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Prologue
In Which Introductions Are Made
You aren’t going to like me very much. Oh, maybe in your weaker
moments, you’ll feel sorry for me, and use those feelings of warmth and
compassion and insightful understanding to excuse my actions. You’ll say to yourself,
“Poor little girl. She couldn’t help herself.” Or, “Can you blame her? After
all she’s been through?” Perhaps you’ll even think, “She was born to this. It
is not her fault.”
Of course it’s my fault. I chose this path. Yes, I
feel as if I have no choice, that I’m driven to do it, that there are voices in
my head that push me to the dark side.
But I also know right from wrong. I know good from
evil. I may be compelled to ruin the lives in front of me, but I could walk
away if I wanted.
Couldn’t I?
Never mind that. Back to you.
Truly, deep down, you are going to despise me. I am
the rot that lives in the floorboards of your house. I am the spider that
scuttles away when you shine light in my corner, ever watching, ever waiting. I
am the shard of glass that slits the skin of your bare foot. I am all the bad
things that happen to you.
I steal things.
I kill things.
I leave a trail of destruction in my wake that is a
sight to behold, wave after wave of hate that will overwhelm you until you sink
to the bottom of my miserable little ocean, and once you’ve drowned I will feed
on your flesh and turn your bones to dust.
You’re mine now. You are powerless against me. So
don’t bother fighting it.
I hope you enjoy the show.
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Description:
Domestic noir at its best. Readers will
devour this stunning page-turner about the disintegration of a marriage
as grief, jealousy, betrayal and murder destroy the facade of the
perfect literary couple. New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison takes her exceptional writing to a new level with this breakout novel.
They built a life on lies
Sutton and Ethan Montclair's idyllic life is not as it appears. They seem made for each other, but the truth is ugly. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals and financial woes, the two both love and hate each other. As tensions mount, Sutton disappears, leaving behind a note saying not to look for her.
Ethan finds himself the target of vicious gossip as friends, family and the media speculate on what really happened to Sutton Montclair. As the police investigate, the lies the couple have been spinning for years quickly unravel. Is Ethan a killer? Is he being set up? Did Sutton hate him enough to kill the child she never wanted and then herself? The path to the answers is full of twists that will leave the reader breathless.
They built a life on lies
Sutton and Ethan Montclair's idyllic life is not as it appears. They seem made for each other, but the truth is ugly. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals and financial woes, the two both love and hate each other. As tensions mount, Sutton disappears, leaving behind a note saying not to look for her.
Ethan finds himself the target of vicious gossip as friends, family and the media speculate on what really happened to Sutton Montclair. As the police investigate, the lies the couple have been spinning for years quickly unravel. Is Ethan a killer? Is he being set up? Did Sutton hate him enough to kill the child she never wanted and then herself? The path to the answers is full of twists that will leave the reader breathless.