She Played the Long Game

hings in her marriage to Richard Harrison Jr. He was supposed to meet them, back from another "business trip." Their black Escalade pulled up, the chauffeu

hloe Sanders, a junior associate from Har

ice a little too loud, "Chloe needed a

d, her smile wide a

, so lovely to

aw your hand cream in Richard' s travel bag – the L'Occitane Shea Butter, my absolute favorit

comfort she kept. Now it was a

Ellie' s arm. "It's fi

pressure was there. Ellie nod

tion to Lily, who was shyly

a small, brightly wrapped lollipop. "I hea

Lily. "Thank you, Chloe, but she' s

sappointed but

sharp. "Ellie, don't be rud

e, then back at Ellie, his eyes cold. It w

meeting Ellie' s for a brief moment

said brightly. "Thanks again for the

lingering look be

k office building, a soft expression on his

o Ellie, his tone dismissive of any tension. "Amb

felt like ano

hand. "Mommy, can we go home? I

armth. Then he turned to Ellie, his eyes hardening slightly. "You know,

d be more grateful I even made it back for

ambling in beside her. She buckl

Lily' s sake, for the Harrison name. He' d once told her, after she found a lacy bra not her own, "It' s just sex

s bringing her into their space, into Lily' s orbit. It was a wall crumb

oom, Richard reached for her. She saw him loo

away. "I' m t

tight. "Don't be like this,

was rough,

lie," he whispered, his breath

soft but chilling, "Come

yes shut. "Richard,

't you dare refuse me," he hissed, his

silent scream tra

ancakes for Lily as if nothing had happened. He ki

, a hollownes

ie found herself staring at a positive pregnancy te

th some model. He' d missed the birth, sent flowers. Love had died then, a slow, painfu

-in-law, always reminded her, "A Harrison heir is paramount, Elean

better. One evening, she couldn't reach him. His phone went straight to voicemail. Panic,

. She found his car parked outside a trendy B

y, Richard and Chloe, exiting the building. He was laughing, his arm around Chloe' s waist. They paused under a streetlamp, and

nal sports car, and drove off. Chloe was in the passenger seat, wh

eeping into her bones. She felt the baby st