"The wedding isn't even over yet and you already ran home. Let me guess, your nagging wife threw another fit?"
"We had a deal. Marrying Melvin Gilbert was only supposed to throw her off the scent. You're the one who's supposed to be sharing the bridal suite with me tonight."
Even though I already knew the truth, the words still drove through my chest like a blade.
Otis had no idea that I'd found this phone a week ago.
That I already knew today's wedding was nothing but a performance staged for my benefit.
I scrolled further up. The messages grew worse. Explicit. Shameless. The kind of things that made my stomach turn.
The very first message had been sent three years ago today.
The same day I'd discovered Otis's wandering affections and demanded a divorce. The same day he'd slit his wrists to keep me from leaving.
He'd gripped my hand, his eyes bloodshot and wild.
"Elaine, I know I was wrong. Can we start over? Please?"
But two hours after they saved his life, he was already flirting with Vivian.
A sharp, twisting pain tore through my lower abdomen. It didn't compare to even a fraction of the agony in my heart.
I saved every last one of those messages.