Someone with resources far greater than he realized. Someone who was starting to suspect that Marcus Reed had entered Hannah’s life for reasons that had nothing to do with love. The question was no longer whether trouble was coming. The question was how much damage it would cause before the truth finally surfaced.
Over the next several weeks, Marcus Reed became a regular part of Hannah Brook’s life. At first, it happened so gradually that Hannah barely noticed. A conversation after work, a shared walk to the bus stop, a cup of coffee waiting for her after a difficult shift. Then came the flowers. Nothing extravagant. Nothing that would alarm her.
Marcus was careful. Very careful. He understood that trust wasn’t built through grand gestures. It was built through consistency. And consistency was exactly what he gave her. One evening as Hannah finished her shift, Marcus was waiting outside the diner. “You look exhausted,” he said. I am exhausted.
