The house was dead quiet when I returned. It was past 11pm. I had purposely taken my time to return late, because I wasn't eager nor in a haste to return to this hellhole of a home.

I wondered if Maria was fast asleep already. Of course, she should be, since she had no idea I was returning. And I had made Adam drop me outside the gate instead of driving in, so my entry had been pretty quiet. I made my way in easily with the access card.

I didn't even know if to head to the guest room or the master bedroom I shared with George. Well, when...