I'd sworn I would never coexist with Madge under the same sky. Every time we crossed paths, one of us would bleed.
For three years of marriage, Everard had stood firmly on my side every single time.
In front of me, he never once showed Madge a kind face. He'd thrown wine at her. Berated her until she ran off in tears.
Then he'd pull me into his arms, voice dripping with tenderness.
"My wife's enemy is my enemy."
"From now on, I'll protect you. Nobody gets to bully my wife. Not while I'm alive."
Those words still echoed in my ears. But now, the person who had truly been destroying me all along was the husband I loved most.
The air felt thin. I gasped, mouth open, chest heaving, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get enough oxygen.
The voice on the other end spoke again. "But those three babies were yours too. You really had the heart to get rid of every single one?"
Everard scoffed, utterly careless.
"Her? Worthy of bearing my children? Only Madge deserves to carry the Delgado heir. Whatever was in Iris's belly was nothing but a mistake."
"If she didn't still have a shred of usefulness left from the Pruitt family name, I'd have thrown her out a long time ago."