Chapter 3

3 I had just left the cemetery after visiting my parents.

A news alert popped up on my phone.

"Sinclair Heir Gets Into Brawl on Set to Defend Janie's Honor."

Before I could read it, a text came from Cooper's mother.

"Get to the hospital. Now."

I stared at the phone, then stuffed it in my purse and got back in the car.

Taylor sent me a message.

"Your husband's at my hospital."

"Eighteen stitches in his head. Who was he trying to protect this time?"

I stared at the words, lost in thought.

Cooper rarely acted impulsively. The last time he had gotten into a fight was before we were married.

I remembered when Taylor took me to a bar when I was 18.

I was harassed by some drunk guy.

Taylor had stepped outside to take a call. It almost escalated.

Then Cooper smashed a bottle over the guy's head.

His face was a mask of fury. "She's under my protection. You touch her, you answer to me."

The drunk guy didn't recognize the Sinclair heir. He actually fought back.

Cooper nearly tore the bar apart that night.

Grandpa Sinclair gave him a beating when we got home.

I treated his wounds, horrified by the welts on his back. I couldn't stop crying.

Cooper had laughed. "Don't cry. Just marry me."

I got angry and jabbed his back with the cotton swab.

"Ow! Ow! I'm sorry, princess! I was just joking!"

He winced in pain.

I didn't say anything. Neither did he.

Finally, he whispered, "Penelope, I'll always protect you."

That was a long time ago.

Now, at 28, Cooper was protecting a different woman every week.

It certainly wouldn't be Penelope.

I arrived at the hospital room.

Cooper's mother was already there, her face like a thundercloud.

I walked over and said politely, "Mother Sinclair."

She forced a smile, then slapped me hard across the face.

"Is this how you take care of your husband?"

My head snapped to the side. Her ring cut my cheek.

"That's enough."

With that, she stormed off with her security guards.

A bead of blood dripped down my face.

I wiped it away and went into the room.

Cooper was on his phone, in a video call with Janie.

She was crying. "Don't ever do something like that again. What would I do if something happened to you?"

"You've already said that a million times," Cooper said, sounding impatient. But he was trying to keep calm. "Okay, I'm sorry. I know I messed up."

I froze.

I bumped into a chair, making a noise.

"Hang up."

Cooper glanced at me, bored.

He leaned back against the headboard, his voice lazy.

"Took you long enough. If something actually happened, you'd only be left to bury your husband."

I didn't answer.

I just stood there, silent.

The playfulness faded from his face.

He seemed uncomfortable with my silence. He turned away, looking out the window.

Since that day, our relationship had been filled with fighting, tears, and resentment.

There had been very little harmony.

I studied him.

His face was perfect, even with the bandage on his head.

I reached out to touch his forehead.

He slapped my hand away.

Cooper looked up, annoyed. His eyes landed on the cut on my cheek, and he froze.

He reached out and touched it. "She did this?"

He was talking about his mother, of course.

My heart ached. I forced a smile. "Yeah. Are you going to get revenge for me?"

He stared at me, his eyes searching.

If his mother had ever said a harsh word to me, Cooper would have flown into a rage.

He would have torn the Sinclair mansion apart.

But now…

He looked down and smirked. "She didn't hit you hard enough."

"This little bit of pain isn't nearly enough for the pain you've caused me."

I went silent again.

After a long, long pause, I said, "Maybe we should get a divorce."