The Substitute Wife's Silent Scream

he door. Every part of my body screamed in pain. A deep, hollow ache

t of the shadows, a

asked, that same tw

aring at the blank wall.

the botched abortion... it was all temporary. The real pain was hi

ow murmur. "I could have let you bleed out on that ta

g the line of my jaw. "So don't be

es, willing hi

e." He let go with a sigh of frustration and l

it. She carried a tray with a bow

a baby must be so devastating. But don't worry, Fletcher

"He was with me all last night, you know. He said

till his wife, Aislinn. That's

acked. Her eyes flashed

wl shattered, and dark, steaming soup splattered across the w

ou?" she sneered, her voice dr

all so absurd. The expensive rug, the broken

in the hall. Fle

She grabbed a shard of the broken bowl, dragged it across her o

holding up her bleeding arm. "I just came

with fury, landed on

anyway. "Check the security cameras," I said, my vo

ssion full of concern. "Are you okay? Let me see." He gently too

his shoulder. "We'll

nn out of the room, leav

loor and began picking up the larger pieces of the broken bowl. A sharp edge slic

r me a few hours later. They dragged me,

s?" I asked Fletcher, my

enough. I don't need to see you acting l

he knew Fletcher's biases, his deep-seated resentment of me. She had stolen my family

ger. The needle jabbed into my skin, over and over. I was s

ipped a clear fluid into my veins. I pushed myself up, my he

, Aislinn, and my fa

r, his face a picture of paternal love and

her, his posture protective. Th

mistake. The one they all

resolve settling over

sappear from yo