For the first time since entering the house, there was physical distance between them.
Madison noticed it immediately.
So did I.
“You said your marriage was over,” Ethan said.
“It has been bad for a long time.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Her husband gave a humorless breath through his nose.
“Now you care about accurate answers?”
Ethan spun toward him.
“Stay out of this.”
“No.”
The single word carried more weight than shouting.
Ethan took one step forward.
I stood.
“Enough.”
Both men looked at me.
“This isn’t going to become a fight in my living room.”
Ethan laughed again, but the sound had lost its confidence.
“Your living room?”
“Our living room,” I corrected.
“For tonight.
And tonight, I’m asking you to leave.”
His expression changed instantly.
“You’re kicking me out?”
“You brought your mistress to our anniversary table.”
“It isn’t our anniversary.”
“The candle is from our anniversary, Ethan.
That’s not the point.”
I hated that I had to explain even that.
He stared at me as if he still expected the scene to return to the version he had planned.
“I came here to be honest with you.”
“No.
You came here after eight months of dishonesty and expected credit for finally saying it out loud.”
Madison looked toward the broken glass near her shoes.
Her husband spoke quietly.
“I’m leaving too.”
She looked up quickly.
“With me?”
He studied her for several seconds.
“No.”
That one word broke whatever composure she had left.
Her shoulders dropped.
“Please.”
“We’ll talk later.
Not here.”
She moved closer to him.
“I can explain.”
“I’m sure you can.”
His voice wasn’t cruel.
That somehow made it worse.
“You’ve had eight months to practice.”
Ethan looked from Madison to her husband and suddenly seemed furious with everyone except himself.
“So this whole thing was planned?” he demanded.
I shook my head.
“No.
Your part was planned.
