with anger but self-protection.
“Because I applied to clean your house, Mr. Whitmore. I wasn’t applying to reopen my husband’s employment history.”
Adrian immediately recognized that he had crossed a line.
“You’re right.”
Marissa remained by the door.
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded.
He could have ended it there.
He probably should have.
But the question had already become impossible to ignore.
“Was Daniel involved in the dispute?”
Marissa’s expression shifted.
“Which dispute?”
“Rivergate.”
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then she said quietly, “You really don’t know.”
Adrian felt a chill unrelated to the rain outside.
“Know what?”
Marissa glanced toward the hallway again.
When she answered, her voice was lower.
“Daniel was the engineer who stopped the work.”
Adrian stared at her.
“He did what?”
“He refused to approve the next construction phase.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed one of the load calculations was wrong.”
Adrian said nothing.
