Shattered Vows: No Second Chances

ya

bringing with it the sterile sting of an

ll, rhythmic hammer st

d my ey

bed, her face buried in her

ped against my dry t

Her eyes were rimmed

y hand and squeezing it with a despera

my forehead. My skin felt tender, and my fi

ed, her voice trembling. "Th

as raspy, but the clarity of the me

rief instantly calcify

slipped out, hot and s

t her. He shoved me asi

ng. The necklace. T

I had cried enough tears for a

ettled over me, numbi

ling with rage. "I'm going to kill hi

" I

Maya, he ass

" I said, my voice flat. "He has the money. He has the po

ing my teeth against the

money. I don't w

mother dea

vanish before he even realizes

long, heavy moment. T

"My nightingale. Wherev

tal bed, watching the sun cr

didn'

on

arrangements that filled the room with the cl

o throw every singl

wyer

aived my right to spousal support. I w

that carried the

one a few days later, his tone wary. "He's re

's nothing to e

Liam formally re

advised

ing at the blank wall. "I need to

te conference roo

ewelry. No makeup to mask the ugl

ed haggard, his designe

he saw me. His eyes l

He reached out, as

n," I co

glacial temperature

in a rush. "I didn't mean to push you. It was a ref

ow,"

w? So you understand? It's a mess, but I can fix it.

e truly believed he could keep his wife

at?" I asked. "You thi

atement of fact, born of a lifetime of getting his way. "We have a

d into m

d given me on our anniversary-the

across t

omen's shelter," I said. "In

the check, his

ing. A threat masked as a plea. "You have noth

nothing than be

too

ase the medical records from the

feet, panic finally

uture! Think about... think ab

straws, desperate

d as I walked to the door. "I can gi

ered over the cool met

his offer took

ned s

t need I

nfusion cloudi

regnant,

rom his face, leavi

said. My voice didn

ad physically struck him. "

aved it from havin

handle. "The baby has nothing to do wi

lked

ck at the man cr

ile hallway, toward th

ken. I wa

rst time in ye