e Bai

my eyes, counted to three, and forced the air out slowly. Panic was a luxury I couldn't

started snapping pictures of the screen, capturing the h

lder, a notification p

um titled "Us." Without a second of hesitation, I hit delete. Five year

the camera and

abeled "Financial Support." The passwor

r row of wire transfers to

ead: "For Belle's Art Fund." The total at th

two thousand dollars to take an advanced architectural design seminar.

ened my email, attached the spreadsheet, and se

ar hit one hun

k on the fron

I whipped my head toward t

. The screen instantly reverted to

my fist so hard the edges cut

hitting the entryway floor. "Cassie," his voice rang o

eavily against the desk for a second, then sho

the heavy oak door shut behind me

s silk tie. He looked exhausted, and beneath the smell of the r

oked at the cold Wellington and the

even glancing at the food. "The boar

is coat. Tonight, I stoo

w furrowing slightly. "Happy fifth anniversary.

sheer audacity of his lie hit my stomach like a physica

n around, and sprinted to the guest

y body violently rejecting the reality of my life. Tears pr

you have food poisoning?" he asked. There

er blasted over my hands. I stared at my

and turned around. I shoved my hand

taking a shower. Heat up the s

lked toward the

all. Five years of swallowing my pride, of makin

didn't go to the kitchen. I follo

u were going to have a p