taste of blood coating her tongue. Chloe's entire body revolted. She f

he porcelain plate, the sound unnaturally loud in the tense silence.

toilet just as her stomach violently expelled its contents. She heaved again and agai

ook a half-step toward the bathroom, a flicker of something - annoyance?

e from the living room. "Griffi

tention, his duty, back to her. He let his

her face, the icy shock a welcome distraction. She looked up, meeting her own eyes in the ornate mirror. Her face was ashen, her lips bloodle

of the door, muffled but clear, each wo

n feet of Jaida. If I see you even looking

paper towel from the dispenser and dabbing at her mouth. When she opened the door, her express

him, her eyes as cold a

Her voice was a

submission. It was the sound of a door closing, a lock clicking into place. The familiar prickle of irritation return

lite, electronic sound th

ho mirrored his boss's demeanor - efficient, professional, and emotionally deta

is face impassive. "Mrs.

Chloe took it, her fingers brushing his. He pulled h

have no idea what to get, a last-minute purchase from the accessories department. She recognized the brand. It was from the same department store

g at her. He was checking the time on his Patek Philippe,

f trying to be the perfect wife, of enduring the loneliness and the humiliation. And this

box. Her nails, which she kept short and practical, dug i

ed and dropped the box into the nearby wast

e looked up from his watch, his eyes following her gesture to the trash c

" he snapped. "Is it not expens

't argue or defend herself. T

and walked toward

ture of a queen, not a victim. It was as if a great weight had been lifted

. It felt as if he were watching her walk away forever. An instinct

s mouth to s

rough the air. She clutched his sleeve. "I think

o Chloe's retreating back. He made his

from the staircase, scooped Jaida into h

e agreement she had drafted on the large mahogany desk. The

esitation. Her hand was perfectly steady as sh

final sound. Each curve of her signature was a stroke o

rilliant, multi-carat diamond on her ring finger. It had never been a symbol o

ulling it over her knuc

r a moment, th

, its facets catching the morning light, ca

ed and lef

othes or jewelry Griffin had bought for her. She packed a few old sweaters, a pair of old jeans, and a faded T-shi