Paris for a show of the spring collection, leaving Benson alone at hom

t this was an opportune time to update his wardrobe. He called Ivory

ded finally, her voice

have some new clothes that I need to get for the trip

concern. "Of course, I'd lov

, hoping that she could sense his

's dampened mood. She had already begun shopping in the fashi

thusiasm as she said, "Le

rack of clothing. "Yeah,

noticing her condition. "Are

shing her hands in order

that", She muttered. "My bod

deepened. "A

aving him off. "We need t

a smile. "

her; "Will you come over to spend the nigh

ou married me off... Dad. Don't you t

"You're choosing a m

ad, I'll come over for the

ping to a mark on her cheek, and the concern spi

. "It's nothing. I slipped in the b

out, tracing the mark g

ising in irritation. "Dad! S

r behind her. "I'll call you when I get home." she shouted

after her, but the revving of her e

She held a small, neatly wrapped gift in her hand while trying to enter the

, her voice strained with che

e, didn't acknowledge her. His gaze remain

hough it was a little strained. "I got you somethin

s wine, avoiding her eyes. She advanced further, her

a bid to elicit some response. "I

trike her face. She was left pretty

ift box tumbling from her gr

ive, his anger thinly veiled. He stood up; abruptly, he be

her body with one arm as the other cradled her bruised face, aching from the heart in the wake of

p of the stairs, his shadow reaching over her."Remember," he said

e treated me like a stranger since the second day we got

e your father's crashing shares! I s

with shock. "You d

want a wife whose naked pictures ar

She dashed towards him, her open small palm

raised his hand and slapped her across the fac

mingling with blood. "I hate you!"

to it," he spat. "This is the life you chose." Sh

Ivory collapsed to the floor. She scr

e oppressive silence of the home seemed to mock her. The dreams of a loving

ory rise from the wreckage of her dreams, or will