Chapter 195 Waves

The word "controlling" hung heavy in the air, a barb that struck a raw nerve in John. He opened his mouth to defend Olivia, but the words wouldn't come. Sarah's sharp observation resonated with his own nagging doubts. Suddenly, a voice broke the tense silence. "John?" They both turned to see Marie standing by the pool gate, a hesitant smile on her face. She looked pale, her eyes rimmed with red, but there was a spark of hope in them that twisted John's gut. "Marie," John stammered, caught off guard by her unexpected arrival. Sarah, oblivious to the internal battle raging within John, jumped to her feet, a welcoming grin spreading across her face."Hey there! Marie what’s good, John's… well, his…" She trailed off, searching for the right word that wouldn't ignite the tension crackling in the air. "Girlfriend," John supplied, the word feeling foreign on his tongue. Marie nodded, but her smile faltered slightly. "Hi, Sarah. It's nice to finally meet you." Her gaze flicked to John, s