The Lies We Marry For

rd, a place I hadn't visited since she passed away. The property was legally mine now, a silent inheritance I had yet to claim. Holding the deed in my hand,

k, but a sliver of light escaped from under the office do

ld hear it clearly through t

Ash

ht with frustration. "She knows about

ley on the other end, her mind al

ew all too well. "I can handle Chloe. The important thing is how you're do

to her in three years, not since she

ntally' knock over that heavy vase yesterday when Chloe was reaching for a book. The scrape on her arm is deep e

euvering his wheelchair, had supposedly lost control and knocked a large, heavy ceramic vase off its pedestal. It had shattered

d insisted they do a full workup, inc

t. He had hurt me on

han promised her. "We'll know for sure about the bone marrow compatibili

arrow. They weren't just controlling

y transforming into a mask of tender concern when he saw me

out..." He wheeled himself toward me, his hands ou

. The man who had orchestrated my pain for three years was n

slipped from my hand and fluttered to the floor. My vision swam, black spots dancing in front of my eyes. The last thing I saw

rough the window. For a moment, a disoriented, fo

as real. The emptiness in t

was

'Went to get you breakfast.

ove you" were

ice, the place where all my illusions had been shattere

-bound notebook. It was open. I had always assumed it

ge. It wasn't a jo

ry was ab

99.8°F. Slight cough. Reminde

y's latest bloodwork. Platelet cou

. Leo's fever broke.

conditions. My name wasn't mentioned once, except in the context of the p

lking blood bag and bone marrow suppl

d of "love" to me, every feigned moment of tenderness was a calculated step in his plan to save

he pity, the lingering gratitude, the memory of the man I thought he was-died

He had never love

desk buzzed. A

t it? Is sh

My fingers moved before

yped. 'Per

ut of the house. I didn't look back. The marriage was