Page 68 of Beauty Of Her

“It costs nothing to look.” He opened the door with a permanent smile. “It’s exciting.” And closed the door with me glued to the seat.

I wasn’t excited. I was fucking pissed. As Brett led Zoe and Sara toward this mansion, my blood boiled. How could he make such a decision without discussing it with me first? We had been together for months, but this felt like a leap I wasn't ready to take. I refused to give up my house. Brett had no idea the lengths I had to go to, the hoops I needed to jump through to keep the home I raised my babies in.

As I unbuckled my seatbelt, I practiced a series of deep breaths. Walking toward the house, I noticed how effortlessly Brett interacted with Zoe and Sara. They were all smiles and laughter, oblivious to the whirlwind of emotions that swirled inside me. Inside the house, everything was grandiose. High ceilings, marble floors, and crystal chandeliers hanging from cathedral ceilings. It was as if we had stumbled into a world beyond our own. Brett acted like this opulence was his natural setting. His eyes filled with excitement as he explored each room with the girls following like loyal pets.

I wandered behind them, suddenly the outsider in my own life. The enormity of the decision Brett had made hung heavy in the air. It wasn't just about moving in together; it was about blending our lives and our families. I was ready for the last part, but not here. This wasn’t my home, and it never would be.

There wasn’t even a realtor here. How did Brett have access to this house?

“This is my buddy’s listing. He knows we’re here and said if we’re serious to give him a call.” Brett spun around, walking backward, and acted as our guide.

Well, that answered that question. But it didn't change that he had made this decision without consulting me and considering its implications on mine and my daughters' lives.

Brett steered us to the French doors overlooking an immaculate, flat backyard with plenty of room to put in a pool and turn this into an outdoor oasis with the right amount of time and money. Something told me Brett had both.

“Girls, check out the back.” He opened the doors, and the girls ran while Brett and I stayed on the slate patio. “What do you think?” Brett’s arms slinked around mine.

“What?” I snapped out of my muddled daze and locked eyes with Brett. “What’s going on here? Be honest.”

He sighed, his grip on me tightening ever so slightly. "Julia, I know it seems impulsive, but I truly believe this is the right step for us."

I pulled away from him, needing space and a chance to calm my racing thoughts. I massaged my temples, my eyes wandering out to the vast backyard adorned with the animated laughter of my children. They deserved stability and a sense of belonging, but was this the way to achieve it?

“So, you expect me to give up my house and move into a new one with you?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Well, now that you put it like that, I’m starting to think you’re not on board.” He rolled his eyes while keeping his energy light.

“Why didn’t you talk about this first with me? This is a gigantic step. Wouldn’t it make more sense for you to move into my house first, and then we’d see if we needed to move, or I don’t even know. Get engaged? You know all those things that should probably come first before buying some expensive house together?”

“Okay, chill.” Brett threw his arms up. “You’re making it like I’m holding some gun to your head.”

“No, that’s not it. Did you really expect me just to follow you blindly?”

“First off, I wasn’t going to ask you for a fucking dime toward anything. The business has been going really well over the last few years. I don’t talk about my position in the business. I know you look at me like some kid because I’m younger, but fuck, Julia. I work fucking hard, and if I wanted to buy us something for our future, just let me.”

“No. Not like this. That’s not how this works. You can’t just go and make big decisions for us without talking to me first.” I motioned between us, the air thickening.

“I’ve never done anything like that. What are you even talking about?” Brett’s face twisted, taking a step back.

“Oh yeah?” I raised an eyebrow. “How about in Miami when you declared us a couple and told all my colleagues? I had no fucking clue.”

Brett was about to say something, but instead, he motioned us inside and closed the doors to the backyard.

“You can’t just shut the doors on the girls.” I gestured to the doors.

“They’re fine. Stop trying to change the subject.” He waved the comment away. “So, are you saying you regret what happened in Miami?”

The tension hung like a thick fog as Brett and I stood in this stupid house, our voices echoing off the marble walls. The truth was, I didn't regret what happened between us in Miami. It had been a whirlwind of passion and desire, an escape from the mundane routine of my everyday life. But now, standing in this lavish house, reality crashed down upon me like a tidal wave.

"It's not about regret," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's about trust. It's about respect. And right now, I feel like you're making all these decisions without considering how they might affect me and my daughters."

“What are you even talking about? Everything I do is about you and the girls. This house could be great for us. Why do you want to hang onto the past like your life depends on it? Let’s get a fresh start together. You haven’t even fixed the fucking basement from the flood. Are you just looking for a fight? Because you’re doing a great job.”

I had to tell him why I just couldn’t let go. Brett wasn’t getting it, and if we continued to misfire a second longer, it would ruin us.

“Do you even realize what I endured in the divorce to keep the house? I had to buy Peter out, not to mention the countless billable hours I spent on attorneys to convince Peter to let me buy him out. He dragged me through hell, but it was worth it because my daughters got to keep their home. You would never have known because I thought I wouldn’t be put on the spot. It’s not your fault, but to blindside me like this and expect me to go with it.” I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. The weight of my past struggles bore down on me, threatening to crush the bond between Brett and me. I had to make him understand.

"Brett, it's not about hanging onto the past," I said, my voice shaking. "It's about fighting for what's important to me.”

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