sh. Dust and debris filled the air. She was in a state of s

rly was Kobe rushing forward

led back a few feet and was now clutching

e's voice was filled with a panic and conc

hands hovering over her

pered, tears welling in her eyes. "She pushed me, K

d fury. He didn't ask if she was okay. He didn't even seem

tive. As he stood up, his leg bumped hard against Delma's shoulder, sending

Felicie away, his back rigid and un

herself up slowly, her body aching. Her ankle was throbbing, and she could s

apers clutched in her hand. The pain in her body was

es. She didn't cry. The tears felt frozen inside

divorce was legally finalized. The papers had been

er her. It was a bitter, painful re

an unknown number. When she answered, a cold, authoritative v

was an order from Bobb

ever seen him look so agitated. He had always been the picture of calm control. He had a habit of rubbing h

pproval. She looked Delma up and down, her gaze lingering

rp. "She lost a lot of blood from a deep cut on her arm. T

see Felicie lying in bed. Even in her hospital gown, she managed to look both fragile and smug. As

g a wife, she was now being reduced to a walking blood bag for her rep

," sh

m. She didn't resist. She sat in the chair, silent, as the nurse prepped her arm. She didn't look at

the tube. It felt symbolic, as if the last of her love and life force for

help her sit up. For a fleeting mome

it," he said,

her that wasn't an accusation. A fli

on slipping out before she could stop it. It

the gentleness was gone, replaced by that same

alked away with

oulders slumping with relief. He leaned down and gently brushed the hair from Felicie's forehead. Th

, a bitter smile twisting her lips. She

ing, and walked out of the h

sted a picture of her bandaged arm on social media, with a caption: "A scar

ial media, had commented

indled romance between the Kidd heir and his first love. Felicie's

r years. Gifts from Kobe. A designer handbag for their first anniversary, a style she never wore. A diamond tennis bracelet for her

sure. A simple, inexpensive watch she had bought him for his birthday one

le about Kobe and Felicie from years ago. In one of the photos, Felicie was wearing the exact s

een so blind? So willingly foolish? She had drowned herself in

nsive gifts in the middle of the room. When the

onate all this, ma'am? This

ma said. "I hav

leaving, her phone

aid, his voice clipped and business-li

used. "We're d

es for a while longer. I've had a dress and jewelry sent to your

l using her

e single word tasting

ere he'd arranged for her to pick up

store, was a scene that bu