Uncovering the Issue

As soon as Ella began to speak, all her pent-up frustration started pouring out. She turned her head away from Eric, unwilling to look at his stony expression.

"When did you ever call me?" Eric asked.

"Eric, stop pretending. You know I hate it when people act oblivious!" Ella's eyes filled with tears, her expression pained. "That foreign woman—was she really so irresistible? If strangers don't believe me… can't you at least trust me?"

Eric frowned. "That's impossible! You never called me!"

But… Ella wouldn't lie about something like this. Something didn't add up.

Ella, feeling hurt and frustrated, turned her head away, but remembering what Amelia and Lauren had told her, she took a deep breath, deciding not to keep arguing with him.

Seeing her tear-streaked face, Eric's heart softened. They hadn't seen each other in days. He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.