“That’s the best part,” Bruno chuckled. “I’ve been keeping a paper trail. Every week, I withdraw cash from our joint account under ‘household labor.’ I’ve been taking photos of the pristine house and logging them. If she tries to fight the divorce or claim spousal support, my lawyer will present evidence that she was completely negligent, forcing me to hire outside help, while she spent all her time hiding cash and committing financial marital fraud by pocketing the cleaning funds. She’s building the cage that’s going to trap her, and she’s doing it with a smile.”
The bathroom door handle jiggled.
Panic exploded in my chest. I snatched the mop from the floor, threw myself backward into the kitchen, and grabbed a dish towel, frantically pretending to wipe down the already spotless granite countertop. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.
Bruno walked out of the bathroom, casually adjusting his tie. He looked at me, his eyes sweeping over my stained t-shirt, my sweat-dampened hair, and the yellow rubber gloves still gripping the towel. A look of profound amusement and disgust flickered across his face.