Bruc

ied myself to sleep, curled into a ball on the far edge of the king-sized bed, as far from Elias

d into small, manageable bites, the same way he used to do for me when I was sick wit

old, unreadable mask. "Feeling better?"

voice dripping with ice. I gestured with my chin to the arm she' d been clutching so dramatically

ly replaced it with a pained wince. "It still hurts,

ok of pure venom.

es. "For her cornering me after you locked me in a panic room?

e looked at Juli, a

mbling. "I was only trying to reassure her. I told her you loved her, that I was just here to help with the baby. She must have misundersto

took her hand. "You're not going anywhere. You are not a burden." He then

!" I insisted, my voice

flair for the dramatic, Gemma. It was charming, at first. But this... this is pathetic. Yo

my background before, but now he was wielding it like a weapon, reminding me of my place. I w

nt gratitude for what? For using me? For plotting

is hand on the table. The silverware r

shadow over me. "I'm going to give you one last

of triumph in her eyes. I saw my entire future in that moment: a life of being gaslit, belittled, and torme

e calm of absolute certainty. "No,

will go. You will stand by my side, and you will smile at the cameras. You will act the part of the devoted, happy wife. An

ate me, to parade me around as his pos

" I challenged, m

break due to the pregnancy hormones. I'll tell him you've become violent and that for his own safety, he

and he knew it. He would use

ach that felt like a battlefield. Elias was the perfect husband in public, his hand always on the small of my bac

look like you're at

r back. You're

y you're here. F

uched her arm, leaned in to hear her whisper, his eyes sparkling with a life and warmth he never showed

ried. Perhaps that man

well tonight," he said, his voice devoid of warmth. It wasn't a com

e mosaic on the floor, feeling as shattered as

"I don't know what's gotten into you, G

r. "Everyone in this city says she's the one you've always loved. They say I was just warming your bed

uth to speak, but no words came out. He couldn't

ilence, I ha

he grand staircase to our bedroom, my borrowed diamonds feeling like stones weighing me down. I r

nine days. Now. Tonight.

he edge of the bed, my body trembling with exhaustion and stress. The baby. I

door opened. It wasn't

leaping into my throat.

his warm, familiar hands taking mine. "He said you weren't feeling well, that

but my lips trembled. "I'

nted." He squeezed my hands. "Is he treating you right? I know I was hesitant abou

ing smile on his face. "Garner, I'm so glad you could make it

for my father' s benefit. "She's just been a bit overwhelmed," he said, hi

ed to get you scheduled for your next check-up, Garner. You

all. Tuesday was nine days from now. It was the d

day sounds wonderful, son. Thank yo

ver my father' s shoulder, they were cold and hard as diamonds, fil