Charlotte laughed, a harsh sound. "Liar. If you weren't clinging to him, why does he refuse every time I ask him to divorce you?"
My frown deepened. "He refuses?"
"He loves *me*." She hissed, her face twisting with jealousy. "You must have something on him. That's the only reason he keeps you around."
A flicker of confusion rose in my chest. Walter didn't want a divorce?
That didn't make sense.
Before I could speak, Charlotte suddenly threw herself to the floor.
"Jessica!" She wailed, her voice trembling with fake terror. "I only came to bring you some soup! Why would you push me?"
*Bang.*
The door flew open. Walter stood there, his face thunderous.
In a split second, I understood Charlotte's game.
"Walter, I—"
He didn't let me finish. He strode across the room, grabbed the bowl of steaming soup from the table, and hurled it.
Not at the floor.
At me.
The scalding liquid splashed across my face and chest.
I screamed. The heat seared my skin, the pain instantaneous and blinding.
Walter faltered for a second, his eyes widening as he saw the red burns blooming on my skin. But he quickly steeled himself, his expression turning to ice.