His Perfect Lie, My Shattered World

e Comb

Not with money, not with emp

n't here, but Gisele's hand shot out and grabb

l go shopping? You promised to redecorate my studio. We can pick up something for

ately agreed. "That's a great idea. Adeline,

moving towards the door. "I

y. The day I had

hard edge. He strode over and took my arm, his grip firm. It wasn

l. To avoid suspicion, to make sure I could get

ut, the word ta

ack, an unwanted passenger in my own life. The entire drive, they reminisced about their childhood, their inside jokes and shared memories form

ad to do?" Emerson asked suddenly, his e

purse. My heart hammered against my ribs

pitched, excited squeal. "Oh, Emerson, look! It's that boutique we love! T

cing from me to her. "B

k to me, his decision already made. "You don't mind walk

ul. It was followed by a bitter, self-mocking laugh that died in my throat. He didn't even care

d," I said,

stepped out onto the curb

ollowed out, a ghost walking through a world that had suddenly lost all its co

gly gentle tone he used when he was pretending to ca

ve been my anchor, my home. A time when he would have moved mountains if

ice to remain steady. "I'm done

at Le Ciel," he said, naming the most exclusive restaurant in

ssive nature; if I refused, he would become suspicious. Lea

re," I said,

whispering something in her ear that made her laugh, a silvery, tinkling sound that grated on my nerves. His hand rested o

f pure satisfaction. "Oh, good, you're here

he waiter. "Adeline, o

head, my ap

shes to the waiter-coq au vin, lobster thermidor, tru

she gushed, clapping her hands

er once remembered that I preferred simple pasta to rich, complicated Fre

ood, so engrossed in her every word, th

dging him. "You're ignoring our gu

ractedly took a large piece of lobster from his

o breathe. He knew. I had told him a hundred times. We'd even had a scare on our honeymoon when a dish was

d for

the lobster to th

laced with faux concern. "Don't you like

e petulant. Gisele is trying to be nice.

ld thing in my chest. "I'm allergic,

h. A flicker of shock, then embarrassm

ave to be more careful! What about the baby? You ca

weak excuses. I picked up my fork, deliberately speared the piece of lobste

tasted li

istamine pills, my hands shaking. I leaned against the cool tile

ront door, her arms wrapped around his neck. He stopped s

t?" he asked, h

walk towards our bedroom, need

layfully in his ear, "My hero. You ha

er, so full of adoration it made my sto

e I had never

. I slid down to the floor, my back against the wood, and listened to his so

nd itchy. I closed my eyes, took a ragged breath, an

en rid of the baby. Tomorrow I would

e most brutal way imaginable, a secret I was forced to carry alone. This ch