Her Dead Husband's Betrayal

been struck. "You' re insa

hange with amusement. This was better

et my shoulders slump, my face crumple into a mask of f

my son closer, burying his face in my side as if to protect him. "Jessica," I pleaded, looking at her with wide, terrified e

Neighbors and distant relatives wh

he poor

d should definit

st she can do,

ly crafted image of the supportive, loving friend would be shattered. Her t

tle smile. "Of course, you can stay wi

small, cold thing,

ive part of the city. I had never been to Jessica' s home before; she always insisted on meet

more like a five-star hotel, with marble floors and a massive crystal

tly into her apartment, my

amic view of the entire city. The furniture was minimalist and screamingly expensive. An

"modest inheritance." This was the home

wonder. "Wow, Auntie Jessica

-lipped smile. "It'

was small, almost unnoticeable. The coasters on the polished-stone coffee table, the letter opener on a sleek desk, eve

lds G

s co

this for her. He had decorated it with the

t just cheated on me. He had built a completely separate, secret life with my best frie

clipping coupons, taking on extra freelance work at night just to buy a used bicycle for Leo' s fourth birthday. I remember bo

was here. With h

ing a pillow on the guest bed, pre

s so pure, so potent

g they had stolen from me and my so