?Chapter 28:


    When Ste nced up, she found Marc standing in the door, dressed sharply in his usual suit.


    She hesitated, momentarily thrown—he was home far earlier than she expected. Marc never left work this soon.


    The timing couldn’t have been worse, but Ste kept her calm, moving past him with her things cradled in her arms, her expression unreadable. She banked on the hope that he’d be too distracted to pay her any mind.


    Marc didn’t even nce at what she was holding—he strode right over and caught her wrist without hesitation.


    “Ste, I was nning to pick you up at the research institute today. I waited outside for ages, but you never showed. Did you leave by another exit?”


    She coldly met his gaze, gently pulling her wrist free. “I got a lift home with a colleague.”


    Marc fell silent, caught off guard by her answer. A colleague?


    Had that man really been her colleague?


    Marc scanned her face, hunting for the slightest flicker of guilt, but she gave him nothing.


    Not a single tremor, not a quiver—she held herself with theposure of untouched water,pletely inscrutable. However hard he stared, there wasn’t a trace of dishonesty to be found.


    With a softugh, Marc strode over and slipped an arm around her waist.


    “You’ve put in so much effort, Ste. Now that things at thepany are settled, I finally have a free week. What do you say we use this time to try for a baby?”


    A frown pinched Ste’s brow. Try for a baby? Was he serious?


    She could’ve sworn she’d spelled it out for himst time, but Marc clearly hadn’t let go of his obsession.


    Her eyes iced over, voice sharp and distant. “Marc, I’ve already told you—I don’t want a baby right now.”


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    Just four more days and she’d be free of this maniptive man forever. The idea of starting a family with him feltughable.


    “But Ste, after all these years together, don’t you think it’d be wonderful to have a baby? You always talked about wanting one before.”


    That word—before—made something flicker in Ste’s eyes, her mouth curving into a cold half-smile.


    She dropped the things she’d been carrying without a second thought, lifted her gaze, and fired off a question with cutting ease.


    “Marc, how are those condoms from Raskait working out for you? Bet they didn’t disappoint.”


    Ste didn’t hesitate to drag his secret into the light, bluntly naming the night he’d slunk away to meet Haley behind her back.


    Marc’s entire body went rigid. For a moment, he just stared at her, stunned silent.


    He’d honestly believed she hadn’t suspected a thing—until now, when he realized she’d known every detail and simply chosen not to say a word.


    “Ste, wait—just let me exin…” Marc’s voice trembled with desperation.


    She had no patience left for any more excuses. Without looking back, Ste marched into the study, mmed the door behind her, and twisted the lock with a sharp click.


    Marc pressed his fingers to his temples, groaning in exasperation, then stomped down the stairs and made his way into the kitchen.


    He yanked open the cab and reached for the gas stove, flicking it on.


    Whenever Ste shut him out, he’d head to the kitchen and whip up her favorite dishes—food had always been his go-to peace offering, and usually, she softened.


    But tonight, he sensed it would take more than a home-cooked meal to win her over.


    While getting the meal ready, his gaze darted around, and he realized the house felt strangely emptier than before.


    He hadn’t spent much time heretely, but he distinctly recalled Ste’s prized capsule coffee maker always sitting on the counter. Now, a bare patch marked where it had been.


    A knot formed in Marc’s brow. He set the knife down and abandoned the half-prepared meal, taking the steps in a hurry.


    “Ste, what happened to the capsule coffee maker? The one that was always in the kitchen?”


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