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At exactly 7:11 p.m., Ethan Cole walked into his Arlington home like he had just returned from a routine meeting—not from the confession that was about to ignite his marriage.
He tossed his keys onto the entry table, loosened his tie, and stepped inside.
Not nervously. Not guiltily. Not even uncertainly.
She stood by the dining table, a damp cloth in hand, half the dishes still scattered. Since five o’clock, she had sent him twelve messages—simple ones. Are you okay? Running late? Call me. None had been answered. Her phone rested face down near the fruit bowl, as if it had given up waiting.
Then Ethan spoke.
He paused just long enough to watch her reaction.
Lauren didn’t react the way he expected.
She simply looked at him, picked up another dish, and continued clearing the table.
Ethan let out a disappointed laugh.
“You’ve already said what you needed to say,” she replied calmly.
He stepped closer, enjoying his cruelty.
Inside, something tightened in Lauren’s chest.
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