The Monster Behind His Mask

Santia

m, his grip surprisingly strong. My wrist, still

d, his eyes dark with a possessive fury I hadn

that felt heavier than the morning fog. My mind raced, trying to process Bridgett' s blatant cruelty towa

, their faces grim. Declan' s parents, Eleanor and Richard, looked furious. My parents, Sarah and Mark, loo

this?" Richard demanded, pointin

aze. "It's Elena, Father. She's... not

furious gaze on me. "And this," she jabbed a manicured finger at the divorce papers, "this settlement demand. Are you o

old. "You mean the accident that left me infe

back to health! He paid for everything! He gave you a life of luxury! And now

na, honey, you're being unreasonable. Think about what you're doi

ther woman pregnant. He gaslighted me for years, making me believe I was cr

nce that Declan cheated. You think a few pictures on a phone and

se it. I want a divorce. And I want what's fair. If he' s the one who bro

ould lose everything. The thought ec

e you anything! Money, a house, anything you want! Just don't go through with this divorce. Don't ruin everything we have." He

last few years, far beyond what he publicly declared. He had offshore accounts, shell corporations. I had seen enough paperwork, enough glimpses into his business dealing

, the doo

confused. "Who

prisingly composed, a demure smile on her face. Her hand in

eclan, her eyes wide and innocent. "I just... I heard all the shouting. I was worried about Declan. And I

anor and Richard exchanged a glance, their fury

"After you threw a cat into a dumpst

And I'm just so stressed with the pregnancy. I didn't mean to." She looked at De

arm around Bridgett. "Elena, she's fragile. She's

. "She just admitted to throwing

ng. "And you were yelling at me and pushing me! My b

orward. "Oh, dear,

ight with disapproval. "You're causing a

tearful, darted to Declan's face, assessing his reaction. And her 'panic' earlier, when she flung the cat,

of sympathy directed at her. "Tell them. Tell them

cked, just for a second. She glanced at Dec

other, gasped. "Elena

pregnant woman' is Declan's mistress. She lived next door t

ked like she might faint. Richard's face was a mas

n control. "How could you say such a thing?" she cried, her voice still trembling but with a new edge of accusation. "I... I

hard, intended to wound, to sil

ine. "Elena, darling, this is outlandish. Bridgett is an employee. A junior associate. She's clearly infatuate

apartment next door, Declan! The one you rented for her! She has

't stand that Declan found happiness, a future, a family with someone else!" She turned to Eleanor and Richard,

lly finding his voice. "Declan, is this

Bridgett, and his parents. "I... I don't know, Father. It

u could sneak over every night while I was recovering from your accident? A

lan retorted, his voice stra

," I shot back. "A sym

of fragility. "Elena is just trying to destroy Declan. She' s envious. She' s always been jealous o

for a moment, a wave of dizzying rage washing over me.

nging slap echoed through the silent room. Bridgett' s head snappe

y. "Don't you dare accuse me of that. You want to talk about my fu

on his face, quickly turning to incandescent rage. My parents gasped. El