Sophie stared at him. Then something cracked in her expression, and she started laughing–wild, jagged laughter that broke into sobs halfway through.
“I did it for you. Of course I did it for you.” Her voice went sharp and high. “You say you love me, but you were still going to marry her. Still going to have a baby with her. Then what was I supposed to be?”
“I had to make sure there was nothing left between you two. Not this time.” She wiped her face with the back of her
hand. “She’s gone now, Arthur. It’s done. We can go to the courthouse tomorrow. I’ll give you the family you wanted – I
give you everything you want-”
Arthur seized her arm. His voice came out raw and hollow. “The depression. You faked that too, didn’t you.”
It was not a question. He was looking at her, really looking, and the truth had finally come into focus. Every crisis, every
breakdown, every ambulance call – all of it staged. All of it her doing.
He released her arm and walked out the door. Sophie’s screams chased him down the hallway, but he did not slow down
Things wit
Tw
led into something steady and warm.
One evening after din
d at me across the table and frowned.
n sneezed for th
ne housekeeper spoke up from the doorway.
hair still wet. I think she caught something”
asleep after he
ned on her. “I a
before it we
ok at my ph
is expre
That
w did something this simple happen under your watch?”
was my fault–sh
just… passed out
leave his eyes
and stood there
at the end of
nd I waved her off I was going
abbed a threw blanket–just like
pty ball
obvious
Foo not weaving you alone in here 10 be time
at a whiget “You could just sleep here if you
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Something shifted in his gaze. A slow, quiet smile. “You sure?”
I pulled the covers up to my chin and refused to look at him after that.
He moved back into the master bedroom that night. He never left it again.
We crossed the line we had been circling for weeks. Two months later. I was pregnant.
Edward panicked at first – dragged me to the doctor before I could even finish telling him, worried it was too soon a
the abortion. The doctor examined me and said that with proper rest. I was healthy enough to carry the baby to ter
I watched the tension drain from his shoulders. It was the first time I had ever seen Edward visibly relieved, period.
I had assumed Arthur would marry Sophie the second I was out of the picture. Instead. I heard through the grapevin
that Sophie was facing a disciplinary hearing for misconduct. Arthur resigned before they could fire him.
I asked Edward if he had anything to do with it. He just smiled, tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, and said nothi
The fallout at the university was swift. Everyone knew now – she was the student who had seduced her own professor
ther woman, and burned everyt own.
t take the whispers. Th
he dropped out befo
reer was finished.
his history and p
facturing plant
On a clear aftern
trailing a few
She wa
unbearable – the depression she had faked for so long final
him. He found work at a tutoring center, but parents caught
he center let him go too. The last I heard, he was working at a
hospital for a prenatal checkup. As we were leaving, I spotted Sophie
e–aged man, visibly
ik with her. He did
turn around
nk I’m going to w
Arthur appear
his chest the
Look your finge
with a blank, hollowed out expression
the kind of injury that came from a machine
the landing
ok Edward
aid a word
he drove us hoina
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ng que todos necesar
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
