A Wife's Undeniable Scars

ound me on the sofa, still clutching th

ous. "Elaine, we need to talk ab

like my face was cracking

my shoulders. "I' ve been thinking. Maybe... maybe we should stop

reaction. When I said

e could..

wanted me to become a mother to the child of the woman who destroyed my life, a living, breathing reminder of his bet

ll with tears, my lower lip tremble. I looked up at

, as if the thought ha

with fake sympathy. "Yes. We coul

o bring Cody here and pass him off as an adopted

his stupidly

y voice thick with unshe

ould be my problem soon. He c

er, he brought

ny, warm comfort in the cold emptiness of my life. He was a

ce gentle. "This is your new

ing cry that echoed through the silent house. He hid behind Dr

He didn' t even glance at me. It was as if I weren' t even there. He carrie

lled down a few minutes late

d, my face a

maids whisperin

o lucky. The boss l

and he still treats her like a queen. N

. Any other man would h

hand. I stared down at his trusting brown eyes, a

etic, barren wife, p

to my chest, burying m

Lucky?" I whispered. "We

as if in

ld into this mess. A child that was half his. I sat in the cold, sterile waiting r

alled my name,

my belly. He was a monster. But this

d for Lucky, but there was no answering yip, no soun

dread cre

favorite rug, still and silent. A small trickle of b

erfectly calm Cody in his arms. He looked at the

nstant, I knew. H

d. The world swam

as a raw, broken soun

ly softening into one of concern. "

wards Lucky' s small, still body, my le

s voice laced with false regret. "He

g over Lucky' s fur, not dari

ming down my face. "His name was L

d, his voice hardening with impatience.

uldn' t have hurt anyone. He was the

ity footage," I said, my

il now, pointed a small finger at the p

ace pale. She handed me a tablet.

ppy. He was pulling Lucky' s tail, kicking him, tormenting the small ani

r touch

wasn' t just scared. He was

saw the flash of annoyance in his eyes. He wasn'

rly gone. "Are we really going to

ld went

e I fainted was Drake' s pan