haven

Chapter 1 - THE DINNER SHE COULDN'T EAT

“Claire Moretti, stop!”

Alexander's voice followed me through the restaurant.

I kept walking.

The private dining room door closed behind me, cutting off the sound of his mother demanding to know what kind of wife embarrassed her husband in public.

My wrist throbbed.

I looked down.

Four red marks were already forming where Alexander had grabbed me.

For a moment, I stood completely still.

Then my baby moved.

A small, unmistakable flutter beneath my ribs.

I placed my hand over my stomach.

“It's okay, sweetheart,” I whispered.

But I wasn't sure whether I was reassuring my child or myself.

I had imagined this moment a hundred times.

The confrontation.

The papers.

Alexander finally realizing how badly he'd hurt me.

In my imagination, he always apologized.

Sometimes he cried.

Sometimes he begged.

Sometimes he admitted that Sophia Reynolds had been occupying a place in his life that should never have belonged to anyone but his wife.

Instead, he had grabbed my wrist.

And ordered me to apologize to her.

The elevator doors opened.

I stepped inside.

My phone vibrated.

Alexander.

I declined the call.

It rang again.

Then a message appeared.

You will come back upstairs and explain yourself.

I stared at the words.

For five years, Alexander had spoken to me as though marriage were another part of his organization.

He issued instructions.

I followed them.

He made decisions.

I adjusted.

And whenever I protested, he reminded me how dangerous his world was.

How much he sacrificed.

How lucky I was to be protected.

I typed a reply.

Speak to my attorney.

Then I blocked his number.

When the elevator reached the lobby, I walked toward the revolving doors.

Outside, Chicago glittered beneath a cold November rain.

A black Moretti SUV waited at the curb.

The driver stepped forward.

“Mrs. Moretti?”

I stopped.

“Mr. Moretti asked me to take you home.”

I looked at the vehicle.

The tinted windows.

The familiar license plate.

The security detail that had followed me everywhere for years.

Then I shook my head.

“No, thank you.”

The driver frowned.

“Ma'am, I have instructions.”

“So do I.”

He blinked.

I stepped past him.

May you like

“Tell Alexander I'm no longer taking his.”

Then I walked into the rain.

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