XA

irror on my room, admiring the navy blue, high sl

I noted, and it

the loyal, submissive, well-c

a wife. Not a real one, anyway, I added, glancing a

dness and faint stress li

oom. I'd been avoiding him ever since, his mother to

ked to be in

s a substitute wife and mother. I'd noticed the red flags but I'd been

iting her, Josh wouldn't be home but his mother would, and she was

been in a coma for one year after a fatal accident and lost memories that the doct

ing forward to con

d. I signed the contract hearing those promises and seeing them in writing, but somewhere along the li

alright being by his side and caring for h

excitedly waiting for. Talking in whi

, but I bli

fault," I c

Ethan came running, handsomely dresse

es which made me wonder if his moth

, "see my suit. I look handsom

o look handsome." I gazed up at the maid who had help

d, smiled

d on my hand, eager to go show

ic, funny boy

celebrate his company's success. Friends, family, busine

hall was d

ne hand, and Ethan's hand in ano

orated hall. Servers patrolled with small

there, welcoming guests with

over his tall, lean frame adorned in a custom m

gh left

he gestured

anding beside him, as he wanted, as the loy

ention, I fluttered my eyes over to see a tall guy lo

ow, once he was near us,

, he held out his hand in a stiffl

say, but his eyes were sharp, giving me the feeling that nothing gets past

ponse was vague

eyes brightly flashed with an emotion I couldn't quite

never held me that way before, especially in public, "this is m

a handshake, but he surprised me by turning it over and lowering his lips to the ba

lay

sh never told me he has a brother and we've been married for five y

oulders still in that possessive manner, he offered his brother a fl

her expression also annoyed and unco

seemingly unoffended by Patricia's rude tone, "hello,

y question," Patricia's

hered by the subtle hostilit

then continued in an audible tone, "b

head bowed a little in

d and wal

dy making himself comfortable amongst kids wh

at me, "see you later, bro." He playfully pu

away, exuding pow

rude to him?

oulder, no longer possessive,

business, Roxa

off by the presen

wo

s sexy and was created to turn heads. Even the woman

d. The hall graduall

eyes scanning the room as if

slipped off

red reverently, eyes

nerves tightened, then came the grip of

s THE V

d pain did a good

She beamed,

ok steps forward. He pul

n he whispered

rs, watching the

l?" Patricia leaned

ge smile herself, she w

f Gilmore Empire." A

cousin whose face I'd seen a few times in family gatherings

not just wealthy, she's smoking hot!" Another of

boring one," the same female cou

rld t

ed me over, not caring about

re that I was car

ike lead, I walked over to

lood drained from her face. Something flashed in her eye

ing moment before she compo

r, Roxanne Robertson. The one I told

ously, she extended a perfectly manicured hand

introduction was her try

nice to meet you. I'm

myself for keep

sked, still meeting my

Ethan who went to h

er, sweetheart." She

back to me. He came to me, raising

be reconnecting with his mother," Patric

ay hello to mommy," Vanes

holding me tight, "mommy.

ispers

We can always reconnect. Let her have him for tonight. As for me, I ju

family members - to their public d

, fighting tears from falling. Just as I left the hall,

heering. Ju

an, and hurried

nally escape

, mommy," Et

ything, my voice broke

er and have Ethan ready for bed

d who had helped prepare Ethan for the event came inside, "you look t

, emotionally and physically. Gratefu

room to call my mom who had

e you d

welling again. "I'

a just then. I took it, than

aid sympathetically, "we'll t

e hot liquid, while I listened to

ew eve

pain hit my lower

?" Mom's tone was

nother bout of pain

ontent spilling onto the carpet. Warm liquid streamed down from m

ng, I staggered, my vision blurred as my body