The Unseen Wife's Six-Year Sacrifice

Hughe

old fury, his eyes blazing with an anger he rarely showed, an ange

s voice low and dangerous. "Do you have

I shot back, my voice shaking but firm. I had never spoken to hi

zy! You're a crazy witch!" He kicked my suitcase, a futi

was a chillingly calm action. I walked past them into the dining room. The half-eaten coconut cream cake

porcelain cake stand and hurled it against the wall. It shattered with a deafenin

Helene gasped,

digging into my flesh like talons

ble. Crystal glasses, silver cutlery, and fine china went flying, crashing to the floor in a cacophony of des

ed, pulling his son behind him protectively,

g around him. "It's okay, sweetie. The bad lady

ptiness. Looking at the wreckage, I felt nothing. No satisfaction, no regret. J

oice dripping with disgust. "And then

aid, my v

sobbed into Helene's dress. "I d

ard him. Pack your things and get out of my house." He turned his back on me, fo

ng mine over his head. They were gleaming with triumph

eash from my nightstand. Buddy, my golden retriever, lifted his head from his dog bed, his tail giving a soft thump-thump again

Buddy's leash in the other, I walked out

Only Helene and Jacob remained, standing l

in my pocket. A

t Helene was wearing tonight. You will replace

ubbling in my throat. He was kicking me out,

then his contact, the

at a hotel, or perhaps at Helene' s apartment, creating new, happy memories on the ruins of my marria

ar when a black sedan pulled into the driveway. Hector got out, but he wa

nged husband, trying to get Gladys to talk sense into his hyst

stood back, a silent, imposing figure of judgment. "Hector told me wha

to, and felt a pang of sadness. She had wanted this to wo

o talk about, Glad

man who believes he holds all the cards. "Almeda, you've had your little

ation. He still didn't get it. He still thought I wante

to learn just h