Three Years, A Shattered Reality With The Heir

rase myself. I walked into my home office, the space where I' d dreamed up skyscr

ey to an offshore account I' d set up years ago for a rainy day. It seemed the storm had finally arrived. I liquidated stocks, sold bonds, mo

questions asked, for the right price. I gave him the instructions: a new name, a

m my hard drive when I h

me! Happy annive

p the stairs. It was a sound that had once be

to the landing and looked down at her. She was standing in the foyer, holding a bouquet of my favorit

y voice sounding r

iasm on our anniversary." She reached me and wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing

ly. "Long day. The trust paperwork

crossed her eyes for a split second. "Well, it' s done now. Let' s not

s a physical thing, a lump of concrete in my throat. I wanted to scream at her, to demand an

forcing a note of exhaustion into my voic

so looking forward to it." She stroked my cheek, her touch se

ced at it, and a subtle change came over her. A tension in her shou

e this. It' s a work emergency." She didn' t wait for my response, just s

Alex. The lies wer

room and down the stairs, grabbing my car keys from the bowl by the door.

' t heading toward her office. She was driving to

later, I got out and walked to the entrance. The lobby was hushed and expens

horne. I' m his wife.

ite on the top floor. He requested a minor procedure, and for

ntitlement, of drama, was staggering. Olivia was already headin

e, feeling sick on their anniversary, and she ran to the side of her ot

llway was eerily silent. I crept toward the VIP suite,

g, her voice thick with emotion. "When you called, I

aced with a smug, self-satisfied tone. "A little accide

bed, a small bandage on his arm. Olivia was perched on the edge of the bed,

," she whispered. "You' re

he world tilted on its axis. My real husband.