I stare out of the window and then back to him. “Not really. The sea breeze on the other side of the house would be wonderful and the views are to die for. I’d prefer to have our bedroom overlooking the ocean.” I didn’t want to cause an argument on my first night but Jack is so even-tempered, I’m sure moving our bedroom won’t be a problem. “I won’t have too much to do around here, with all the staff and the kids at school. Do you mind if I pick a bedroom and redecorate it to suit my tastes? I gather Ruby organized this one?” I indicate to the roses on the white drapes and the matching coverlet. “Red and white isn’t my thing; in fact, I believe it’s unlucky, I always have.”
“I’ll have them removed at once.” Jack comes to me and wraps his arms around me. His cologne is a familiar comfort. “I want you to be happy, Willow. He presses kisses on my cheek and down my neck sending goosebumps down my arms. “I’ll be sure to tell Sue to order anything you need.” He chuckles and his warm breath brushes my ear. “I didn’t like them either. I’m not into florals.” He drops his hands and smiles. “I’ll be in my office when you’re done here.”
Grinning and feeling warm all over—Jack does that to me every time he’s close—I open what I think is the closet door and gasp. There is a room inside. My clothes take up a small areaon one side of a huge dressing room. Along the other side suits are lined up covered in plastic, shirts and then casual clothes. I’ve never seen so many ties displayed in rows. Shoes, boots are along one part of a wall as well. It’s like being in a department store and I’m gaping at the room, unable to believe my eyes. Mirrors are everywhere, and when I pull open drawers to a double dressing table, I discover my makeup and my tiny jewelry box. On the opposite side I find a drawer filled with watches, cufflinks, rings and tiepins. From what I’m seeing, Jack has occupied this room for a time. I collect my things and head into the bathroom.
Like everything else in this house, it is overindulgent. A clawfoot bathtub big enough for two is set before a window. The towels are piled up on a shelf, thick and fluffy. Everything looks brand new. I step into the shower and turn on the faucet. Perfectly heated water jets out from various nozzles around the walls. Above me, the shower head is huge. I sigh in contentment. I could get used to living like this.
I step from the shower and a noise comes from the bedroom. “Jack? Is that you?”
I wrap a towel around me and open the bathroom door. The bedroom is empty but the door is wide open. I walk to the doorway and peer outside and freeze. The hallway is in darkness and footsteps disappear into the darkness. “Jack?”
Nothing.
THREE
TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE OUR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Laura
I walked into our arranged marriage with my eyes wide open. I consider myself lucky, you see. Jack is everything a woman could want in a man: handsome, rich and powerful, his influential friends include senators and billionaires. People want to know details about our lives and each time we go to a function we make a splash across the society pages. I enjoy going to functions just to show him off. When we’re out together, he acts the loving husband. Often his arm snakes around my waist, and he gives me frequent stolen kisses. Our life appears so perfect. So many women want him. I can see why they’re jealous but I don’t care—he’s mine.
Or is he?
I stare at the bedroom door and his words cut deep into my heart. His cologne lingers and I want to grab it and hold it to me but he’s gone. I stare at my reflection—what is happening? Suddenly I’ve lost him. I try to remember what happened. What did I do? I can’t think straight. Am I losing my mind or is someone twisting reality? My marriage to Jack has turned into a nightmare. I can’t escape because no one will listen to me. Imust act the perfect wife to a handsome, wealthy husband, but I’m trapped inside this marriage and slowly dying.
Realization creeps over me. Jack doesn’t love me—he never has. To him I’m just the mother of his kids. His pained expression when we discovered I carried a daughter is imprinted on my soul. My life in Newport, Rhode Island, in the esteemed Beauford Manor, went downhill from then. I’ve been so stupid to believe his smooth tongue—his lies of love and a future filled with happiness. He’d acted like a hero in a romance novel but now I realize, when I’d walked into a marriage of convenience, I’d made a huge mistake. My family name and the wealth that came with me was his reason to go ahead with this farce. I trusted him and we pooled our money for him to invest in his company—and I got an allowance. I’ve been fooling myself that he loves me. For a time after Ava was born, he’d acted so loving again but now I know it was for only one reason. He wanted another baby.
The second the ultrasound revealed I carried a boy he commissioned a portrait of me. He wanted to capture my pregnancy glow for prosperity—the momenthis sonwas conceived, he’d say—as if he truly believed it. From that moment, it was all about the baby. As my pregnancy continued, my loving husband refused to come near me. He made excuses and isolated me inside the house until Noah arrived. The day I came home from the hospital is etched into my memory like a nightmare.
The moment I carried our son into the nursery Jack presented me with a credit card. Was it payment for a job well done? He had his son, and that was all that mattered to him.
I stared at him in astonishment. “Oh, Jack, that’s very nice of you, but I won’t have time to go shopping with a new baby.” I nuzzled my son, inhaling his sweet aroma, and my breaststingled, although the doctors had forbidden me to feed him myself. I wanted to. “Where is Ava?”
“She’s having a nap. There’s no need to worry, Laura. Jenny will care for Noah. That’s why we hired a nanny.” Jack took the baby from my arms and handed him to Jenny. “You’re free to do what you want now.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “No, Jack. I’ll care for him.” I went to take my son from Jenny. “Give him to me.”
“Don’t make a scene, Laura.” Jack gripped my arm. “You know it’s for the best.”
Trembling, I gaped at him, tears stinging my eyes. I couldn’t give up my son. I wouldn’t. “You can’t take my son away from me.”
“Laura, stop it.” Jack gave me a shake. “Now look, you’ve made him cry.” He looked at Jenny. “Take him to the nursery. I’ll be along soon.”
Pain gripped my heart as Jenny walked away with my son. I reached out a hand, wanting to run after him, but Jack glared at me, and I lifted my chin, ready to fight. “No! I’m his mom. He needs me. He doesn’t know her. Give me my son.” I pounded on Jack’s chest.
“You’re not well, Laura.” Jack held me firmly by the arms. “You need to rest, and when you’re better, you can do all the things you wanted to when you were pregnant. I know you hated that time, and I’m sorry for it, but Noah is here now, and I won’t expect you to go through it again.”
The smell of the old house surrounded me. It was decaying like a corpse, but I was the only one who saw it. I shook my head, edging toward the stairs. “I’m fine. You can’t keep me away from my baby.”
“He’s my son too.” Jack gave me a little shake. “Right now, you’re not capable of caring for him or Ava. I can’t trust you withmy children.” He sighed. “You need more time to recover. It’s for your own good.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks. I fought to get away, but his hands clasped tighter. I couldn’t win. “I want to see my babies. Please, Jack.”
“You’ll see them.” Jack led me up the stairs. “You need to rest, but I’ll ask Jenny to bring them to you once a day. We don’t want to upset their routines, do we? Now it’s time for you to take your meds.” He took my hand. “You know it’s for the best, Laura.”
I stared into the eyes of my portrait hanging above the stairs and wanted to scream. I looked at him. “What if I decide to take my children and leave? You can’t hold me here against my will.”
“No, I can’t, but you’ll be leaving alone.” Jack turned me to face him. “I’ll never allow you to take my kids—not ever.”
