She Died With My Name on Her Lips novel Chapter 1

On their fifth wedding anniversary, Stephen’s idea of a gift was to force Louisa to down nine hundred and ninety-nine shots of hard liquor.

“Stephen, please, I can’t drink anymore…” Louisa’s voice was hoarse as she pleaded with him.

He just scoffed, bending down so his shadow fell across her face. “Your parents loved drinking, didn’t they? Loved it so much they got behind the wheel drunk and killed my whole family. If you’re their daughter, shouldn’t you love it too?”

“I’m sorry.” Louisa’s eyes were already rimmed red—she’d said those words so many times they meant nothing now. “But my parents paid for it with their lives. Isn’t that enough?”

“Will their deaths bring my family back?” His hand clamped around her jaw so hard she thought it might break. “It’s only been five years, Louisa. You’re already giving up?”

He finally let her go and signaled to the bodyguards. “Make her drink.”

Two men in black stepped forward. One pinned Louisa’s shoulders, the other forced open her mouth.

Icy liquor flooded her throat. She choked and coughed, tears streaming down her face. Too weak to fight back, she slid to the floor, her cheeks burning, whiskey soaking her hair and dress.

Would this nightmare ever end?

She had no idea.

“Stephen, weren’t you taking me out for a candlelit dinner tonight? What’s going on?” A clear, lilting voice broke through the tension.

Louisa, through a blur of tears, saw Louise standing in the doorway. She wore a white dress, her long hair cascading around her shoulders, her features as delicate as a painting.

Louisa’s breath hitched. All she felt was a heavy, sinking sorrow.

Louise looked exactly like Louisa had at twenty-two. No wonder Stephen kept her close.

Stephen’s expression softened the second he saw Louise. “Baby, just wait a little, okay? It’s my anniversary with Louisa. I’m giving her a present.”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify