Page 200 of Naughty Nelle

I have to give it to Hook. His sick joke shuts the skinny bitch up. For Winnie, it’s no laughing matter. Bawling her eyes out, she faces her husband.

“I wasn’t really going to eat them! I just wanted you to notice me! For once!”

“I didn’t recognize you! You turned into a fat ugly witch!”

“You turned me into that!”

Grimm, showing no emotion, turns to her. “No, Winifred, you did it to yourself. You have to take some ownership of your problem.”

The ogre! My friend’s having a total breakdown! And he doesn’t give a dragon’s ass!

“John, when was the last time you made love to your wife?” asks Grimm, still showing no sympathy.

“I don’t remember.” His tone is flat, his eyes distant.

“When was the last time you told your wife she is beautiful?”

Shaking his head, he slumps deeper into his chair. “I don’t remember.”

I can’t contain myself any longer. “Every woman needs to be told she’s beautiful!”

“Who ever told you you’re beautiful?” snaps Sasperilla.

“Sasperilla, put a lid on it,” orders Grimm.

The skinny bitch makes a face but doesn’t utter another word.

Thank goodness, I don’t have to tell her—or any of them—about my mirror.

Hook shoots me one of his smarmy smiles. “Jane’s right. Flattery is the way to a woman’s heart.”

Just not mine, you pompous asshole. I’m back to hating him.

Grimm takes control again. “John, did you ever think your wife was beautiful?”

He stares at his sobbing wife. “Yes.” His eyes grow watery. “When I first met her, I thought she was the most beautiful woman on earth.”

“I was a lot thinner then,” sniffles Winnie.

“And I was a lot younger,” says John softly.

Their eyes meet.

“John, what do you want?” Grimm leans in to him.

Without taking his eyes off Winnie, John parts his quivering lips. “I want her back.” No longer able to hold back tears, he slides closer to her. “Sweetheart, please come home. I miss you. The kids miss you. We can’t live without you.”

My skin prickles as he takes her into his arms.

Winnie melts. “I miss you so much. And the children too.”

John strokes her long red hair. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I promise things will be different; I can’t lose you again.”

“I’m sorry too,” says Winnie.

John squeezes her wide, inviting body. “I love you, Winifred.”

“I love you too,” whispers Winnie.

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