R

spilled out of me, which left nothing but a gutted

ously, he hadn't expected me to be the one demanding a divorce. After all,

was nothing but a helpless orphan. Grandfather Arthur Davis had

hat debt. But even gra

at familiar condescension, his nostrils flaring with indignation. "Because

re to tell me nothing is going on with you and Ava?" My voice cut sha

fury. Before he could resp

you can't just fabricate accusations against James and me like this. Benjamin

iam wrapped his arms around her immedia

llying a grieving widow and her child. Ava an

slightly toward them-but towa

slapped me across the face

retend to move. A cold smile p

le Benjamin's funeral like this. Now get the hell upstairs. Stop

ch my husband enjoyed watching me be humiliated. Before, he'd always explained that his mother's natu

od how hollow his words had been. He'd never defended me-n

id had I been

family's furious faces. The guests' whispers and pointi

as never mi

orn. "Just wait. When the Davis family's dirty secrets finally cra

head harder than we thought!" James cut me off sh

ion drained from my eyes. "Afraid I

rs at his driver to take me home. "Mrs.

me out of the hall. Not

into the car, James leaned i

ou losing your goddamn mind. But

*

e master bedroom. No matter how hard I pounded on t

we'd lain together for three years-where James had systematically eroded my self-worth until I felt like

ad brought me. It hadn't started today. It had been three

uldn't swallow anymo

now how long I lay there on the floor, but the dark

e since I'd been broug

s. Before I could even see him clearly, my nose caught it, rendering all my car

you back so soo

liar, practiced softness he'd worn for years.

r like that,

I'm overthinkin

. He shook his head. "I know you've been under a lot o

to face him. "I saw how you protected Ava! I

ent. He reached for me, but

y. "Ava and I... we do have a history. Before she became

Why had no one e

e only dated. We realized we weren't right for each othe

him warily

sister-in-law until Benjamin's wedding. Benjamin

that might have been genuine guilt-or mig

his wife. I just... now that Benjamin's gone, I feel respo

into shadow. I couldn't te

with what looked like remorse. "I

pped low as h

rsary. We should be at that beach ho

to my lips. His i

ly should hurry up and produce

rned

e

hrough the fog

?" I pulled back, disgust flickering across my face.

s's carefully maintain

icated, Wren? I've had a hell of a day. What

ing with emotion. "Do you ac

ght of the day cr

I'm tired. Let's

ted to

t, yanking me back d

hed at my buttons, rough, no tenderness left. "You're

ruggled, but he pinned my wrists above my head. Every kiss he forced o

ght there was no

oed from somewhe

e for a sp

led on hands and knees toward the d

downstairs

toppe

igures stood in

And

were they doin