The second name on the page was Marjorie Vale.
Adrian stopped breathing for half a second.
It was small, almost invisible, but I saw it.
His eyes moved from the document to me, then to the front door as the bell rang for the third time.
“What is that?” he asked.
His voice was different now.
Not loud.
Not commanding.
Careful.
I closed the folder before he could reach for it.
“Your mother is waiting.”
Adrian stepped toward me.
“Claire.”
He only used my name like that when he wanted something hidden beneath gentleness.
“Open the door,” I said.
For one second, I thought he might refuse.
Then Marjorie knocked sharply enough to rattle the frame.
“Adrian?”
He forced a smile and walked to the entryway.
I remained seated at the dining table.
The bruise under my eye was covered, just as he had ordered.
The makeup he bought me sat open near the sink, expensive powder spread across the counter like evidence of another crime.
Marjorie entered carrying a handbag and a small box of pastries.
“Honestly, Adrian, why did you make me stand out there?”
She kissed his cheek, then looked toward me.
Her eyes narrowed.
“There she is.”
I smiled.
“Good morning, Marjorie.”
She placed the pastries on the table and glanced around the room with the same proprietary expression she always wore in our house.
“I hope you’ve reconsidered last night’s little performance.”
Adrian stayed near her shoulder.
“She has,” he said quickly.
I looked at him.
He smiled at me.
It was a warning.
Marjorie sat in the chair opposite mine.
“Good.
I told Adrian you were emotional.
Women sometimes confuse stubbornness with independence.”
She folded her hands over the table.
“You’ll understand when you’re older.”
I touched the edge of the folder.
Adrian saw the movement.
“Claire,” he said.
Marjorie followed his eyes.
“What’s that?”
“Something I thought we should discuss before lunch.”
Adrian crossed the room fast.
“This isn’t the time.”
“It is exactly the time.”
Marjorie’s expression hardened.
“If this is another argument about my moving in—”
“It isn’t.”
I opened the folder again.
The first document was a property record.
