Page 6 of Walking Away

The lie glowed cold from the screen.

Three agonizing hours later, the silence was broken.

“Person detected at Garage Bay One.”

The words struck her like electricity.

Jason was home.

A roar filled her ears as the garage rumbled shut. Then came the steady thud of his footsteps climbing the stairs.

From where she sat, she could see the narrow strip of light stretching down the hallway.

Jason appeared at the landing, jacket folded over one arm, phone in his hand.

He paused halfway down the corridor and reached out to adjust the frames on the wall—one, then another—until each hung perfectly straight. Even now, he needed the house in order.

He slipped the phone into his pocket, exhaled once, and smoothed his cuff links before stepping toward the bedroom. The calm in every movement was worse than shouting.

She could smell his cologne before she saw him—cedar and something darker, the kind that clung to suit jackets and pillowcases. Tonight, it made her sick.

He entered the room, shirt half unbuttoned, hair mussed, tie gone.

He froze when he saw her sitting up.

“Caitlin?” His voice softened, as if concerned. “Why are you awake? Are you sick?”

She stared at him, fury and hurt colliding.I saw you, Jason. I saw you.

His brows knit. “Saw me where?”

“At Mizuna—with your girlfriend.”

He gave a short laugh, stepping closer, voice warm and practiced. “Come on, baby, don’t be ridiculous. That was a client. She’s an investor. We had to meet.”

A client? You kissed her.

Jason shook his head, tone smoothing like melted butter. “You’re imagining things. You always read too much into stuff. I love you, Caitlin. You know that.”

He reached out like he might touch her shoulder—the same gesture that used to steady her. She flinched before he made contact.

Tears burned, but she met his eyes anyway.

“Overreacting? Really? You were out with another woman at our favorite place—and our neighbors, Mike and Sherry Banks, were sitting at the bar. They were looking right at you. Do you have any idea how humiliated I am right now?”

Jason froze. His eyes darkened. “You’re embarrassed by me?”

The slap came before she even realized his hand had moved.

The crack of it echoed through the room.

Her head whipped sideways; the sting burned across her cheek as she stumbled to the floor.

The taste of metal flooded her mouth.

“Oh my God…”

She gasped, clutching her face, trying to push herself up.You’re a monster.