Just A Substitute: The Wife He Failed

ie

I found him at m

the skin but seemed to seep right through my coat and into m

brella. Chloe was next to him, clinging to hi

Chloe, instinctively creating distance, b

"I... I felt bad about the other

ia

in meetings all day,"

the excuse tumbling out too fast. "

The only people who had ever loved me

pered to the cold st

hand on my shoulder. It felt less

rformative sympathy. "Marcus promised he would take care

re a pet to be kept. Or

s. Of course. I will alway

her that he would manage his mistake so

I said. "I will hav

ity in my voice. They thou

id brightly, clapping her hands

o vomit. But I nodded. I neede

t in the back. Like a

ole way. Marcus watched her in the rearview mirror

. It was crowded, filled w

realize he had done it until the waiter p

he menu to

ever you wa

t to me. "Oh, Ellie, you look like you

d. It was

asked, her eyes darting

topped. Di

d. "Just st

"You should watch that, Ellie. Hig

alth while sitting next to t

ith a heavy tray of

he stu

caught on the rug. The tray tipped. Three bo

g toward the cen

moved i

dn't reac

r completely, wrapping his arms around her h

p lande

left arm

id f

my throat. The pain was immediate and blinding, s

didn't

ce trembling. He was frantically checkin

my arm. The pain was making b

s!" I

the floor. He saw the steam

d back a

told her. "You m

His face was twis

ed. "Don't make a scene.

d to get you out of here. The fu

tand. He guided h

me on th

agony was consuming me. But the words he whi

as important a

beside me, shouting fo

ant floor, the tears mixin

g. But inside, the last thread th

burne