Page 39 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"Then I don't know why you're talking to me."

"I was curious if Andrew told you he was going to Paris. Clearly, he did not. Why do you think he didn't?"

That was a question I couldn't answer. I had never grilled Andrew about his work. When we were together, we didn't talk about our jobs. We'd both wanted to separate our business and personal lives, because before we'd met, we'd spent far too many hours concentrating solely on work. I'd thought it was great we were on the same page. I wasn't that interested in his job, and he wasn't that interested in mine, but we were both supportive and encouraging of each other. That was what mattered.

Now, I was reminded once again that my husband had not been completely forthcoming with me, and it was embarrassing to keep learning details about Andrew from a man who was trying to determine if my husband was a thief.

I told myself there was probably a perfectly good reason why Andrew hadn't mentioned Paris. It could have been a spur-of-the-moment business trip, and he hadn't wanted to tell me he was going to Paris without me, because I'd often told him how much I wanted to go there. He could have been protecting my feelings.

Or I could be making up excuses for another lie of omission.

But were they lies? Or had I not asked enough questions?

"Lauren? You're not going to answer me, are you?" Ethan asked.

"I don't have an answer. But thanks for once again trying to create drama and distrust in my life. Does that make you happy? Do you get off on it?" I challenged.

"If you're innocent in all this, I want you to see what's going on. I'm trying to help you, Lauren."

"You're trying to help yourself."

"Maybe working together is how we help each other."

"I don't want to help you. I'm married to Andrew. My loyalty is to him."

"What if he's a criminal?"

A wave of uneasiness ran through me at that suggestion. But Andrew wasn't a criminal. I knew what had happened the night of the fire. I'd been there. Andrew had risked his life to save mine. Then there was all the rest, all the time we'd spent together the last six months. Maybe we hadn't talked about everything, but we had talked about a lot.Hadn't we? Damn! Why did Ethan's questions always bring more questions?

Because that's what he was trying to do. He was trying to divide Andrew and me and find a weak spot, but I couldn't be the weak link in the chain between us. I had to be loyal and defend my husband.

"Andrew did tell me he might have to go to Paris," I said slowly.

"You're lying, Lauren."

"I'm not. I just forgot. I was busy at work. He was already in New York, so we weren't going to be together that week, anyway."

"You just remembered that?" Ethan asked, a doubtful look in his piercing green eyes. "That's convenient."

He could see right through me, and I didn't like it. "Is there anything else? Or maybe you'd like to wait here and ask Andrew your questions?"

"I'll talk to Andrew another time."

"Because you have nothing, and you know he won't let you get to him the way you get to me."

His gaze narrowed as it met mine. "I understand that it's difficult to lose trust in someone. You don't want to do it. You want to fight for the person you think they are. But this isn't only about trust or fidelity…it's about high-stakes crime, past and possibly present. Be careful, Lauren. You are right smack in the middle of whatever is going on, even if you don't want to believe it."

His words sent a chill down my spine. "The middle of what?"

"I don't know, but I'm going to follow the facts wherever they lead, and I hope, for your sake, they don't lead to you or your husband. But if they do, don't say I didn't warn you."

On that note, he left, and I let out a breath as the door closed behind him, my mind racing, my nerves tingling with fear, uncertainty, and anxiety.

Was Andrew up to something? Was I unwittingly part of it?

It seemed impossible to believe. But all the little things Ethan was coming up with couldn't be ignored.

When I had confronted Andrew about his relationship with Allison, he'd finally admitted they'd slept together after first claiming they were just friends.Would he admit to Paris, too, if I asked him about it?

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