He collapsed, his body shaking with a grief so profound it felt like it was tearing him apart. Underneath the papers, there was a stack of screenshots. Lily’s secret social media posts, a catalogue of her manipulations and lies.
The grief curdled into a white–hot rage.
He saw the wedding portrait in the living room. Her half had been cut out, leaving him standing alone. A sob escaped his throat.
Then he remembered. The gift. The surprise in his closet. Hope surged through him. A plane ticket! She wanted him to follow her!
06-15
He ran to the closet and tore open the box.
The first thing he saw was the divorce agreement. Signed.
Then, the abortion receipt. Dated the day he had agreed to let Lily keep her child. He slapped himself, a hard, stinging blow to the face. That was the day she had decided to leave him. The day he had killed their child.
