Revenge Served Cold, Sweet

Lily, arrived

, his arm wrapped around her shoul

his voice bright. "She' s going t

nocent eyes that didn't look innocent at all. She clutched a

finally meet you,

m her face to Mark' s hand still

t the dining table, the air thick with a silence that felt heavy.

Mark, her bottom lip

f your chicken? The dark

, indulgent smile I hadn' t see

rse, swe

large piece from his own pl

rom his fork. Her lips brushed against the metal, her eyes locked on

frozen in my hand. It was a single, brazen move designed

sils down wit

too busy watching Lily ch

ed chicken from its platter on the counter. The ceramic was sti

I walked over to the trash

aped the entire chicken, every last piece of

a wet thud finally broke th

look at me, their

doing?" Mark' s voice was shar

y expression calm. I felt a str

rty," I s

She looked from me to Mark, her

she whispered, her voice cracking.

e moved to stand between me and Lily, as if protecting her. "Sh

n, Mark, and you know it," I

t are you talking about? She' s just a kid.

oesn' t give her the right to act like sh

in the air, h

face in her hands. "I' m so sorry. I'

omfort her. He placed a hand on her back, rubbing gentle circles. "It'

his eyes filled with disappointment. It was a l

is immediate, instinctual defense of

ere, Mark," I said.

d slapped him. Lily'

eady discussed this. Her family situation

"Our marriage, our home, this is my

stranger. "I can' t believe you' re saying this

e, toward the guest room. "Come on, Lily

sharp jab at me. He was dismissing me, telling this girl t

lk away, his arm

my voice stopping

k, his expres

ight," I said, looking him strai

onfusion. He didn't seem to understand the line that had been crossed.

t be so dramatic. Just go to bed and cool

e alone in the dining room with the smell of wasted food and the ech

silence was the only answer I n