My Death, His Ultimate Downfall

lie

t and slightly breathless, cut through the buzzing of the auction hal

r editor had already set the wheels in motion. "No," I said,

e? What could possibly be fr

His reputation. His company. His life." I leaned in, my voice dropping to a whisper.

wning horror. She probably thought I meant suicid

back. "This story will break the inter

, weaving through the crowded hall as if the hounds of hell we

murmurs. He moved towards me, his arm outstretched, a familiar gesture of

iff. The air around him sudde

lly warm for the cameras, turned to chips of ice. "Wh

't just have an affair. You flaunted her on our yacht. You compared her

ive, a bit like you were when we first met, actually. Always clinging, always wanting attention." He

mother. The woman he had murdered with his callous disregard. "She's

itable, wasn't it? She was old. It was her time." He glanced around the opulent hall, probably calculating how

d threatening to drown me. My hands clenched at my sides, knuckles wh

ing out a small velvet box. "Here, darling. Something to cheer you up. I picked t

d erase years of pain, erase the life he had extinguished

was already in full swing, the rapid-fire calls of the auctioneer a distant drone. I

excused himself, stepping away, his voice hushed and excited. "Yes! Yes, I saw it!

ffocating hug. The last time he'd held me like this was when he was begging me not to leave, when my grandmother's li

owd, leaving me alone at the table, the sapphire box still clutched in my hand. I stood ther

re he returned. Too

s, a diamond necklace glittering at her throat, a bracelet sparkling on her wrist – all

ningly sweet. "I'm so sorry, did I take your seat?" She didn't wait for an answer, sliding into the chair nex

couldn't give him. The child he had sworn he would never h

esperate pleas, his tearful vows. "I owe you a child, Amelie. I will nev

an heir, Amelie," he said, as if it were a simple business decision, brushing aw

g enough for our little family. I'll need a lot of space for the baby, and for all my new things, of course." Her eyes

e excellent care of you, darling. She's wonderful with... ar

I nodded, a tiny, almost imperceptible movement of my

it call you 'Mother,' Amelie. How perfect would that be?" He reached for my hand, but I pulled it away, my