The Wife He Never Saw

, a lightness in my chest that had nothing

ely. He thought I was pleased with his grand gesture, that the prom

d with patronizing relief. He scooped me into his

d than a bedroom. He laid me down gently and immediately called for t

object again, a fragile piece of equipment being assessed for damage. I l

ted to Cedric. "Just a bit of em

s relief palpable. It was relief for t

and resting on my forehead. It felt heavy, p

said nothing. Silence

dric in the kitchen, personally overseeing the preparation of my breakfast. He was measuring goji berries into a bowl of oatm

orbell

hated unscheduled interruptions. A mome

ion of Fallon. Long dark hair, same heart-shap

over to him and linking her a

, a mirror of his lost love, he looked dazed. It was the

his voice flat. "Wha

you. Let's go out

y. "I can't. Keena isn't wel

ped. For a split second, I saw raw, undiluted jealousy. It was

to him. "Fallon would have wanted you to have some

c's resolve wavered. He looked from Kortney's face t

ghos

ghed. "Just for

elite gathered to flaunt their wealth and virtue. Cedric was a perfect gentleman, holding my arm, fetching me

whispered to me. "He treats y

eated me like an object, not a person

r, her red dress a stark co

he pleaded, her voice just

scanning the room as if checking for

e tilted her head, and for a moment, in the dim light,

ew exactly which strings to

dan

sual, his movements becoming less precise. Kortney

ice laced with concern. "Let me help you u

interest in watching t

," I said, walki

o the guest suite they had indicated. The door was slightly

in the

was on her tiptoes, her hands on his chest, her

his drunken haze,

s voice thick but fi

k, her face a mask o

Why isn't it enough?

n," he said, his voice c

d out of the room, not even s

crumbling. Then she turned, tears streami

right

ing. The grief on her face tw

hink you've won, don't yo

leaving." I tried

m, her nails digg

her heart. He calls you his walking memorial. And onc