Marrying His Rival: The Jilted Wife's Sweet Revenge

Mill

y. I ended the call and marc

-Ethan's signature. Once, that scent had been my anchor

eferences-filled with dresses he had chosen, shoes he liked

rage bin from the top shelf a

nleashed

istmas. The silk blouse from his promotion party. I didn't fold t

y space. I wanted to scrub m

itaire. It caught the light from the hallway, winking at

elt like a branding

o the bin on to

The screen lit

finally answered, putting it on speaker as I

than's voice was tight, impatien

," I said, my voice de

Listen, I can't come home tonight. Something

d, looking at the em

on't wa

ce in the background. It was fai

, it hu

ne wen

the office. H

ds and photos of us. I took down the framed photo of ou

face down

later, the fr

aid he wasn't

king flustered. He w

ered, not meeting my eyes. He

t grabbing files. He was

r talks," I said, leanin

expenses." He ripped a check out and scribbled o

ing nice. For leaving t

the check. Fifty

hush paymen

c, Ava. It's a gi

t kiss my cheek. He treated me like a vending ma

" I cal

ront door, his hand

laptop. If you

y side. "Right. It's... it's fin

he door cl

g his conscience. He was paying me off in

hallway table to stay upright. Saliva flooded my mout

was nothing left but bile. My body w

cabinet. I had been feeling off for weeks-tire

cy tests months ago, back when I still thought we were trying for

e of the tub, staring at the whit

later, I looke

ink l

left m

gna

, cells were dividing. A life was forming. A life created

ace was pale, my eyes dark and hollow. I

hat night. His phone wen

ugh the silk and cashmere until I found the rin

uilt on lies. Not to a father who was currently holding a

ped th

the metal can with a