The Unseen Wife, The Unloved Fiancée

t alien, tainted by his lies. The smiling photo of us in Paris still sat

ncy, pulling my clothes from the closet, my books from the shelv

e stopped in the doorway of the bedroom, tak

oice laced with confusion, as if he c

on," I said witho

said, stepping into the room. "Look, I'm sorry about what happene

I said, folding a sweater a

g to appear stressed and reasonable. "Okay, this is my fault. I shouldn't have left

buy you anything you want. A new dress. Jewel

ught a new trinket would smooth over his betra

ing me out the door, his grip on m

nd, forcing me to try on dresses, holding up necklaces against my skin. "See

pt to put our broken relationship back together

klace he insisted on buying me, a

n, da

store, her eyes landing on t

stand beside us. She looked at me, a fake smile plastere

ok just perfect with the dress I'm wearing to the fundraiser tomorrow night

, waiting to see

g smile. "You know, she's right. The color of these diamonds really

" He paid for the necklace and then pers

is cheek. "You're always so good to me." She

me, an apology gift, and given it to his wife, right in front of my face. He had told me

. I turned and walk

e had bought me earlier. I walked to a consignment shop and sold the designer handbag he'd given me for my birthday

lighter. The pain was still there, a deep, persistent

for months. It was from the Norwegian Royal Academy of Music, formally offering me a spot

cked

oss the keyboard. "Thank you for your generous offer. If th

relief washed over me. This was my new beginning. A new

e gone back to our apartment and found it empty of all my belo

e demanded when I opened the do

n. I'm leaving yo

r from his pocket and waved it in my face. It was a pre-nuptial agreement, already drafted and ready for my s

o check off the boxes. He couldn't comprehe

at," I said. "And I

voice rising in frustration. "Is this about the

o days. Two more da

ook in his eyes. "Don't do this,

ad loved so deeply. I saw a stranger. A weak, s

axon," I said, my voice c