Rose Garden Revenge

om. The entire house shook. I sat up in bed, my heart po

the sky was exploding in color. Red, gold, blu

tantly who

ning room. He was beaming, full of self-satis

ere a child showing off a new toy. "A little surpr

nded a wing at the children' s hospital. He had refused my r

.. loud,"

e didn't like my l

ne turning accusatory. "Because of your housekeeper' s outburs

d? Robert, you are the one who

ll show her respect. You will go to the guest house, and yo

ed to shame me, to break m

forward again. "Sir, please. Don' t do this to her. Puni

ks at my construction site on the docks, doesn't he? It would be a shame i

clear. Mrs. Gable went pale. She look

my own pain, but I could not bear to

"Fine. I'

triumphant smile. "I

ld not let him see how much this cost me. For Mrs. Gable, f

house. The sculpture garden that had replaced my roses was half-finished, ugly

e veranda, seated at a small table set for breakfast. The entire household st

first married. The gesture was so intimate, so familiar, it felt like a physical bl

approach a

n us. Liam was just telling me how u

e, her eyes glea

all to hear. "As the former lady of this house, you set a poor

gh the staff. Bow? To her? T

d, a new voice spoke up.

ing officer from his short time in the military. He was one of the few p

r," he said. "Show y

aughed. A har

m. "Liam is young. Fertile. We will have children. Strong sons to carry on the Vance name. I can' t have her," he said, pointing at

s a weapon against me. He wasn't just erasing my past; he was s

gs. That was it. That was the final, unforgivable blow. H