I slowly made my way downstairs, taking my time as I approached them. I sat next to Caleb, picked up the coffee from the table and took a sip before finally speaking, my tone as calm as the surface of still water.
"It's just a necklace," I said. "I don't want it, after all. There's no need to make a fuss over something so trivial. If Miss Myers likes it, then she can have it. I won't stand in the way."
"You are so kind and generous, Ma'am, but this necklace wasn't a gift. It's a reward from Mr. Martin. Even if you don't want it, it still holds great value to me."
"I told you to apologize. Why are you talking too much to my wife?" His face darkened slightly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features.
"I deeply apologize, Mrs. Martin. I misunderstood. I'll be more careful in the future," she said, but her words were dripping with insincerity. It did not sound like an apology at all. If anything, she seemed more like someone flaunting their power.
"Alright, you've apologized. You can leave now," Caleb said, once again speaking before I had the chance.
The first time, I let it go, but now, his insistence on cutting me off made me wonder if my husband was protecting her, indulging her insolence. Perhaps he was worried that I might actually hold her accountable.
I remained silent, my eyes following Scarlett as she left. Not a single word passed my lips.
Once we were alone, Caleb took my hand and pulled me into his arms, his voice gentle yet firm. "Nora, my dear, please calm down. I promise you, this was the last time. There won't be another mistake. I won't do something like this ever again."
I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as I rested against his chest, but no matter how hard I tried, I could not quiet the turmoil inside. A woman's intuition was a powerful thing and mine screamed that something was not right. My heart told me that things were far from as simple as he wanted me to believe.
And indeed, a woman's intuition was terrifying. After that day, I secretly hired a professional paparazzi to follow Caleb, to track his movements and see what he was really up to. Within just a few days, I had my answer. I got a stack of photos, each one more damning than the last.