other room sounding like they were coming from a different world. Mark' s casual expr

Mark said, his voice losing its friendly tone. "I

weeks? Faking a business trip and an injury? Kneeling in front of y

ard, her face a ma

. "Can' t you see what' s happening? A man is dying, Liam! His last wish is for peace and happiness

onster ruining a dying man' s last celebration. But all I could hear were the ec

staying at. The call about her 'sprained ankle' , her voice tight with pain. I remembered feeling so guilty that I couldn't be there to take care of her. I

rformance. While I was at home, worried abou

out heart? Where was your heart when you packed your bags and told me you were flying to London? Wh

wards her, my ey

ith me. Right now.

She grabbed my arm, trying to pull me furt

o you know how embarrassing this would be for Mark' s family if everyone

th hostage to cover her own deceit. The manipulation was so blatant, so shameless, that something inside me

an I married. I saw a stranger, a manipulative, selfish person

rasp, my decision settling in m

t was a chilling, empty calm. "I shouldn' t make a scene. You should stay

r and started walking

she called after me, a note o

ack at her and Mark, who stood there li

clearly. "I' m filing for divorce. You two

ng open, speechless for the first t

ing her head. "You can' t.

ur choice when you knelt on that

he party followed me out into the night, but they felt a million miles away. The betrayal was no longer a co