Touch of Love by Ellen Wolf Read Free Book Online

savoring the salty taste of his sweat as they cuddled after an intense session of lovemaking. She averted her eyes to stare at the unmade, crumpled bed. The sight of the mangled sheets restored her strength to keep going. Sometimes, anger could be the best medicine. She welcomed the tidal wave of fresh fury that washed over her.
    That ’s much better, thank you very much.
    The solution came to her as she looked at one of her family’s photographs hanging on the wall. ‘I’m going to spend the weekend with my parents,’ she said finally. ‘I’ll be back Sunday evening, though. By then, you should be able to find somewhere to stay. If not, there’s always paid storage, right?’
    She didn’t wait for him to respond. There was nothing to say. Instead, she took out her small traveling bag and stuffed it with clothes and her cosmetics, enough to last her the weekend. She ignored him completely as he stood at the window like a marble statue. But he isn’t made of marble, she thought as she zipped up the bag and looked around. Not even limestone. Probably clay, easy to shatter and impossible to put back together.
    ‘Leave the key on the table.’ She said, her fragile control finally starting to snap. So that was it. The love story of her life proved to be nothing but an illusion, blown away by a gust of wind. She didn’t dare to think about what would happen next, not with him watching her with his resigned expression. All hell would break loose soon enough, but for then, she needed to remain strong.
    ‘ Oh, and one more thing…’ She put down the bag and looked at her left hand, where the small diamond solitaire stared back at her like an evil eye, reproachful and full of vengeance. Her fingers shook as she pulled it off, the weight of the plain golden band substantial in her hand. For a split second, she didn’t want to let it go, and her fingers curved instinctively into a protective cradle around the token of what was supposed to be the rest of her life. She felt the edge of the band cut painfully into her palm, and the sensation was enough to snap her out of her dreamlike state. Who am I kidding?
    ‘ This is yours.’ She handed it to him, careful not to touch him. ‘You might consider selling it and using the money to pay your rent.’ It was a bitchy thing to say, but she needed something to take away some of the significance of what had just happened. Her engagement was off, and she had no idea what to do next.
    Facing her parents was the first step.

FOUR
    Two hours later, Elly wasn’t so sure that telling her parents was such a great idea. She considered calling up Jess and crashing with her, at least for the night. But she yearned to curl up in her family’s lap while she licked her wounds, even if that would prove totally misplaced. Maybe it worked in movies, where the teary heroine was welcomed home with open arms, but Elly’s family was a far cry from this picture.
    ‘ Elly, how could you?’ Her mom sniffled again, her red-rimmed eyes and runny nose a testament to her shocked reaction. ‘Breaking off an engagement is a serious step, sweetheart. It’s not a game you can switch on and off…’
    ‘This one is off —permanently.’ She was getting tired of repeating herself like a broken record. ‘Mom, he slept with my coworker, who happened to be my friend. How is that for serious? Or did you think I should forgive him?’
    ‘I know, I know…’ Mrs. Marlow sighed. Her trembling voice resigned, she continued, ‘I am not saying that Brad was right to behave so naughty, but to flush your whole relationship down the drain is very dramatic.’
    ‘Plus, who is going to pay for the wedding preparations?’ her father chimed in, his face worried. ‘We put in a deposit for the banquet hall, Ells. Not to mention all the other things that are paid for by now.’
    ‘And the invitations?’ her mom added, her pale-blue eyes woeful. ‘Who is going to fix that?’
    ‘I kind of hoped you’d help me