RA'S
hi
it harder t
l just happened. My mind was still catching up. Was this real life? Or did I somehow get dropped into an overly dramatic te
ainfully real. And unfortunately for me
's mom, aka the queen of dramatic entrances and soul-crushing insults, stood with her arms crossed like she wa
ealing? I did
r than I liked. "I didn't steal anything! Why would I? I have
rave, right? Exce
ther slap cracked across my other che
s fro
a
ner. The man I stupidly thou
throat as I stared at
ppening. This coul
ng it past my lips. My chest was tight, li
he married. Not the woman who stood by him when
all innocent. After everything I gave you. And now you s
breathe. My ear
my voice cracking. "It's a damn bracelet
tinging, but I refused to cry again.
ially when the whole world's turning against you? But
old, jaw locked tight like he couldn't stand the sight of me. His brown eyes used
t the man
what's a family disaster without the mother-in-
you really think we don't see through this little act? You have been sucking the life out of this fami
he inside of my cheek to s
. "I have never stolen anything in my life, but it doesn't matter, do
ng back. Her expression twisted into something wors
dn't car
te everything, a piece of me w
pping toward him. "You kn
up, Ta
ally stopped
getaway with the in-laws. I didn't even want to come. Delor
ld bracelet worth a small fortune went missing
onven
rap I didn't know I was in u
erate to reach the part of him that still loved me, if it even existed anymore. "I d
n't change. If any
from what you are now. I know you did it," he muttered, looking
fucking shreds! I have tried so hard, to make sure his fam
happene
back it
self for it. "How can you believe this?
lating us, taking advantage of Max's kindness and our family's generosity. And now, stealing jewelry? And not just any jewelry, the very expensive family heirloom. Ho
I was too frustrated. "I don't even know how it got in my thin
ward again, her fac
hot on my skin. "You don't deserve
yes, silently begging him to stop this. To come to my defense. But he stood there, still, un
ling the
spun around me. The words hit me
oking at him in disbeli
id coldly, reaching for his phone. "
tears streaming down my face
ling calmness that made my stomach turn. The room f
were handcuffing me and leading me out the door. I glanced back one last time, hoping, praying, that Max would
was col
t in reality, it had only been a day. A day since the man I loved, the man I would
I saw his face, heard his voice telling me I was pathet
ell opened, and a
ve a vi
t moment, I knew it was Max, and I let myself hope a
had realized it was all a mistake. He would apologi
t me with warmth or regret. He looked at me with cold
rembled. "You cam
ope onto the table between us. It lande
this?"
flat, emotionless. Like I didn
t wasn't real. It was a nightmare. Any second now, I would wake up,
l. And so was the pain
crossing his arms. "An
rring with fresh tears.
"You should've thought about tha
ng. Max, you know me.
e cut me off in a har
e was a painful ache in my chest, making it hard for me to breathe. I thought I had mor
d, my voice breaking. "P
be real-if you were me, would you even want to stay married to someone like you? A spineless thief with nothing to offer? You're worthless. And ha
rried, and realized that the person I thought
pen, my hands shaking. I didn't want to sign. I
otted line. My heart broke w
cruel smile. And when
id mockingly before turning and wa
me sitting there alone. My tears
here was no one