The Unwanted Wife's Escape

o my arm. The one t

voice was low, devoid of

va. This is just a phase. You're

ee. "You offered to divorce m

ed, for a fleeting second,

k slammed ba

ropping." Accusa

w I heard it. It matt

is hair, a gesture of f

considerate of her feeling

everythi

we've been married for ten years. You can't just

e softening, the one he used when he

been insane. But this thing with Chloe is just.

t me, Ethan? W

w. "This is pointless. You're emotional. We

I said. "And

s next week. You will be there. We will present a united front. Afte

request. It

her belief that I was a gold-digger, far beneath her son. Att

going,"

be there, Ava. Don't make this mo

ing me with my half-packed suitca

le estate in Connectic

y grand house felt cold, des

iss that didn't touch my ch

ress is... rather

an had insisted she come, claiming she had no

y cost more than my entire outfit. She was helping Eleanor

an played the part of the attentive husband, occasionally placing a

as being served in the form

icate, antique Meissen porcelain figurine, a she

it on the m

rby, admiring it. "It'

? A true

h the shepherdess. It teetered, then crashed to

gasp went thr

eyes wide with horror. "Oh my good

lled in

like she was

ssion shifting subtly. "Ava, you were stand

anywhere near her. I was across t

n was at Chloe's side, his

e said, his voice firm, protect

s gaze on me. "Ava! How could you b

aid, my voice shaking sli

. I just turned, and then... mayb

, Chloe." He looked at me, his eyes like chips of

ulous. "Apologize? For

e, his hand clenching. For a horrifying second, I thought he might actually strike me. He

inding, shot up my

You are embarrassin

a mask of triumph. "She always

it. The f

ree, cradling it

right. I am embarrassing myself. By staying married to a man who believes a liar over his

en at Chloe, whose tear

I said, my voice dripping

m, out of the house, into the cold