The Unwanted Wife's Escape

n drinking. I

e occurrence. Usually, he

eveled. His shirt was torn at the

control above all else, h

hone

instantly softer, a ton

'm fine. Do

pa

. You shou

her

n't have to w

tenderness in his voic

aint smile lingering on his lips before he school

cause of Chloe?" I asked, m

mine in the mirro

for trouble where

ce was

g, what kind of man would I be? You're Mrs. Cole, you don't hav

and he was alread

yed s

me to the office. I have

Ava would have fussed, told hi

words wou

downtown towards the Co

. "Thanks for tonight

nd strode into the buildin

n the seat. He'

, ingrained habit of try

owed h

was slightly open. I heard Ch

for today. I don't know what

ffle

ing. "It's okay, Chloe. I

one suddenly he

through t

hloe was pressed against his

f a tenderness I'd only ever dreamed of.

hed him away, her

Cole. W

ad. "You're marr

He looked... understandin

. "Chloe, if you're unhapp

nched aroun

vo

ly. Ten years, gon

ant to hea

h gentleness. It was always "Av

duty. I was always the one to in

s, it had be

eople were just

st didn't

od. I placed his phone on the f

arted to fall, a

. Tears, or rain,

green light for me. A

ding me. The sc

pact. Bl

seat, the car a wreck around me.

obbed. My

My first instinct, stu

cold, impatien

anaged, pain shooting through my sho

r outside, shouting. "It's l

the background on Ethan's end. Soft, concerned. "M

the phone. "I'm busy righ

hun

r important enough for h

meeting, anything

busy. Always

a, are y

ar voice

Ethan's college friend, one of th

n had outsourced me

ck," I w

eared for a moment, then return

iciently, freeing me f

genuine concern. "Can you move your l

ore worried

leaned on his arm

ice raspy. "You're a

down at me

ps. "Then please, help me