BENEATH HER ASHES

– Poin

ve. I take a deep breath and walk toward the door with a victorious smile pla

ready has his shirt off and his ego puffed up thinking we are about to

ess, her face a canvas of disbelief, hurt, and confusion. I drink in her expression like it is champagne. It was all worth it

ed. Watching her world crumble is the best kind of high. She finally knows the truth: her darli

cally tripping over himself to get out of the bed and reach for hi

in a story, but I have never had any intentio

r cascades over my shoulders in soft waves, and my deep red lipstick completes the look of betrayal with elegance. Jackson's favorite scent vanilla and amber lingers on my skin

nd let the words drip fr

en gushing about. The one who promised to leave his wife for me." I pause and rest my

th. Her eyes flick to Jackson, who is desperately pulling his shirt over his head, his hands trembl

not sto

ittle fairytale wedding. He was mine before he was yours, and n

deny it all, but I cut him off with

you told me last week? That you could not stand the sound of he

ease, I almost

version of truth I am feeding her. The air in the room shifts. Even the flickering candles seem to sen

ng her stomach in pain. At first, I think

oo

legs and pools on t

oice raw with panic. "The bab

the floor. I step back instinctively,

is knees beside her, cradling her he

ing for his wife. I freeze for a moment, heart racing not out of concer

my phone and dial

gnant woman is bleeding and in seve

side her with fake conce

, brushing hair from her sweaty

ch pain, whispering over and over agai

nd I will be right there to pick up the pieces. My surrogate is due soon. Once my 'child' is born, and h

ow, I pla

in the distance,

as if that will keep the babies safe. His t

ads, kissing her forehead. "You a

ething stir. Jealousy. Real, gut-deep envy. The way he is holding her like she is his whol

he w

is gone

ions, check vitals, and lift Emily carefully onto a stretcher. Blood still pools on the f

ike that,

ole. My fingers glide over the smooth curve of my fake belly. It is uncomfortab

going exactl

nfamiliar voice whispers

e never c

on's glass of whiskey, sipping slo

He has

Emily's babie

e only famil