Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 838

"How dare you?" The veins in his forehead bulged, each word forced out through clenched teeth.

Kathleen's eyes flickered, but she quickly masked it with confusion. "Honey, what are you even talking about?"

Teague let out a cold, hollow laugh. "Honey'? If you weren't feeling guilty, would you call me that right after I slapped you? Wouldn't you be screaming at me instead?"

Kathleen's face went rigid, a chill crawling up her spine to the back of her neck. "I... I just thought you must've been drunk to hit me..."

"I haven't had a drop tonight," Teague shot back.

Kathleen swallowed hard, her voice tinged with hurt. "What on earth happened that you'd lash out at me like this? I just don't understand..."

She broke off, a single tear sliding down her perfectly kept face. Even in distress, the corners of her eyes and mouth hinted at a mature beauty that time hadn't erased.

"I grew up loved and sheltered, you know. And you just hit me, like that. How am I supposed to hold my head up after this?"

Her voice grew softer with each word, her head bowing lower, the picture of a wounded wife complaining to her husband-half sulking, half pleading, and maybe, just maybe, trying to win him over.

was unmoved. His face remained cold and expressionless. Then, with a sneer, he looked her over, head to toe and back again, as if seeing her

could lie so

perfect? That's not what

He heard it.

He heard everything.

nearly

eyes darted in panic-confusion, then terror,

to argue with Madge. Were you watching from the study balcony

was icy. "Still not telling the truth? Let me make it clear-I wasn't watching from the balcony went

every word, and I finally know

Then you covered it

You're the reason she spent

the one who tore her from her

wonder, Mom and

suspected all along just couldn't prove it, and they were too

with the truth laid bare, Kathleen clung

about. What truth? What cover-up? You know as well as I do, Madge