for two full days, yet she insisted on checking out

se, she saw that Shawn

hout a word from him, n

the course of their two-year marriage, this pattern had repeated its

xisted more like distant te

herself and took her medication as instructed. After tha

her a few seconds to gather herself. She pushed herself up

oman who had been in the entert

ns, renowned as an accomplished dancer. Seeing her in pers

res were refined and soft, yet beneath that gentleness

Corrine Evans, Shawn's

Corrine. Her voice remained calm, reve

ded. It would have been discourteous to

vitation without hesita

iving room, Leyla poure

tried reaching him earlier today, but he didn't pick up. Since he lives close by an

on the coffee table. Her expression remained composed, he

ht with Corrine. Still, without tangible evidence, she

combined with those carefully chosen wor

more calmly. "Thank you for bringing it over, Miss Evans. Shawn has always been absentminded. I've reminded him about it many time

nvenience to someone outside the family. When he comes home, I'

he clearly had not anticipated

the visit should end. "My stomach hasn't been great today, and I'm not

ill take my leave now," Corrine replied as she

door and watched as she wa

nce from the house did Corrine

t mansion should have belonged to her. Instea

deaths. But throughout their encounter, his focus had remained entirely on the clues.

driven her back to her apartment

deal with it, Shawn had removed his watch and gone to the restroom to dry off. When he returned, he pr

one else. She could not reconcile the idea that a man like him would i

ow-the fragile, soft-spoken

e marriage had been arrang

nion, Corrine was determined that Sh

reer. Without Shawn, she would have no p

the sofa, staring at the watch on her palm. It rea

ort in her stomach, combined with the lingering soreness fro

est and avoid emotional strain, y

ectly matched. In comparison, she felt like an intruder who had stepped into a place that was never

r grandfather appeared before her, reminding her gently that no matte