the kitchen, looking tired. Liam had gotten back at a

brightest smile. "Thank you again for the bisque

e. "Of course, dear. Any

of iron. He specifically recommended a meal with slow-braised beef shanks, kale, and sweet potatoes. I found a wonderful

t was a gourmet recipe I' d found from a Michelin-

s she scrolled through

ake all day," she sa

ther. But it' s for the baby' s health. The iron

kitchen, sweating over a hot stove, while I lounged on the sofa, reading a magazine

a wife who looked like she' d run a marathon. He looked from her to me, a flicker of annoyan

s raining, a cold,

nk it' s the weather. The only thing that ever helps is this specific brand of Swiss sparkling water, the one with the light ra

y specialty grocery store that carried the imported water. It would be at

eets of rain, then back at me. His f

lar water, Chloe? And we ha

nd to my stomach, my f

k the stress is getting to me. The doctor

im. "Liam! Don' t you dare upset her! Go get what she needs,

f satisfaction warming me from the inside out. He returned two and a half hours later, drenched, furious, and holding my w

e detergent. I complained that the noise from the television was hurting the baby' s developing ears, forcing Richard to watch his beloved sport

py, doting family was cracking under the strain, revealing the ugly, resentful reali

wedding, I packed a

nounced cheerfully at breakfast. "It' s bad luck for th

chard' s faces was comical. Even Liam looked like a man w

towards the door. "A wonderful idea. You go get your

ally getting a break. They

use, but I didn' t go to m

women' s health clinic o

k any questions I wasn't prepared to answer. I had made my decision with a

e was quick

I felt no sadness, no regret. Only a profound sense of lightness. A weight I didn'

a folder ready for me. Inside was the printout of the original dowry agreement, a copy of the hotel contract, and a small

aring. There were no more tears, no more

y was the

wearing a sharp, dark blue pantsuit that screamed power and control.

e the screen light up with dozens of m

e ar

people

okay?

o me, Chloe. Thi

a cold, h

," I said t

we left to go