Cynthia Hamilton - Madeline Dawkins 01 - Spouse Trap Read Online Free Page B

more certain she became. It was really quite simple, as far as acts of treachery go.
    Once Steven decided it was time to get rid of her, the plan was a cinch. It probably took all of a day to concoct and execute. Once he hired a sleazy private investigator, he only had to wait for his cue—the Open Your Heart Valentine’s Ball—and seize the opportunity to storm out and leave her behind.
    Madeline seethed as she continued to jot down what she now bet were solid facts. It was such a perfect setup , she thought bitterly as she recalled how compromised she felt by Steven’s sudden exit. What could she have done? She couldn’t have gone after him; the fundraiser was her baby.
    “That fucking son-of-a-bitch,” Madeline hissed as her pen ripped through the paper. She threw the tablet aside and began furiously pacing her now too-confining dressing room. She felt so claustrophobic, she longed to jump in her Porsche and tear down the quiet lanes, racing to the freeway where she could really vent her fury on the open road.
    But she let that fantasy die out; if she was in a war with Steven, she needed to collect her wits. Crossing her out of the picture without a penny was almost insignificant compared to what he had done to her psyche. The thought that he was even capable of such acts of cruelty and abuse made her start crying again. Unlike her earlier tears, these were hot and full of vengeance.

FOUR
    As Madeline wore a path in her plush carpet, the Maserati’s dulcet purr startled her back to reality. She made a lunge to turn off her lights. Just the thought of seeing Steven made her shudder. But before she heard his car door open, her survival instincts kicked in. She racked her brain for the best line of attack, deciding in the end to feign total ignorance.
    In order to make Steven think she was still unaware of his part in Saturday night’s betrayal, she had to act as though saving her marriage was still her highest priority. She checked her appearance in the mirror and hastily combed her hair with her fingers. She grabbed a lipstick off her dressing table and applied a light coat and pursed her lips. She definitely felt like she’d survived a day in hell, and it showed.
    The front door opened and Madeline braced herself. “Okay, okay, okay,” she said under her breath as she tried to steady herself. She heard Steven’s footfalls as he retreated to the far side of the house. She took long, silent strides as she tried to catch him before he reached the guestroom.
    “Steven,” she said softly, stopping him in his tracks.
    “Madeline, I’ve had a hard, trying day…” Steven said, sounding both weary and put upon.
    “I realize that. So have I.” This last comment earned her an impatient sigh.
    “I don’t want to get into this right now, Madeline,” he said, his tone hard and implacable.
    “Steven, you can’t go away for three days thinking the worst of me,” she said, clutching his sleeve as he turned away from her. “Please let’s talk this over. This is all some sort of horrible nightmare, but I’m completely innocent—I swear to you.” To add sway to her plea, she began to cry, silently, tears springing from her eyes on cue.
    “I cannot get into this now. I’ve got a very early flight out tomorrow—”
    “But Steven, I can’t bear for you to think I cheated on you.” Steven gave her a stony look before stepping into the guestroom.
    “Steven, no…don’t shut me out—you have to believe I would never do anything to hurt you.” Madeline swallowed hard; she was so into her role, she found herself hopeful as Steven stared at her. But instead of softening, he slammed the door in her face.
    This affront made Madeline quake with rage. She took three sharp breaths before resuming her performance. She was not actress enough to weep like she meant it, when really what she wanted to do was hurl obscenities at him for demeaning her in the most unimaginably hostile way. What he’d done was criminal,