The Rat In Shadows: His Downfall

ntine

n felt tunnelled, every step heavy. Braden' s sleek black Mercedes was indeed waiting at the curb. It wa

y hand already extending for the handle. But

tly apologetic but subtly triumphant eyes. "Clementine, honey! So sorry you had to wait," she cooed, her voice sickly sweet.

er, a glint of challenge that belied her saccharine

nket, the one Braden had given me for our first Christmas together. My blanket, the softest,

o overwhelm me. "Isabella," I said, my voice flat,

prise. She wasn't used to me being so direct. Usually, I

lnerable whisper. "Leo, darling, why don't you go

started to unbuckle himself. But before he could

" He was walking towards us, a pharmacy bag in hand, his face etched with a fa

elling up with tears. "Leo needs me. An

love. I'll take care of Leo. Clementine, please."

talk to his actual wife. I saw the way his eyes lingered on Isabella, a tenderness there that had long vanished when he looked at me. It was a tend

e, to maintain the illusion of a perfect life. A child to paper over the cracks,

ar, away from them. "No, Braden. Is

trembling. "Braden, I can't. I'm so dizzy. I think... I think

Braden, don't let her go!" he wailed, his voice piercing the aftern

Passersby were staring. The public display was

ing in his eyes. He motioned for me to get in th

ing look. Her eyes were wide, brimming with tears

d spun. I realized then what he was doing. He was trying to force me into the car, int

sed to pla

packed for the recovery period after the transfer. I then reached down and unlatched the child seat that had been installed in the back, the

bitter laugh escaping my lips. "A

own. "Clementine?" It was Davis Yates, a senior research scientist from

e, to the child seat in the trash

, shaking my head.

ding dawning in his

car, Isabella still clinging to him, Leo still crying. They

ithout a second

is pulled away from the curb, that our marriage wasn' t just on the rocks. It was a ship, sinking fa