Page 18 of Sins of a Husband

“I appreciate it, Kat, but I’m not. That homicidal maniac did me a favor. I was out to dinner with friends because Steven was supposed to be packing and moving out. But when I arrived home, I saw his things were still there and figured he was with his whore. Do you think something is wrong with me because I haven’t shed a tear?”

“No, Britney. I don’t. Everyone handles grief differently,” I say. “I’m sure you’re still in shock.”

“I’m really not. As I said. That homicidal maniac did me a favor.”

I inhale a breath.Maybe this woman was crazy after all.

“I have to go,” she says. “I just wanted to thank you for helping me with the divorce. Now, we no longer have to worry about it, do we?”

“No, we don’t.” My brows furrow.

“I’ll talk to you soon, Kat. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

“You too, Britney.”

I hear the front door open. Jumping off the couch, I run to the foyer and wrap my arms around Oliver.

“I’mhappy you’re home.”

“Me too.” His lips press against the top of my head.

After we arrive homefrom dinner, I kick off my shoes and go into the living room while Oliver pours us a drink. We sit on the couch, his arm wrapped around me and my head on his shoulder.

“Dinner was wonderful. Thank you,” I say.

“It was. Wasn’t it? Now, I believe you told me earlier that you would show me how much you forgive me.”

I lift my head and smile at the playful smirk across his lips. I brush mine against his, and his fingers unbutton my blouse. His lips trail the side of my neck and then stop.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“That painting is watching us.” He stands, grabs a blanket from the corner, and tosses it over the painting. “There. Nobody is going to watch me make love to my wife.”

Chapter Twelve

DAHLIA

Before

I’m five years old,crouched in the living room corner, my knees to my chest and arms hugging them. My mother is shouting at my father. She knows I’m in the corner and doesn’t care. She doesn’t send me to my room. My father admits to the affair.

“How long has it been going on?” my mother demands.

“Twenty-two months.” My father runs his hand through his dark hair.

“Twenty-two months!” she screams. “You’ve been cheating on me for twenty-two months?” She pounds her fists on his chest. He grabs her wrists to stop her.

“Calm down, Renee.”

“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down!” she shouts, breaking from his grip.

He paces the room, unaware I’m in the corner. I’m partially hidden on the side of a large wooden bookcase. “Things haven’t been good with us for a long time. You know that!” he shouts.

“So instead of talking about it, you go out and find someone else?”

“I tried to tell you multiple times I wasn’t happy anymore, and you ignored me. But now that you found out, it’s time for me to leave. I’ll contact my attorney in the morning and start divorce proceedings.”

With his back turned, my mother ran out of the room and into the kitchen. Within seconds, she returns, holding a large black-handled kitchen knife.

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