Revenge in stilettos

ersonal ways. I have provided for you for several years

s for hours, remembering the words Ma

heavy oak desk. It's eerily quiet, save for the occasional tick of the grandfather clock in the h

tretches-loud

cry. Not

me flinch. "Judith?

urse

eels tap against the polished floor. She's all warmth and sunshine-at least on the surface. Her honey-bl

wife. The position I

shing nonexistent lint off her

y eyes blank, "You'

I must've grabbed it by mistake while baki

. With

otionless

know, Caleb's really responding to me lately. He's

khanded jab. She delivers it w

e cold surface of the desk. "Lila,

nocence sliding smoothly ove

situation. You slipped into our lives like a parasite. You made yourself i

n't blame me for your m

'm blaming

es happiness. Maybe you should've spent less time i

are shaking, but I ball t

y, let me know when you're done si

ying pop tune, the sound trailin

ut I can't bring

is is what Mark want

in the kitchen, sitting at the table with the documents neatly stac

asks, dropping his

"He had a long da

ill scrolli

doing. Doesn't notice the packed box n

s across the tab

s up. "Yo

n't."

lightly, like he wasn'

o you and this is what you give me. I left my career

e in months, he really looks. There's something

ably ind

, I have abhorred you, yet I chose to stay regardless

gh to respect our vows and promises." I say too

but pauses at the th

wa

now Caleb... he'll n

at I'm not enough f

thing. Mark wont budge. I know this man.

sn't r

He asked me yesterday why I

ctive to me was his dogged-determination in

rned against you, then you'll rea

six. He doesn't kno

say. "Bu

aw te

re won't be one. I walk past hi

I sit in C

he was two. His little chest rises and falls rhythmically, innocen

whisper. "Even i

ek and I let it fall ont

but doe

ut and close the

shb

year

te lace, glowing with dreams. It's a small ceremony, nothing extravagant, just close friends

ven then. I jus

I do the diapers, the meals, the sleepless nights. Mark works late. H

That's

povers. Into her being there when Mark'

Overthinking. She's

see her lipstick

aven't worn r