t day w

. Inside was a ruby necklace. The card read

executive assistant, who likely had a recurring calendar alert for "Wife -

ke drops of blood. Tonight was the family dinn

nds. She baked. It was a Black Forest cake, Julian's favorite,

o change, the cake was

n, adjusting his cufflink

bringing th

ng knife in her hand. "W

got a Michelin pastry chef to make those gluten-free tart

rs. It wasn't about the cak

said. "Of c

n the necklace. It cost enough,

out to t

looked at the cake. She looked at the

felt like she was disappearing. She needed t

slice of

e knew she had used haz

tantly fatal, but enough to cause agonizing hives

t enough to make the pain physical. Just enough to punish yourself for still lovi

bite. The

the sweet, d

egan to itch. Her lips tingl

et in.

ork. What was she doing? She was a

e cabinet and frantically swallowed two antihistamine pills. She stuck her finge

. Her neck was breaking out in

mbling for her EpiPen. Sh

't know. The antihistamines should hold off the worst of it. S

k.

s in the

k, covering the angry red hives. She put on the ruby necklace. The large gems hid the worst of th

ng breaths, willing h

ed out t

. He didn't look at her. If he had, he would have seen the swe

" she c

aid, putting the car in ge

cool glass of the window. She focu