Chapter 8 - A Man Starting to Doubt
Mark did not sleep.
He sat in his office until sunrise with a calendar open on the desk.
He compared flights.
Hotel receipts.
Messages.
Photographs.
The dates did not fit cleanly.
There was a possibility.
But there was also a terrible question.
How well did he actually know Chloe?
He remembered the first months of their affair.
She always knew what he wanted to hear.
His wife did not understand him.
His wife did not appreciate him.
His wife had become too focused on the baby.
Chloe told Mark he deserved excitement.
Freedom.
Admiration.
At the time, he believed he was finally being seen.
Now he wondered whether he had simply been studied.
The next morning, Chloe acted as if nothing had happened.
She ordered breakfast.
She discussed baby names.
She showed him photographs of nursery furniture.
Mark watched her like a stranger.
"Take a paternity test."
Her fork stopped halfway to her mouth.
"No."
"If it's mine, there's no problem."
"I am not allowing your paranoid ex-wife to humiliate me."
"My ex-wife didn't ask."
Chloe looked up.
"I am."
She stood.
"You don't trust me?"
The irony was almost unbearable.
Mark laughed once.
"Trust seems expensive lately."
Chloe left the room.
Across town, Leo's mother was preparing for deposition.
Mr. Sterling coached her carefully.
"Answer only what you're asked."
"What if they attack Ethan?"
"They will."
"What if they say I'm dating him?"
"Are you?"
"No."
"Then say no."
She hesitated.
Mr. Sterling noticed.
"Do you want to date him?"
She almost smiled.
"That's not relevant."
"Correct."
For the first time, Mr. Sterling laughed.
During the deposition, Mark sat across from her.
He seemed older than he had only weeks earlier.
His attorney questioned her for nearly three hours.
Why had she left the mansion?
Why had she taken Leo?
Why had she started an online business?
Was Ethan spending time in her apartment?
Did she resent Chloe's pregnancy?
She answered calmly.
Then Mr. Sterling questioned Mark.
"How many scheduled visits have you missed?"
Mark looked at his lawyer.
"Answer the question," Mr. Sterling said.
"Three."
"Four."
Mark looked down.
Mr. Sterling slid the records forward.
"Four."
Then came Chloe.
"Are you aware that Ms. Chloe Bennett has significant outstanding debt?"
Mark frowned.
"No."
"More than one hundred thousand dollars?"
"No."
"Are you aware she has previously been sued regarding financial disputes with married men?"
Mark's face changed.
"No."
Mr. Sterling leaned back.
"Interesting."
When the deposition ended, Mark remained seated.
His lawyer whispered urgently to him.
Leo's mother walked past.
Mark called her name.
She stopped.
"What?"
He looked ashamed.
"Did you know about Chloe's debts?"
"Not until my investigator found them."
Mark's voice dropped.
"What else did he find?"
She met his eyes.
"You chose her."
Then she walked away.
That evening, Mark returned to the mansion.
May you like
Chloe was gone.
So was the safe in his bedroom.
