The Scandal by Nicola Marsh

Author:Nicola Marsh
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786819956
Publisher: Bookouture

Twenty-Six

Marisa

It’s a beautiful Hamptons’ morning. One of those crisp days with a brisk wind off the ocean that brings a chill quickly banished by the sun. I actually managed a few hours’ sleep last night so I’m feeling half human and won’t let anything ruin my uncharacteristic perkiness. Including my husband, who only came home at one a.m.

I don’t care anymore. I don’t care about his whereabouts or who he’s spending his time with. I gave up buying the work excuse a long time ago though it’s easier to go along with it.

I have my job, my home and my girls. It’s all I need. Besides, I have an inherent fear of ending up like my mom, alone in a tiny two-bedroom apartment working my ass off to make ends meet, cynical and bitter and depressed.

It’s why I stay when every instinct insists I leave.

That’s the good thing about putting up with Avery’s bullshit. I get to live in a mansion, I can afford the best of everything and I’m a respected member of the community. I’ll do anything to maintain the status quo.

I’m an excellent actress.

“You got in late last night.” I add spirulina to his smoothie, making sure to avoid mine. I hate the stuff.

“Working hard, you know how it is.” He has the gall to meet my eyes.

“Work, yeah.”

He hates sarcasm and sure enough, he frowns. Our gazes lock in a staring contest until I realize he’s spoiling my good mood so I turn away. He comes up behind me and slips his arms around me. Typical. He always thinks he can soften me up with physical attention. Little does he know his touch repulses me most days and it takes every ounce of willpower not to elbow him away.

“Yeah, things have been busy at the center too.” I screw the cap on the blender and flick the switch, glad the noise will drown out anymore of his trite, meaningless responses.

I always do this, back down to avoid the ultimate confrontation, where I may be tempted to tell him exactly how I feel. He drops a peck on the back of my head and releases me. I can breathe again.

When his smoothie’s done, I pour it into his glass-to-go. “What’s the next few days looking like for you?”

“I’ll be in the city for the rest of the week.”

I hand him the smoothie and he does his usual raise it in the air in a silent cheers. “So you won’t be coming home?”

He shrugs, his gaze evasive. “Not sure, depends on the hours.” He takes a sip of the smoothie and smacks his lips. “Delicious as always. What would I do without you?”

“I have a feeling you’d cope just fine.”

Either my dry response doesn’t register or he doesn’t care. “Fancy a vacation?”

I can barely tolerate spending a few hours with him these days – as my age increases, my acceptance of his smarmy BS decreases – I can’t imagine being stuck with him on some tropical paradise 24/7.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.