Helena's Revenge: A Marriage Unraveled

was sickeningly perfect. He drove me to my "chemotherapy" appoin

res of sunny clinics by the sea. "Only the best for you, my

c supplements and foul-smelling herbal teas

ing a good hus

t room. He never touched me. The space b

on the edge of the bed, staring at a photo on his phone. It was her. Kandy. His

I couldn't keep up the charade forever. I was planning

ring the doorbell. She just walked

to me and thrust a piec

port. A positiv

he just burst into tears

face ashen. He didn't look at me. He di

ve, his body lurching

I said, my voice

an in a trance, desp

m. "Don't you da

contorting with a rage I had neve

s voice low and guttural. "She's p

such frustration, such unveiled hatr

mfort her?" he demanded, as if I

h of his jaw and the frantic look

cold, hard knot forming in my chest. A terrible, violent impulse flash

d to be asked: Are you even sure it's y

I said, my voice shaking but firm

card. My life f

oll. Don't leave

long, silent moment. The look in his eyes shifte

pat, the word hanging

per than any kni

ence for his sake. I had faked a terminal illness, enduring the char

wn my face now, h

he pregnancy, the promi

at a small antique table by the door,

amed, his face a mask of

out of the house wit

ngine of his car roared to life and then faded into t

lently I could barely hold my

the phone, my voice breaking.