DERN

bly crushed his humongous ego. I just put myself in

to leave this place. For good. It's

his possessiveness. The paranoid accusations. The projection. The unspoken threats that l

n enough. I'm waving the white flag. I've put in

rapist. A guy like him won't change unless he realizes and convinces h

ears off using the back of my hand. My ey

It's p

ow I'm hungry again, even though that romantic and

an usual lately. I'm not about to have my p

ps halt. I gasp and nearly deflate. My fin

as he waiting for me

on a calm face. I just didn't ex

Crying. His face lo

im a hug. But I can't. I shouldn't. I'm the reason he's up

a heavy sigh, then looks at me with tre

out the door? No more spats or hur

ding my breath, I put on clean clothes, then grab my purse and suitcase

ve? Why's he doing this? Or is this a t

ook back. I can't. I don'

ing me an out. H

fr

s this

gates, my suitcase in tow. My heart continues to pound, my breaths

ollowing me. For a change. Maybe E

feet already hurting. I sink onto the bench. I clutch my purse like it's

Erian about seeing another guy. I stare at the wrinkled hem. I

t a fight. It's not in his nature to just accept

ck text to Lysa. [ I did it. I jus

antly. [ Where? Send me the

lights sweep over me. A familiar car scre

eel my shoulders droop. I don't need t

s, wearing dark clothes as usual, watching me closel

rying to muster defiance, but the mere weight o

r, his movements precise. Eager. Intimidatingly so. "Let's go

ripping my purse to my side.

orm's c

glance behind at the young couple watch

Not that it's a surprise. Just one look at my soon-to-be ex-husband says e

to thin air if he looks away, his jaw

time. I need him to just let me go. Leave me be. I'm badly hoping the

a test. An easy one, but not to me. It was just a

closer to the bench, his hand

a end up in a basement freezer somewhere. Bloody and chopped up into a

erfect murder. Then the systematic disposal. The police

ure he's gonna pay someone to get rid of my body right a

ust hop on a bu

s words, his somber v

until his shoes n

ut using the clueless strangers behind me as bait. I know he's carrying a

in my face. His brows cre

me. Pl

ed this t

, plea

ers with a tight jaw. He looks like he wants to grab m

ront of his soft shirt and stare into his eyes, feeling like I'm about to faint. But I can't show him

ou?" The bastard grins. "Are y

e's always Husba

said you needed my help. Now you're just throwin' it all away?

over my face, heartbeat ratcheting

ha

made

uints. "

not

es. We're standing closer to h

Because that's all this jerk's

lot of secrets. Use me for

na stay married if he's just gonna treat me like an

tentatively, his expression shifting from anger to something tha

ot che

.. Wh

d to l

hy

My legs, too, but I'm trying to make

t w

n't what I... It'

All sunshine and rainbows?" Erian

Okay? Please. I-I ca

ir and lets out a bitter laugh. "You think leaving will fix anything?" he mumbles with a jut

hroat. I clench my fist.

pect me to just

ok a

're just some whore I took home? I... Hav

e me alone

ay he stares at me is already making my skin crawl. "W

p me here," I try to say as calmly as possible despite th

, his eyes studying me as if he's ga

e. Jus

rds. "And that's your first mistake." Before I can make up a response, h

for argument. But I stand my ground. I'm my own bos

o anything heinous in broad daylight. N

N

tightening. "Alderney, I'm not

the air when I stay put. I

off or concede, Erian shakes his head, then

im driving away to leave me alon

e with a dagger look. "If you're not h

er speed off, leaving me standin

dear God,

out here apart from him and his security st

o buckle, and it's all his fault. My eyes a

e him a lot. I should be grateful for all his help. I wouldn't be here in

fter him and mention divorce, it'll just worsen his mood

I'm not sure I have the st

a's number. "Pick me up. I'm on my way to the hotel,"

s without an ounce of hesitation. "Lock th