Chapter 26- Another Fractured Line

When they got home. Sophia slammed the door behind Marcus as soon as he stepped inside. The living room light cast long shadows across the floor. She stood there, arms folded, eyes burning with everything she’d held back at Ryan’s house.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were at the bar?” she demanded. “You said you were going for training. Then nothing. No call, no text. I had to chase you down like some fool.”

Marcus dropped his keys on the table and rubbed his neck. “Sophia, are you meant to know where I am every single minute? Can’t you just let me be for once?”

“Let you be?” She stepped closer, voice rising. “I called you multiple times. You ignored me while I was out there dealing with the police and that man slapping me. All because of your so-called session. What kind of trainer goes drinking instead of doing his job?”

Marcus laughed, short and sharp. “My job? You think you understand my job now? Bella wasn’t even home. She went out for her cream or whatever. I waited, then I needed a drink to unwind. Simple. I don’t have to report every move to you.”

“You do when you lie about it!” Sophia shot back. “I’m your wife. I left work early because you said you’d be at that house. Instead, I walked into chaos. Ryan didn’t even know who you were. The police questioned us like criminals. And you? You show up late with some weak story about a bar.”

He threw his hands up. “What do you want from me? An apology for breathing? I told them the truth. Training, Bella not around, time slipped. End of story. You’re the one who barged in there and started hitting people. Nice move, barrister.”

Sophia’s face hardened. “Don’t twist this. I went looking for my husband. You put me in that position. If you’d just answered your phone or told me the truth, none of this would have happened. But no, you always have excuses. Always somewhere else.”

Marcus paced a few steps, jaw tight. “Maybe I need somewhere else. You’re always working, always questioning. A man can’t have five minutes without you turning it into a case. I went for a drink. Big deal. Grow up, Sophia.”

The words hung heavy. Sophia stared at him, chest rising fast. “Grow up? While you sneak around with your client’s wife? Don’t think I don’t see it. The late nights, the gym smells on your clothes. I’m not stupid.”

Marcus stopped pacing. “Now you’re accusing me? After everything tonight? Maybe if you trusted me, we wouldn’t be fighting like this.”

They stood there, words flying back and forth, voices echoing off the walls. Neither backed down. The argument stretched, old hurts mixing with fresh anger, until the room felt ready to crack.

Back at our house, Ryan stood in the hallway, keys still in hand. He looked at me for a long moment, eyes tired.

“Next time you go somewhere, just let me know, Bella. A text, anything. I don’t like surprises like tonight.”

I nodded quickly. “Okay. I will.”

He didn’t say more. Just headed upstairs to bed. The door clicked shut behind him. I stayed in the living room, lights low, sinking into the couch. My mind wouldn’t stop. We were so close to getting caught. The police questions, the lies about the cream and training sessions. One slip and it would’ve been over. My heart still raced thinking about Marcus’s look when our stories almost didn’t match. That locker room felt like a mistake now, a stupid, risky mistake.

I rubbed my face, trying to breathe. Ryan’s footsteps had gone quiet upstairs. The house felt too still.

Then my phone buzzed on the table. An unknown number. I picked it up, frowning as I opened the message.

“You had another time with your trainer again?”

My blood ran cold. I stared at the words, thumb frozen over the screen. Who sent this? How did they know?