Wife, Donor, Victim: A Twisted Marriage

ere in the garden, their voices drifting through the op

ned. "You promised you'd throw a party for me

it, just the two of us, with a quiet dinner. He said he hated big parties. An

o breathe. All those "intimate" celebrations were just a way to keep me

n't used with me in years. "Anything for you. We'll announce our re

ok in my hands through the window and watch

retary called. Her voice wa

large party at the estate next Friday. H

I said, my

ic drifted from a live band, and hundreds of Silicon Valley's elite milled around the pool,

mmered under the lights, a diamond necklace that I recognized as one Ethan had given

d compliments. "What a beautiful couple!" "Genev

beside her, his arm possessively around her waist, a proud smile on his face.

's party. I felt a pressure building in my chest, a scream trapp

s smile gone, his eyes hard. He grabbed

ng for me," he said, his

ter of the party, to a small

going to announce our engagement. I want you to stand at the

the woman who had stolen my life, who wa

nd saw the truth. This was a test. A pow

othing. Then, a strang

, my voice bar

urprised, b

en years of love, the seven years of lies. I let

light with excitement. He was holding a

bought me!" he shouted,

Last month, for his birthday, I had spent weeks hand-carving a set of wooden animals for him.

n," Ethan said, r

s demanding. "It's Geneva's bi

nding on the simple silver locket I wore around my nec

d, her voice dripping with faux sweetne

For a split second, I saw a flash of h

r the spoiled bra

amed, his small hands gra

s he yanked. Pain, sharp and

op!" I c

ulled harder, a cru

a in my eyes. He just watched,

the chain snapped. The lo

where a thin line of bloo

t Geneva. Her eyes were gleaming with triumph

eneva,"

locket and fastening it around her own nec

Ethan's face was unreadable, a flicker of something uneasy in his ey

high. I went to a quiet corner of the garden, pulled out my phone, and booked a one

almost

to leave, Geneva a

sneered. "The party's

teps that led down from the veranda

say to you," I sa

n. "I just wanted to thank you. For everything. For your husband,

, her smile widening

, she "t

mbled forward, her arms flailing. She did

ering ram. The impact sent me flying backw

k. A burst of white-hot pain exploded behind my eyes, an

was Geneva, clutching her ankle and screaming,

e a mask of concern. Leo was right beh

ken body, their only concern for the