The Neglected Wife's Return To The Top

I've always l

manicured perfection of the Saunders' estate garden. Anabel Blackw

, strained, and raw with a grie

e he spoke

terile marriage, of maintaining the flawless image of Clark Saunders' wife. She

ew. It was

d with his back to her, his shoulders slumped in a way she'd never seen

did you ma

sharp and direct. It was the one

terms. And I had to stay here, in this house. Kathryn... after A

ect

al thoughtful gestures, the birthday gifts chosen by his assistant, the rare, tired smiles-all of

true

the sting a distant anchor. She was a piece of furniture in their story. A fu

nd unyielding against her back as she leaned again

ew one deep, sh

ano

d the front of her black silk dress

de both men jolt. Clark's face was a mask of

as impossibly calm, a flat, de

ting to bewildered concern. "What are you talking abo

ding her for her timing. For disr

head butler, Maria, rushed on

Miss Kathryn! She's

-all of it vanished, replaced by raw, undiluted terror. He d

his shoulder knock

t let Leo see his mother like this!" he

sharp, clean pain that did nothing to distract from the sudden, hollow space in her

her mind already meticulously cataloging her separate assets

ndage on her thorn-torn palm. He stood before her, his jaw set, his e

one leaving no room for argument. "Kathryn is in a fragile state. And Leo needs stability.

urge to cry, nor did she feel the need to remind him that this was su

" she repeated, her voice devo

rective. "Ana, don't be difficult about this. She's my brother's widow. I'm all she has right now.

ving him. He thought her demand for a divorce

A stage perfectly set for his tragic devotion to another woman. If she fought him now, he would just paint her a

im, her eyes completely empty of the adorat

," sh

a short breath, clearly thinking it was her surr

know it wa