My Marriage Was Their Bet novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Gate

Samson's hands went still on my hips.

"Go," I said.

"Daphne."

"Go now. Lights off until the corner."

I climbed off his lap, dragged my nightgown down and pulled the coat tight over it.

My legs were shaking.

I stepped out of the car, shut the door softly and walked toward the house, and behind me the engine caught and the black car rolled backward into the dark.

Bancroft came down the drive in his robe with a flashlight.

He was walking slowly, and he did not look angry.

That frightened me more.

"Daph?" he said. "Baby? What are you doing out here?"

"I couldn't sleep."

"You're barefoot."

"I know."

I put my hand against my mouth, and I let my shoulders go, and I started to cry.

It was not hard.

"I woke up and you were asleep," I said, "and I thought, what if I dreamed it? What if I'm still on Fenner Street and none of this is real?"

"It's real."

"I just wanted to see the gate. I wanted to see if you'd locked it behind me, like you used to."

He was quiet.

Then he gathered me into his arms and held on.

"Oh, sweetheart," he said, into my hair. "You came out here to make sure you were home."

"Yes."

"You are."

"I know."

He kissed the top of my head.

I let him.

Over his shoulder I looked at the gatepost, where the small black camera was aimed down the road.

← Chapter 11 · All chapters · Chapter 13 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend