“I was leaving on a business trip, but the flight was canceled and I came back home. When I opened the door, a strange woman was standing there wearing my robe. ‘You must be the realtor, right? My husband said you’d come to evaluate our apartment.’ I silently nodded and stepped inside…”

Not a similar robe. The exact robe Paige had bought during a holiday trip years ago. The woman held a ceramic mug from their kitchen. Her hair was damp. She looked relaxed, comfortable, as if she belonged there.

She smiled politely. “Oh hello. You must be the agent Trevor mentioned. He said someone might stop by today.”

Paige felt the floor tilt slightly. Her heart dropped but her face stayed calm, shaped by years of negotiating under pressure.

“Yes,” Paige heard herself say. “I am here for an evaluation.”

The woman nodded and stepped aside. “Great. He is finishing a shower. Make yourself at home.”

Make yourself at home. Paige walked inside, each step measured. Shoes sat near the sofa that were not hers. A second toothbrush rested in the bathroom holder. A bouquet of fresh tulips brightened the kitchen table. Trevor had never bought flowers without prompting.

Paige forced a pleasant smile. “Nice place.”

“Thank you,” the woman said. “We just moved in together. I love the neighborhood.”

Together. The word echoed inside Paige’s skull.