More Than a Mistress, Less Than a Wife

nsciousness in

d her nostrils. Her arm was i

e, his face et

f relief washed over her, quickly followed by confus

re awake!

was short-lived and

ds were urge

t. A rare blood disorder thing. She needs a blood transfusion, urgent

cknowledge her fractured arm, her hypo

concern w

ter disregard for her own suffe

rm. The pain in her arm flared, a mir

face h

The baby needs its mother. It's just a blood

ipulate her, to guil

sity, a temporary sac

ed into

orse, of guilt for what he'd put

was no

ency, im

settled in her. He didn

an end, a resource to be u

further, a nurse entere

ession was gri

est. Chloe needs this. The

wave of h

husband and her mother-in-law, h

y force her, but the

ped her arm, t

her vein, a wave of di

odletti

d: Ethan, years ago, when s

e, his voice soothing. "It's okay,

e window, impatient

stark, brutal contras

ose in her throa

re was finished, Ethan

ven spare L

hless, comple

tal bed, emotionally and physi

there to ch

eco sapphire necklace. Li

ttering symbol of ultimate betrayal, of th

t was one thing for Chloe

cruel statement. Li

her face

ional collapse

down her face,

, and she strug

etrayals, the abandonment

ospital admission for

wly, deliberately, crossed out

act, but it f

ion of ind

g if you're ready to discuss discharge plans. He's with

as flat, devo

nymore. And tell him I'll be discussing

ed startled, t

eared in the doorway, his face

have o

t did you