Breaking The Chains Of Toxic Marriage

an townhouse. The amber liquid in the glasses caught the warm light of the hallway chandelier, the ice cubes

f to prepare his favorite appetizers, hoping to smooth over the tension that had lingered in the ho

lway on the second floor was dead silent. As she approa

ched, soft, and un

s footsteps faltered. The silver tray suddenly felt incredibly heavy in her hands.

, intimate, and dripping with a warmth s

ool," he murm

ch. It wasn't a figment of her imagination. It was real. Her breath hitched

turning the polished brass handle. The

er like a physical blo

d, helpless way. But she wasn't helpless. Her hand was holding a plump, red strawberry

d, his eyes fixed on his "sister" with a tenderness that made Emm

leamed in her pupils. It vanished instantly, replaced by a look of absolute ter

gaze landed on Emma standing in the doorway with the tray of bo

ded, his tone sharp. There was no guilt in his

o Ashlea, who was now standing with h

ice sounded hollow to her own ears, di

Emma and Ashlea. "Why are you snapping at her? We w

nd to her mouth. "Emma, I'm so

over her, hot and bile-like in the back of her throat. "Essays? Is that

lat on the desk. The sound echoed like a g

her. She's just tired. I... I only thought the rose shortb

instant. He turned to Ashlea, his voice sof

ma, avoiding eye conta

r clicked shu

becoming completely unreasonable

rembling slightly but her gaze u

Those are for the media, Emma. For the

e didn't even glance at the bourbon she had b

ed with enough force to rattle the

ray in her hands. The ice in the glasses had melted completel

down. She didn't cry. The tears felt lodged som

lifted the screen of Darius's

. She pulled up the townhouse's security system

ed with black-a

And the study. Over and over again. Ashlea sitting too close, D

final file, dated

pacing the study. Ashlea

dio wa

s the biggest mis

een reflected in her unblinking eyes. The sharp pain in her ch