IRE'

she took in the signed divorce pape

to the chair Richard had vacated. "I came

ttered with triumph. She was practically glowing, her d

spered, my voice h

her touch making my skin crawl. "I know this must be so hard fo

had not orchestrated every

d, her fingers tracing the edge of the papers. "He

g. Like I had

nica

ted, her hand moving to her still-flat stomac

ow. My vision blurred, and the machi

e word rasped o

defenselessness. "We found out yesterday. Right b

ht w

d been playing the perfect wife, cooking his favorite meals

knife deeper. "He says he's always wanted to be a fathe

s wanted to

dren with me. Never brought up the futur

ore the lawyer meeting at Eleanor's house tomorrow. I know this is a lot to

o had destroyed my marri

Richard is waiting for me in the car. But Claire...

en this way. Richard and I just... we couldn't fight w

alled what t

she said, pressing a kiss to my

Richard's lawyer will handle every

ne with the truth that cut deeper

e future I had dreamed of wa

*******

eeling like a ghost haunting my own life. My parents flanked me on the

s, his arm casually draped

on, her hand resting on her stomach in a si

e mahogany desk, papers spr

d's fingers traced absent patterns on Monica

er voice sharp with confusion. "Richard, you

across the room. They were cold, emp

rom my gaze. "The constant need for validation. The way

ike I was a phase

eanor's voice

Claire was suffocating me. She had no identity outside of being my wife. No i

clenched into fis

what happened. I'm telling you. Your daughter

blows, each one designed to dest

e was pathetic. No passion, no fire. She just lay there li

humiliating, flowing down my

won't sit here and listen to t

"You mean someone successful? Someo

with fake concern. But I caught the satisfaction in her eyes,

ing his hand to Monica. "Better she learns now that love isn

pale with shock. "

entle with her, careful. "If any of you have som

door, and something hop

ll I did was love you. Was my love that bad? Wa

the door, hi

oman who had supported him through his father's death, who had cele

ver his shoulder, his

aid. "But then again, that

with a soft click that sounde

diately, pulling me into her a

e whispered. "My stupid son doesn't

ther's voice cut through El

shaking her head. "How ab

****

rtment building now, since Richard had moved i

hand, like they were made

the engine running. My father rolled down

bout him. Take whatever settlement he gives you

ting. "How could you let another woman

like stones th

warned you against marrying Richard, but you claimed you lo

down, unable t

ure what I was apologizing for. For loving t

of disgust. "I always

sharply. Then, more gently: "Go i

eed to be t

legs moving automatically while my mind replay

Pathetic.

bled with the keys, as I tried to fit

ed, she was

teps inside before

e the door, my hand clutching my chest as if

g my body, tearing from my

empty hallway. "Why m

y the echo of my own broken voice and th

by the ruins of everything I had believed

y holding Monica, his hand on her stomach, plan

d been too worth