I already knew. "The baby is gone, Alexis. We did everything we could, but the trauma was too severe. And the

r. Avoid any more emotional distress." Emotional distress. The words were

led in Carlton's arms on a sun-drenched beach. His arm was wrapped protectively around her, his face a mask of tender concern. The c

roat. I squeezed my eyes shut, tears finally streaming down my temples, wetting my hair. My baby. My precious, mi

the front door, the familiar, comforting scent of my home had been replaced by a cloying, sweet floral perfume.

His eyes fell on my blood-stained skirt, and a flicker of disgust crossed hi

"blood." He had no idea what that blood represented. He wouldn't care anyway. I remin

lked towards us, a soft, domestic smile on her face. "Oh, Alexis, you're home. Carlton made your favori

oid of emotion, as if stating a weather forecast. "She needs a

work for free, as a housekeeper. Just until I ge

then boiled. But I couldn't scream. I couldn't rage. My head throbbed. I sim

ng. "Alexis, don't make a scene. Carmen has bee

ppressed fury. "Understanding of the woman who killed

look of vague discomfort on his face. "Alexis, you'

shriek erupted from the bathroom.

suitcase. I heard his frantic murmurs, Carmen's delicate whimper.

ched her bandaged finger. "Oh, Carlton, I'm so clumsy. I

care of it." He knelt down, then, to my horror, picked up a lacy, delicate item fro

now tenderly washing another woman's intimate apparel. He used to make me feel disgusting for existing, for being human, for having

d connection, built on her manufactured vulnerability and his savior complex. He had finally found someon

tcase shut. This

ver me. I pulled out the divorce papers, already signed and notarized,

eacup flying, shattering it against the wall. "No! I won't! You're being dramatic, Alexis! This is a phase

y voice finally cracking. "You manipulative leec

to stammer a denial. But I didn't wait. I turned,

come back!" Carlton roared, his voice thick with fu

t like forever, I genuinely smiled. A slow, chilling smile of a

the chaos, the betrayal, th