"I already agreed to do what you wanted. I faked being sick for two years so you could get your thrill from sneaking around. Why won't you leave her alone?"
"And today, you deliberately provoked her at the hotel like that. Are you not satisfied until you've destroyed our marriage completely?"
Caspar's voice was ice-cold.
It froze me where I stood. I couldn't even breathe.
But Ebony just smiled, a wicked, venomous smile.
"Oh, Caspar. We're just getting started."
"Don't forget, it was Maud's father who killed mine. He's the reason I grew up on the streets, suffering through hell. You think this little bit of payback is enough?"
"I want her to know exactly what it feels like to have her husband stolen from her."
"Once I've gotten it all out of my system, I'll give you back to her."
She reached out, her wrists sliding up slowly until her arms were draped around Caspar's neck. Her smile turned suggestive.
"Besides, your acting has been pretty impressive these past two years. You've really gotten into the role. Are you going to tell me you didn't enjoy yourself while we were sneaking around?"
Silence from inside the room.
My breath caught. I stumbled, nearly falling, and something clattered.
"Who's out there?"
Caspar's low voice carried through the doorway.
He rushed out immediately. The first thing he saw was me, collapsed on the floor, shards of broken porcelain cutting into my skin.
Something flickered in his eyes. Pain. But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by that practiced indifference.
"You again?"
"I already told you, I don't want to see you anymore. And stop pretending to be my wife."
I sat there in silence for a long time, then spoke, my voice flat.
"Fine. I'll go."
"You'll never have to see me again."
I got to my feet slowly, staggering toward the stairs.
Behind me, Caspar sucked in a sharp breath.
"Mau—"
Before he could finish, Ebony wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.
"Babe, were you looking for me? I just took care of you. Don't tell me you're hungry again already."
My steps faltered. I didn't turn around. I kept walking.
Back in my room, I shut the door and finally let myself crumble, sliding down against it until I hit the floor.
It was almost masochistic.
The image of Ebony and Caspar tangled together played over and over in my mind, a loop I couldn't stop.
A sharp sting bloomed in my palm. I looked down. My fingernails had dug in so deep that the skin was torn beyond recognition.
I grabbed a tissue and wiped away the blood. The door swung open.
Ebony walked in, arms crossed.
"Maud, even after all this, you're still not going to leave?"
"Think about it. You were standing right in front of your husband, and Caspar still couldn't recognize you."
"Don't you think that seems a little... deliberate?"
Those pretty, almond-shaped eyes fixed on me, sharp with scrutiny.
She was testing me. Trying to figure out if I'd overheard what she and Caspar said in the bathroom.
I lowered my gaze. "What do you want, Ebony?"
She let out a soft laugh, then reached out and tilted my chin up with one finger, her expression pure provocation.
"I'm going to replace you. I'm going to be Mrs. Stephens. If you've got any pride left, just admit you've lost."
"All you have to do is sign the divorce papers, and I'll leave you alone."
It all made sense now.
The best friend I'd poured my whole heart into had been plotting this all along, right under my nose.
"If I'd known you were a snake, Ebony, I never would have saved you."
I met Ebony when I was twelve.
I was the little princess of my family, sheltered and spoiled, never wanting for anything.
She was skin and bones, sallow-faced, bullied by the other kids at the orphanage where she'd grown up.
A group of children were pelting her with rocks.
I couldn't just stand there. I charged in and pulled her out, then had my family's bodyguard put those kids in their place.
