Page 39 of He Doesn't Deserve You

“What’s her name? What were you arguing about?” he demanded.

“Maggie Sullivan. She works with Gabriel. I thought they were having an affair,” Emily responded.

Emily felt the heat rise to her face, growing increasingly uncomfortable as she started to squirm in her seat. “But I was mistaken.”

“Care to explain?”

“I found our credit card statement,” Emily said, her voice trembling. “There were multiple charges for hotels and lingerie. I assumed Gabriel was having an affair, and Maggie was the first person who came to mind. She’s always flirting with him and hanging onto his every word. I had just discovered the charges that day.”

She paused, her gaze dropping in shame. “I was emotional and had been drinking. When she showed up, I couldn’t control my anger any longer, so I confronted her. I’m not proud of how I behaved.”

“So, you thought your husband was having an affair with her, but now you don’t. Why is that?”

“Gabriel lent the credit card to his ex-wife. Those charges weren’t his.” Noticing Detective Martin’s puzzled expression, Emily felt compelled to explain further. “Her car broke down, and she couldn’t affordthe repairs. I don’t like it, but she’s the mother of his children. He’s always going to help her.”

Emily stared at Detective Martin; curiosity evident in her eyes. “What does any of this matter anyway? Do you think she had something to do with this?”

“It’s possible. What do you know about the bartender?”

“Nothing. I’ve never seen him before. Why?”

As the pieces started to fit together, Emily’s eyes widened in realization. She threw a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God! Did he spike my drink?”

Detective Martin nodded.

“But why?” Emily exclaimed, leaping to her feet and beginning to pace anxiously.

Detective Martin observed her closely. “There seems to be a connection between Maggie and the bartender. Do you have any idea what that might be?”

Emily stopped pacing and sank back into the sofa. “I have no idea,” she murmured, her eyes glazing over as she stared at Detective Martin. “Why would he do such a thing?”

“I don’t know,” he replied, his voice resolute, “but I’m going to find out.”

Driven by the urgent need for answers, Emily asked, “Did he rape me?”

“No, Roman stood guard at your door all night. No one entered your room.”

Emily let out a sigh of relief, “Thank God.”

Just then, Detective Martin received a text from Detective Johnson informing him that he had obtained the requested information on the bartender. After reading the message, Detective Martin stood up. “I have to go. I’ll be in touch.”

Emily walked him to the door. Before leaving, Detective Martinturned to her and said, “It’s crucial that you don’t withhold anything from me anymore.”

“I understand. It won’t happen again,” Emily assured him.

“Make sure it doesn’t,” he said firmly, then walked out the door.

21

As soon as she closed the door behind Detective Martin, Emily darted up the stairs to change out of her sweats. There was someone she needed to see, and it couldn’t wait. Minutes later, she descended the back stairs, finding Agnes doing the lunch dishes in the kitchen.

“I’m going out. I won’t be long. Keep an eye on Ava,” Emily instructed.

Looking up from the sink, Agnes replied dutifully, “Yes, Mrs. Anderson.”

She rushed out of the house, jumped into her Mercedes, and sped off. As she drove, Emily considered calling ahead to see if he was home but then remembered she still didn’t have her phone. This gave her yet another reason to go see Roman.

She knocked on his door and waited for an answer. When she received no response, she knocked again. Just as disappointment began to settle in and she turned to descend the steps, the door creaked open and Roman’s voice called out, “Emily?”

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