The Perfume of Betrayal

xes she never got around to unpacking. It was nothing like my own spacious,

was a temporary escape from reality. When I woke, the memories cam

our house. His eyes were bright with passion as he

. "A place where we can build ou

b. I had been his partner, his muse, the interior designer who was supposed to fill his perfec

bathroom mirror. Dark circles

me. She looked fragile, broken. I had poured all of my energy into being

sper apologies to me while waiting for a text from another woman? A cold anger started to burn in my

he door. "Ava? Mom's on the ph

y parents adored Walter. He was the successful, charming son-in-

one from Clar

r? What happened?" Her voice was laced with concern, but it

." The words sounded star

e you misunderstood. Men... they can be foolish sometimes. But he's a good man, a goo

. She wasn't on my side. She was on the side of the life Walter had built, the life s

aying don't be hasty. Don't throw away a good marriage over a little... m

" I handed the phone back to Clara before my mother could reply. I couldn't listen to any more of it. I w

crolling blankly through my ph

age. "Walter Patterson and team celebrate the successful Henderson T

the camera, a glass of champagne in his hand. And standing next to

r. Chloe. The public display was a slap in the face, a delib

with pure rage. I closed my eyes, but the image was seared into my brain: Walter and Chloe, smi

ved the picture to my phone. I didn't know what I w