nor

austion a heavy weight on my shoulders. Every step was a battle, every breath a conscious effort. I had spent hours driving, li

he quiet. He emerged from the kitchen, a worried frown on his face. He moved toward

ver me. The mere thought of his touch s

een there to pick you up. How was the appointment?" He tried

ed, honey. Long day. The doctor said everything looks good, though." I m

es gleaming with an unsettling mixture of relief and somethin

dishes. A desperate attempt at normalcy, at least for him. The rich aromas, onc

ulling out a chair for me. "You need to

vanished, replaced by a deep, gnawing emptiness. "It looks delicious

seem a little distant today. Is everything alright?

d. "Just exhausted, I promise. It's... a lot

his eyes. Then, he brightened. "Ah, I know just what w

l assault. He led me upstairs, down the hallway, and stopped in front of the do

of fluffy clouds and cartoon animals adorned one wall. A brand-new crib, a rocking chair, and shelves

at sounded like genuine emotion. "I wanted to surprise yo

The innocent facade, the doting husband, the excited father-to-be. All while planning

ervousness in his posture.

tiful, Joshua. Truly." The words were a bitter lie, but my voice

more thing." He pulled out a small, velvet box. Inside, nestled on a satin cushion,

ofter now. "My grandmother wore it when she was expecting her first child.

hind me, his hands reaching for the clasp. I felt his breath on my neck, and a wave

is was part of the a

fingers lingering on my s

efore. Not on his grandmother, not in some dusty family vault. It was a replica. A cheap imitation of a piece my adoptive mother, his mother-in-law, had once shown me. A gift from Benjamin, a subtle peace offering after their initial disappr

the last vestiges of my love for him. He was not

n unreadable. "Joshua, there's something importa

ht replaced by caution. "What i

closing around the slim folder I had

this about the miscarriages? I told you, we'll get through this. We'll have this baby, and then anot

it, a notification flashing on the screen. Harlow Miles. A tex

for now. Just until I can think clearly. I need space." My voice was a careful balm, designed to soothe his

to his phone, then back to me. "A separation? Elea

sure, to give us both some breathing room. My lawyer drew them up. Standard procedure." It was a lie. A beaut

. But this doesn't mean anything. We're still together. We're still a family." He snatched the pen I offered, his signature

smile blooming in my heart, though my face remained impass

be right back, love. Just... a quick call." He practical

This was the transfer of the Hunt Technologies' core patent, the very heart of his empire, to Jaylen Wilson's rival firm. And legally, he had just agreed to a full and co

g, but this time from a thrill of cold, hard victory.

red to the empty room, my voice a silken

ol of his deceit. I would wear it. For now. A reminder of the monster