How was I supposed to convince myself this was just pretend when my body already believed it wasn’t?
I told myself it was the situation. The stress. The novelty of not standing alone, for once.
But deep down, I knew better.
Ledger wasn’t just playing the role of my husband. He was rewriting something I’d thought was unchangeable. And I didn’t know whether to protect myself from that or to lean into it and hope it didn’t break me later.
“Roxie,” my mother said finally, dabbing her mouth with her napkin. “You never answered my question. What exactly are you planning to do now?”
The table went quiet.
This was it.
I inhaled slowly. “I’m starting a consulting business. Social media strategy for small brands and local businesses. Helping them build sustainable platforms instead of chasing trends.”
My father raised a brow. “With your trust fund?”
“Yes,” I said evenly. “It’s my money.”
My mother sighed. “You always insist on doing things the hard way.”
Ledger’s hand tightened slightly on my knee.
“She’s building something,” he said before I could stop him. “She’s smart. Strategic. And she understands digital engagement better than anyone I know.”
I stared at him.
He didn’t look at me, just at my parents, voice strong and certain.
“That’s not exactly reassuring,” my father said.
Ledger smiled. “Respectfully, sir, it doesn’t need to be. It just needs to work.”
Silence stretched.
My mother set her fork down. “Roxie, darling, you could’ve had so much more.”
And that was the last of Ledger’s restraint.
He pushed his chair back smoothly and stood. “We’re leaving.”
My heart slammed into my ribs.
“Excuse me?” my mother said.
Ledger offered a polite smile that somehow managed to be ice cold. “This has been informative. But my wife doesn’t deserve to be spoken to like she’s a disappointment.”
I stopped breathing.
He placed his hand on the back of my chair. “Roxie.”
I stood on shaky legs.
“Thank you for brunch,” he said to my parents before he grabbed my hand and led me out the door.
Outside, the moment the door shut behind us, something inside me broke loose.
I turned and threw my arms around him, burying my face in his chest.
