جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

[Finally. It's over.]I heard Theodore's voice again.But the expression on his face didn't change at all.I slipped my arm through his and asked him,"Honey, can we go take a look at that other store, please?"He hesitated visibly."We've been out so long today. You must be tired. Let's head home so you can rest."Then I heard his thoughts again.[I'm so sick of this. She shops for clothes all day. Does it ever end?]Something clenched hard around my heart."Okay, let's go home."This was my fifth year married to Theodore.Five years ago, when he proposed, he promised to give me the best of everything.Back then, I thought I was the happiest girl alive.But after the wedding, he grew colder and colder toward me.At first, I thought he was exhausted from work and had little energy left for me.So I played the good little wife, coming up with endless ways to keep his spirits up.Then today, I suddenly heard his thoughts.So this was how he really felt.That evening while making dinner,

When Theodore came home, I didn't go to the door to greet him the way I always had.He paused in the doorway.[Why didn't she come running today?]I just sat quietly on the sofa, reading.[Whatever. It's more peaceful this way.]He glanced at me, took off his coat, and headed into the bathroom.He seemed to be in an especially good mood today. He was even humming softly under his breath.I knew why. Midnight had finally written back.After I got home the night before, I contacted my editor, Claire Morgan.I told her I'd decided to offer the screen rights to those books.Claire was thrilled. She said she had been waiting for me to come to my senses.After all, in all these years, I had never once sold the screen rights to my novels.Partly I was afraid of my work being butchered, and partly my income was more than enough. I didn't need the money.Then I opened my inbox and worked through the pile of emails.I neither accepted nor rejected Theodore's company's offer. I only said I would

Grace used that excuse to move straight into our house.On the surface, she was only cooking for Theodore and discussing work with him. In reality, she was taking over my personal space at every turn.She replaced the artwork I'd bought, threw out the flowers I'd potted, and even made a point of taking my pajamas and wearing them.Which suited me fine. It saved me time packing.I was busy meeting with potential partners, out early and home late almost every day.After several rounds of screening with Claire, we had narrowed it down to a few companies with solid reputations in the industry, pending further talks.That day, I went to meet the project lead from one of them.They had made a generous offer and seemed genuinely committed. We had already exchanged several rounds of emails.I hadn't expected the project lead to be a young man of only twenty-five or twenty-six."So sorry to keep you waiting."His voice was clear and bright, his hair slightly curly. When he smiled, his eyes crin

Thunderous applause filled the venue.Only Theodore and Grace sat frozen in place.[What did she say? She's... Midnight?][No. Impossible... That housewife who spends her whole life at the stove? How could she be Midnight?]Grace's thoughts had risen to nearly a scream, and her face drained of color.Apparently, she also knew that everything she had done to me would cost her any chance in this bid.Theodore had gone completely rigid.[Midnight... Nina is Midnight...][The Midnight I've been searching for has been sleeping right next to me?][Why did I never see it? Why? Was she deliberately hiding from me? No... it was me. I never cared about her. I never cared about anything to do with her at all...]His thoughts tumbled out one after another, each one a knife into his own heart.I looked away without sparing them another second."Thank you all for coming today. It's been five years. I've missed you."Another stir ran through the crowd.One young fan burst into tears, her voice catchi

Theodore didn't take them.He stared down at the papers, panic clouding his eyes in a way I had never seen before."Nina, calm down. Can't we talk this through?"[She loved me so much. She'd never actually walk away.][She's just angry. A little sweet talk and she'll come around.]Even now, he still thought I was just angry.He blamed every problem on my emotions and dismissed me as difficult and immature.The truth was, he had never once treated me as an equal."Talk about what?"Theodore's throat bobbed. He reached for my hand on instinct, and I stepped aside.His hand stayed suspended in midair for a moment before he pulled it back awkwardly."Nina... I know I've been neglecting you lately. That's on me.""But we've been married five years. You can't ask for a divorce over something this small..."His voice was thick with urgency.It suddenly reminded me of how I used to plead with him just as desperately whenever he brushed me aside.Back then, though, he couldn't even be bothered