a

tragedy played out at

for me to get out of the house, though his tone suggested

d, Olivia was

d to her chest in feigning surprise

nt, radiating a terrifying energy. She looked like the

diately. He didn't even gl

her, a secret language built on shared intimacy. They laughed at j

t soup. It was st

h thinly veiled malice. "Ethan tells me you'r

salt. It was a calculated movement.

tip

nd as the vessel fel

n mo

instinct. He lunged across the table to shov

it directl

my stomach and thighs li

cre

inding, shatter

grabbing her hands, his eyes scanning

look at me

my dress, my skin burning and b

ant went de

e. He saw the red, bliste

genuinely annoyed. "Go

. That was

ail that wasn't just about the burn.

, my voice cracking. "

. An ambulanc

private the truth-that there was no baby anymore. I showed them the m

them to tell him I miscarried

pacing impatiently in the hallway, and then back

, my husband actua

e tension leave his shoulders. I saw the exhale. The

to my

d. "But... maybe it's for t

, turning my face

" he said, seizing the opportunity befor

oice cold and steady. "

s winning. He thought he was getting

. He signed everything

ter, I was at

led a large envel

shrine. The medical report showing the date of my abortion-da

a plane to

n at the shrinking city, watching m

ash can at the terminal. It made

he realized that I hadn't lost the baby because of an accide

es and slept w