His perfect wife

for me. W

o longer looked like words. Just six shapes on crumpl

at against the ta

, not breathing loud enough to be noticed. Nobody had spoken since he walk

xcept th

rew it. It shattered against the wall,

ched my

ed glances. None

up anoth

d a que

's voice cracked. "I do

d to her

don't

ook he

looked around the room again, his chest rising

led Is

cem

lled

th

ck

ered below him, indifferent, and somewhere in it she was walki

er his roof, his rules. An

essages and typed

ared

ete

to beg his own w

his life, she was mistaken. He would find

know where sh

ur years, he had no way of m

how long he sto

again behind him. Long enough for the city to

it always did when he thought a

-

years

k's re

tian,

away from the ballroom. She held the side of h

asti

. She stumbled a step, caught herself, and pressed

ink you're doin

did

ke she had embarras

ught you here so you could

ick's wife's birthday, music spilling out through the open doors, laughter d

comfortable. She didn't know these people. She didn't know their rules. Sh

had brough

a," she said. "I don't und

d nothing warm in it. "And what exactly d

having a c

of the biggest technology empires in this country. She ass

h that she had to tilt her hea

w your place, Isabella. You're my wife.

ind the man she had married some

e asked. "I didn't ask her for

n't c

me here if you don't wan

is eyes. She saw it happen

at you sa

rst time in three years, she

hat a disagreement could ruin an entire evening, and that refusing to follow his instructions could

hat she spent. He made sure the accounts she n

, she remembered how little of her

ht, she w

here because you asked me to. I spoke to someone,

ared

talking b

ng you wha

t who you're

d back, her voice was quieter - not because she w

t to g

walked toward

dn't believe she had dared to wal

able," he

e time. He had no intention of staying

, Isabella would

certain

-

BEL

when he returned. He slammed the d

e are

of the stairs. She had changed into a red n

" she

at her in

ssed me at Derrick's house, and now

ke to someone, and you dragged

d have kno

n what? Talking t

your

ped the

ing to do? Insult me again? Remind m

towards

en who provides e

rgotten. You remi

out before she

on the b

always backed down when his anger became too

ining steps and sto

hat you j

tightened on

heard

e throat and shoved

er hands flew

an - let

ip tig

otten who you'

d. He was stronger. H

e hurt

ng flickered across his face. The

d, coughing, both h

sted hi

ink before you

d and wa

could hear him moving around their bedroom, ope

ched he

ng had

es for him. Convincing herself that if she were only more

round her throat because she re

the next time she

't have

wnstairs and sat in the living room. She opened Rachae

pened. But she had hidden so much of her m

conds, she loc

ould speak to R

p pretending eve

-

t, she returned

ered how happy she had been that day. How sure she had been that s

and took the p

le looked like

ssing table instead o

t her clothes. For the first time, she di

red how t

Sebastian had made sure her life depended o

ignore what had

and took out her phone. This ti

tomorrow?I n

phone beside

waiting fo

ould leave him. Or what h

knew o

though being his wife gave