Chapter 11
Britney turned around and smiled warmly. “I was home anyway, so I thought I’d make something nice for you all. It was no big deal.”
Calvin walked in and took in the spread on the table.
Seeing Noah and Simon eat happily while Britney smiled gently beside them, Calvin felt genuinely happy
and content for a moment.
He wrapped an arm around Britney’s waist and pulled her close. “Thank you for everything, Britney.”
Britney brushed his hair off his forehead and said softly, “It’s nothing, Calvin. I promised I’d take care of you. This is exactly what I should do. Now, hurry and eat.”
“Yeah, okay,” he replied, nodding as he slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over the back of a chair. Then, almost as an afterthought, he asked, “Hasn’t Avery come down yet?”
Noah was quick to answer, “Mom’s not here anymore, Dad! Did you forget?”
Simon piped up, “It’s just Britney now!”
Only then did Calvin remember that Avery was already gone.
He still wasn’t used to it. Every time someone mentioned Avery, he couldn’t believe she had actually left him. After all, she loved him so deeply.
His hands stilled for a moment as he lost himself in thought, but he quickly forced himself to move on.
Britney caught every flicker of emotion on his face.
That night, as Calvin entered the bedroom, Britney immediately hugged him tightly.
“Calvin, are you still thinking about Avery? She’ll probably come back in a few days. But for now, can you belong to me?” Britney pouted.
“Britney, I’ve always been yours.”
Calvin hated to see Britney looking so upset. He hugged her tightly, forcing away every thought of Avery.
The thin fabric of Britney’s nightgown draped every curve. Her hands wandered over Calvin, stealing his breath.
When her hand dipped too’low, he grabbed her wrist and said hoarsely, “Britney, you started this.”
He swept her up and tossed her onto the bed.
Clothes hit the floor, and soon, the room filled with her soft moans.
“Calvin, that’s enough…”
Chapter 11
2/2
But right then, Calvin didn’t want to stop. He left kisses all over her, marking her again and again.
When morning came, Britney was so worn out she couldn’t even get up.
Calvin had already left for the office. Something big was happening at work, and he had to handle it
himself.
Still half-asleep, Britney heard a knock at the door. She frowned and mumbled, “Who is it?”
“Ms. Walker, the boys will be late for school if you don’t take them now,” Regina called through the door.
Not the kids again!
Britney rolled over and snapped, “Let them go themselves. It’s not like they don’t know the way.”
Outside, Noah and Simon waited hopefully. When they heard her words, the excitement in their eyes
vanished.
“Britney’s just tired. We can get to school by ourselves today,” Noah said.
“It’s okay. Let her rest. We’re big kids now,” Simon said as he pulled on his backpack.
Regina looked at the two boys, only four and five years old, and couldn’t help but worry. “I’ll call your dad
and have the driver take you. It’s not safe for you to go alone.”
But Noah and Simon shook their heads. “No, Dad’s at work. If Britney wants us to walk ourselves, she
must be trying to make us stronger. Let’s go!”
They ran out the door, leaving Regina behind.
Britney just went right back to sleep.
She didn’t get up until the afternoon. When she finally heard about what happened that morning, she
didn’t react at all.
After that, whether it was going to or coming home from school, Britney couldn’t be bothered to go pick
them up. The boys walked themselves back every day.
On days when Calvin had to work late, she didn’t even bother asking Regina to make them dinner. She’d
finish her own meal and then tell Regina to give Noah and Simon whatever was left.
Only when Calvin was home did Britney put on her gentle, loving act again.
Over time, even the boys, who had once adored Britney, couldn’t take it anymore.
One afternoon after school, they came to Britney’s room together.
“What is it, Noah? Simon?” she asked.
