A T

car. The weight of the evening pressed against me. The air was thick with the faint hum of t

t flickered, almost as if teasing me to move, but I remained frozen, unsure if I was

of the city's most sought after couples. My husband and my stepsiste

if their betrayal was a love story. My pulse quickened, and for a moment, the noise of the city faded away, leaving only the pou

I heard my friend's and at

ut I have to go

. We can win this," and wi

off immediately. I tried to block out the picture from my

moment. I glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing nothing but headlights reflecting at me. I was alone in my thoughts, al

eryone behind me brought me back to reality. I drove inside

hing happening today is going to pull me down. Walking into my home a

t them back; no one must see me in tears. I can keep

rned around upon hea

to him, looking at him witho

sed to mean?" he as

even ask about my well-being. It's jus

ted teeth. "Our marriage has always been a

rs but keeps giving me issues to deal with for him. I shouldn't have done it for him but I have b

efore I forced them steady. Holding it out to him, I kept my gaze locked o

ust like you wanted.

ng the man I once thought I could love, the man I once believed I could build a family with. But here he is building a f

to a satisfied smirk. "Now, try not to embar

t give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd gotten under my skin. Instead, I plastered

I've gotten quite goo

lked up towards the stairs. Becca's baby shower was in full swing, the room overflowing with g

harming everyone around her. My stepsister had always been the golden girl,

bright, too cheerful. I forced myself to turn toward

my tone calm, even

ed as soon as she stood in front of

ard as I stared down at her baby bump. Talk about ov

rgotten so soon?" I responded to

ve of Ronnie's life, and there is nothing you a

his is between you and Ronnie, it's built on lies and deceit. I

ething darker. "You're just jealous. I gave him e

ed for, prayed for. And there she stood, flaunting it like a trop

suddenly shifting from rage to panic. "You... you're

ost didn't believe what I was seeing. Her eyes flit

e not fooling anyone," I said,

more dramatic. She took a step back, her han

e I could catch her, she let out a pier

led down

cess it. Her body crumpled as she hit the floo

m the crowd, and then there wer

hering crowd. When he saw Becca sprawled at the bottom of th

o me!" he shouted, his

er voice weak and trembling. "Zara...

t? No! I didn't touch

ry in his eyes like a blazing fire. "How could

ie, I

red, his voice si

far too long. But this? Hurting Becca and our chil

uests whispered and stared, their judgment palpable. Even though I wanted to ge

l. "Get out of my house. I'll have the

as she whimpered in his arms. I took a step back,

ath coming in short, panicked gasps. I could still he

eached my car. I sank against it, tears burni

... the b