p weighed down with exhaustion, bitterness, an

resh resentment. Christopher, the man I once trusted with my life, had c

rt pounding. Maybe it's the whisky still swirling in my veins, or maybe

stopher Bell's over. n

my eyes fall on the bed, and I ha

led up next to him, her blonde hair spilling over his shoulder, is a wo

her here. Of course, he'd think he could d

en had the audacity to bring home one of his l

eep pretending. I need to get him

, moving across the room, careful

s my c

leave him behind in his wreck of a life

my famil

p my lif

ear him stir. My stomach clenches as I he

es, his eyes half-closed,

seem the least bit concerned, not

ough his hair as if I've just wa

ing in the arms of another man; he do

planning my escape. But I hear him getting out of bed, his footsteps

he says, his tone

right? Sebastian's a very i

s words; I can barely b

ching for the man I once loved so fiercely

he's

cold, indifferent, twi

ck the anger and disappointm

nything, another v

ey

see Christopher's attenti

woman-the one who had the nerve to look me in the e

to fists, the word

I can't play th

this," I manage

oset door, reaching for a b

ng to se

k. "He's not here," he says s

t pounding as t

s to a low, d

ask, barely keepi

e weekend," he replies, hi

ken, my breath cat

back furious and that I'd

very move, every reaction. H

able to stand the sight of him any longer, unable

alls of that house, until I'm alone with nothing but m

awing away, hollowing me out. By the time

tian, the mysterious man Chri

verything I'd been through, I can't deny t

se piercing dark eyes and that serious ex

but somehow he treated me with

ay he'd poured a glass of wine for me, the way he'd

oke, yet somehow he made me feel

t he'd surprised me, and I'd left that room

lising how ridiculous it is tha

pher's friend, or at least so

to focus on now is finding a way out, leavin

o the cage I'm so desperate to escape. I know I can't stay here, not another day. I'll do whateve

on the floor, his tiny shoes by the door. He's my world, my re

skipping a beat. Christopher is standing there, watching

s tone mocking. "Sebastian called me.

e, my voice steady. "Is that wh

he studies me. Then he laughs, low and cold. "Oh, Lizzy,

am at him, devastated by his wor

flaring with anger.

e a family, remember? We're in this tog

ong time ago," I spit out, the

ression

g the pregnancies,!" I can

face him anymore. His words are cruel, and he was right.

me for losing the pregnancies