righten with satisfaction. He believed he'd successfully tricked me back i

You can prepare that fancy spread you're so good at-the one that always impresses my business

us like a poisonous flower, beautiful

stroyed by the image of Marcus and Sophia wrapped together in our bed. E

eautifully wrapped box from the side table. "I nev

ose for a kiss that felt like a betrayal of my own lips. "You're so though

what I wanted, what I dreamed of. Alw

" he said, tucking the box unde

myself just outside our bedroom door. Through the crack, I

e the dismissive tone he used with me. "Ava's completely under control. She even gave m

of carefully chosen gifts, each one selected with love and atte

he office. Ava will cook everything-just text me what you want to

lled with pictures from our happiest moments, each page written with my memories of our life together. He

and. Then we can have the whole apartment to ourselves

nursed him back to health, where I'd whispered my dreams of our future. He

er of this apartment held memories of who I used to be-the woman who'd believed in love, in marriage, i

de me, occasionally saying Sophia's name in his dreams. E

man I thought I married-the charming businessman who'd swept me off my feet, who'd made me feel chos

ya's business card and the private investigator's contact information.

en gifts from my grandmother, a few photographs from my life before Marcus. Everything that truly matter

rony wasn't lost on me-my entire future hidden among th

ou a list of dishes for tonight. Make sure everything

success. I'd been the invisible foundation holdin

rences." Each dish would take hours to prepare, requiring me to spend the entire day in the k

back. "I'll make sure

evoted wife, done with such perfection that

sed for work, I m

Tonight, after his dinner part

va? Once we start this proc

er truly been my home, at the life I'd bui

ved here is already gone. I

it would be the last time I performed this ritual of service. Every sauce was perfectly seasoned, every

that would suggest this was anything other than an ordinary dinner party. I styled my hair the way Marcus preferre

like a collar

lients, and of course, Sophia, stunning in a red dress that cost more than mo

ope you're not still upset about y

ching her in bed with my husband w

have graced a magazine cover. "I'm just grateful

every conversation flowed smoothly with me playing the gracious hostess. I moved through t

sts began discussing dessert, Mar

n to the cellar and bring up a few more bottl

ne of the guests noticed anything unusual. They pr

y moving toward the door. "

, and stepped inside. As the doors closed behind me, I caught my reflection in the polished st

t time I would

identification documents were secured in a hidden compartment. The bank ac

en my prison for three years, I didn't look b

ar door was locked, that the building's security cameras had mysteriously broken, a

host. A memory. A warning story about what happens when

cattered across black velvet. For the first time in three years, I