‘Just get out of here, okay?’ she says, pointing the fob at the front door, which opens with a whooshing noise. ‘I’m not going to call the police this time but I am going to put the word out among my agency colleagues across the county and if I ever catch you trying to do this again I will call the police, do you understand?’

I nod my head then stumble out of the house, taking gulps of cold air as I hurry down the driveway. When I reach the gate I take a cursory look back and see Ros Coverley standing in the doorway, her phone pressed to her ear. Watching me.

I run all the way back to the station. Luckily, there’s a London-bound train waiting at the platform. I jump on and find a window seat. As the train pulls away I press my face to the glass, a sick feeling in my stomach.

By the time I get back to the flat I am mentally and physically exhausted. Even the walk up the stairs feels like an enormous effort. When I get to the top I hear voices coming from the living room and my heart sinks. Please don’t let Connor’s mother be here. I can’t face another grilling from her, not after the day I’ve had.

I hang my coat on the hook in the corridor then push the living-room door open, bracing myself for the wrath of Jackie. But it’s not Connor’s mother I see, it’s something much worse.

‘Vanessa,’ cries Connor, leaping up from the naked woman lying beneath him. ‘What the hell are you doing?’

I’m in such shock I don’t register the ridiculousness of my naked, cheating boyfriend asking me what the hell I’m doing when he’s on top of another woman. Instead, I stand in the doorway, shock freezing my bones, while the woman places a cushion over her breasts. It’s then that I recognize her. The blonde bobbed hair, the flawless skin, the violet eyes. It’s Sara, the woman I last saw in the burlesque club.

‘I can explain,’ cries Connor as I finally find my feet and run out of the room and back down the stairs, grabbing my bag from the hook. ‘You’ve been so difficult lately, Vanessa. I had no choice.’

Those are the last words I hear as I slam the front door behind me and run down the street.

30. Now

Before I can turn and run, Lottie sees me. She gestures to Connor. I have to get out of here.

I can hear Connor’s footsteps gaining on me as I hurry up the street. I can’t make sense of what I have just seen. Why were Connor and Lottie together? They have always hated each other.