But the image wouldn’t leave my mind — Rachel laughing softly beside Arthur, her hand resting a little too long on his arm. The way he avoided my eyes when I asked simple questions.
That night, after Ben fell asleep, I asked him gently, “Arthur, how long have you known Rachel?”
“I know,” I said quietly. “But Ben said he saw something today. You two seemed… close.”
He sighed, shaking his head. “Julia, I just buried my father. Don’t start with this now.”
His tone was sharp — defensive, dismissive. I wanted to believe him. But something in the way he said it felt rehearsed, too easy.
And so, the next morning, I decided to find the truth for myself.
The Discovery That Broke the Illusion
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