“Hotel charges. Expensive gifts. All connected to the trainer from the office gym. Alyssa. She’s technically a vendor through the wellness program, and compliance has been auditing Cole’s expenses for weeks. They didn’t know it was an affair until last night. They just knew he was draining money.”
My stomach twisted.
“The company phone plan caught it first,” Mark continued. “Then the charges lined up with the same dates. They don’t need rumors about romance. They’ve got receipts.”
I closed my eyes. “Why are you telling me this?”
Mark exhaled slowly. “Because Cole thinks he can spin it. He called you ‘emotional.’ Said he could always come back home because he knows how to ‘handle you.’”
I looked at the breakfast table, at my kids wandering around deciding what to do with their day.
“I have six children, Mark. Leah is twelve. I can’t hide something like this from her.”
“I know,” he said quietly. “That’s exactly why you need to come.”
I hit mute.
My youngest tugged gently on my shirt.
“Mommy?”
I crouched down to meet her eyes. “Go sit with your brother for a minute, baby. I’ll be right there, okay?”
She nodded and shuffled off, dragging her stuffed bunny behind her.
I unmuted the call. “Fine. I’m coming.”
I ended the call and immediately dialed Tessa next door. She answered on the first ring.
“I need a favor,” I said.
“I’m already tying my sneakers, Paige,” she replied. “Just go.”
I didn’t bother changing my clothes. I grabbed my purse and keys, kissed each kid on the head, and hurried out the door.
The drive blurred past me. My hands clamped the steering wheel too tightly. My jaw hurt from clenching it. Rage sat in the passenger seat beside me.
**
When I walked through the office lobby, everything felt too perfect—polished floors, quiet voices, a place that pretended problems didn’t exist.
Mark stood waiting near the front desk.
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