Chapter 293 : Blood in the Bushes

*Michael*

I paced up and down the paths of the resort in agitated strides, fists clenching and unclenching as I replayed the disastrous fight with Shelby over and over in my mind.

"She's up to her old tricks again, Shelby! Why can't you see that?" I growled through gritted teeth, raking a hand agitatedly through my hair as I remembered hurling that accusation at her.

The devastated look on my wife's face as she'd recoiled, stung by my words, made my chest constrict all over again with guilt. "Lauren has finally opened up to me, Michael! After all this time shutting me out, she's learning to trust me as a real friend and confidante again..."

She'd practically begged me to believe Lauren wasn't lying or omitting truths this time. And like an insensitive fool, I'd plowed ahead without an ounce of tact. I couldn’t believe I’d had the audacity to bring our age gap into this and make her feel like she was naive and couldn’t possibly be as wise as me.