His Uncle's Bride Chapter 1

My husband was broken.

And at his own birthday party, he didn't even bother to hide it.

"You're a therapist," he sneered. "Why don't you psychoanalyze yourself before you make a scene?"

He was right. I am a therapist. And I know exactly how to make a faithless man repent.

* * *

The sight of Charlie, my husband, his arms wrapped tightly around another woman, their lips locked in a passionate kiss, made my world shrink to a single, sharp point.

I strode forward, my voice tight. "Charlie, what the hell are you doing?"

The woman flinched, burrowing deeper into his arms like a frightened animal.

Charlie’s face hardened, his tone dripping with annoyance. "Isn't it obvious? Do I really need to spell it out for you?"

He then softened his voice, cooing at the woman in his embrace. "It's okay, baby. Don't be scared."

My eyes burned. "This is how you treat me?" I choked out, the words thick with unshed tears. "You swore to me. You said it would only ever be me."

Charlie’s hand, which had been stroking the woman’s back, paused. He looked up at me, his eyes cold with scorn. "Those were just words. I'm bored of you now. I wanted to try something new. Is that a crime?"

He added, as if tossing me a scrap of charity, "You can keep the title of Mrs. Tinkcom. But only if you don't make a scene."

The words were like daggers to my heart.

He once whispered, "My Dahlia, you should always shine this brightly. I swear, I'll never let you down."

"You're a treasure," he'd said. "You'll always be my Mrs. Tinkcom."

A tear finally escaped, tracing a cold path down my cheek.

Charlie’s face twisted in disgust. "You never used to be so melodramatic. All you do now is cry. It's my birthday, for God's sake. You're ruining it."

I lunged forward, grabbing the front of his shirt. "You forgot your promise! You said you would love me for the rest of your life!"

That seemed to be the final straw. He seized my wrist, his grip like iron, and flung me away from him. "What promise?" he snarled, his voice low and menacing. "Are you done yet? Don't force me to humiliate you in front of everyone."

"Besides," he added with a cruel smirk, "so what if I found someone else? You’re a therapist, aren't you, Clara? Can't even fix your own broken heart?"

I collapsed to the floor, the world blurring around me. I watched their backs as they walked away, my mouth open but no words coming out.

It was Charlie's birthday. I couldn't let him lose face in front of his guests.