oe

r streaks as the Rolls-Royce glided sm

in the rearview mirror, his expression cautious

voice flat. "He has more imp

fter he had humiliated me with the cruelest words, this final abandonment

erling estate. The place where I had grown

en the heavy door, and walked u

ses and forced smiles. My solitary entrance immediate

their eyes sparkled with the

r, their smiles as sharp as their diamond earrings. "Well

ad been taken in by their mother. They had reminded me of

gaze fixed on the f

. The matriarch. Her dark suit was immaculate, her silver hair pulled into a tight,

r voice cutting through the surrounding noise. No

oom turned to me,

made no exc

gh the sudden silence of the hall. "He abandoned

fled gasp rippled

s was not just my shame. It was a publ

H

against the marble floor. The

ble force. "You can't even keep your own husband

. The blame, as always

! Do not return until you understand your place!" She p

ironic. I was in the same position

d me with a faint

ore here tonight would be a waste of my own time. Because I knew

sture of respect, and turned to leav

ity. Just as I didn

aced with snow hit me, seeping through the thin fabric o

ee me "repent." I walked down the driveway,

me dizzy. My ankle twisted, and I fell, a clu

ugh the bruises on my back. I tried to pu

. Snowflakes melted on

ow me whole, a pair of polished black d

at was draped over me, radiatin

and knees, lifting me effortlessly from the s

hear the person say, "It