Forgive the Knife, Not the Lie

t less than a year after remarrying,

the night once again. When she returned home, she saw the servan

ed her, their faces t

ou'd be working through the night and wouldn't be comin

nt upstairs, Natalie heard t

good! Adrian, slow do

isn't home anyway. You c

so bad

rvant asked nervously, "Mrs. Brown, I'll go

rd the dining room, her voice calm. "I'm

ant froze, staring at

wn just say s

've stormed upstairs and dragge

o badly she nearly ended up in the hospital. If Mr.

ted now. After all, Mr. Brown onc

..

d Natalie's ears, yet

the first time, Natalie beat the woman merc

he begged, she

, Adrian searched the entire wo

lashed himself ninety-nine t

rike, he said

apologies, Natalie

eated her well, as if he wanted

cial engagement and came home on

her himself, making

bought a hundred acres of land and planted an

ed was that in just nine

ng, the sounds upstairs

sn't Mr. Brown done yet? That woman is unbelievable

his wasn't the first time Adria

th and stood up,

ching Adrian cheating, but t

aw two bodies tangled toget

Are you this intense wi

ver treat her like this. I

e me? You even use a whip on me

can't bear t

gled together, Natalie was rem

ad been close for generations, and the two o

mother had already told her tha

r him and never tho

er than Natalie and loved

had no interest in lear

m, patiently teaching him how to study

s, she stood in front of

most often were, "Natalie,

hey got

kissed her brows, her eyes, her

she was, he was as gentle a

ly into his arms and promised, "Natalie, I lov

as as happy as if he

hey would be happy

me always did. A year ag

there wouldn't be a second time. Less

knew their relationsh