His Betrayal, My Erased Memory

My mind was numb, but one

ed my

rce," I said,

know about this?" the

hung up before he cou

a massive wedding portrait of me and Eli. His arm was around me, his

onument to

k," I told the housekeeper, my voice devoid

confused, but di

Ten years of memories, captured in silver frames. I poured

ming the lies. I watc

of me, Eli, and baby Leo. We were a perfect family. When ha

spered, "We'll get through this, Harper

zzed. A tex

ved up if you're sure. C

heart was as cold and dead

I would erase every

through the darkness. He saw the fire in th

from the flames. "Are you hurt? What happened?" He turned

k, out of his emb

ng look. The look of a master manipulator. "

ymore," I said, my voice hollow.

believe. A pain he cou

pathy. He scooped me into his arms and carried

and pulled a documen

"I was going to wait, but

ent. He was giving me fifty-on

ne," he said, his voice earnest. "I'm announcing th

in. "And I have another surprise for y

pers, and a single tear dripped onto the signature line

h his thumb. He kissed me, but his lips felt like ice. "Just

ox. Inside were two wat

y wrist. "They monitor our heartbeats. So you

was beating for anothe

thick with emotion. "But we still have eac

ming. I turned my head,

aw his face and demand to know how

ed the words.

as. Eli was in his element, the charismatic CEO. He made the annou

h Mogul Eli Stark Gifts B

vy. They saw a tragic fair

ophone again. "And now,

yard, ran onto the stage and l

m went

"Harper, my love, I know how much you've missed havi

. "He's from an orphanage. I thou

s dug int

inued, oblivious to the storm raging inside me. "I've nam

e. Parading him in front of the world as a g

e on my face. My

li's arms, reachin

ign weight in my arms. The crowd awww'd, their

he boy

crowd. It was Kasey. She tore a flower

pping to her knees. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Stark! I'm his

ead silent. Ev

e was performing so perfectly.

bed, clutching Cody's hand.

nder. He grabbed Kasey's

he snarled, his voice low and da

is part. The pro

for those nearby to hear. He started dragging her

bering the stories of E

and then, on auto

ridor. Her back was against the wall, but she wasn't sc

cing, my love," she

but there was no anger in his voic

e lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist, and carri

scream, but a small h

d up at me, his face

e stomped on my foot, hard. His little fin

The image of Eli and Kasey was burned

ing satisfied. Kasey followed, her lipstick smea

ulder with all his might. The sudden pain

ted scr

hed me aside, scooping the

ed, glaring at me. "Mrs. Stark, I kno

rs. "Maybe... maybe I should just take him an

d and disappointed. "Harper, you need to get a ho

ere a slap

amily," he said, his voice fir

Cody, while he and Kasey went to

e, alone with h