The Unwanted Wife's Final Silent Escape

was the f

ightgown, sharp against her cheek.

eled her

ts of light. Her stomach lurched. She tried to push herself up

ooked

of her wrist. The unmistaka

t n

g colder than rage. The sound of a whiskey glass shattering a

t tou

resh humiliation. She pressed her fingers t

he hea

low, easy chuckle-unfamiliar in its warmt

t the quality of it-the ease, the warmth-was so

voice was

. Haskin, the

knew th

elle

er lungs tur

cool wall, she moved, barefoot and silent, toward the grand staircase. The marble

es grew

id, her voice carrying up the stairwell. "

an's voice was warm. Pliable. A texture D

hed, a light, practiced sound

aphne's he

id, his tone cooling

e very unde

as no

hid behind a large porcelain vase, peering t

ium's glass ceiling, illuminating the s

of his face. He looked relaxed. Almost happy. A version of him she had only ever glimpsed in old photo

him sat Is

k hair fell in waves over her shoulders, and her smile was the easy,

dusted with powdered sugar. Smoked salmon arranged in delicate

aphne had spent five years

caught in

ry croissant he'd just spread with cream and placed

h her fork and brought it to h

us," she

o each other. Like this was thei

ile playing on his own lips. An expression of quiet, u

ed a hand to her mouth, forci

he was here. Witnessing this would only give him more a

ack just enough to avoid his touch, dabbing at her own lips. She said something low and teasing. Damian's hand froze mid-air be

left bruises. This morning, they reached out wit

d to do nothing

sharp sting was the only thing that felt real

She was a name on a c

d, her sweet smile faltered. It was replaced by a look of cool, unmistakable vi

. And she was too

confront them. It would only e

turned. She retreated back up the

ared in four years-and softly closed the door. The sound o

ength g

o the plush carpet. The sobs she had been holding back ripp

had loved for five years was hav

never loo