From His Silent Bride to the Queen of Comebacks

nt layers, cloaking the Lawson

e stray puppy she had rescued that morning. Her dress clung to her skin, damp and freezing,

now, its small chest barely risi

rm light. Behind the curtain, Lydia could see two silhouettes-c

d to guess wha

han anything the wind could deliver. She closed h

back for my birthday,

he would, but not for her. He came

r, the house had be

as nothing fancy-just something she had managed to prepare herself, with cream, fruit, and a singl

twentieth. Henry had pr

clock. 11:40 p.m. T

est warmth in her chest. And beside her, the little puppy lay curled on a blanket, still shivering from the c

liced throug

nd switching off the lights. Then she stood beside the doo

ed, but her s

l and composed, the snow

s makeup, heels clicking against the floor, her l

a a once-over, brows ra

Henry replied lazily, no

ia stood frozen, her fingers curl

and lifted one foot. "Wel

y, hoping stupidly for some sign he might

ooked at her, his ex

rembled slightly as she undid Clara's

w of stamping he

she said lightly.

t Lydia as if s

, still waiting on the table

with mock delight. "Oh my god, is that c

e opened her mouth instincti

" she shouted

uppy darted out, letting out

ed backward. "What the he

d. Without hesitation, he

he puppy. The blow landed square in her chest. She hit the floor ha

to his side. "That filthy thing almost

d over, arms wrapped around the tiny body ben

gasping for air,

ng. He was freezing. I

enry said coldly.

ed again, fas

rmless. He won't

rrowed. "You're

ng. After a long pause, she knelt quietly

he signs slower now, each o

t me keep him. O

't soften. Instea

much?" he said. "Fine.

leaving behind nothing but a

r arms and stood. She opened the door. Cold air ru

nd looked back-just once. Henry didn't move. He didn't even look at her