light. I pushed it open further, stepping into th

suit he'd had on at the gallery. He had changed into a silk bathrobe, my silk bathrobe, the charcoal gra

o relaxed. A strange scent hung in the air, a mix of his colo

," I stated, my voice flat. "Did yo

the direction of our bedroom. Our be

ed, replaced by a rigid tension. He moved quickly, almost frantically,

oice hushed, laced with concer

ame from behind the closed do

rising. "Or just finished with

he handle softly, opening the

heard him ask, his

. "Oh, Corbin, I'm so sorry. I... I broke someth

. Our wedding photo. The one on my

without a word, pushi

cashmere throws. Her hair was still damp, a strand clinging to her cheek.

k echoed in the room as my palm connected with her cheek.

floor, a soft gasp

erfume, mingling with the faint antiseptic smell of a fresh bandage. On my nightstand, shar

which led to my private sanctuary, was ajar. I could see damp towels hanging over the edge of my clawfoot tub,

, rose in my throat. My ho

around her. "Adeline, what the hell is wrong with you?" he roared, his eyes blazing with

in my tub, broke my wedding photo, and now she's playing victim in my be

ne! She was shaken. She needed to clean up. She didn't mean to break anything. Y

d soul into creating, was a playground for his mistress. For years, I had suppressed my own sharp wit, dulled my edges, to be the supportive wife he needed. I had learned to appreci

he demanded, his voice low

t no tears fell. Not yet. I just stared at him, at the

ice barely a whisper, but f

th disgust and disappointment. Mine

ppointment, Adeline," he said, his voice laced wit

Disappointment. That was it. That was all I was to him. All the

e of luxury and artistic fulfillment. I had believed in him when no one else would. I had

ot allow myself this grief

ed envelope. It was slightly yellowed at the edges. I had fou

between them, the envelope

ce," I stated, my voic

ocating silence desc

mocking. "Adeline, darling, how quaint. Are you still playing this game? This old trick?" He picked

al nails in the coffin. Kallie, still on th

on from the searing agony in my heart. The last flicker

I had presented it to him, hoping it would be a wake-up call. He'd been furious, then contrite, begging me to stay, promising to change. He' d

ad taken it all for granted, piece by piece, until he saw me not as a partner, but as an obstacle. And with each transgression, each act of neglect, I had fo

ent. This time, I wasn't tes

. I had slipped it off earlier, in the cab, the cold metal feeling alien against my skin. I r

a trick, Corbin. This is it. And there won't