The Wife He Never Saw

shade of red. Her composure,

girl," s

a thin, leather-wrapped cane. It was an object of discipline from a

said, her voice dangerously low. "Wi

my back straight. I

k my back with a sharp, stinging blow. Pa

o cry out. I would not g

she demanded, h

n the silent, cold room. My back was on fire. My l

rough the fabric of my dress. My v

eful..." she mutte

gave out. I crump

hospital bed again. The pain in my

is face a storm of

ice tight with a strange mixture of anger and

h tears, bubbled

check if my heart was okay? So you could make sure

as if I'd

My dreams, my memories, my family, even

lear. "There's something you need to

utside my room drowned out my w

, distracted. "W

or the noise. The moment was lost. The crucial, apathetic look

as clearly elsewhere. The question was forgotten, bur

asingly frantic texts from Kortney. He was annoyed with her, but not for what she did to me. He

ugh that he couldn't ignore. An

his brow furrowed. "I'll

uctions, his voice sharp and commanding

" he o

felt a wave of relief wash over me. For

didn't l

open. Kortney stood there,

om me?" she shrieked. "He's ig

my bed and ripped

eak body. Maybe if you were really s

ut of the bed. I was weak from the

designer. Her eyes, full of a venomous jealousy, l

icked

rilliant. You think you can be a designer? Y

the pitc

my hand with s

white-hot pain shot up my ar

ace!" she screamed, her eyes wild

again and brought it

und of my own screams filled the room, distant and

into a haze of pur

there, his face pale, his eyes blazin

clatter. Her face instantly crumple

ards him. "She... she attacked m

rick that had worked so many times before. She invoke

d with the old, familiar confusion.