She stepped closer.
“You’ll get nothing.”
A voice sounded behind her.
“She’ll get exactly what she deserves.”
We both turned.
Russell was standing several feet away.
His bow tie hung loose around his collar.
He still held a half-finished glass of champagne.
Marlene’s expression changed instantly.
Then she smiled.
A satisfied little smile.
As though Russell had just agreed with her.
I looked at my husband.
He said nothing more.
Neither did I.
But those six words followed me upstairs.
She’ll get exactly what she deserves.
I lay beside Russell that night staring into the dark, unable to decide whether they were a promise or a warning.
Part 4 — Somewhere Along the Way, I Fell in Love
Marriage with Russell was nothing like I had expected.
I had imagined expensive dinners, formal events, separate bedrooms, polite conversations.
Instead, I got peppermint tea.
Russell remembered that I liked it when I couldn’t sleep.
