After My Husband Cheated, I Married His Greatest Rival

just fall; it ass

state, her reflection a pale ghost against the darkness outside. The antique clock on the wall, a

ock. Ti

nd of her life

illuminating the long, winding driveway. The g

when she exhaled, she was no longer Vivi the woman. She was Vivian Kensington, the wife. Her facial muscles, trained over three yea

nstairs. Heavy footsteps e

om door s

smell of expensive scotch clung to him like a second skin. He didn't look at her. He never really

ff his suit jacket. He held it out without

always

n the plush carpet. She took the jacket. The f

she said softly.

k." Julian loosened his tie, hi

jacket on the valet stand.

ingle stra

of gold wire under the recessed lighting. It was long. Much longer t

hroat, a tiny, fractured so

asn't just scotch and rain. Underneath the masculine notes, ther

ight

the bottle in magazines. It was young,

t so tight it was physically painful. Her fingers trembled as she pluck

n commanded from the o

into the pocket of he

was her voice so steady wh

ghtstand. Her hands shook, the water rippling in the glass. S

bathroom. He tossed his phone on the

. She shouldn't look. She

reen l

ifica

flinks on my nightstand.

Vivian stared at the name. Candy. It sounded like a joke. It sound

ed on, the rush of water

tears before they could form. She moved with the precision of a robot. She

ic

message. Then she took a

l, clear plastic bags she kept for her jewelry. She

rd trapped in a cage. Thump. Thump. Thump. It was so l

hind a row of winter coats. Her fingers flew over the keypad. Inside, nestled betw

light of the screen il

oject Liberty. She uploaded the photo of the text messa

email draft addres

ivorce attorney in the city.

her fingers

t: Act

the proof. In

hit

wer tur

afe, and locked it. She stood up, smoothing down her silk

actly like the dutiful, submissive wife Julian thought he owned. But

Julian emerged, a towel wrapped around

pajamas?" he asked

hair," Vi

he silk bottoms. He climbed into bed

," he g

y and suffocating. She climbed into her side of the bed, st

His arm came a

ike burning iron against her side. The smell of his soap couldn't

" he mumble

n," she whispered. "I think I'

withdrew his arm. "Fine

s breathing evened

he ghost of the ring on her finger. She slid it off, holding the

Then, after a long moment, she

t

re. She neede

on, but the storm inside