Chapter 458

One night, Jacob called. Nicole answered, but there was silence on the other end. "What's wrong? Are you working late tonight?" Still, there was just silence. "Alright, I got it. I'll have dinner ready when you get home. Be safe on your way back." But there was no reply. "I love you, honey." She made a kissing sound and quickly hung up. The pot on the stove was humming, and she rushed over to lift the lid. The rising steam made her instinctively cover her eyes. The dampness seeped through her palm and into her skin and, slowly, into her heart. Hiding behind her hand, Nicole took a moment to compose herself before transforming back into the image of a wife waiting for her husband to return. Once she let down her hand, she had fully embraced the role. She heard the doorbell ring. Nicole glanced at the doorbell monitor in the kitchen and saw a delivery driver at the door. She dried her hands as she walked out to answer, "Coming, hold on a second." When she opened the door, the