My Surgeon Husband's Ultimate Betrayal

Burn

tries and a fresh change of clothes slung over my shoulder. Ann was still sleeping, resting peacefully before th

k, black sedan pulled up to the cur

carefully constructed mask of gentle concern. "Chloe. I was jus

e strap of my bag. "I was just going to

was the voice he used when explaining a complex procedure to a worried

o my mother had dwindled to almost nothing. He was always "stuck in surgery" or "swamped with consults." The last time he'd

e had all the ti

e myself," I said,

ced display of weary patience. "I'm j

hrow blanket in his car, still in a designer box. It was a gift for Fronia, for one of her "bad days." I had lost it, screami

ride, she had politely declined, telling him she'd take a taxi. She never explained why, but

down part, just wanted to avoid another public scene. I sighed

id, a flicker of t

is giving me a ride. Don't worry, ev

s signature perfume. My eyes scanned the interior. Tucked into the side pocket of the passenger door was a s

t a phot

some charity gala. Jermey stood between them, his arms around both women

dread pooled

I said, my voice

id it was a nice memory." He said it so casually, as if it were the most normal thin

ou playing surrogat

a lonely, sick woman. Karina worries about her constan

her hand?" I shot back, the anger I'd been

, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. "Her b

o Karina's Instagram," I said,

you see on social media," he s

is behavior was. Now? I was just tired. The fight had gone out of me, replaced by a chilling clarity

said, gesturing towards

s face. "It was a gift. For me to keep Fronia'

the window. "You've become their personal physician,

I swear

fusion in his eyes. He was used to my fire, my tears. This cold indifference was

quietly. "We don't want to be

liant surgeon, a man who could literally hold a life in his hands,

phone, connected to the car's Bluetooth, rang ou

na F

ilt in his eyes, but he answered

Mom! She's-she's having trouble breathing! She says her chest feels

on my way. Keep her calm. I

expression a mixture of apology and self-im

bag of my mother's things from my lap. "I'll drop this at the nurses

. As I stumbled out of the car, the bag slipped from my grasp. It hit the pavement with a sickening thud. A small

es screeching as he pulled away from the curb, leaving me standing there wit

ue and white on the grey ground. And for the f

my mother awake, her eyes clear. She looke

he?" she asked, her v

y throat tight. "H

owing smile. "It's al

u k

ere putting me under. I was groggy, but I heard the nurses talking. They

cheek. "I just wish... I wish

ching for her quiet dignity. "I

hing mine. "He used to be such a

n I no longer recognized. A man who would choose the applause