was a heavy blanket, too

ye

the miscarriage, two years

e was his sanctuary. No

iversary, but the air was just as

ckered, dancing over the roasted chicken, the garlic mashed potatoes, and the b

rfec

s shattered, a broken vessel that couldn't hold onto the one thing I wanted most in the world. But my

ofa, the one we picked out together when we were stil

of spiritual reading. Maybe... maybe we're not meant to be parents. Maybe our connection

ree" lifestyle, a consc

growing chasm between us, that I agreed. I buried the

ction came with a price

e distance between our bodies. My attempts to initiate anything were met with a gent

our first anniversary, the one he said made me look like a movie star. I put on makeup, styled my h

as l

t. He was probably held up at the office. The company we built together, the one my fat

r. I stood up, smoothing my dress, a

at the dinner table, and his expression was n

idn't have to

ed. "It's our a

client." He walked past me, heading for the stairs. "

ken suddenly making me sick. I blew out the candles, one by

As I scraped the perfect meal into the trash, a single, hot tear

door to his home office was slightly ajar. I h

k, the screen glowing. He must have forgotten to close it. I

ersonal assistant. Young, beautiful, and alwa

dn't look. It was an invasion of his privacy. But I couldn't stop

were a punc

ing looks perfect! Both of them are strong and

hitched. B

y was just

you could do it. I'll be home soon, my love. Just have t

king about me. About

o stay upright. The room felt like it was tilting. I sc

doesn't susp

thetic. Don't worry about her. As soon as the Miller deal is fully secured, I'm done. I'll file for divorce, a

sonally arranged for Ben's company. He was using my fami

. The grief, the confusion, the desperate hope of the last

life with children-the very thing he told me we were "beyond." He hadn't just betrayed me;

ed for my phone. I took pictures of the entire conversation, every single damning word. I scrolled through his files, finding a folder labeled

recise and cold. The heartbroken wife was gone. In her place w

was about to t

now, a cruel joke. I pulled it off. I went to my jewelry box and opened it. My wedding ring, a si

ale and indented. I dropped them into the box

rang. I

ce, forcing it to sound normal, maybe

el

il took longer than I thought. I'm

ss, so smooth. He was p

ne flat. "Okay. Well, I've

is weekend, I promise," he said, his voice dripping with

like poison. "Just tired, like you s

re he could sa

ty lights. He thought I was a pathetic, miserable ice queen.

aling with. This wasn't just

s about

was

-