ars

ay

ND H

ven months. Eleven long m

more like quicksand. I fetched coffee, I rewrote press drafts a dozen times, an

transactional. I didn't mind. Friends were a luxury I couldn't afford, not anymo

s and not in reality. It was hard taking yourself back up when your whole life had been controlled by your husband's

are opened by six, and if I didn't leave by five on the dot, I missed her pickup and

rves and cheap coffee. My inbox was overflowing, my le

e all too busy pretending not to notice me carrying three iced coffe

ors as I hurried toward the conference room, fiv

ore she even got the door fully ope

I had spent the last hour fixing a typo on the

w, swallowing the urge to scream. "

es. They don't drink coffee!" she said casually, l

respect. I knew all this was for my daughter, Ashley. Our lives would be perfect in a few months. I be

stumbled. The paper cup in my hand splashe

, "that's not sorry at all. You sho

ed by whispers that weren't even sub

regular th

Eyes shifted toward me. A few girls glanced

id too sweetly. "You're

ouched my arm. She not

likes you. Get a promotion and sudde

nd, my boss stepped o

your attent

tern for a long time now. Um..

" I repli

y, Tayli has been promoted

kward applause. I

didn't feel like that. I could feel th

d the feeling off and

He said it was to "officially welcome me to the team."

ntern for a year, and now, finally, I had a permanent spot,

hy. Just simple. My friend, Lara, promised to watch my daughter. It was the only reason I

nsive cologne hanging in the air. People turned when I walked in. Compliments floated by, but they slid off

ything, it was for this dinner

the air

saw

ing so loud I could barely hear the background jazz. I ducked slightly behind the menu, but th

ad gone to the Philippines for the past three years and

toast was r

's to

hee

inked. Laug

when they

k. I could feel him.

sure enough, our eyes

't slow. I

e nights I cried in a cold bed. The moment I saw him, half-dressed, in Ivy's apart

s predicted, I became more uncomfortable than ever. Rage boiled ove

typical Devon fashion, he sent over a million-dol

r. Devon for th

ted to ask questions that

Wo

know ea

ar daddy? I knew

e he? Did he think I was

my blood

n't ever pull that stunt again," I said through gritted te

hat type of games are you playing wit

d at me like he wanted to say

away, and that's

like she was the only woman in the world, and looking at me like I was the

!" she mouthed and gave

hat Ivy was dressed like me , my favorite dress, favorit

ng at the table... specu

e looks so beau

the perfe

wuss came to his table! Sh

d on the table. "

she'd won. She kept leaning into Devon, acting like a

es were

l n

lass, maybe trying to calm me or distract me. I didn't know. All I kne

e. One by one. Until it

lk straight. I

, slipping his arm around me

ng. Every step made my legs shake. My breaths came

thing fel

mall room. Dim li

hank him...and

heavy. I couldn't think clearly but...I

speak, but everything was blurring. My pulse thundered in my ears. Adre

few minutes!" He said kissing me on

d of you!" I spat, voice

"You don't ha

erything

crash. Devon's voice roare

saw someone's fis

y, Henry st

could see Devon, shaking

back into the wall. The thud made my ears ring. My hands trembled, grippin

e, burning with concern and something else

ckled, and Devon caught me, holding me tight. The world t

d, voice cutting through the haze.

said, "Let me

whispered, my eyes bar

ld me

sound, every movement, felt distant. I tried to speak, tried to figh

n hell... I don't trust him!

rything w