Chapter 31

Days drifted by in a haze of unease ever since Thomas uncovered the mysterious “list” that his wife had been nursing in secret. He’d replayed the moment again and again in his mind, convinced that Zoe—Cassandra’s closest confidante—had whispered the idea to her. It made sense; Zoe was the only friend close enough to plant such a seed. Ever since that revelation, Thomas’s days had become a slow, relentless torment. The very thought that his wife might, at any moment, turn her intentions toward the most private part of him sent shivers crawling down his spine.

Each sunrise arrived laden with the same agonizing anticipation: Would today be the day? Each sunset offered no relief, only the memory of another day survived. He felt trapped in a cycle of eager dread. Yet, despite the list’s ominous promise, Cassandra remained innocent—unassuming and untouched by whatever scheme she had drafted in private.

If Thomas were one to indulge in wordplay, he’d have called his plight a pe