Secrets and Second Chances

IA'

one hand pressed protect

ree years, I felt like I

s pre

s still f

action. Maybe he would finally be happy. Maybe he would

aby would cha

tionate, but there had been moments when I thought he cared about me. Small moments. A sof

d on to th

of marriage approached,

became

ol

r marriage agreeme

to believe that me

any

d our

he unwanted wife his father-in-law had pushed

om door, my cheeks w

heard

sto

asiness settle

N

ook m

pposed to be

d the do

rld sh

sitting o

ross his lap, her arms

ere pressed

ldn't

tha

led awa

y eyes m

s no guil

irri

id coldly. "You

ed at t

essed, perfectly composed, as th

belonged on m

o is

't answer i

woman

usa

miled

t a frien

remained arou

e sweethear

omach

ge swee

aned clos

tting marr

room

arr

ked at

e're ma

if I were ex

t this marriag

tightened ar

we would giv

promised

the little hope I h

id we wo

e d

ression

t didn'

ipped down

ly wiped

ant Susan t

t y

ed. "I came here because I

d at me im

Wh

embling hand o

preg

len

second, I imagine

ined su

ppi

e eve

expression b

're l

art st

Wh

pregnancy will

esperately. "I'm not lyi

tightened around

listen to her.

oked

nothing to

isappeared f

e looked

this because she k

ed back

er she's

said

e hurt more

him to deny

di

n envelope beside him and

rew them on

divorce

yes w

eady prep

Ye

u kn

st

er, Maria. It's time for

d at the

ands

build a marriage that Ethan had app

ell him we were going to have a chil

an you

aw tig

is harder than

d up the

sion b

't sign

yes na

ari

id I w

e, I saw anger fla

eady turning t

stay there a

ested on t

the man I had love

one of

ment, something flic

t disap

ver suppose

racked all

the sob risin

you realize wha

I walk

elt heavier

iage was

rt was

was one thing Ethan coul

ba

embling hand o

t you," I

freely now, but

know where

now how I w

in that house and watch the man I

heard Ethan'

ari

dn't

this

down my face, unaware that the day I thought my life