Page 140 of Sinful Bride

“You’ll pry her from my cold, dead hands—or I’ll kill you before you get the chance.”

Ophelia simply sighs. “You were always so dramatic. You should take notes from your sister; at least she had the dignity to accept defeat quietly. In any case, you know where to find us.”

“We’re done.”

“But this isn’t. Everything you’re going through? That will never be done. You will never find relief from the hell your so-called husband is putting you through. But, should you decide you’ve had enough of that… well, we’re only a phone call away.”

The line goes dead.

Everything feels so heavy, so dull, so muted.

Maybe it’s my body’s way of handling the news. Without that numbness, I don’t know if I would’ve been strong enough to catch Asya when she collapsed after I told her the news about Mak.

But as numb as I am, my mind still races.

Wondering how much blood he’s lost.

Who did this.

If he’ll pull through.

We cling to each other, her tears dampening my shoulder as I rock her on the couch. As my mind races, and races, and races.

You did this.

You’re the one who got Makari hurt.

If he dies, his blood is on your hands.

I don’t know how long we sit together. Long enough that her sobs fade into hiccups and then into silence. To be honest, I’ve lost track of time. It all just kind of melts together.

I already tried calling Pasha. Even now, with Asya curled up under a throw and her head in my lap, I pressed his name in my speed dial and prayed he’d actually answer this time.

He didn’t.

So I texted him everything. Every last vile word my parents spat at me.

Well, maybe not every word. My thumbs pause over the keyboard… and then I delete. And delete. And delete.

Until one crucial ultimatum is left out.

This is for the best, I tell myself. This is what I have to do. Despite my heart slamming inside my ribcage, I feel like I’m doing the right thing.

Or at least, I hope I’m doing the right thing.

Asya doesn’t stir when I coax her from my lap to the couch. It’s perfectly timed, too, because when I check on Tatyanna, my sweet baby girl is also snoozing away in her crib.

I tap out another text, this time to Hazel.

ME: Are you busy?

HAZEL: I’m already on my way over

HAZEL: Got a feeling you might need me

HAZEL: You don’t have to explain. Just know I’ll be there in like, 10 minutes

I don’t deserve her.

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