A Wife's Ultimate Sacrifice

bring himself to look at the IV in her arm or the pale, drawn quality of her

ly asked, the question a

rate movement. Tears welled in her eyes and tracked

feeling like ash in his mouth. "Eri

he pulled it away, a small, we

physical weight in his chest.

ief, a fresh wave of horror was

s, she'll leave us alone." He was begging, his voice cracking.

word was a st

you're still... desirable. It's for her peace of mind.

a doctor. He was a photographer, with a slick s

ce strained. "Just smile for the camera. We'll make it look

shaking her head. "Pl

s shield and his curse. "It will calm her to s

what was left of her dignity and offeri

rds tearing from her throat. "Don'

e was terrifyingly real. "That's why I have to do this.

c that made no sense. He wa

loved so completely, and felt nothin

t," she

e looked at Diamond's photographer, then back at Erica, his whole body trembling with an internal war. But his loy

he grabbed the hem of Alex's pants. "Please," she begged, her voice

can't," he sobbed, his voice a raw whisper. "It's the last t

had lost all meaning. He stood up, pu

"Alright, sweetheart. L

, a stranger's scent filling her nostrils and making her want to vo

h, a wave of revulsion s

ordered, his

ce was a frozen mask

ically forced her lips into a grotesque approximation of a smile

a series of intimate poses with a handsome, unknown man. It was spliced with clips of her looking disheveled and wild, taken withou

he comments were a torre

lu

d di

her, she'

s dancing with malicious glee. "See? Now everyone

body wracked with si

?" she whispered, her voice ho

. It was a live feed from a hospital room. Jayda's hospital room. Her

ll do as you're told. You will stay by Alex's side, a perfect, broken little doll. You will not try to

th a terror so absolute it stole her breath. She had nothing left to fight with. D