Chapter 5 - “She” Was Natalie
Her name was Natalie Mercer?
No.
That would be too convenient.
Natalie Brooks.
Thirty-one.
Regional marketing manager at Marcus’s company.
Chloe first met her at a holiday party.
She liked:
her.
That complicated everything.
Natalie was smart.
Warm.
Divorced.
Had one rescue dog she spoke about constantly.
Marcus traveled with her several times for:
trade shows.
Chloe noticed:
more texting.
Then stopped herself from being suspicious.
Why?
Marcus mocked jealous spouses.
“Nothing destroys a marriage faster than paranoia.”
A useful philosophy if you are having:
an affair.
The affair began approximately nine months before the bus terminal.
Physical relationship started after a conference in:
Denver.
Natalie later said Marcus told her:
he and Chloe were effectively separated.
Not formally.
But:
“living like roommates.”
False.
He said they were delaying divorce because:
mortgage,
finances,
family.
Natalie did not verify.
Her responsibility.
But Marcus had not told her:
Chloe still slept beside him,
they still attended counseling,
they had booked a spring vacation.
He ran:
two realities.
One in which Chloe was:
unstable wife he could not escape.
One in which he was:
committed husband trying to save his marriage.
Both made Marcus:
May you like
hero.
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