‘I would mind, actually. It’d be an invasion of my privacy!’ Hugo replied forcefully. ‘Look, Chloe, you have to drop this. It’s insane! If anything, I’m worried about what this is doing to you. You’re going to have to move on eventually.’

‘You really do have a way with words, Hugo. A way of twisting everything to suit your agenda,’ Chloe snapped.

‘I’m sorry, Chloe. I really am. But I’d like you to leave.’

Chloe stood up, her face red. She snatched up her marked copy of Henrietta’s Gift and stormed to the front door. But as she opened it, she turned to face Evie, her face blank once again. ‘I’m begging you. Charlie and Dot. Check his downloaded files, his email, anything. It’s got to be there,’ she said, before slamming the door behind her.

A long, strained silence blossomed between Evie and Hugo, before Hugo said quietly, ‘Well, that was unexpected.’

Evie stared at him in disbelief. ‘Hugo, what the hell was that?’

‘I’m sorry, baby. I can’t believe the lengths she’s prepared to go to,’ he said, looking genuinely shocked.

‘This is too much. How could she say those things? Why would she say those things?’ Evie said, her mind working overtime to process what had just unravelled in their sitting room.

‘I told you, the break-up was awful. But I never, ever could have predicted she’d lie so blatantly. She’s obviously desperate to hurt me. Really, I just feel sorry for her.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me she kept calling? You said you’d keep me in the loop,’ Evie said.

Hugo hung his head. ‘I don’t know, I was too embarrassed. Afraid you might believe her. Afraid I might lose you. Even though, of course, there’s no truth to her claims.’ Hugo frowned at her, running his fingers through his messy curls. His breath became more ragged. ‘Evie, what if she takes this further? Makes these claims public? This is my livelihood, my reputation.’ His words were muffled, caught in the palms of his hands. ‘But if I give into her demands …’ His voice trailed off, and he sat back up.

Evie racked her brain for ways to make sense of the situation, and for some way to fix it. ‘What if you give her your laptop? Just to show you have nothing to hide. Maybe she’ll back off once she can no longer hold her bluff?’

‘Evie,’ Hugo said a little too curtly, before taking a deep breath. He looked pale and exhausted. ‘I’ll take care of it. I’m sorry. I’m just at my wit’s end.’

He kissed her lightly on the lips before standing up, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

THIRTY-SIX

Thirty-six