Shattered Vows and Broken Hearts novel Chapter 13

The promptes of those rooms brought everything back

The marriage bed resented forced on him by his mother’s ultimatum Sarah, always there Always patient

When he was tired she brought tea. Every day, she massaged his injured leg

She never complained about his coldness Never asked for warmth she didn’t get.

She just stayed Like being near him was enough.

Until that night he’d drunk too much.

For a moment, through the haze, he’d been clear–headed. He’d seen her, flushed, soft, smelling like home. And something

in him snapped.

Afterward, he’d felt nothing but disgust. At himself. At his weakness. At the truth he didn’t want to face.

He’d pulled away harder after that. Even thought about divorce.

Then she’d handed him a pregnancy test, hope and fear warring in her eyes.

He’d held that test and felt something he couldn’t name.

At night, he’d press his ear to her belly, listening for the faint sounds of life.

She’d glowed then. He couldn’t stop watching her.

Zach was born, tiny, wrinkled, loud. Margaret had stepped back, forcing them to figure it out together.

Two clueless new parents, fumbling through the dark, sometimes laughing at their own incompetence.

Zach grew. Wild, endless energy. They became a team, tag–teaming the tiny terrorist.

For a while, he’d almost forgotten Jessica. Almost believed this was his life now.

Then she came back.

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