Silence filled the room.
Leo’s expression changed—not dramatically, but enough.
The last piece of doubt left his face.
Natalie stared at Andrew.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because you said it.”
“I did not.”
“You absolutely did.”
Their alliance lasted less than two minutes once it was forced into daylight.
I had expected denial.
I had not expected them to begin dismantling each other so quickly.
Andrew pointed at the folder.
“This is insane.
You ambushed us.”
“No,” I said.
“You made plans in my home.
We arrived before you.”
“You broke into my phone.”
“You brought your mistress into the house I bought after our child died.”
His face twitched.
“Don’t use that.”
The room seemed to contract.
“Use what?” I asked.
“You know what I mean.”
“No.
Say it clearly.”
He looked toward the windows, searching for somewhere else to put his eyes.
Natalie folded her arms tighter.
Leo watched him with open disgust.
Andrew lowered his voice.
“You always bring up the miscarriage when you want to make me the villain.”
For eleven years, I had watched him turn every argument into a fog of half-truths.
He would change the subject, question my memory, or accuse me of cruelty until I was defending myself instead of asking what he had done.
But the folder was open now.
There was nowhere for the facts to disappear.
“I did not bring it up,” I said.
“You did.
Ten minutes ago, when you told Natalie I was too broken to come here.”
He froze.
He had forgotten we were inside when he said it.
Natalie looked at him.
“You told me she hated this place.”
“I said it was difficult for her.”
“You said she never came because she was obsessed with work.”
“And you believed whatever made sleeping with him easier,” Leo said.
Natalie flinched.
“Don’t speak to me like that.”
“How should I speak to you?” His voice remained quiet.
“As your husband? Your client? The architect who designed the rooms where you met him?”
She looked toward the fireplace.
Leo followed her gaze.
“I drew that mantel at our kitchen table,” he said.
“You chose the stone sample.”
Nicole had not known that detail.
Neither, apparently, had Andrew.
Natalie sat down abruptly.
