the scent of old wood and incense. It was the same place where Liam had knelt years ago, taking lashes for me.

m, dusty light. I was alone. There was no food, no water, just th

ull, persistent pain. To distract myself, I let my mind drift back to the past. I remembered Liam bringing me hot chocolate on a snowy day, wrappin

reality was so stark it made my heart ache. The man who had promised t

dim light. At some point, my body gave up. The pain became too much, the

m I didn' t recognize. Liam was sitting besi

thick with what sounded like relief.

nd groggy. His concern

ve spoken to him. It won' t happen again. As for Sarah... it

led to my public humiliation and physical suffering, as a simple misu

s too tired to argue

. A box from a famous luxury brand appeared on my bedside table. Inside was a

t," he said, his voice soft. "I

ld buy my forgiveness? That a piece of jewelry could erase the pain and betrayal? I pushed t

ity Gala is next week. I want you to come with me. As my wife. I want

" I asked,

ing in the world. "She' s carrying my child. She needs to be seen. But you wil

nant mistress in tow, was grotesque. But I was tired of fighting. I was just a p

cold against my skin. Liam stayed by my side, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back. But his eyes kept strayin

: "This is my wife, Eleanor." But then he would immediately excuse himself to go

ng and scornful glances. "That' s her, the barren wife." "Loo

e had given me. The auctioneer announced that the proceeds would go to a foundation for single mothers. The irony was so thick I could barely breathe. Liam won the bid, and the crowd applauded as he wa

on the terrace, trying to get some

' t it?" she said, her voice

n' t

a conspiratorial whisper. "He doesn' t love you anymore. He loves me. He

mall, sharp stones, p

she said, her smile widening.

ady herself, but then her grip tightened, and she pulled me with her. We both tum

dragging me down. When I surfaced, sputtering and g

his face a mask of panic. For a split second, his eyes m

me! The

directly towards Sarah. He reached her, wrapped his arms around her, and started

ulling me down. I struggled to stay afloat, my limbs growing heavy and cold

Sarah out of the pond. He wrapped her in his jacket, his voice full of frantic

a crowd of concerned onlookers, leavin

ff member, I heard his voice again from the direction of the ambu

ard the sound of a kiss, a soft, intimate sound that echoed in the cold night air.

red of hope, the last flicker of love I might have held for