My gaze drifted past Abigail and landed on the living room behind her.
On the couch lay a gray jacket Max always wore.
On the dining table sat two bowls. One pair of chopsticks was the wooden kind Max preferred. The other pair was pink.
The whole place was warm, cozy, thoughtfully arranged. It really did look like a home.
My fists clenched so tight my knuckles went white. I could feel the blood draining from my face.
"Did Max ever mention that I helped pay the down payment on this place?"
Right then, my phone rang.
It was Max.
I glanced at Abigail. There was a flicker of challenge in her eyes, a trace of triumph.
I hit speakerphone.
Max's voice came through, tinged with urgency.
"Madeline, where are you? I've been calling you over and over. You didn't pick up. I'm sorry about what happened at the hotel. That was my fault. Please don't be mad, okay?"
I looked straight at Abigail. A cold smile curved the corner of my lips.
"Max," I said into the phone. "I'm at Lakeview Manor."
On the other end of the line, Max went dead silent.
A few seconds passed before his voice came through again, rattled and unsteady.
"Madeline, what are you doing there? Who told you to go?"
"Why shouldn't I come?"