The Scapegoat Wife's Ultimate Comeback

ehind my back. My claustrophobia, already a relentless beast, roared to life. The walls of the room, once merely a backdrop,

g air. Alina, tiny and terrified, clinging to me, her breath hitching in ragged sobs. Our childhood kidnapping.

held me, soothed me, promised me he would never let anything like that happen to me again. He had pr

ody; he had imprisoned my memory, my trust, my very soul. He had used my vulnerability, the most sacre

opulent hallways, past silent, terrified staff, and into a small, sterile room in a secluded wing of the mans

nity. I paced, I screamed, I begged, I pleaded. I fought against the invisible walls that pressed in

t, her legacy. I would not let them win. I would fight for her

boomed from unseen speakers embedded in the wall. Conor's voice. Cold, detached, utte

Every scream, every tear, every moment of my terrified struggle. He had wi

a sadist. A cruel, calculating manipulator who revele

until my knuckles bled. The pain was a dull throb compared to the agony in my heart. He had stripped m

the edges. I collapsed, the last ve

sterile white walls a jarring contrast to the plush confinement of

. He's arranging for her to fly out discreetly." It was Hillery's name. T

My staff will arrange transport home. See to your health." Not "our" home. My health. No concern for my trauma, my

ter laugh escaping my lips

oll. "Hillery Hudson, the enigmatic artist 'Eclipse,' set to m

ty. The last day my divorce was completely finalized, freeing me from Conor. The date

p sting, the nurse's frantic calls. I had to g

staff, and hailed the first taxi I saw. "Take me to Hud

familiar, dista

ice calm, collect

left the hospital without being discharged. Are you alright?" He sounded less concerned and more annoyed by the disruption t

I said, a dangerous lilt in m

llery. We have a lot of damage control to do. You need to stay out of the public eye. For a while. For the

quite the impression. A united front, you say? Oh, we'll be united, Conor. More united than

You absolutely cannot! It's a critical event for the family's reputation. I nee

gh escaping. "You'll see, Conor. You're

h a fierce, burning resolve. I looked at the taxi driver. "F

stream feed of Hillery' s engagement party. The screen filled with a glittering crowd, a jubilant Hille

The ever-dutiful and supportive Mrs. Jacey Hamilton-Hudson, who has unfortunately been feeling under the weather lately, but has bravely decided to make an appearance

s. I looked directly into the camera, my face pale but resolute. "Thank you so much for having me," I said, my voice clear and steady. "I'm

on my lips, "I want to offer my deepest sympathies to Hillery. Her recent troubles, and the difficult circumstances surrounding her, are truly unfortunate." My t

The faces on screen, especially Conor's, were fro

ard glint in my eyes. "So, Conor, I am publicly giving you to Hillery. She always was your true love, wasn't she? Your precious Hillery, who you would sacrifice anything for. Even your wife.