p to our house,

come back early," I

ker of something unreadable in his eyes.

urned

ary was offi

ed a new photo on Instagram. A huge bouquet of red roses on a table. The caption

ed on the table, a familiar wedding ring on hi

e saw me on the couch, the single-layer ca

le on his face, and wrappe

ccasion? You ev

ped his finger into the frost

licking his finger. "But the

iversary, spent it with her, and then came home to criticize the one thing I did to try and

' t want to say

up the cake, the result of three hours of careful work, and dropped it into the tr

hen turned and went into the bedroom. A minute later, he came back out, a sm

ilver necklace. Without a word, he fastened it around my neck. I i

t?" he said, his tone dismissive. "You' ve been giving

ht, after every time he hurt me, he would give me a small, expensive gift.

k off the necklace, placed it back in

ft on the arm of the cou

m L

uch fun tonight, s

looked up. Mark was standing in the doorway of the living room, a

ou to look a