A Husband's Rage, A Wife's Betrayal

ngine off, the cold of the morning seeping through the glass. I couldn't bring myself to go inside. I couldn't face th

ar pulled up behind me. Olivia's mother, Mrs. Hayes, got out. She walked ov

e door. She opened it and slid into the passenger seat, b

trained. "I came as soon as I heard. Th

staring at the gray, featurel

continued, choosing her words carefully. "S

h escaped my lips.

ce. "She's your wife. The pressure she's under, the company, the

shot through my neck. "She knew exactly what she wa

king. We need to handle this as a family. Quietly. We'll support

ent car. They meant money, lawyers, public relations

hands were curled into fists, as if he were still trying to fight the cold. The dark purple color of their lips, pulled back in what looked like a grotesque, frozen smile. I had seen the

lastic in the snow.

and dead. "I'm going to the police. I'm tel

cracked. Her face crumpled wi

way as if her touch were toxic. "Don't do this. Think about the scand

in that building because your daughter left them outside to

rous thing, an unforgivable thing! But I can't lose her too! Ethan, I'm begging you. For the sake

er words a meaningless drone. I felt nothing for he

n her purse for it, her hands shaking. She glanced at the

g it on speaker by m

ice was crisp and businesslike

Hayes began, trying to s

rd meeting in an hour, and I can't have this distraction. Tell him

nsate me. A price. For t

itation. "He was supposed to meet me here with the quarterly reports. He

slick, too close to Olivia. The realization hit me with the force of a physic

heard it all. The cold calculation. The utter lack of remorse. The casual mention of

ddenly felt too thin to breathe. A blac

ce sounded distant, panic

life out of me. The image of Lily and Leo's frozen faces, Olivia's hateful sneer,

sive car, and Olivia's mother all faded into nothing. I