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Chapter 1—Nearly Destroyed

I felt warmth, then dizziness, and then the floor of the bedroo my head The words he spoke continued to revolve inside ofme further down into oblivion

“She is co here as my concubine”

As I fell, the dizziness worsened, but beforearh my mind was in turmoil within the blackness, I could still hear his voice

“God…please…no…”

I still felt Branford’s arh I could not open ainst the hard warmth of his chest

“Why? Why are You doing this to her? I understand if I need to be punished, but not her! Not her!”

I feltback and forth—still encased within the security of my husband’s embrace

“I am sorry, my wife…my love…so, so sorry…”

I didn’t kno long my mind rejected all that was aroundI had not given hiiven him an heir Somewhere, deep in the back oflike this was possible

“Do not punish her so…please, God, please!”

When I was finally able to bring air into s, I slowly opened htly around ainst his chest He rocked slightly, cradling me like, ironically, a child The side of my face was pressed between the palm of his hand and the spot above his heart as he held me and rocked us both

“Not her…not her…”

Soed to keep my eyes open, but I was still dizzy, and my vision was blurred I looked up atas he cried out over and over again The light frolistened I reached up and touched his cheekbone, finding it wet

Never before had I seen my husband’s tears

His gaze fell to ed with my own

“Please…Alexandra, please,” he said, begging “It was not my wish…you must know this…”

“She will come here…to bear your child?”

He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, and he nodded once before he opened his eyes slowly