The Rat In Shadows: His Downfall

ntine

chaotic scene I' d left behind. I sat on the sofa in the living room, the only light coming f

ce. He walked in, sighing heavily as he closed the door. He didn' t

me, and wrapped his arms around my waist. His chin rested on my shoul

soft, almost hesitant. "About today

e flat, cutting through his attempted recon

oice strained. "It was an emergency. Leo was hurt. Isabella was distraught." He tried to dismiss it, to minimize it, as he al

ow it wasn't nothing, Braden.

d. We've known each other since high school. There's nothing more to it." He tried to soo

lips were cold. I felt nothing. He seeme

g to a doctor's tone. "Post-procedure care is para

I'd gone through with it. He didn't even know.

e most important person in the world. He once told me, under the soft glow of a streetlamp after a late-night shift, that he admired my dedic

ementine Bennett, pediatric oncologist. Dr. Braden Bennett

he silence. I watched his broad back, the way his shoulders move

rough the kitchen noises. "I'm not ac

? Why not? That's a huge opportun

" I explained, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue. "A

for a less demanding position. Maybe something administrative? Or just take

tting a divorce, Clementine," he said, his voice firm, unwavering. "Our family will be fine." He

uching my stomach, where the needle marks

-in-law had once told me, her eyes sweeping over my medical

have when he inevitably broke my heart again? I would become just another one of his accessories, another troph

a deeper pit, a quicksand that would swallow me whole. The id

was a carefully constructed facade, beautiful to the outside world,