The Wife They Broke

his brow furrowed in co

assandra said, not even glancing at the do

ah, Dad, hurry up. K

handed the folder back to the lawyer who stood silently beside Alexia, and

here, alone in the middl

ed by a cold, hollow ache. It was the feeling of a limb that had

lized?" she asked the law

iately. A few weeks for the cooling-off p

nt in her bag. She turned to leave, but a lux

Alexia. We'll give you a ride home." Her vo

k you," A

His eyes met hers in the rearview mirror, a silent

Jacob wants you

assive one in the mirror. It was another test. Another pathetic att

tragic, it was almost laughable. She

inued their performance, fussing over Kassandra, oc

her expression a perfect blank. The city lights

had swerved into their lane. The car jolted violen

ob lunge across the seat. For a wild, insan

eyes

ng his body to shield K

hope in Alexia's

s! The roads are slick,

ing on Kassandra. "Are

rred, her voice a little shaky. Then she gasped,

e. Jacob finally turned to look at her,

to the hospital, si

d at Alexia, then at Kassand

rd. "She can take care of i

eement. "She's stro

eyes. The exhaus

er head herself. She applied the antiseptic with a steady hand, not fl

days, nursing her wounds,

she stepped out the back door, something hard

melled of rust and decay. An abandoned facto

pped to her waist. It wa

ra was also tied to a ch

knot binding her right wrist, her finger

st open. Jacob and Anton rushed

onto Alexia. He to

shrieked, her voice cuttin

women. The internal struggle was plain on his fa

game

e." He ran to her, his back to Alexia. "Ju

sentence. The timer o

dn't break any further, was squee

s. He pulled her to her feet

ned her head and gave Alexia a

on washing over her. This was just another p

. Or perhaps, she