Then she collapsed right into his arms like a perfect performance . He caught her fast . Held her like she was glass about to break . " Ruby ? Ruby , stay with me , " he panicked , eyes wide as he touched her face , checked her pulse . " Somebody ! Somebody get the damn car ! " I stayed kneeling . Blood soaking through my pants . I didn't even try to move.8 He lifted her like she was sacred . Carried her like a queen . Before he left , he turned back to me , eyes like knives . " Don't move . You hear me ? Don't even breathe too loud . Think about what you've done . " I didn't speak . " You don't deserve a bed ," he said . Then the door slammed shut behind them . & Silence . I stayed there . I lost track of time . Maybe ten minutes passed . Maybe more . My legs were numb . My head was floating . Then the door creaked . I didn't even look up right away . Tiny footsteps padded across the floor . Then a little voice . " Why are you sitting like that ? " Jude said . I looked up . He was holding a toy car , One of those blue ones with the doors that open . He looked fresh out of a warm bed , pajamas neat , hair soft and brushed . His face was calm . No fear . No anger . He squatted beside me , one elbow resting on his knee like he was watching a bug on the ground . " My mommy's a really good actress, isn't she , bitch ? " he said , smiling . My lips parted , but no words came out . He kept grinning , like he told a joke he was proud of . " Daddy always falls for it . Again and again . " He pushed the toy car once across the tile , then stood up , humming some tune I didn't know . No guilt . No concern . Just humming like this was any other morning . " I watched him walk away without turning back . And all I could do was sit there , whispering to myself . Soon & Soon , this would all be over . I had already sent the divorce papers . They were with the lawyer now . All I had to do was wait for the finalization . Then I could be free . Then I could make them pay . - He came back early in the morning . I heard the door before I saw him . His footsteps were slower this time . He didn't slam anything . Just walked in like a storm that was already done ruining everything . Torren didn't speak right away . He just dropped a bottle in front of me . Painkillers . No label , He didn't look at me when he said it . " Try not to kill anyone next time . " Then he grabbed his keys again . Paused at the door . " My parents ' anniversary is this weekend . You're still my wife . People will be looking for you . Bring Cleo . " W I didn't move . & " You heard me ," he added . " Bring him . Clean him up . Smile . You know the drill . " Then he left . Back to the hospital . Back to Ruby . Wedding Anniversary Day . " Torren made me ride in the front seat beside the driver . I didn't argue . I didn't speak . He didn't even look at me.X Behind us , Ruby and Jude were cuddled up like they were in a fairytale . She was laughing softly , brushing her fingers through his hair . He leaned his head against her shoulder like a good little prince . I sat stiff in my plain black dress . The fabric was rough and cheap . Everyone else in the house had already dressed hours ago . Sequins . Embroidery . Jewelry that probably came with its own insurance policy . Ruby wore white . Of course she did . White with pearls down her back , like some kind of saint or bride or both.8 Nobody looked at me before we left . Not even Jude . Not even once . 0 || P Nobody looked at me before we left . Not even Jude . Not even once . !! We pulled up to the estate just before the sun went down . There were photographers already waiting at the gate . Bright lights . flashing even before the car doors opened.N Torren got out first . Straightened his suit . Fixed his cuffs . Then he opened Ruby's door himself . " She stepped out like a queen , smiling at the cameras . Jude followed , holding her hand . The perfect family . !! I stepped out quietly on the other side . No one offered me help . My shoes sank into the gravel . " Don't speak unless someone talks to you first ," Torren said without turning around . I nodded . !! He didn't see it . He was already walking toward the entrance , Ruby on his arm . The ballroom was drowning in gold . Chandeliers . Champagne towers . A live quartet playing something expensive and forgettable . Torren raised his glass before we even reached the stairs . " Everyone , " he said . " This is Ruby . My soon - to - be everything . " Applause . She smiled and dipped her head like royalty . " And this , " he said , motioning Jude forward , is the future of the family . " The grandparents made Jude bow . Kissed his forehead . Called him smart , perfect , obedient . < I stood at the edge of the room , near the coat racks . My dress didn't even reach my ankles properly . I looked like the help . Someone turned to Torren's mother and asked who I was . She didn't even blink . " Oh , that's just the old wife ," she said with a sharp smile . " She couldn't even raise a proper child . Where's that sick boy she locked in her house all those years ? That brat can't show face now ? " Ruby put a hand to her chest , all fake concern . " Cleo's … recovering," she said gently . " He couldn't travel . It's too much for him . " Then she looked at me . Pity painted all over her face . " Poor thing . " And she kissed Torren on the cheek like I wasn't even standing there . My fists curled at my sides . But I didn't speak . Then the waiter dropped a silver tray near the dessert tower . The crash echoed . Everyone turned . Torren's father laughed like it was the best joke he heard all night . " We have guests to honor , " he said loudly . " Not disasters to pity . If she wants to be useful " -he pointed at me- " then let her clean it up ." A few guests chuckled . Ruby stepped forward , all kindness again.Il " She used to be such a good hostess , " she said sweetly . " Maybe she can help pass out the champagne . Just until the servers catch up . " % Torren didn't say anything . So I picked up the empty tray . I followed the waitstaff around the room , carrying flutes and handing out napkins . One of the girls gave me a sad smile . No one else even made eye contact . Someone near the bar whispered , " Is that the first wife ? I thought she was in rehab . Or jail " Another voice answered , " I heard she poisoned the house or something . With a child's ashes . Can you imagine ? " I kept walking . My hands didn't shake anymore . They couldn't take what I already lost . Not again . Let them think I was nothing . Soon they'd all see ..