Instead of some obnoxious mansion, it was a charming cabin nestled in the woods, surrounded by tranquility that whispered secrets of nature. The wood exterior exuded warmth, a rustic elegance that caught me off guard. This was not the grandiosity I associated with Walsh Solis.

As I rounded the corner of the cabin, a delightful surprise awaited me. A little barn stood proudly in the back, completing the picturesque scene. The whole setting felt like a page out of a storybook. Just when I thought I had him figured out, he threw me for a loop.

Before I could process the scene, Walsh's voice came from behind me.

"That’s where your room is." He gestured toward the barn. I looked back at the main house, then turned on my heel to face him.

"I’m sorry. I think I misheard you." I paused because I genuinely wasn’t sure what he was referring to. "I am staying…in a barn?"

When Walsh nodded, a heavy wave of disappointment crashed over me. He was sending me away, relegating me to the apartment above the barn like some dirty secret. The emotionalturmoil was unbearable, and a sense of betrayal gnawed at my heart.

"Just like that, you're hiding me away in a barn like a fucking animal?" I couldn't help the quiver in my voice, the tears threatening to spill. I had come here expecting some form of resolution, and he married me while I was drunk, only to stash me in an apartment above a barn?

It was exactly what my parents had done. They threw me away as if I was trash. They were not family, just two people raising me, but I was trapped in their home for so long until that one fateful night. This was exactly what Walsh was doing to me.

He said I could have access to the house when no one was around, but the damage was done. The sense of rejection and betrayal hit me hard. "You did it again," I whispered, the words heavy with the realization of his betrayal. "You betrayed me."

I didn't wait for his response. The air between us thickened with tension, and I shoved past him, making my way to the little barn. Each step felt like a retreat, not just from him but from the hope that had flickered briefly. I needed to gather my thoughts.

"Do you hate me that much to treat me less than?" I cried aloud, not daring to turn around. "Well, good, because I fucking hate you too."

A lie. I was just tired of the back and forth between us.

"It’s only temporary," he said, as I was halfway between him and the barn.

"Temporary?" I scoffed, anger bubbling up within me. "Should have thought of that before marrying me when I was wasted, then dragging me back to Dansport. Better yet, you should have figured out thistemporarysituation before waltzing back into my life after four damn years."

I paused, letting the resentment seep into my words. "You were supposed to be a one-night regret, you asshole. But if this isthe kind of wife you want, someone hidden away, I'll do it. Your life will be hell."

"You tried to cross me once, Madison. I'd recommend not trying anything again."

I threw my head back and let out a scream that reverberated through the woods. The leaves seemed to shake in response. When the echo of my anger faded, I lowered my gaze to meet his icy stare. "Then I will this time. I'll win the war I'm officially waging against you. Forget the white flag I was going to give you earlier. You want a battle? Let's go, bitch."

He chuckled. "Bitch?"

"Hell, yes. You're a pathetic little asshole." Not giving him a chance to reply, I turned my back on him, held up my middle finger, and marched the rest of the way to the barn.

"Leave the door unlocked tonight if you miss me," he said, and I almost went back there to kick his ass, but with one deep breath, I shoved the door open and slammed it shut before having a complete breakdown.

Every muscle in my body trembled with fury. I was being hidden away for what? He selfishly decided to marry me, and now I had to suffer the consequences ofhischoices.

He must have confused me with someone else. I might have lost my way over the years, grown softer, but I was a fighter. Always have been. So, if that's the game he wanted to play, then I was ready to give him hell.

It tooka few minutes for my rage to settle down before I could tune into my surroundings. I turned on the small light to see what probably used to be stables for horses or other animals,but it had been emptied. There was a staircase at the front of the barn, so I dodged right and blindly went up.

There was a large door at the top of the stairs, and once I opened it, my breath was taken away.

The apartment looked as if it had been created by me. It exuded warmth with its dark, deep furniture and eclectic pieces that somehow went together seamlessly. The dark colors of the decor created a cozy atmosphere.

The spacious living room boasted plush furniture, and a modern kitchen with an oversized island was so unexpected. Upon opening the bedroom door, the inviting sight of the well-appointed space welcomed me. There was a huge four-poster bed in the center of the room with a plush cream duvet cover. In the corner of the room sat a small desk holding my school texts and a bookshelf stocked full of books I’d read for pleasure and some I hadn’t read yet.

In the bathroom, a freestanding tub was placed in front of a floor-to-ceiling window that offered a breathtaking view of the surrounding pines and the main house. I also caught a glimpse of the pool between the barn and the main house. Even in the winter, the hot tub seemed inviting.

The realization hit me as I wandered through the living area—every single personal belonging, from my kitchen knives to toiletries and little knickknacks, had miraculously found its way back to me. Each item had been carefully placed as if the unpacker had known exactly where everything belonged.

Curiosity led me back to the bedroom, and as I entered the closet, a surge of amazement coursed through me. There, neatly hung up, were all my clothes, arranged with an attention to detail that left me dumbfounded. It was as if someone had taken the time to understand my preferences and recreate a space that felt undeniably mine.

Questions swirled in my mind, but one thing became increasingly clear—Walsh had orchestrated this, meticulously arranging my belongings in a way that both surprised and unsettled me. The thought of him having such intimate knowledge of my life sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't shake that unsettling feeling.