The Wife, Part 2 Read online

  ‘Put it down, Ellie.’

  I raise my gaze, but I don’t do anything. He doesn’t get to order me around; that isn’t his place. ‘He’s on his way home.’ I don’t know that for sure. I don’t know where he’s going, but I’ll find out. I’ll keep track of him, all night if I have to.

  ‘Just put the phone down. Please.’

  ‘You should go. It’s late.’

  ‘I’m not going anywhere. Not when you’re like this.’

  ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘You’re fine, huh? You think what you were about to do tonight – you think those are the actions of someone who’s fine?’

  I finally put my phone down and drop my gaze, staring down at my still-bandaged hand. But I don’t say anything. I’m too tired to argue, and I think he is too.

  I hear Liam place his glass down on the counter; feel him come closer, his voice softening. He has way more patience with me than Michael does.

  ‘Do you want me to stay, Ellie?’

  ‘It’s late. You need to get some sleep. You have work in the morning.’

  ‘Do you want me to stay?’ he repeats, and I look up. I feel calmer now. Liam does that to me; he calms me. He gives me a kind of peace I don’t get from Michael. That’s why I need him.

  ‘Yes. I want you to stay.’

  He smiles, and I feel that calm start to flood through me now, easing the tension, sweeping the anxiety away, and I welcome that. Even though I know it’s only a temporary feeling. I just need these snatched moments of calm. A time to forget. Pretend. Be somebody else, someone whose life isn’t falling apart. Liam allows me to be that person. He allows me to live those moments.

  ‘I’m going to grab a quick shower.’

  I start to walk away, but he grabs hold of my hand, stopping me from moving any further away from him, and I swing around to look at him, his eyes burning into mine. It’s time to pretend now. Time to forget. Time to be somebody else for a little while. There’s no Michael. There’s no Ellie. There’s no Ellie and Michael.

  ‘Do you want me to join you?’ he murmurs, his lips brushing the side of my neck as he leans in to me, a tiny shiver shooting down my spine, and I smile. I let him pull me a little closer. I let his fingertips stroke my cheek, let his hand rest gently on the small of my back. I let him kiss me…

  Acknowledgements

  I want to thank my publishers, HarperImpulse, for giving me the chance to write this story. And for believing I could do it. That means a lot.

  My husband, for pointing me in the right direction when it came to some of the research. His technical head is always appreciated.

  But, most importantly, I want to thank my editors Charlotte Ledger and Eloisa Clegg for their ideas, their help and support, and for pushing me into making this book something I’m so, so proud of. Their feedback has made me smile, made me believe in myself and I am incredibly grateful to them for everything. They’ve been amazing. Thank you.

  Find out what happens next as ML Roberts’s thrilling new series returns

  in

  In Sickness and In Health, The Wife Book 3

  About the Author

  ML Roberts writes chilling dramas and psychological thrillers that explore the darker side of family life, love and friendship.

  Born in the North East of England – where many of her books are based – she has a love of horror novels, all things Swedish and is slightly obsessed with ‘Breaking Bad’. She’s also proud to call herself a bit of a geek.

  When she’s not writing she can be found reading, listening to music and spending way too much time on Pinterest.

  She currently lives in County Durham with her husband and increasingly mischievous dog.

  @AuthorMLRoberts

  https://www.facebook.com/‌MLRobertsAuthor/

  Amazon Author Page UK

  Amazon Author Page US

  About HarperImpulse

  HarperImpulse is an innovative, award-winning digital imprint. In the four years since launch, we have continually hit digital bestseller lists, hosted the UK’s first online romance festival, published into over ten countries and grown an exciting stable of commercial women’s fiction authors.

  Readers, come and say hi to the team and your next read…

  www.facebook.com/HarperImpulse

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  Writers, our vision is to publish the very best in digital-first commercial women’s fiction and we are simply looking for good stories! So, what are you waiting for? To submit, e-mail us at [email protected].

  About the Publisher

  Australia

  HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

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  HarperCollins Canada

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  United Kingdom

  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

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  United States

  HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

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