Chapter 2

I carried James's things straight into the guest room.

Liam barked, "Stop!"

"You want another man living with you?"

"Letting him into the house is my limit—are you pushing your luck?"

"Absolutely not!"

I didn't stop, dragging the luggage inside.

Liam rushed over, soap suds still on his hands, and grabbed my wrist, demanding, "Are you insane?"

I shook him off and asked, "Isabella isn't feeling well, and she needs the big bed to sleep comfortably."

"I've already given up the master bedroom. Didn't you say I could do whatever I wanted with the guest room?"

When we first married, we weren't too picky about the house.

But we wanted our own space after tying the knot, so we bought a small place.

There are only two rooms, and Isabella had whined and pleaded her way into taking the master bedroom.

My stuff was in there, and she complained it was too cluttered and suffocating.

So, I was forced to move into the guest room, me and all my things.

Liam paused for a moment, seeming to remember that, and his tone softened, though he still frowned. "It's not about what you do with the room."

I asked, confused, "Then what is it?"

"James can't get around easily—his legs are still healing. Where else is he supposed to sleep?"

Liam's temper flared again: "But he's a man!"

Seeing Liam's flushed face, it hit me—wasn't that my old line?

I sighed; we needed to talk this out. "Liam, I was wrong."

Liam toned it down: "Glad you see that."

I looked him in the eye and said sincerely, "I mean, I finally get how you feel."

"Isabella is your crush, and seeing her suffer hurts you."

"Today, I felt the same way about James. I can't just abandon him."

"How about this: you take care of Isabella, and I'll take care of James. We'll coexist peacefully."

"You fix your past regrets, and I fulfill my old self—it's a win-win."

But Liam blurted out, "Ridiculous!"

"This is utterly ridiculous!"

I was baffled. "Isn't it perfect? Besides, you were the one who let Isabella move in first. If anyone's being ridiculous, it's you!"

Liam stood there, speechless for a long moment, his face still red—clearly not convinced.

Isabella made noise from the master bathroom.

"Liam, come quick!"

Surprisingly, Liam didn't rush in immediately like he usually did.

He stayed put, studying me quietly. "Zoe, are you doing this to get back at me?"

Isabella's voice grew louder, and I didn't have time to argue, so I pushed him away. "What revenge? Just go. Isabella's pregnant—if something happens, it'll be bad."

Liam finally left, half-reluctantly.

I breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to finish tidying up.

James is sensitive—I needed to get back to him fast.