The Unwanted Wife He Broke In Rain

ra

just as the sun began to ble

or three days. The servants moved like

h a bridal magazine she had no business reading,

heavy thud of boots on marb

and, rubbing the silver until my distorted reflection sta

and cold air, and tossed his keys onto

me, Dante,"

ward him in a cloud of perfume, w

is eyes scanned the room

t pol

ake Dante's coat. He was an old man

on Moretti. Good

ded at

left t

Elena away-gently, but fi

ou just ca

d me, his hands shaking. "I-I meant Ms.

She pressed a hand to her chest, loo

a reminds me of it every day. She tells the staff not to

effortless it

in three long strides and gripped the

asked, his voice

looked at the lie. I looked at t

tter?" I as

r me,

an who used to braid my hair when I had nightmares. He was gone, replaced by

Dante," I said. "I'm t

had slapped him, a

is the Masquerade Ball. You will attend. You will stand in the back.

ned to

e said softly. "The one

't cry. I didn't pack. I

onds. The orchestra played a waltz t

hen entrance, wearing a plain grey d

his tuxedo. Elena was a blood-red stain by his side, laughing

ampagne on my shoes; someone bumped my shoulder and

against his glass, an

a glass

"To loyalty. And to those who s

na and pulled a velve

stupid yet. But it was a promise ring:

t onto he

use as Elena kissed him-a

ng for me in the shadows. He wanted to

I lifted my ch

was the smile of a prisoner

t me. He didn't look at me, but he def

ide was a key card

oat leaves in

ene. I waited until Dante turned back to

ng past the busy chefs, and walked out the

els and left the

, I

k, toward the silence. And for the fir