Page 48 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"Tell me about it," I breathed. "I keep thinking it can't get worse, but maybe it can."

I wanted him to reassure me this was probably rock bottom, but he wasn't about to tell me something he didn't believe. Something I didn't believe, either. Because I didn't think anything was over.

"I honestly don't know what I want from you or why I even called you," I added. "You think I'm a thief."

"I don't believe that anymore, Lauren."

"Well, I guess that's something. Why did you change your mind?" I asked curiously.

"Because you're too open, too anxious. You don't lie very well. You also seem to be a target of someone's anger, which leads me to believe you're just a player in whatever game is happening. But you're not the one running it."

"I hope you're not going to tell me you think that person is Andrew. Because he came to my rescue. And he's been incredibly kind to me ever since we got back. He doesn't hate me. He doesn't want to hurt me. We just got married. If he didn't want me in his life, why would he have made vows to me?"

"I don't know," Ethan said. "But I think the reason might be more complicated than you think."

"Not just love, huh? Thanks a lot. You're always so good for my ego."

"I'm not going to lie to you, Lauren. Andrew is too slick and too perfect. His background feels carefully crafted. And there are no people in his life now that were in his past. The only people I can connect him with are the people he works with. His company was created less than two years ago. They've made a couple of decent deals, but nothing huge, nothing that would seem to support the three salaries going to Andrew, Colin, and Jay, not to mention their support staff, which appears to be a woman named Sonia Waters."

"I don't know a lot about his business, but he's just getting it off the ground. He said he made good money working for his previous company, and he had enough in savings to go out on his own."

"The owner of his previous company went to jail for fraud."

"I do know that," I said, happy I knew at least one thing about my husband. "Andrew said that was more of a marital dispute than anything else."

"Your husband always has a good answer."

"I don't know about that, but that's what he told me."

"Did you ask him about his trip to Paris?"

"Not yet. I haven't had the chance. And he was already annoyed with me for asking questions about Allison. I couldn't keep fighting with him when we have to put on a united, loving front." I let out a sigh. "I shouldn't be talking to you about him. You're trying to pin something on him, and I feel like I'm helping you when I should be helping him."

"You're talking to me because you need an ally."

"That shouldn't be you. I have a husband. I have friends."

"And your husband and your friends have each done something to diminish your trust in them. That's why I'm here, right?"

He was right, but I hated to admit that.

"What do you think is going on?" I asked.

He thought for a moment. "It feels like there are competing forces at play. Andrew, Colin, and Jay seem to be on one page, but Allison's presence seems to have thrown something off-balance. She's getting into the middle of things. She's gotten Andrew to introduce her to the Carringtons, which might be to help her business or might be for another reason."

"What other reason could there be?"

"Are you sure you want to know? You won't like my theory, Lauren."

For a moment, I wasn't sure I wanted to know, but considering how much pain I was in, maybe I needed to know. "Just say it."

"I'm debating how much I should trust you."

"Me?" I asked in astonishment. "Look at me. I'm the victim here."

"Yes, but you're also in love, and if I tell you what I think, you might go running to Andrew. In fact, maybe you're playing me right now, Lauren, pretending to be confused so I'll give you inside information."

I sat up, ignoring the pain that swept through me at that movement. "That's crazy, Ethan."

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