hey fussed over me, transforming my grief-stricken face into a mask of polished elegance, dressing me in a g

rfectly tailored. His eyes lit up when he

breathtaki

detached glance and le

clinking of champagne glasses. We walked in to a ripple of applause, our entrance

w whispered as we passed. "To ha

ght, it felt like a collective del

es full of a love that was a lie. He presented his anniversary gift, a heavy box from a

haps, he was remembering

its peak, a small bod

k, catching my

child's voi

ng to Emilio's leg, his face buried in the

, pointing an accusing finger at me. "Are

ests, especially the business partners, didn't know me. They onl

m. "Who is she?" "Is that his s

hattering in public, under the brigh

, her face a picture of maternal distress. "Oh,

his little face a mess of tears and accusations. "You ba

a perfect miniature of the one I had made for Emilio in college. It had been our p

y shock. I took a step forward, my hand outstretch

a, do

had shoved me, hard. His face was twisted in a panic I h

sh carpet. I fell backwards, my

orner of a glass table

d searing pain. Shards from a broken wine glass sliced

ver Leo, who had a tiny scratch on his knee. He scooped the boy into his arms

iumphant malice in her eyes. It was a look th

ngle look back. He left

sharp, but a new, deeper, more terr

grew louder, turning

? She tried to gr

e a scene like this at

good man, protecting

ensation. I looked down. The midnight blue of my dress

b

The room tilted, the lights blurring i