"If a man loves a woman, he would want her to have many children for him, not take contraception!"
"Howard doesn't care about me at all. If it wasn't for the deep relationship between our families, and the pressure from our parents, there wouldn't even be a marriage certificate."
"Howard would rather kill me than allow me to have his child. All these years, with any woman, pretty or ugly, he's always been charming. I've never seen him be cruel to anyone else. But the first time I did, it was directed at me..."
"..."
Madeleine had too much to drink, but her words became even sharper. Every sentence revolved around Howard Coleman.
Ruby Gregory sat silently by her side, listening to Madeleine's nonstop complaints. Her fingers gripping the crystal glass so tightly that her knuckles were protruding.
Seemingly thirsty from all the talking, Madeleine picked up her glass and drank the burning alcohol as though it was plain water, tilting her head back and gulping it down.
