Richard walked down the hallway and into his study. He would do all he could to help her. After all, the deal would be made. James would get his money, and Richard would get James. They could leave Friars, and in turn, leave Amber. The motion of the plan had begun. When he left his study with the signed cheque in hand, he stumbled into the cloakroom and vomited. He breathed heavily into the bowl and convulsed with another retch. He sat back and rested his head against the wall.

It was almost over. He had to hold himself together until then.

He flushed the toilet, wiped his mouth, and gargled water from the tap.

When he returned to the kitchen, he noticed that Neena had cried in his absence and wiped away the tears. Her skin was blotchy and raw, and her bottom lip was still trembling.

‘Here.’

He held out the cheque. She stared at the sum for a while.

Her eyes moved back and forth as she reread the figure.

‘Why?’ she asked.

‘Because this wasn’t about the money. Not for me.’

‘You said this wasn’t your idea. Whose was it?’

‘That doesn’t matter.’

‘You don’t think I deserve to know who destroyed my life?’

‘I did.’

New tears formed in her eyes. Guilt clogged his throat. He diverted his eyes.

‘I actually thought you loved me,’ she said as the tears fell. ‘I actually thought you were saving me.’

‘I am,’ he said hoarsely, and edged the cheque closer to her. ‘Take it.’

She finally snatched the cheque from his hand and stormed towards the front door.

‘If you really love your wife you’ll let her go,’ she said.

I don’t, he thought. I despise her.

‘You’ve put her through enough.’ She reached the door and turned to look at him one last time. ‘I guess I’m lucky you never laid a hand on me.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Your wife came to me.’

Instantly, his legs felt weak beneath him.

Amber knew. Amber knew everything.

‘I saw what you did to her,’ Neena said.

‘She came to you? When?’

‘Today.’

‘What did she say?’

‘She warned me about you, and how abusive you can be.’

What is Amber up to? Christ, what is she doing right now?

‘I’ve never abused my wife. Is that what she told you?’

‘I saw the bruise, Richard. You can’t lie yourself out of it.’

He thought of his wife sitting at the dressing table applying her make-up. Perhaps that’s why she got so dressed up, to hide a bruise.

‘I never touched her.’

Neena scoffed and opened the door.

‘Say that to the police when she reports you. That’s if she has any sense. We deserve so much better than you.’