Page 98 of Checkmate
“Do you love him?” He asked before he could stop the words from leaving his mouth. Silently cursing himself, he waited for her answer.
She shrugged, giving away nothing, and in doing so, told him everything he needed to know.
“You’re a bigger idiot than me, Sophie. Seven minutes have gone. I’d hurry up if I were you. It’s bloody freezing out there, and I’d hate to be hauling my shit down the street in this weather.”
That seemed to motivate her. With one last glance at him, she turned her back on him, leaving the room. Marcus took a moment to gather himself before refocusing on the coffee machine. He thought through every action it would take to brew himself a strong coffee, following each step with hyper-focus.
If he tried hard, he could ignore the sound of the floorboards down the hallway. His soon-to-be ex-wife was entering the bedroom they had once lovingly shared. He wouldn’t think about her favoured overnight bag and the clothes she was no doubt hastily throwing into it.
If he focused on the task at hand, he wouldn’t have to confront the crippling pain of his broken marriage or the fact life had changed as he knew it, and things would never be the same again.
Chapter 25
Erica
He knows!
Alex, Marcus knows!
Call me back!!
Answer your phone!!!
Alex, answer your fucking phone!!!
Erica watched as text after text came through to Alex’s phone. It vibrated across the table for her entire family to witness. Snatching it up, she glanced at his notifications, each one becoming more panicked than the last. He’d missed a dozen calls, had three new voicemails, and one missed attempt at a video call.
“I think we’ll just turn that on silent,” Erica said, changing the settings. “I told him no phones at the table.”
Her family chuckled as she pocketed his phone, sneaking a glance at Lottie, who raised an eyebrow. Erica nodded in response to her silent question.
He’d done it.
Marcus had pulled the plug on his marriage, and now there really was no going back.
Not that she intended to change her mind.
What lucky timing it was that Alex had been in the bathroom when those texts had started to arrive. She had planned so carefully, and yet neglected to consider what Sophie would do.
Rookie mistake.
Thankfully, it seemed fortune favoured her. It was almost tempting to leave Alex’s phone exactly where it was, just to see what he would do. Would he disrespect her family to take care of his mistress? Would he ignore Sophie and leave her out in the cold?
She was dying to find out, but if Marcus had held up his side of the plan, it meant he was on his way and she had to get a move on.
“Present time, isn’t it, Mum?” She asked. Her mother sat slumped back in her chair, watching her family with a happy, sleepy smile.
“Sure, love. We can do presents if you like. Lottie said you’ve got something big planned.”
“I do.” God, she was nervous. “Um. Look, I don’t know how this is going to go, but just in case, I’m sorry in advance, okay?”
“What do you mean—”
“And here he is,” Lottie interrupted, gesturing towards Alex as he walked through the door. “The man of the hour!”
Erica had never been more grateful for her sister’s presence than at that moment. Anything that meant she didn’t have to answer Bill’s question.
“Who, me?” Alex asked with a chuckle, taking his seat and flinging his arm over the back of Erica’s seat. “Oh, is this to do with this plan you two have been cooking up?”
