The Placeholder Wife: His Too Late Regret

oke

ess like a home and more like a gilded

my clothes, nothing he had ever bo

. He looked lik

and heavy. He reeked of stale scotch and

e saw the suitcase on

asked, bypassing me

I said, my hands stead

in one long gulp and slamme

ke. I had a long night.

wer. I just

s. The movement strained the fine fabric of his shirt against his

d, his voice dropping an o

dry, brittle sound t

Is that what

the pre-nup renewal. The lawyers found a loophole regarding the payout. If you leave

rd. The only car

g for the fear to set in.

o. I had been siphoning my salary from the gaming division for three years. I had

e about the

"You're bluffing. Yo

ed the suitcase shut wi

ed. We're

use

house tonight," he said, sounding bored. "To apologize

ty hosted by the woman who

essy hair, looking annoyed tha

rift. It makes us look weak to the rival families. You just have to

I'm g

Smiling. B

aw the arrogance, the blindness. He didn'

, my voice hol

Wear the red dress. The one I bought you la

om to shower, stripping

turned on. Then, I foll

ere he kept his seasonal gear. I reached behind a stac

e gears, the intricate layout late into the night. I had it cust

him for his birthd

astic protector was still peeling off

Great Gatsby, his favorite book. Unope

scarf I kni

ove; he hadn't even bothered

x back into

curves, the slit riding high up my thigh. I applied my makeu

iting. He looked me up and down

aid. "You look

hought as I gr

like