her skin, Ginny’s eyes flew open in shock.
His hand rested on her shoulder, his head dipping into the curve of her neck as he kissed the wound again, gently—almost like he was trying to soothe it away.
His touch was practiced and unhurried.
11:28
Her breathing started to quicken without her even realizing it.
And then his phone rang.
“Hello,” he said. “…Yeah. Got it. I’ll be right there.”
The second he hung up, the atmosphere shattered like glass. Whatever had been building between them disappeared
without a trace.
Ginny sat up, her face blank as she closed the first-aid kit and reached to set it by
the bed.
Chandler moved faster, taking it from her
hands.
Just as he opened his mouth to say something, Ginny’s phone rang.
It was at the foot of the bed. She leaned forward to reach for it, but Chandler was
faster.
When he saw the caller ID-Ryan- his face immediately clouded. Without hesitation, he answered.
“She’s resting. Not available right now,’ he said coldly. “Whatever it is, call back later.”
He hung up before Ginny could stop him.
She stared at him, furious. “Who gave you the right to answer my phone? Who gave you the right to keep Ryan from calling
me?”
“I’m your husband.”
Chandler didn’t even know what came
over him. The moment he saw Ryan’s name, something inside him snapped. It wasn’t rational. He just reacted.
He already regretted answering the call the second he ended it, but he wasn’t
about to admit that to her.
Just as he was about to toss the phone back, a message came in-from Ryan.
Persistent bastard.
Chandler’s first instinct was to delete it. But before he could, Ginny lunged
forward and snatched the phone from his
hands.
He caught a glimpse of the subject line –something about a major medical conference.
His jaw tightened.
The memory of what the driver had told him the other day came rushing back.
“You’re not allowed to go to that conference,” he said, his voice low and
stern.
Then, as if he knew she wouldn’t listen, he pulled out his own phone and made a call right in front of her.
“Someone will come keep an eye on you,” he said flatly. “Until I say otherwise, you’re not leaving this house.”
“You don’t have the right!” Ginny’s anger flared. “We might still be married, but
71
that doesn’t give you the right to lock me up! I’ll see whoever I want, whenever I want. That’s my choice! Chandler, I’ve never asked you for anything, but that doesn’t mean you get to decide what I do!”
Chandler had never seen her like this. The fury in her eyes, the fire in her voice-it knocked the breath out of him.
Anger twisted through him. He opened his mouth, ready to fire back.
Then his phone rang again.
It was Melody.
She was getting impatient.
“Chandler,” her voice was weak and breathless. “My chest feels tight. I can’t breathe. What if I’m…’
