The Divorce I Never Knew

nt. But something was wrong. It looked... small. I tried to slip it on my left index

xon' s call, she had given me the wrong ring. This wasn' t f

. A panic button, she had probably told him. I hesitated for only a second before p

an alarm, but with a voice. Dixo

I thought you were going to

now, my love. I' m sorry. I had to give Eleazar his present.

Dixon sniffled. "You

"I' m on my way right now. I' l

ack?" His voice was full

ver lie to y

sound I had just heard as it carried her away from me. She used to take me on joyrides in

ng right next to me, holding my hand and lying to my face. The b

ed, then returned. It wa

ere, on the adjacent plot of land, was another house. A near-identical

hand crackled

was bright with false excitement. "I had it buil

iful, Cat," he stamme

thly. "Now, I' m going to stay with yo

zzed. A tex

. I have to stay and talk them through this new pr

urred my vision. She could buy two men two identical mansions. She could whisper the same

shameful mistress tucked away while she l

this nightma

f in my studio. I didn' t sleep. I drew. I poured all the pain, the betrayal, and the fury onto th

y. A design that was both beautiful and broken, elega

draft. My hand was shaking from exhaustion. As I set the pencil

again. Dixon

nt to be with you in public. I want eve

t. She had built this entire, elaborate lie to protect her image, to keep me as her perfect, broken trophy. She would

s voice came, so

kay

t one wo

er than the ha