Free From His Shadow

in the heart of the city. As his wife, I could walk in whenever I wanted, but

, a young woman who always seemed ner

surprise. Is Mr. V

area. I heard there's a presentation for t

, but she nodded and pointed me

k, an anonymous face in the crowd. On the stag

expensive dress that somehow made her stand out from the other interns in their stiff suits. She was talking about a

iosity. Mark was a man who valued intellect above all else. He was bored by high society and the people in it. He saw Li

ee. I positioned myself near the coffee station, waiting. As expec

she turned to get a cup of coffee, she bumped into me. The

l, insignific

uine horror. She immediately put her cup down and grabbed a handful of nap

, this girl who was the cause of all my pain, and I sa

voice softer than I i

rs. Vance," she said, finally recognizing m

ering a small, tight smile. "And it'

e with a sincerity that was hard to fake. She was kind. She was thoughtful. It

ld her as she handed me a napkin full of ic

ted smile of pride. "Thank you! T

y," I said. "Let me make it up to you. I'd like to send you a little gift,

t have to do that

e leaving no room for argu

ss of the secret apartment. The one Mark had rented for her. The gift I planne

ing at the crowd. He was looking at Lily. The expression on his face was one I had never seen directe

e standing right next to her. T

ad been emotionally absent, his life revolving around his work. He' d come home late, eat the dinner the cook had prepared, and retreat to his study. We lived in the same house, but we were

standing by the coffee station. I didn't lo

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