---- Chapter 26: We're Divorced, Remember? Aaron jolted awake, his chest rising and falling violently, his forehead drenched in cold sweat. The room was dark and quiet, the only sound the wind whispering outside the window. His hands were empty. There was nothing in his arms. For a few stunned seconds, he just lay there before it hit him. Everything had only been a dream. But it had felt so real. Her gasps, the grip of her fingers clawing into his back, the way her face tilted up to him with trembling surrender. Every detail burned itself into his mind as if it had truly happened. Heat still pulsed through his body, his arousal so hard it ached like it might split him apart. With a sudden jerk, he swung himself out of bed and rushed into the bathroom. He twisted the knob and let the freezing water pour down over ---- his skin. Yet even the coldest water couldn't extinguish the fire raging inside him. Bracing his hands against the sink, he stared at the drenched, chaotic reflection in the mirror. In the dream, he had claimed her brutally. She was the woman he wanted more than anything. She was also the woman he had no right to touch. His throat worked hard, his chest aching as though something was tearing him apart from the inside. "Clara..." he whispered hoarsely, her name breaking in his throat. "What the hell am I doing?" She was innocent. She had never once tempted him. Yet in reality, he could barely contain himself, and in his dreams, he lost all control. For a long time, he stood there motionless ---- before finally squeezing his eyes shut and slamming his fist against the sink. "This has to stop." Early the next morning, Aaron headed to the dining room for breakfast, but Clara was nowhere to be found. Aunt Paige stepped out of the kitchen and said, "Good morning, sir. Ms. Hartley already left for work. Should I bring Leo over today?" Aaron's face tightened. "No need. I'll pick him up myself today." Clara was clearly dodging him-and he wasn't thrilled about it. That evening at six, Aunt Paige finished cooking and said, "Sir, Ms. Hartley just called. She's got to work late and won't be home for dinner. The food's on the table if you want it. Otherwise, I'm heading out." Aaron's scowl deepened. For days, Clara stayed crazy busy, out of the ---- house from dawn to late at night, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. Sierra was miserable too. One morning, Sierra was shocked to find Austin coming out of Elsie's room! Blinking in surprise, she asked, "Back so early? What happened?" Elsie grinned. "Mommy, Daddy slept in my room last night!" Sierra glanced at Austin, confused-she thought they were staying in a hotel. Elsie had a spare key tucked in her backpack; clearly, they had snuck back home during the night. Austin tried to explain, "The hotel nearby was shut down for fire safety renovations. No other hotels close by, and staying far away was just too much hassle." Sierra frowned. "There's no extra room here. That one's Clara's." Austin knew she was close to Clara, like sisters. ---- "It's fine. Elsie and I can share." Elsie nodded happily. "Yeah! I like that idea." Sierra stared at the tiny bed. "Elsie, your bed's way too small for Daddy!" Austin laughed awkwardly. "No, really. It's comfortable." Elsie clapped. "Yay! Daddy can stay with me tonight!" Sierra turned sideways, trying to avoid Elsie, and glared at Austin. "Have you lost your mind? We're divorced, remember?" Austin protested, "But we still have Elsie!" Sierra snapped, "I don't agree with this! Divorced but living together? What even is that?" Austin looked pitiful. "I've been working overtime half the month just to squeeze in time with Elsie. It's not easy coming over-I just want to be with my daughter more." Sierra's voice sharpened. "If you wanted to see