986 Nights of Betrayal

if a switch had been flipped. Ivana was busy setting up her new "studio," so she w

ul spot in our room. The dark stain on the guest room carpet was expertly removed. He bough

, placing the box in my numb hands. "

nothing. No anger, no gratitude. Just a vast, empty dista

ite murmur. I placed the unopened box

ht my silence meant forgiveness. He was a fool. My s

ked about the future. A future where we would travel, maybe finally start a family. He spo

t him hold my hand. But my mind was else

account, funded by the sale of jewelry Corbett had given me over the years, was health

rity art gala for the hospital where Ivana was a "patron." Corbe

it was

ece" -a large, abstract painting. She stood on a small stage next to it

e said into the microphone, her voice trembling with emotion. "He ga

es found me

voice dripping with venomous sweetness. "Her... unique and power

owd murmured, their eyes on me. I was

lors-blacks, deep purples, and violent slashes of blood red. And in th

display for public consumption. She had turne

face. I wanted to run, to dis

" Ivana cooed. "I call

pleading with him. Do somethi

cker of understanding, of horror, in his

ing face, and his expression hardened into one of re

watching crowd. His voice was strong, unwavering. "Sh

r cruelty in front of everyone we knew. He held my hea

use was d

the crowd, out the grand doors of the ballroom, and into the cold ni