CHAPTER 44: CLARIFICATIONS

MARIE When I got back to the apartment later in the day, I felt a strange mixture of relief and anxiety. I had been out shopping for most of the afternoon, trying to distract ourselves from everything happening. But as I opened the door and stepped inside, something felt off. "Marie, you're back," Taylor's voice greeted me, and I jumped a little, startled by his presence. He was standing in the living room, leaning casually against the wall. The way he was looking at me made my stomach tighten with unease. His eyes carried an odd glint, making me feel like he knew something I didn't. "Taylor," I managed to say, forcing a smile. "I didn't expect you to be here." He straightened up, nodding toward the kitchen. "Charles told me you were out shopping. Your husband seemed pretty pleased with himself when he mentioned it." I blinked, my heart skipping a beat. "My… husband?" I stood there, speechless for a moment, as Taylor's words sank in. Husband? Charles had introduced himself as my