Hanso

d. I didn't want him to see the pathetic gratit

"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for them. It's the least they deserve after..."

y voice a dry rasp. I fled the r

r two days were crumpled and stained. I had nothing else. Nothing appropriate to wear to m

ade me jump. Before I could

who was carrying a selection of black dresses. Kisha's smi

voice dripping with faux concern. "I had Maria pull a few

sses on the wardrobe door. They were b

ilk sheath dress. "He insists I have the best of everythin

power, her place in his life. She was the one he spoiled now,

her eyes meeting mine in the mirror. "More grounded.

in my chest. I couldn't wear her clothes. It felt like another lay

y voice tight. "But I'

she said, her tone suddenly sharp. She turned an

crumpled sweater I arrived in. It

nk. He had been Clayton's driver for years, a kind

en he saw me. "Miss Hanson?

I said, a weak smi

were..." He stopped, his fac

rds would sound like madness. "It's a

w. "He changed after you left, miss. A lot. Sacked all the old

had systematically era

eyes on the rearview mirror. "Mrs. Young... Kisha. He treats her like s

The last sliver of doubt I had was extinguished. It wasn't a reboun

-time mistake. It had been the beginning. He had been falling for her even then, whil

de-by-side under a large oak tree. Robert Hanson. Beloved

my head on the cool stone of my mother's grave and wept, my body shaking with silent,

e breaking. "I'll fix this. I promise. I'll

was emotionally and physically drained. All I wanted to

ok exhausted," she said, her sympathetic mask back in place. "I had

me. I hesitated.

ice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You don'

How could she possibly

as checking it," she said, her eyes glinting with a cru

t of the tea made my stomach churn. I felt a wave of n

ptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet. Th

of my hand, Kisha was leaning against the doorframe,

ith another man's child and win him back?"

I said, my voice shaking with

scoffed. "Do you t

pened. Clayton stood there, his face a thun

ling with tears. She turned to him, her voice a wounded whisper. "Clay...

dy cold, turned to ice. He strode towards me,

e demanded, his voic

-