Madison froze midstep, her pulse accelerating sharply within her chest.
“She still works all those jobs every single day?” a male voice asked through the speakerphone.
Evan chuckled casually, and Madison felt something tighten painfully inside her stomach.
“Madison works like a machine without complaint,” Evan replied easily. “Hospital during the day, call center afterward, restaurant shifts at night, then cleaning offices until midnight.”
Madison’s breath caught sharply.
“She truly believes that explanation without questioning anything?”
“Oh, completely,” Evan answered, his voice edged with unmistakable satisfaction. “Madison honestly believes sacrifice represents loyalty rather than exploitation.”
Madison felt the air leave her lungs.
“I made unfortunate financial decisions, yet consequences became optional once I secured a personal slave convinced she was fulfilling marital duty.”
Madison’s purse slipped from her shoulder, striking the hardwood floor with a muted thud that echoed faintly down the hallway. Evan continued speaking without hesitation, unaware that the architecture of his deception had just collapsed irreversibly.