Chapter 3I Gave Her The Real Medicine And Left You Forever

When Declan died, the doctors reported it as an accumulated illness, his heart broken and his body worn out by endless political and military strain.

His young aide rushed to my doorstep, weeping uncontrollably.

“The General worked day and night! He died serving the Sutton legacy!” the aide cried. “The only time the General was ever truly happy was when he was with Ms. Wren overseas!”

Maya had the aide removed, then turned to me, her eyes clouded with worry.

“I’m not sad. Why would I be sad?” I said, staring at the wall.

“It’s what Declan deserved. I did nothing wrong.”

“He betrayed me first! He betrayed me first…”

He was dead. I had won. I should have been thrilled.

So, I waved my hand and told Maya to organize a bridge game with the ladies.

I lost all afternoon.

I slammed my hand down on the table, annoyed.

“This is boring. You are all too skilled.”

“Not like Declan. He lost to me every single time, from when we were kids until the end.”

The wives were bewildered, exchanging knowing looks.

“Eliza, you’re just teasing,” one said. “Everyone knows the General was a genius at cards.”

“Right. My husband couldn’t beat him on his best day.”

My body froze.

I remembered three days before his death, when Declan had come to see me.

For once, there was no hostility between us.

“Let’s play a round of bridge, Eliza,” he’d said. “Just like the old days.”

That day, he lost to me, too.

I’d sneered, “For a man who is brilliant in every other field, it’s refreshing to know you have weaknesses, General.”

Declan gave a muffled, soft laugh.

As he was leaving, he turned back to me and said something that now felt like a punch to the gut: “Eliza, you have to walk your own path in this world. No one can stay with you until the very end.”

I had thought he was asking for a divorce.

But he was saying goodbye.

A suffocating pain seized my chest, and I doubled over, coughing up a mouthful of blood. My consciousness began to splinter.

The room erupted in frantic noise.

Declan, is this how you felt when Stella died?

I think…

I really was wrong.