Pancakes for a Stranger's Love

Marsh

body, a stark contrast to the burning rage that consumed me. Never in my life had I imagined I'd be send

d up from Jayda. Not a pi

enthouse. Apartment 32B.

sides were being torn out. I didn't think. I just acted. I threw on the first clothes I could find, my hands f

ont them? Scream? Cry? A part of me just wanted answers, to rip off the bandage of uncertainty, no matter how much it hurt. Another part, a terrified, shrink

st exclusive buildings in the city, the kind of place Bennett used to talk about buying

place against the polished marble and hushed opulence. My heart poun

oors finally slid open on the 32nd floor, I took a shaky breath and stepped out. The ha

s even more stunning in person, with an effortless grace and a sparkle in her eyes that I felt had long since died in

t. The laughter, the easy intimacy, the way he leaned into her.

ng rage. I pushed the door open the rest of the

nne

me, his eyes widening in shock, then narrowing in something akin to a

ice was sharp, accusatory, completely devoid

da. "You! You sent those pictures,

a speed I hadn' t seen from him in years. He stepped in fron

ed me back, not gently, his hand firm on my shou

e. The woman he'd promised to love, honor, and cher

ing down my cheeks. "What's wrong with you? You've been g

being hysterical. This isn't what

when he wanted to dismiss my feelings.

nt, but a flicker of triumph danced in their depths. She t

missiveness, the outright lies. The way he looked at me, not with love, b

ling emptiness. What was I even doing here? Begging a man

he anger, the pain, the frantic energy, simply ev

d built my life around, was gone. This cold, defensive stranger was not him

ered, my voice

was heavy, but with a strange, new resolve. I didn't look back. I co

wedding day, warning me, "Iris, only marry a man who would never let go of your hand, no matter