A Wife's Ultimate Sacrifice

suitcase. She had to get out. She had to get Jayda out of that hospital and take h

nd from college. The conver

ce laced with pity. "Everything is in Alex' s name. The apartment, th

said, her voice tight. "I care about my

ica. These are p

d in. He saw the suitcase on the bed. He

x. Inside was a diamond necklace, a piece so extravagant it looked obscene.

think this fixes it? You think a piece of jewel

id, his voice low. "She w

Alex. I' m filin

ith a lazy grace that did nothing to hide the power c

' t keep

here will you go? How will you pay for Jayda' s medical care?

nal cellist had been put on hold for him, for his care

e?" she whispered, the f

ouch her face, and she flinched away. His hand dropped. The hurt in h

t tou

... give it time. We

your boss' s thugs beat my siste

ng on that familiar, defensive tone. "She suffer

And what about my suffering? What about

to meet her eyes. The

all came. It was Di

e said. "She finds your music very soothing. She req

request. It w

Erica said. "

ituation. He has already

he just nodded. "Go. It

She had

icture of tragic beauty. Alex stood by her side, his hand resting poss

voice like silk and poison. "Thank yo

cello, her movements stiff and roboti

g for me," Dia

low, devoid of the passion she once po

minutes, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Play i

e impassive, a statue carved from guilt and betraya

nto the soft pads of her fingers. She ignored the sting, the g

aw, the skin splitting open. Tiny beads of blood appeare

d finally, her voice

es, trembling and bloody. She

inical curiosity. "Oh, dear. Look at that. You' ve ruined them."

tched as Diamond took a cloth and wiped the blood

ous for you now." She ran a manicured nail over the strings, which had been specially ordered and were known f

nd with a single, violent motion, he smashed the instrument against the marble h

, the death of her passion, and felt

eling better now," he said, his voice

e now, a grotesque parody of a caring husband. "I

fireplace. She looked at Alex' s face, at the man who had just stood b

ked, her voice

it were the only answer that ever