With his bleeding hand, he cupped her face. Her tearful eyes looked up at him—and then their mouths crushed together in a fierce kiss.
The dagger clattered to the floor.
The room filled with the sound of their breath, their intimacy, their entanglement.
Once, Derek and I had embraced in blood.
Now, Penelope kissed him in blood.
The door opened and she saw me.
"Esther!"
The dagger was snatched up in an instant—then clattered back onto the ground with a sharp clang.
Her hair was tangled in my fist, forcing her to kneel before me.
Derek seized my wrist. "Enough. Stop lowering yourself to her level."
I sneered, staring straight into his eyes. "Mr. Vazquez, you're the one who refuses to divorce. Since you insist on acknowledging me as your wife, then I must live up to the title. Or do you think your wife is just some pitiful doormat anyone can bully?"
Smack!
My palm landed viciously across Penelope's face.
"Esther!" Derek's furious shout split the air.
He tore me away from her. My ears caught the sound of her sobbing, pitiful and weak.
I yanked free from his grip. "I gave you a chance. Since you refuse divorce, don't blame me for what comes next—"
Suddenly, qsharp pain lanced through my waist.