The Substitute Wife's Silent Scream

y. It wasn't a celebrati

ned for a fraction of a second. The shock wa

his voice low so only I coul

der of the Nortons' deception. My existence in his house was a hum

nd rage. In the darkness, he must have mistaken me for her. He had whispered

For a moment, I saw something flicker in their depths – confusion, maybe even a sli

t, silent doll. I had to dress how he wanted, speak when sp

throb as I woke the next mor

nd two painkillers. Beside them, a note

Be downstairs by nine.

terness coating my tongue. I d

he zipper, her eyes carefully avoiding mine. They all knew. They saw the bruises. T

on the small of my back, guiding me through the crowd. He smiled for the photographers, hi

she ar

nn No

tering silver gown, she captured every eye in the

, a dazzling smile on her face.

his public face didn't falte

its grip. It wasn't a gesture of com

of contempt in their blue depths. "A

eek, a deliberately intimate gesture.

in style to my blue one. A cruel, deliberate choice. A message to me

pletely on Aislinn. He was laughing at something

s brushed my ear. "Don't move from this table," he whispered. Then he kissed

"You think that means anything?" she sneered. "He's just

lute. "You look pathetic in t

pilled her champagne all over me. The cold liqu

Her shriek of fake surprise was drowned out by the splash as we

cked the air from my lungs. I struggled to s

e deck. His eyes met mine for a

didn't swim for me.

ere made of glass. He ignored my desperate gasps for

of dark water and muffled sounds. He

ng me to the surface. It was one of the event staff. He dragged me onto

ulders, murmuring soft words of comfort. He didn't even glance in my direc

cold and damp, the darkness absolute. It was my punishment f

creaked open. Fletcher stood

rong?" he asked, his voice

huddled on the

for one insane second, that he might

Wrong to be a Norton

a small, warm coal in the freezing darkness