My heart sank as David appeared in the doorway, his glare icy and cutting. His expression was no longer panicked—it was predatory.
“Keep pretending, Elaine. Why stop now?” he sneered. “Do you really hate staying in my house that much? What exactly are you trying to pull here?”
He took a step closer, his voice dripping with venom. “If my mom hadn’t told me that the ‘blood’ on the bed was chicken blood, I might have actually fallen for your act. Why, Elaine? Do you hate my family so much that you’d stoop to this?”
I forced myself to stay calm, even as my mind raced. “I just wanted to go to the hospital for a checkup,” I said softly, my voice steady. “I told you yesterday, but you didn’t listen. I didn’t know what else to do. I’m sorry, husband. I won’t do it again.”
His expression softened slightly, and his tone shifted into something that almost sounded like tenderness. “That’s all this was about? I told you, it’s rare for us to come back for the New Year. Stay a few more days. If you really want to leave, you can drive yourself back.”
My heart leaped—I couldn’t believe my luck. This was exactly the opportunity I needed.