The Wife He Never Saw

air by my bed, his head slumped to one side. He looked exhausted, his usually perfect features shado

reached out and touched my forehead

e said, his voice

sion softening into o

ust leave Kortney alone. Whatever she wants, just

aggressor. He thought my p

argue. Too empty. I

nful, as if I were an invalid. He read to me from boring financial journals. The nurses cooed about his devotion. I knew

elped me dress, his fingers li

re nice," he said. "To

r his cruelty, but for th

bbed with every step. I felt like I was dra

d, a triumphant smirk on her face.

charity auction tonight?" she

"Keena nee

whined. "It's the bigg

esignation on his face. He was weak when it

eena is comi

as water, buying me a diamond bracelet I didn't want and a painting I didn't like.

up for bid that m

s. It had been sold with the rest of her estate after she died to pay for my

to me. I leaned forward,

change in me instan

, unable

igher. Cedric didn't flinch. He was determined to get it for me, a grand ges

-satisfied smile on his lips.

y appeared

red, her eyes wide and innocent. "Can I

ed from Kortney's pleadin

g in my gut. I knew what he would choos

om the velvet box and

rse," h

was physical. I felt the

e. "It's just a necklace, Keena. I'll

tand. He would n

h victory. She gave me a triumphant, pitying look. Then she walked

g inside

p and fol

bling. "That locket... it was my mother'

king sound. "Pay me? You

asped th

be to see y

o the air. It glittered under the lights for a momen

scrambled over the balustrade

are. I frantically searched the bottom of the fou

EE

the water with me, his face a mask of incandescent rage. He gra

g with fury. "You could have caught pneumonia! You

dripping and shiverin

ena! Your health

he fountain. A minute later, one o

ed it from th

art soaring with relief

e held it in his palm, his

s are dangerous," he said, his voice low

he close

a crunch

ket was a mangled, crushed piece of

ony. I tried to lunge at him, to save the

gly calm as he dropped the ruined locket back into the water, "t