Her Second Chance At Love

of cracks, and one razor-sharp sliver drew a

her husband, Ethan Caldwell, snapped: "A

then a wave of en

master bedroom, the calendar marking three months after her wedding. Three

ver Amelia's first life. The customary ache that had long occupied the space beneath her ribs did not flare, but rather receded, le

she had given Ethan a des

his brazen affairs, his emotional abus

ure, ridiculed by Ethan's circle

tightness that had long defined her chest had vanished. In its place was a peculiar and unnerving lightness,

had struck her shoulder with such force that she stumbled two full steps backward; before her skull met the unyielding w

lia's head reeled from the imp

ed, now rested upon her knees with the weight and stillness of poured lead. She delive

g of newfound clarity, "to be removed from my

pte

inst her skin, its chill roughness an uncanny imitation of a beast's tooth. With

he choked out, hands trembling

ghed, a harsh, ugly soun

seized her limbs. Her fingers fou

nected. "Eth

l-the man who, in a life now concluded, had been her husb

, please,

ing scrape of her telephone's metal case sliding across the asphalt as the edge

, a searing pain, and

Amelia. Can't you

eyes fl

of her car, but to the opulent, suffocat

he silk curtains. Years ear

alive.

he bedside table

dding. Three months into th

the phantom smell of blood an

n given a s

ow, phone pressed to hi

ice softening, a tone Amelia had craved and never received.

an he truly loved. The woman who had been a sha

swiftly consumed by a different sensation-a fury so pure it felt l

this

surprisingly steady, raw from

s handsome face. "What now, Amel

self up. The memories of her death, his in

issed, turning b

d, her voice gaining stre

ort, derisive sound

lia. What fresh melodrama is this? An

is expression a mixture

have your head. And besides," he leaned in, hi

ess, it was all the same.

a piece on your board, Ethan," she said, her voice even. "I am not the queen you sacrifi

out of bed, ignoring t

out her phone – this life's phone

said into the phone, her voice clear and professional. "It's regarding

usement fading, replaced

He can see me

, Amelia had loved Ethan Caldwell wi

ant affairs, his emotional abuse, all in the pathet

Eleanor Caldwell, his formidable gra

ated their marriage, tying Ethan's acc

hers, her whispered words: "He needs you,

er. She had tried. Go

horne was a brand

from the beginning, a c

sica at events Amelia was expected to host, leaving

for Ethan's time, pleading with him not to

felt like a victory, each b

ations, public meltdowns that only solidified E

ill love

sica across a room, the way his voice softened when

for both of them, had been E

s quiet nature and artistic talents as a necessa

y saw Amelia as an

dmother, or Amelia, for the li

or any scrap of Ethan's attention

ught clothes she hated but thought he'd admire, ev

true passion,

r emotions a pendulum swi

cker of kindness – usually when he wanted something – s

igated by Jessica's subtle digs and Ethan's immediate defe

ling clarity set

ng it had amounted to a slow act of

sound of his indifference. What was left was not an

ing for a man who was incapable of loving

ty. The knot of his brow was not one of simple anger, but of a profound consternation, as if a familiar piece of house

orbell

was still processing

past him, her

suit stood in the doorway. "Mrs

come in," Amelia s

room, acutely aware of Ethan foll

separation," he explained, his voice a low baritone. "Division of primary assets, clauses of non-disclosure.

p the pen. Her

ce laced with disbelief and

ctually d

he papers, his eyes

way?" he scoffed, but the soun

e with a vicious

when you discover the chill reality of your mis

, the familiar dismiss

all, genuine smile that di

"The only thing I regret is no

ady packing. Not just clo

leave. D

her. This time,

lia Hayes, reclaiming th

e stillness in her, had introduced a dissonanc

ncements concerning the divorce, the ghost of a genuine smile that touched her lips at the pro

ntricately staged piece of theatrics, but

le in her passions. This nov

Jessica's name ill

f sugar and steel. "I find myself in desperate need of you. I happened upon the most divine

nds, her artfully constructed emergencie

already assembling her few personal effe

softening. He left Amelia to her small domestic arrangement