‘I’ll never understand you.’

She sighed and tucked a lock of red hair behind her ear. She sipped her wine. ‘Why are you still fighting me? Can’t you see that everything I’ve done has been for us? For you?’

‘Lies. Deceit. Murder. How can I trust you never to hurt me or our child?’

‘Because I love you both more than anything.’

‘If you’re capable of killing your parents, you’re capable of hurting us too.’

She watched him from across the table. Her eyes changed.

‘Yeah, I found out about that,’ he said over his glass and finished the rest of his drink in one gulp. He looked down at the counter. The room was slowly starting to spin.

‘Everything I’ve done has been to survive. I don’t expect you to understand. You had a different upbringing, you had parents who—’

‘Christ, Amber. You’re justifying double murder with your working-class upbringing? Are you completely unhinged?’

‘I see the world for what it is and I take control.’

‘You destroy people’s lives.’

She sighed and looked away.

Richard looked at her face and struggled to find beauty in it. Although she had naturally stunning features, with defined cheekbones, full lips and symmetrical features, the woman within had been revealed. If he peeled back her skin, she would be rotten beneath. He thought back to when he met her in a crowded bar all those years ago, and how he had been drawn in by her bright auburn hair and mesmerising smile. If only he had known then what lay beneath.

‘How did you find out?’ he asked.

She refocused. She had been thinking, but it would not be of guilt or fear, but of herself and what she had achieved. He knew her better than anyone.

‘I couldn’t sleep one night,’ she said. ‘I was up until the early hours. I was awake to hear you creep from our bed and go for one of your runs.’

She shook her head.

‘Why do men think we women are fools? Did you not think I would notice when you started running at dawn all of a sudden?’ she scoffed and rubbed her face. ‘I watched from the window as you walked down our driveway and all of four steps along the lane and went next door.

‘I had quite a few sleepless nights after that, and was awake each and every time you left our bed to get into his. I had to greet you in the morning knowing of your betrayal, kiss your lips when I knew where they had been, and spend every Friday night in James’ house as though everything was fine. When his birthday came around, I bought him that electronic photo frame, remember? It was actually one of those Nanny Cams. It took all of two days for me to find the footage of you both fucking.’