Carpent

sn't used to being defied, especially not by me. His hand, sti

s you're doing here. My family has considerable influence. That innovation project you mentioned earlier? The one your husband is supposedly involve

Byron? Against what, exactly? My existence?" The irony was thick, almost palpable

Oh, Angela, why are you doing this? Why can't you just let us be happy? You know I never meant for things to turn out this way." Her voice was a soft, plaintive wh

of circumstances, forced into Byron' s arms, burdened by the choices Byron claimed were his moral dut

of twisting my gut, now held no power. I simply watched

ents' charitable gesture. I remembered holding her hand, showing her around our sprawling Connecticut estat

never had!" she' d gushed, her arms wrapped around me. She'd feigned concern when I was stress

ed her. I had trusted her. I had seen her not as a rival, but as family. And she had syst

should be with Angela. I can' t bear to be the cause of your unhappiness. I'll just take the child and disappear." It was the ultimate ma

d our son needs his father." He looked at me then, his gaze hardening. "You heard her, Angela. She's my wife. And my son's mother. I can't just abandon them. Especially

s choices, trying to make me understand. He was still

omeless? With my health, and the child's needs..." She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air. "Perhaps you could find it in your

d help Christin with the boy. You know, since you're so good with children. And it would be a form of atonement for your... outburst earlier." His patroni

in his mind. "We always valued your... organizational skills." He clearly had no ide

heir charity case? Serve them, after ev

Angela! We could be like sisters again! I could even teach you some th

of concern. The thought of being trapped in their orbi

career as a research immunologist leaves no time for secretarial duties, nor for child-rearing advice from someone who clearly values manipulation over genuine care." My