His Betrayal Killed Me Once , Never Again

"Afraid a divorce would look bad? Hurt your chances at a promotion?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

He frowned at me, his tone matter-of-fact:

"Didn't I already explain this to you? There's nothing between Denise and me. She just wanted to offer herself to me, to fulfill some fantasy of hers."

"I agreed to marry you. You're the only one I'll ever marry, and I'm not going to divorce you."

The absurdity of it hit me like a wall. My voice came out cold as ice:

"I don't need any of that, Ezra. What makes you think that after you killed me and our child, I'd be willing to spend the rest of my life playing house with you?"

Ezra looked at me, something unreadable crossing his face.

"Shelagh, the last life is over. This time around... I'll treat you well."

Before I could respond, he yanked the door open, stepped out, and locked me inside.

Dread flooded my chest. I threw myself at the door and pounded on it with both fists:

"Ezra! What are you doing? Open this door!"

His voice came through muffled, thick with something I couldn't name:

"You know Denise is pregnant. She's still young. If she keeps the baby on her own, her reputation will be ruined for good. I already promised her that once she gives birth, we'll take the child in and raise it as ours..."

"I know you resent Denise. And to make sure you won't mistreat the baby in the future... I can only make it so you can't have children of your own. Without a child of your own, you'll pour everything into that one."

The cold spread through me like poison. I screamed until my throat burned:

"You've lost your mind, Ezra! You want to make it up to her? Fine! Divorce me and do whatever you want! But what gives you the right to destroy me? What gives you the right to ruin my body just to prop up your love story with her?!"

His voice dropped low, almost gentle:

"You owe Denise this... You've always owed her. You owe her and the baby a life..."

"Shelagh, I promise, after this, I'll cut ties with Denise completely. I'll be good to you for the rest of our lives..."

I screamed and cursed at him, but none of it slowed his retreating footsteps.

The door was kicked open. Several men walked in, their faces twisted with ugly intent.

My pupils blew wide the instant I saw them.

These men were the violent offenders Ezra had personally apprehended just weeks ago.

Convicted of assaulting and killing dozens of people.

I understood Ezra's plan in an instant.

My heart had gone cold long ago, but in that moment it tore apart as though pierced by a thousand blades.

Denise stood a short distance away, dangling the key to the lock between her fingers, smiling at me.

Tears spilled down my face before I could stop them. I screamed at her:

"Denise! Why won't you leave me alone? Why are you doing this to me? I'm your sister!"

Rage twisted her features:

"You have the nerve to ask me why? Our whole lives, Mom and Dad favored you over everything!"

"You think I don't know? They sold every acre of land the family had! All that money went straight to your dowry so you could marry well!"

"Why do you get to have everything while I get nothing?"

"They were so desperate to marry you off to someone good! So I'll make sure you end up abandoned! I'll make you lose everything, just like me! I'll make you suffer for the rest of your life!"

Her words hit me like a bucket of ice water.

I couldn't stop shaking. Despair carved itself across my face:

"Denise! What makes you think they favored me? Ask yourself where your college tuition came from! When you were living it up in the city, where do you think all that money for your expenses came from?"

"Do you have any idea that to put you through school, Mom and Dad tore up my college acceptance letter with their own hands? Because this family could only afford to send one of us!"