Gemotions

A coldness settled deep within Mark, a chilling premonition. He’d stumbled upon Claire’s manuscript, hidden away in a locked drawer. He recognized the setting, the characters, the agonizingly familiar cadence of their life together. Her words, so carefully crafted, painted him as a manipulative, controlling partner. He’d never felt so exposed.

He sat on the couch, the book clutched in his shaking hands. The injustice of it all, the secret betrayal. A burning heat consumed him. This was not how he wanted their story to end.

He had always been the one who took care of the finances. The next day, he “accidentally” forgot to pay the mortgage. He watched her reaction, the confusion, the growing panic, and smiled inwardly. He offered to sort it, of course, taking care of the issue with a flourish, leaving her feeling indebted.