My Sister's Betrayal, My New Life

s a gift I' d received years ago, a delicate silver locket. He had bought it f

iosity in his eyes. He reached for it, his

per than I intended. I snatche

to form in my mind. This box, this lock

said, holding it out to him. "

hildlike delight. "For m

I said, a chilling smile play

ays so dramatic, my love. But I'll treasure it.

ala. Our big night. A celebration of everything we've built,

mph would be his downfall. This locket would

finishing their rounds. They'd found nothing amiss, convinced Brayden's charm

my favorite meals, even tried to reignite old flames with whispered promises and tender touches. He r

lare, almost believed him. Almost wavered. Was I making a mistake?

resh wave of nausea. I was a ghost already, moving

lly. Her messages were relentles

Clare. Always

s now. Ge

scriptions of their a

so boring in bed

ashioned ideals. Your '

you, not really. Just your

perceived lack of ambition outside the kitchen, my vulnerability. She even gloated ab

me? Brayden and I used it t

feel it in my bones. Yet, a strange calm washed

be home soon. But I had to s

In our bed. Her hand caressed his chest

t friends, doesn't she?" Hol

g her closer. "Always was. Good for busine

y whispered, her eyes wide. "She was askin

ran cold.

couldn't quite decipher crossing his fa

voice laced with a manipulative edge. "She'd

devoid of any warmth. "She's just a chef. A name. We'll take her

r party last month? You told her you couldn't sta

dripping with condescension. "Imagine her trying to raise a kid. It would be a disa

ng for a family, a child, a dream I had shared with

sitive about her father leaving her. Always

mily. Her dead mother, her estranged father... she clung to me

r a family, for a sense of belonging, twisted into a grote

So, when will you leave her? Wh

, my love. Soon. After w

to dust. Not just an affair. Not just embezzlement. But

ful voice echoed through the house. "C

ing when he saw my ravaged face. "Clare? What

my voice devoid of emo

snatched my phone, his cheerful demeano

a strange calm settling over

k of confusion. "What's true? C

shing past him. "I'm not.