Chapter 5

Footsteps passed outside the lounge, and quiet voices drifted through the door.

Lauren bit her lip hard, afraid to make a sound.

Jensen was rough with her.

His eyes were frighteningly dark. "Go on, make some noise. Isn't this how you like me to treat you? Why pretend otherwise now?"

She looked at him, her eyes blurred with tears.

For a moment, his chest tightened painfully.

He pushed the feeling aside and continued. Lauren struggled to hold back her tears.

A moan escaped her lips, and a little more of her dignity slipped away.

"Jensen..."

She called his name in despair while he took his pleasure.

She gave up so much of her pride because she loved him. That didn't mean she could bear this humiliation.

...

The lights were off in the lounge. A little light came through the gap beneath the door, just enough for them to make out each other’s faces.

"Sir."

Liam knocked softly. "Mr. Stone is looking for you."

"I know."

Jensen’s voice was still hoarse.

He pushed Lauren away as though she were something he no longer wanted.

He straightened his clothes, opened the door, and left without another look at her.

Liam stood outside. He caught an unintended glimpse into the lounge, quickly turned away, and murmured something.

Light spilled in from the hall, and Lauren raised a hand to shield her eyes.

Then Jensen shut the door.

It felt as though the door divided their worlds.

Lauren sat alone in the dark, disheveled and too ashamed to make a sound.

Meanwhile, Jensen looked impeccable as he talked and laughed with the guests.

That was how things always were between them.

Tonight, even their outward show of calm fell apart.

She didn't know how much time passed.

The door opened again.

Someone walked slowly through the dark room, took off his suit jacket, and laid it over her.

"Lauren Sullivan."

Miles Stone stood before her. "You don't look as fine as you said you were."

Her black dress was torn, leaving her bare legs exposed.

She curled in on herself and stared ahead without speaking. Her lower abdomen hurt, and it felt as though something inside had torn.

Every time she was with Jensen, he left her feeling like this.

The door stayed shut, but the scent in the room and her appearance made it impossible to hide what happened.

Miles crouched until he was level with her. "Do you remember how certain you were, five years ago, that you wanted to marry Jensen?"

Everyone in Cloudhaven knew he treated her badly.

She held the title of Mrs. Shaw but hardly ever set foot in the Shaw family home.

Lauren closed her eyes. All the color drained from her face.

"Give up," Miles said.

"A man who loves you would never treat you this way."

Lauren once ran Sullivan Group on her own and shone so brightly that many of Cloudhaven’s most accomplished young men felt they couldn't match her.

Yet she married the one man who wanted her least.

Lauren took a deep breath and tried to sound composed. "If I were you, I'd pretend I saw nothing, leave, and shut the door behind me.”

"If you stood up to Jensen like that, you wouldn't be in this state."

Miles rose and headed for the door.

Lauren watched him go and suddenly felt all her strength leave her.

She always seemed to end up like this.

But why did it hurt more to have someone see her this way than to suffer alone?

Miles gripped the door handle and looked back at her, his expression unreadable.

Lauren pressed a hand to her abdomen.

The pain grew worse until she could hardly bear it. "Miles..."

Her voice was so faint she could barely hear it herself.

He hurried back. "What's wrong?"

The door stood half-open, and light fell across her bloodless face.

Lauren slowly lifted the hand from her abdomen.

Blood covered her palm.

Her eyes looked empty.

She didn't seem to understand why it happened.

Her vision began to blur.

"Lauren!"

Miles swept her into his arms and hurried out of the lounge, his voice tight with anger. "How could you let him do this to you?"

Lauren tried to explain, but her head grew heavy against his shoulder.

She slowly lost consciousness.

The guests saw Miles carry Lauren through the reception, her clothes in disarray.

Their eyes turned toward Jensen.

His wife disappeared for nearly an hour and emerged looking as though someone hurt her badly.

And Miles carried her out.

"Mr. Stone, what happened...?"

"Why did Mrs. Shaw faint?"

Miles ignored them and pushed through the crowd.

Drops of bright red blood marked his path.

Someone cried out, "Why is there so much blood?"

"That blood... I think it's coming from Mrs. Shaw!"