Love's Cruel Contract, His Endless Regret

Not with a bullet, but with a tex

... ASAP." My first thought was our sixteen-year-old son, Marco. But an anonymous online forum quickly pointed out the holes in my theo

ndry-the same brand I'd found in our son's room months ago. I

bout my "episodes" and mocked me for being predictable. Marco even told his f

the walls of my own home, destr

ext week. It's the perfect stage. He thinks I'll be the supportive wife on his arm, but he's wrong. I'm n

pte

ssa

Not with a bullet, but with a tex

ntertops of our sprawling, silent kitchen. It was my job to maintain this silence, this perfection.

, likely scrolling through h

er for a charity luncheon the next day. A green bubble popped up on the screen

inking about that hotel room. You owe

age wasn

rco. He was sixteen, the heir to this formidable legacy, and a lia

ocating. I sank onto a barstool, m

nzo. I couldn't go to

who lived a certain kind of life. Anonymously, I typed out a vague version of the truth, framing it

, a mix of sympathy an

e: Why do you ass

ngers trembling. My husband was a pillar of

e another moment like that' sounds transac

-old even book a suite at The Ath

spending limit that wouldn't cover a bottle of their cheapest champagne, le

ent appeared, si

e another man

mpossible, treasonous thought. He was my

utation only, LegalEagle88, a trusted advisor from

. It suggests an older

my bones. Lorenz

s voice, deep and confident, boomed t

it with a broad smile. He held a box of expensi

sweetheart. Ev

t felt like cracking

my waist, his chin resting on my shoulder. "I

e. I'm glad you're home." I pulled away gently, be

y. I was left alone with his briefcase. I needed to unpack for him, to

ket, closing around a small, foil packet. I pulled it out. It was the kind designed fo

s laundry basket months ago. I'd dismissed it then as ty

he wrapper clutched in my fist. The truth hit me li

rco. It was

s Lor

rivate message. It w

y advice to you is this: Do not confront him. Gather

ed, replaced by a glacial calm. The

a single, b

l me