The Neglected Wife's Triumph

s preferred place for difficult con

mchair, dabbing her eyes with a lace handkerchie

, his back to me when I ente

dent weeks ago, an incident where he' d saved Cassie first. He didn'

was solely

is voice tight. "Cass

ick enough to choke on. M

his eyes hard. "Claiming she had you fired. She showed me her hand, Amelia. She says yo

red mark, barely a scratch. "I wouldn't dream of interfering with

masterpiece of w

op," Cassie whispered, looking

you push her, Amelia

e wanted a confession. He w

flared. The injusti

es my public humiliation, gets me fired from something I l

What about the constant undermining? The isolation? You

I filed a complaint so quickly unless she was involved?

lack of empathy, it

unter-accusations wit

ng like this. She' s been through enough."

cture of magnanimity.

held a glint of triumph. "Perhaps we both said things

a subtle reminder of her power, her connection.

ut it reeked of her continued manipulation. I

sh air, excused herself, leavin

sk dropping slightly, r

assie is... fragile right now. My father' s passing, the estate..

t... apologize? For the misunderst

with the slight softening of his tone. If I played alo

er. "And what about me,

han?" The question slipp

something that almost resembled affection. "Of course,

his phone r

instantly. "Wha

e gripped the phone. "A small fire?

even gla

on my

ready moving t

ct, his only ins

in the vast library, his superficial "I l

Shock, then despai