I Was Just A Silent Wife, Until I Toppled His Empire

against her thro

ng of the penthouse living room. I knew that stone. I knew the weight of it. I knew the specific imperfection on the back o

our eyes, Seraph

in the dark. Now, it was directed entirely at the woman sitting on the velv

re numb. Not the kind of numbness that comes from cold, but the kind that comes from a lack of blo

ht and airy, designed to make men feel witty and power

e cooed. "Are you sure? It l

e. He adjusted the clasp at the nape of her neck, his fingers ling

ring dust. It was the only thing I had brought into this marriage. It was the only thing I had left of

out of t

lia

tasted

ation to a weary annoyance that hit me harder than a slap. It was the

didn't hear you co

too steady. It was the voice of a soldier re

nnocence that made my teeth ache. "Oh! Jade. I d

oom. The carpet swallowed the sound of my f

. Not tonight. We have the gala tomorrow. Seraphina needs something to wear that matches

d," I r

It requires a certain... presence. Seraphina is the face of the new campa

itor

y funded with the blood money the government sent me after the funeral. The man who

ignoring his insul

ked. "Arriv

left t

Their remains are landing at JFK at 080

morning? I can't. We have the brunch with the investors, and

my parents

d of the warmth I had starved myself to earn. "They aren't going anywhere. A box of bones doesn't care i

tic noise. "Julian, maybe you sh

st wants attention. Jade, go check on the catering list for the br

ere for a

nd sharp, lodging itself between my ribs. The hope-that pathetic, whimpering thing that had kept me

off," I s

ffened. "E

," I said. "T

arned, his voice dropping an octa

last time. It looked wrong o

n calm in my voice made Seraphina

photos of our wedding day. In the picture, Julian was smiling, looking at me as if I were the only person in the

afe in the bac

ck of files. A black beret. And a thick folde

n my pocket. A se

0 wheels down at 0800. Honor G

ed at the empty side of the bed w

I whispered to