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.

remained cold and expressionless. Then, with a sneer, he looked her over, head to toe

could lie so easily. Or

perfect? That's not what you said tonight at the

He heard it.

He heard everything.

soul nearly left

panic-confusion, then terror, then

Madge. Were you watching

Let me make it clear-I wasn't watching from

finally know what happened to Madge all

your scheming that pushed her back into danger when she should've gotten away. Then you covered it up, stalled for time and because of you, the police missed

You're the reason she spent over twenty years lost,

the one who tore her from

Mom and Dad

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

now, with the truth laid bare, Kathleen

talking about. What truth? What cover-up? You know as well