VANESSA

The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room. Jason lay back against the pillows, his jaw bruised and swollen, a cut running along his cheekbone. I’d been sitting there for hours gently peeling fruit, making sure the nurse checked on him, fixing his blanket, fussing over every small thing like it would erase what happened.

Lyra. She was a thorn in our sides. The only reason why I was still in the shadows acting like an assistant instead of a proper wife. ...