I Can Smell Every Lie, and My Husband Reeked of Betrayal Chapter 04

I Can Smell Every Lie, and My Husband Reeked of Betrayal Chapter 04

“Chloe,” I said, “did you ask Finn before you came?”

“I called him. He said it was fine.”

“But he didn’t tell me.”

“Oh? Then he must’ve forgot—”

“You called him directly?”

“Of course. I have his number.”

She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“You have my husband’s number,” I said, “but not mine. You contacted him before coming to my house. Not me.”

Her smile dimmed for a second. But just one second.

Then it snapped back, fainter now.

“You’re right, Shannon. That was thoughtless of me. Next time I’ll text you first.”

She fished out her phone. “Here—add me. It’ll make everything easier.”

The lock clicked.

Finn came in, and the sight of Chloe stopped him cold. His eyes flicked between us.

“Wren’s here?”

Who was he calling? That was her daughter’s name, not hers.

Weird. Really weird.

“Finn! I came to drop off some things for Shannon, and you didn’t even tell her—she must think I’m some uninvited guest.”

Chloe stood, scolding him in that pouty, playful way.

Finn glanced at me. “Shannon—sorry, did I forget to mention it? I was swamped with meetings this morning.”

Chloe smiled at him. “Oh, Finn. The parent visiting day at Wren’s preschool? Can you call her teacher back for me? I’ve tried twice and she won’t pick up.”

I caught it again on Finn—the sour, creeping up. Sharp against all that cloying gardenia.

I stood up.

“The stew’s still warm on the stove. Help yourselves.”

“Shannon—”

He frowned, dropping his voice. “What’s with the attitude? She came all this way to see you. She’s a guest. You could at least be polite.”

Chloe chimed in from behind him. “Finn, don’t be like this. Shannon’s pregnant—it’s hard on her. I know it well. I’m not going to hold it against her.”

One feather-light sentence. Like a slap wrapped in cotton—it didn’t sting, but you’d been hit all the same.

I went into the bedroom and closed the door.

My phone buzzed. A voice note from Mallory.

“Shannon—I dug up something else. Her ex-husband’s post says he wasn’t the one who cheated.”