He herded me down the hall into a small storage room—once my sanctuary. Now it was stuffed with Claire’s abandoned shopping bags and boxes.
“First aid’s in the back,” Claire murmured sweetly, eyes glinting when Matthew couldn’t see. “Fetch it for me.”
“Why are you even humoring her?” Matthew snapped. “Do it. The least you can do after attacking her.”
Tears blurred my vision as I dug through the clutter, my hands shaking. When I returned, Claire was sprawled across the bed, head nestled against Matthew’s shoulder, her sniffles delicate as glass.
He turned to me, his eyes blazing. “Kneel. Apologize to her. Now.”
I froze.
“I won’t.”
His voice dropped, dangerous. “What did you just say?”
“I said I won’t.”
Rage twisted his face. He shoved me down, and my knees cracked against the floor. Pain shot through me, sharp enough to steal my breath. Instinctively, I clutched my stomach.
“You can’t even show basic respect!” His words lashed like a whip. “No wonder no one loves you. Even if you had everything Claire has, you’d still be unwanted.”
“Matthew!” My cry tore from me, raw and broken.
Claire dabbed her eyes with a tissue, her voice soft, trembling with false guilt. “Don’t be too harsh. It’s my fault—I’ve taken too much. Your time, your affection. She’s bound to resent me.”
Her humility only fanned his fury. “You deserve none of this, Claire. Evelyn is the one humiliating you.”
The world tilted. My husband’s loyalty was hers now, not mine.
“Please, Evelyn,” Claire murmured, her hand resting lightly on Matthew’s chest. “He didn’t mean it. He just lost his temper.”
Something inside me snapped. My scream ripped out, sharp as broken glass. “Shut up! Shut up with your fake crying!”
The room froze.
The crack of Matthew’s palm split the silence. Pain seared across my cheek, the sting burning deep. But worse was the betrayal in his eyes, colder than the blow itself.
My hand trembled against the heat of my skin. Tears blurred the room, metallic blood sharp on my tongue.
And for the first time, I wondered if the Evelyn who once believed in love had already died.
The sting on my cheek still burned when Matthew turned his back on me. His arm stayed locked around Claire, as though she needed shielding. From me.
“Let’s go back downstairs,” he muttered, jaw tight. “People are already talking.”