Chapter 2
The day I discovered his affair is burned into my memory–a deafening roar in my mind, the world spinning into chaos.
Bryce knelt in front of me, sobbing, begging for forgiveness. He claimed it was just a moment of weakness, a fleeting thrill.
Three years of dating, three years of marriage, six years away
from my family–all for this ending.
I couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t let us go so easily.
So, by unspoken agreement, we decided to keep the marriage
going.
But love that’s rotted through–a rose crawling with maggots—is
too hard to throw away and too disgusting to keep.
With every betrayal, we fought and resented each other, until we
were both exhausted and hollowed out.
It was like death by a thousand cuts–slowly, painfully, our love
bled out and died.
“I regret it. I want to go home.”
Chapter 2
I wiped away my tears and started packing.
I didn’t want to leave a single trace of myself in this world
anymore.
I stuffed all my clothes into bags and tossed them in the trash.
I took down every wedding photo of Bryce and me, pulled out
the wedding ring he’d given me.
On our wedding day, Bryce had knelt before me, holding out that ring–a 70–point diamond that cost him everything he owned.
His voice choked as he said, “Angela, you’re the only light in my
dark life.
“I’ll be faithful to you, and only you, for the rest of my days.”
For five years, I refused to accept the reality of this twisted
marriage. I struggled, I fought.
Now, finally, I could leave. In a way, it felt like freedom.
The next morning, I got up and went downstairs.
The house was dim, the lights barely on. Bryce sat on the couch,
smoking, his expression unreadable.
“Where are the wedding photos?”
Chapter 2
His voice was flat as he called out to me.
His phone kept lighting up, one message after another.
It was Karley. She was holding a bouquet of gold–foil roses,
grinning from ear to ear.
“Last night wore me out, but this gift made it all better.”
He noticed, but didn’t bother to hide his phone.
“Put away,” I replied, my voice steady.
I walked right past him into the kitchen and poured myself a
glass of water.
He stubbed out his cigarette, smirked, and stood up. From his pocket, he pulled out a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace–custom-
made, expensive.
He came up behind me and fastened it around my neck.
“Still mad?
“Here, a peace offering.
It looks good on you.”
He leaned in, his voice a poisonous whisper against my ear,
smooth as a snake’s hiss.
Chapter 2
“Angela, you’ll always be Mrs. Oswin. No one can take your
place.
“Not even Karley.
“When I get tired of her, let’s try for a baby again, okay?”
I pushed him away, cold and sharp. Then brushed the smudge
of bright lipstick from his shirt collar.
I gave him a mocking smile and walked away.
