Chapter 5

Sara Michaels

The knife slipped in my hand, cold steel biting into my finger before I even realized. Blood welled up, bright red against the white cutting board. I hissed, dropping the knife with a clatter.

Pain shot through my finger, sharp and hot, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

I wrapped a towel around it, pressing hard to stop the bleeding. Tears pricked my eyes…not from the cut, but from everything.

How had my marriage turned so sour? Just three years ago, Tom looked at me like I was his world. Now, I was cooking for his mistress in our kitchen, begging for scraps to save my mom. My heart squeezed.

I had given him everything…my love, my time, my trust. And for what? A letter? A divorce? A man who wouldn't even look at me without hate in his eyes?

I blinked back the tears. No. I wouldn't cry.

The door swung open. Emily sauntered in, hips swaying, her cream dress still perfect from the morning. She glanced at the blood, then at me, and burst into laughter....mockingly.

"Oh, look at you," she said, leaning against the counter. "The little housewife, cutting herself like a klutz. That's what happens when you're stuck in the kitchen all day, isn't it? No wonder Tom's divorcing you. You're boring. Outdated. Soon you'll be out on the street, begging for change."

Her words stung, but I didn't react. I kept chopping the vegetables, head high, like the elegant lady my mom raised me to be. Ignore her. She wasn't worth my breath.

Emily huffed, clearly annoyed I didn't snap back. "Fine. Play the saint. It won't save you." She turned and left, her heels clicking away.

I finished the meal…steak for Emily, just like she demanded. Rare, with garlic butter. My finger throbbed under the bandage, but I plated it carefully.

As I carried the tray to the dining room, my legs felt heavy. What was I doing? Humiliating myself for a man who threw me away?

Tom was there, seated at the head of the table, face cold as stone. His gray eyes flicked to me, hard and cold. What had I done to deserve that look? I set the tray down, hands steady.

"Here," I said softly. "For Emily."

He didn't speak. Just stared. Like I was a stranger. No….like I was worse. A liar and a cheat.

Emily appeared, smiling sweetly. "Thank you, Sara. How kind."

I turned to leave, but my foot caught on the rug. The tray slipped from my hands spilling the steak, sauce, vegetables…it all splattered across my dress, warm and sticky. I gasped, stumbling to my knees.

Tom shot to his feet. "What the hell, Sara? Can't you do anything right? You're so careless!"

I looked up, confused, sauce dripping from my hair. "It was an accident.."

"Accident?" He snarled, face twisting. "Oh, but when you were putting that stranger's cock back in whenever it slipped out, you weren't careless then, were you? You were really careful about that."

The words hit like a slap. I froze, breath stuck in my throat. "What… what are you talking about?"

"Don't fake innocence," he snapped, voice low and venomous. "I know what you do when I'm on business trips. Emily showed me the video. All of it. You moaning like a whore while I'm out working for us."

Video? Stranger? My eyes welled with tears. "Tom, I don't… I never… What video? I would never…."

"Lies." His eyes narrowed. "As long as I'm paying for your mother's treatment ... .every bill, every surgery until she's recovered…your life is going to be hell. You owe me that much."

Tears spilled over. I couldn't stop them. Innocent. I was innocent. But he didn't believe me. He didn't even see me.

Emily clapped her hands, delighted. "Oh, this is fun. You know what would make me happy? If Sara knelt right here and licked my feet. Clean them well. Like the servant she is."

Tom stiffened. For a second, something flashed in his eyes…regret? But it vanished. The cold mask slammed back. "Do whatever you want with her, Emily. She's yours to play with."

He turned, heading for the stairs. "When you're done, come find me in the bedroom. Naked. Ready to get fucked. The way Sara..the saint…was getting fucked in that video. I want to know how she felt."

His words echoed. I sat there, food smeared on me, tears streaming, heart shattering all over again.

He walked away without looking back.

And I knelt cupping my mouth as a scream dared to rip out my throat.

I had to find a way to get a job, I knew he had made it impossible for me to get hired. Every company I called earlier kept turning down my request.

I let the tears flow free, Emily stared at me and chuckled.

“Oh.. I think I am not hungry anymore.. I am going to suck and fuck some real meat!” She swayed her hips freely.