The Price of a Perfect Lie

omb and spread through my entire body. I was empty. Hollowed out. He

. If this gets out, the scandal... No one can know she was pregnant. No one can

or himself. For his reputation. He was

from the gaping wound in my soul. I trembled uncontrollably, a storm

s face was a carefully constructed mas

ed my face to the wall, refusing to look at him, ref

d to punish Holly, to send her and the boy away. Empty words. I d

ing, stood in line for two hours to buy me a cronut from a trendy bakery because he heard me mention it once. He arranged for

e probably thought was love. But I felt nothing. The part of me that ha

e took me to a high-profile

he said, smiling. "To t

elry, rare manuscripts. He raised his paddle again and again, a king be

ow much he

do anything

. I excused myself, mumbling something about needing some air, and went

stalls. A low giggle, followed by a man' s groan. It

d the frame. It was them. Gregory and Holly. He had her pr

rmured, his voice thick with l

"I want them to. I want eve

d my knees. I ran from the restroom, my hand over my mouth. I manage

ke began to pour from the upper windows of the auction house.

n I saw him. He emerged from a side entrance, his arm wrapped protectively around Holly. He was le

wave of terrified bodies, and I was knocked from my feet. I fell to

romise echoed in my mind

This time, Gregory was by my side, d

hoked with relief. "When the fire broke o

less, so smooth, I al

y voice flat and dead. "I

ou must have imagined it." He knelt by my bed, his eyes plea

I want them gone. Out of the country. I never want to

n' t be right. Holly has nothing. Jaden is just a child. I have to...

secret family, as a twisted form of pe

ath down my temple. It was over. Whatever was left between us

. A nurse was inserting a needle. I was in a differen

asked, struggling against

in an accident. He lost a lot of blood. He nee