Project Nightingale: Her Silent Vengeance

Rhode

r seat of my car, the engine idling softly. Someone was driving. Brody. He hadn't left me there after all. Or maybe he had

like a polite inquiry to a subordinate. "You really caused quite a stir back there. Gemma had t

atching the city lights blur into streaks of color. The thought of confronting him again, of trying to exp

my designs, my ideas. He' d told me I was his muse, his partner, his everything. Those memories were like ghosts now, beautiful and cr

use tonight," I heard myself sa

ter. "What? Don't be ridiculous. Our

ther about something important. He specifically asked." It was a lie, a desperate att

drama are you trying to stir up, Finley? Honestly,

But my mind was clearer than it had been in years. Something had broken inside me tonight, something irreparab

warm glow. My parents were probably still up, waiting for me, w

I asked, my voice s

And frankly, I don't need another lecture from your father abo

kling my seatbelt.

. The cool night air felt like a balm against my inflamed skin.

Brody call

, but I didn't turn around. The s

pped, his voice growing louder. "

den filling my lungs. "It's not a game, Brody." My voice was st

crunched on the gravel driveway, coming closer. My heart

dangerously low now, right behind me. "Tired o

thin them. I saw confusion there, and something else – a flicker of genuine sh

ed, the words loaded with years of un

nd I could tell he didn't like what he saw. The submissive wife he had molded, the quiet architec

his voice softer now, a hint of concern finally

rength. "Every conversation, every public appearance, every stolen ide

inley, don't be dramatic. We're a team. And tonigh

th Gemma, Brody? Is that 'professional bonding' too? Or is that just what h

expected me to bring her up, n

he said, his voice tight. "Nothi

hat you spend more time with her than with me? Is it my imagination that

t tell me I'm being a 'jealous wife.' I'm tired of your lies

"Done? What does

"I can't do this anymore. I can't be your trophy wife, you

d clear. Brody stared at me, his fa

re upset. You're not thinking straight. And you know what your father will

h wave of bitterness washing over me. "Not my fe

t throw it all away because you're having a little emotional moment

time, a searing, twisting agony that made me gasp. My k

whispered, barely able to speak. The world w

a split second, a flicker of genuine concern crossed his features, mix

rong?" he asked,

elt a warm gush, a terrifying wetness between my legs.