Chapter 1
Ten days after the party, Nathaniel Morgan finally came boue–with us in tow
They both looked awful, clearly fresh off another round of chest pain.
“Where the bell is the medicine?
Neither of them even looked at me, but their tone was all blame
“We forgot.”
I didn’t even bother sitting up from the coach.
“Guess that’s on you
Nathaniel’s heart condition runs in his family
It’s heen flaring up for y
years.
Through eight years of marriage–2.920 days–I never missed a day
Even when they were gone like this for weeks. I always had their medicine ready, browed with mandrake from our garden
None th
they were sulking on the couch, whispering to each other and posting on Facebook
“Had a heart scare while cycling–thank God Isabella reminded us to come home for our meds”
The photo?
All three of them smiling, cozy on the couch like a perfect the family.
Nathaniel and our son aren’t supposed to do interce physical activity.
That’s why I was always warning them, always checking in
Even when it pissed them off
I let out a bitter laugh
One reminder from Isabella was apparently worth a heartfelt post.
My daily sacrifices for eight years? Forgotten
They wouldn’t even be home now if it werent for another near–heart attack
I scrolled down and commented:
“Such a happy little family. Hope you stay together forever.”
I looked up just as Nathaniel glared at me..
“She already apologized for that day, Viviann
“She’s been trying to make it up to you–Hery avenhought you a gif using my card.”
Our san
son was fiddling with his smartwatch.
“Mom, you were totally overreacting
“It wasn’t right to make Isabella pay.”
Chapter 1
Thad to laugh.
My son used our marital funds to buy a gift from his dad’s mistressto najulogize to me?
A real chip off the old block.
I smiled politely.
“Well then, Henry, be sure to thank your new monk for me
He fioze, mouth hanging open, cleatly stunned.
Nathaniel scooped him up.
“Vivianne, enough. This jealous routine is exhausting.”
“How can you talk to your own son like that?
locked eyes with him.
“So maybe find someone better suited to be his men.”
“If you’ve got time to go cycling and test your heart, you’ve got time to sign the damn divorce papers
ent quiet–then exploded.
Nathaniel went
“It was just a lower! Isabella already said sorry. What more do you want?”
“You don’t even work. Just get another one”
I didn’t even flinch.
“Right. Just another mandrake plant. Like they grow on trees
There are millions of mandrakes out there, but only one like the one I spent eight years cultivating
To make sure they had daily medicine, I broke my hack–literally–planting an entire hillside of them.
But sure, just “get another.”
I turned away
curry. I won’t use the plant to hold you hostage.” “Don’t worry.
“You can keep the entire garden. I don’t want a damn thing.”
