The Midnight Iris of Betrayal

of gleaming, ruby-red high heels placed neatly beside Brennan' s expen

ccharine smile plastered on her face. Her eyes,

ised. "Bird and Colton are just playing in his room. C

ained, echoed from Bird' s room. It was another invasi

ne he insisted no one else touch, sat half-empty. It was Cheri's lipstick mark on t

enly heavy. Her smile w

h dear! Was this Brennan's? I'm so sorry! Colton must have g

don't worry, Allison. Brennan and I have matching sets

orial whisper. "You know, Brennan has H. pylori. The doctor insisted on separate cutlery, separate mu

f pure mortification. She mumbled something about an urgent call and practical

omach. She was sleeping here, cooking here, raising h

rennan; she was building a new life with him, right u

! Why were you so mean to Cheri? You made her cry! You always

complain about everything and never appreciate him. He says you don't

t he had harbored such resentment, silently eroding our marriage, turned my

an hour later, hi

stained with Cheri' s lipstick, and held it out to him. "Here, Brennan.

ing, perhaps guilt, perhaps annoyance. "No," he said, his voice clipped. He walked to the si

always did that now. No casual brush of hands,

y temples into my hair. The salt stung my eyes

I was the most beautiful woman in the world. He'd bring me coffee in bed, just

e vast silence of the room. He didn'

nger who lay beside me, oblivious to my silent agony. The realization