“That’s nonsense. You’ve become pretty sensitive, you little devil,” Matthew teased while playfully patting my butt. “I’ll pamper my lovely wife tonight.”

I smiled and nestled into his arms, saying, “I’m hungry and feeling under the weather. How could you do that to me?”

He scrutinized me. "Are you genuinely not feeling well? Why didn't you bring Ava back with you?"

"You wouldn't believe it. Ava's having a blast with my parents and doesn’t want to leave. She didn’t even glance at me when I left. Our neighbors have several kids, and she's obsessed with hanging out with them, so I let her stay there for a while.”

I had another reason for leaving Ava at my mom’s place—it freed me from distractions.

"We’ll do as you say. Take a break while I prepare dinner," Matthew comforted and hugged me before heading to the kitchen.

Shortly after, I went to the bedroom, changed the sheets, and tossed them into the washing machine. The thought of tainted sheets made me queasy. Matthew came to call