Page 93 of Malicious Marriage

But I can’t stop myself. The tumbling lies pour out of me like vomit, like I’m a greedy little rat trying to gather far too much cheese but it all just keeps tumbling out of my arms.

“And Hailey doesn’t really know what she’s talking about. I don’t know what money she’s after because we don’t have anything to give. Don’t you think if we did then you wouldn’t have to fix that door and we’d have more staff?”

I’m breathless by the time I finish and guilt splits my chest open like a cleaver. Why can’t I stop? Why can’t I just tell himthe truth? The lies I’ve built are like a threadbare safety net I’m clinging to with all my might in some desperate hope thatsomehowI can save our relationship.

Because I love him.

And I can’t lose him. Not after losing Hailey and nearly losing Bobby. The lies are what brought Dean to me and the lies are what will keep him.

But it’s not working.

The calm disappointment on his face is killing me and I want to throw myself at his feet and beg for him to believe me. But it won’t work.

“Are you finished?” he asks quietly. “Does it make you feel better to spew that bullshit at me?

I sink my teeth into the side of my tongue as the urge to sob wells up inside me.

He’s right.

It’s all bullshit and he knows it’s bullshit.

But he still came to see me.

Maybe that’s the chance. Maybe it’s not the lies that will save the relationship, but the truth. If I tell him everything, down to the last painful detail, maybe the kind, understanding man I quietly fell in love with will grant me some of his warm compassion and he’ll understand.

Or he’ll look at me the same way he looks at Trisha, just another woman in his life who used him for her own game. In all honesty, there’s only one option that carries the minuscule chance that he’ll stay with me.

I have to tell him everything.

“I’m sorry,” I say as I deflate down onto my stool.

“I think that’s the first honest thing you’ve said to me all week.” Dean walks forward until he’s on the other side of the island counter. “Clover, I don’t know why you’re lying to me. I don’t know if I scare you or if something else is going on, butyour lies aren’t going to work anymore and I’m not going to give you any more chances to come clean. This is it. Your one and only chance. So tell me the truth.”

I feel like I’m about to tremble apart under his intense gaze, but as my lips part to spill the story from the beginning, my phone rings.

It’s an unknown number.

“I’m sorry, I have to, if it’s the hospital, then…” I indicate to my ringing phone and Dean nods.

“Answer it.”

“Hello?”

“Clover!” Malcom singsongs in my ear. “Don’t say a word. Don’t you dare alert Dean to who you’re talking to because I can see you on the cameras.”

Tension tightens down my spine and I glance up at Dean, then force myself to look away. “What? Why?”

“Now don’t react, Clover, because youalwaysoverreact, but I have a job for you. You are going to kill him.”

It takes every ounce of strength I have left not to visibly react in horror to Malcom’s words. “Wh–What? Why?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see concern spread across Dean’s face.

“Do you really need a play-by-play? It’s a simple order, Clover.”

“There’s no way you think I’d do that.”

“I know you will.”