Too Late For Regret, Mr. Carlisle

sit

letters. She pressed the thin paper against her stomach, a fragile shield against the emptiness that had hollowed out her life for

-scented Bentley suddenly too thin. Rehearsing the words in her head, she pictur

against her skin. But as the door swung open, a figure bl

effortless elegance in a cream-colored dress. Her smil

sweet, cloying melody. "You loo

e in Chloe's hand. Instinctively, Chloe jerked it behind her back, her

anaged, her voice t

." She reached into her own Hermès bag and pulled out an identical manila envelope

etness curdling into something cruel. "And

rs suddenly nerveless. "You're lying," she breathed, but the words came out hollow, because

e used-filled the air. A deliberate mockery. "You really thought he stayed marr

torial whisper that was louder than a shout. "Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you. Those pictures from the hotel t

my marriage," she said, her voice low and trembling with fury. "You made him hate me. Three years. Thr

said sweetly. "The life you wanted

the last of Chloe's defenses. A raw, primal rage erupted from the pit of her stomach

ng forward, her hands reaching for the

nomous to terrified. She let out a high-pitched shriek, a sound designe

ts cut through the twilight, sweeping over them.

long shadow that swallowed them both. His gaze fell upon the scene: his wife

her face in his chest, her body trembling convinci

y were devoid of warmth, of question, of anything but icy condemnati

was immense, pain shooting up her arm as he slammed her against the cold metal of her own car, the impact rattling her teeth. "You dare lay a hand on her?" he snarled, hi

ing against his grip. "The photos-Elara

elt something crack in her wrist. "I

his voice a low, dangerous gr

slamming hard against the cold metal of her own car. A sharp, searing pain exploded in

he report. The baby. She had to tell him. But the pain was

s expression softening into a look of concern Chloe hadn't seen directed at

s shoulder at Chloe. Her eyes were dry now, and

the asphalt. The wind caught the single sheet of paper, the word "

words directed at Chloe but his eyes still on

ouse as if she were made of glass. They walked past Chloe without another look

The pain in her belly intensified, morphing into a terrifying cramp. A wave of cold dread was

hrough her contacts, a desperate search for someone, anyone, to call. The screen illumina

her face. "I'm sorry," she whispered to the tiny life inside

she survived this night, she would never be weak again.