and a steady heartbeat thrummed against her back. The

nfamiliar ceiling above her bringing r

eath h

nigh

red words replayed in her mind. Her pulse quickened when she felt the firm grip a

nside her. Shame. Regret. A

into the sheets.

the very thing she despised-someone like her hu

ody, careful not to wake him. The warmth disappeare

oden floor was cold beneath her feet as she gr

gasp. She scrubbed her body until her skin burned, as if she could wash away the n

ine. He did it first, and you are no lon

man. His face was peaceful, his dark hair tousled from sleep.

d to l

f the room, her heels clicking aga

-

home. The moment she stepped into the

oom, broken only by the tick

stomach

s fam

cious living room, their judgme

er her disheveled state before her nose wri

blinked in

neered. "She re

her veins. "No... n

with his arms crossed, a self-sat

lex drawled. "Tell us, Catherine. W

, but his eyes held something

to fists. "I came t

height. "Pack your things? After abando

't like her, I knew something was up with her. Finally, you all

linched as

other man?" Alex's uncle spat. "And you

against the lump forming in her throat. "R

se. I already told my family the

into her palms. "The

re of him like a proper wife. A man has needs, Catherine. And you-" she looked her up and down with disdain "-yo

t, sharp gasps. The injustice o

. "I supported him, took up a different job so that we could have something to eat, I

enc

"Excuses. A marriage withou

d. Her heart pounded, her

for my side of the s

s cousin interjected. "We d

cut through

before Aaron's mother lifted her ha

t my son in front o

vibrating with suppressed emotion. Her l

g voice sliced th

st you ret

l into stunn

her breath catch

es scanning the room with cold amusement. He was dres

h twisted

can't

twisted in s

's blood

from las

held her, kissed he

no

tomorrow, you came early, Aar

't answ

ember my face. The shame curled like a fist hitt

's outcast

in her ears as

ips curling into a smirk. "I just

d so loudly she could ba

he doin

e impor

know who