"At least you know you're clumsy." His voice was teasing. "Next time you're this careless, I can't guarantee you'll still have an internship at the Research Center."
Doris nuzzled against his chest like a clingy cat, then playfully raised her hand in a vow. "Professor Morton, I'll never do it again. I swear I'll walk more carefully from now on."
Fabian's lips curved upward. He reached out and tapped her nose.
Then he turned and carried her into the Research Center without so much as a glance in my direction.
I stood there, stunned. My scalp prickled, my vision swam, and my stomach churned violently.
Fabian was a germaphobe. He never willingly touched anyone.
In nine years of marriage, I had been the only person he would allow close.
But now, Doris had become the exception.
My mind was still reeling when my assistant appeared beside me, hesitating before she spoke.
"Professor Pruitt, I looked into it. The plagiarism accusation against your paper... it was filed by Professor Morton."
The words hit me like a plunge into ice water. Suddenly, everything made sense.
The day Fabian had pressured me to give Doris first authorship on my paper, I had stood my ground.
He'd pretended to back off.