Left To Burn: My Husband's Betrayal

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e empty rooms, a ghost in my own home, and began to pack. My belongings were surprisingly few, considering five years of m

ink-all colors Isabelle favored. I pulled them out, one by one, tossing them into a donation pile

r sound of Holden's car in the driveway, followed by the tinkling

presence in the master bedroom. Holden's voice, deep and reso

ice annoyingly sweet, "Cele

ack tee and jeans replacing the silk d

t came over for a bit. She said she missed the dog." He

bothering to valida

, Maxie, my sweet boy! Your mummy missed you so much!" She then looked up at me, a sly glint in her

, a warning in his voice.

hing." She then turned her gaze back to Holden. "Holden, I'm still a bit shak

eyes. He still needed my permission, a r

t emotionless. "The guest room is ready.

ted me to agree, much less with such indifference. Holden loo

ight, a hint of steel in his tone. "Don't cause any trouble." He then gave me a

ways did, leaving

ing. "You think you've won, don't you? Playing the martyr.

d up a book from the shelf, a

the old, insecure Celeste. When she found none, her anger flared. She

h baring, and bit my leg. A sharp, searing pain shot up m

mphant grin spreading across her f

l unreadable. "You know, Isabelle," I said, my voice low, "this house has

te. She knew. She knew every manipulative

d, my voice gaining strength. "But if you ever touch me again,

bedroom, closing the door softly. I cleaned the wound, applied a bandage, and then, for the first t

. Thick, acrid smoke filled the room, burning m

bled out of bed, coughing, trying to find my way through th

door, his face grim, his eyes wide with fear. A flicker of

out a moment's hesitation, he scooped up the dog, cradl

the dog.

m my throat, raw and painful, but utterly silent. The fire raged around me, heat searing my skin,

eant more to h