The Silent Bride

a's

ness in the room was sliced through like a k

ands gripping the folds of the wedding garment. He had calle

ce with his penetrating gl

ith the screen. As I typed as quickly as my shaking fingers w

talk. I

raised the phone. He squinted as he read

, massive circus act. Your sister disappears first, and the

his scrutiny. He appeared to be a man robbed of his author

u do this because of Nancy? Or did your mother come up with the fan

elf, I typed once more,

mother didn't gi

y grasp. "Didn't give you a choice?" His voice dripped with disdain. "Yo

turn away as the words

on't k

e onto the desk behind him. "Yet here you are, wearing my rin

derstand, but the frustration on my face must have spo

his hands running through his perfectly styled hair.

on the phone again, stepping closer

So you're the lamb that was sacrificed? Ju

s straining my t

erly. "You've married a man who didn't

e made me wince, but I

This marriage isn't genuine. I have no choice but to act the pa

h I'd been bracing for them. My hands clenched i

g?" His gaze was fixed

while using trembli

derst

than his new bride. "The guest room upstairs is yours. I'll inf

s so much I wanted to say but no means to sa

l regr

ng else?" He turn

and reached for

e to do at tomorrow

ifying into his typical mask. "Just be happy and let me d

ted it to. I nodded, fighting back the tear

sively, turning his attention to

y phone and walked out of the room, the weight

od bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the diamond ring on my

nd, and I looked down to

marrie

ly type

ter. He de

tantly, sh

most likely as caught

't make it

survived worse, Nadia. You

it was short-lived. In all honesty, I didn't feel s

on the door, so I wiped my face

other side came a quiet

ply, I opened the door to discover a dish of f

hungry," she said, off

he turned to me after placing the tr

she said. "If you need anyth

my phone, ty

nk y

re welcome. And don't worry-things will get eas

s icy stare and scathing words

he untouched food. The weight of the house's grandeu

time it wasn't Elise. It was a

wford family. Be ca

ped. There was no way to respond becaus

it? And what

osing in around me. It was becoming evident that the Crawfords had their se

d myself in th