I forced the corners of my lips upward and slipped my hand from his, casual enough not to raise suspicion.
"Just something small. Nothing worth troubling you over."
Only moments ago, I had believed I was the luckiest woman in the world.
A husband who didn't resent me for my blindness. Tender and attentive in every way.
After three years of acupuncture and careful conditioning, my body had finally cooperated, and I was carrying our baby.
But now I saw it for what it really was: a cold, hollow lie.
Tears streamed down my face before I could stop them.
Dominic noticed the shift in my mood immediately. He fumbled to wipe my cheeks dry.
"Sweetheart, are you hurting somewhere?"
I fought to contain the ache splitting open inside my chest, my voice cracking.
"Dominic, the driver who caused the accident... he really went to prison, didn't he?"
He kissed the shell of my ear, his voice low and coaxing.
"Of course. Anyone who hurts my wife doesn't get an ounce of mercy from me."
My nails dug crescents into my palms. I wanted nothing more than to rip that mask off his face and scream every question burning inside me.