'S

smoothed out from hours of absence. For a moment, I thought Adrian was in the sho

si

had to leave early. Just a small thing-a kiss to my cheek, a scribbled Don't wait up or Ha

day, n

hrough my chest. He ha

"It's okay," I whispered to the life

at me. I couldn't shake th

*

the moment I des

m, her disapproval sharp enough to cut glass. Her graying hair wa

"Honestly, Mother, I don't even know why you bother or why Adr

t-thirty. I came down

e makes breakfast for him, for his family. She cleans the house so it's spotless before the sun

rp words, their mocking laughter, their constant reminders

hing about being a wife, not to mention a good one. You thi

es before. To them, I was nothing more than Adrian's pity pr

me snapped. I was done let

I said softly but fi

Her eyes gleamed with mockery. "Did you hear tha

won't mind if we start treating you as a wife should be treated. Wash

ed through me.

oom f

ck, then narrowed into slits.

d open in exaggerated

l, Ava. Mother doesn't l

ady, "that I will no longer wash your clothes. O

ly, as if I had cursed he

r face blotchy with fury. "You d

ted. The crack of her palm against my cheek rang out in the room.

We took you in, fed you, gave you a roof. And this is how you repay

sked for your roof. I never asked for your

y arm. "A wife? Don't make me laugh. You're nothing but a cu

l, shielding my stomach in

not just her palm. Marissa joined in, the

gl

ee

ur

rapped protectively over my b

nd dragged me to the back door. "Out. Yo

atio and slammed the doo

hrough me. My cheek burned, my arms ached, and all I could t

y phon

t, my hands shaking. The s

voice barely a

ce was tense.

.. h

to see you.

to my throat. "Is

his silence lo

th

me. You'

ne wen

orced myself up, an

*

orld away from the Voss man

ted at the long oak table, Ethan beside him. Fath

hair across from him. "It's been t

in months. My marriage had driven a wedge between us, one

tables were placed before us. The smell

I lifted my fork. "Ho

de me-I've been humiliated, beaten, unloved.

tightening. His eyes cut into me,

. "You look pale. Tired. Marriage should not strip a woman

uickly. "He's just.

but he didn't press further. Ethan's g

Ethan rose. "I'l

"I'll get a cab. I don't want to..." cau

rowned.

I turned away before either of them co

*

uiet when I ret

Marissa waiting, smug smiles plastered across thei

return. Did you enjoy your little outing? Did y

ne would finally take her off Adrian's ha

don't know what yo

e table and pulled out a thick envelope. She tossed i

wed at me as

hrough me. "

urred as my

e's finally realized what you are. A curs

ps trembled.

h, he would. He told Mother to make sure you sign i

papers slipped from

. My A

y morning, who had once held me like I wa

eight of it, splintering int

as divor