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Novel Catalog
Chapter_13
Suspicious Keys
The elevator ride was silent, the air thick with tension. Melanie pouted and leaned against the wall, her gaze cast downward. Honestly, I couldn’t have cared less about her demeanor. She was used to being pampered, and I was used to ignoring her when she was acting out. Matthew might spoil her, but I had long since lost my patience for her antics.
When the elevator reached the floor for Matthew’s office, he was, as expected, in a meeting. One of his employees spotted us and immediately called out to Matthew. His eyes flickered between me and Melanie, confusion and surprise flashing across his face before they landed on me.
After a brief pause, Matthew opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off before he could say anything.
“Did I embarrass you?” I shot back, my irritation flaring. “Why should I bother dressing up to go to the market?” I didn’t give him a chance to respond, my words coming out sharper than I intended. “Pass me the keys. Ava’s still asleep.”
Matthew hesitated for a moment, then moved quickly toward his desk. He retrieved the keys from his bag and handed them to me. “Didn’t you ask Mel to bring them to you?”
I took the keys from him, shooting a pointed glance at Melanie. “Does she even have time to bring them to me?” I scoffed. “Pretending to be Mrs. Murphy seems more important to her than actually helping. You should have a proper chat with ‘Mrs. Murphy.’”
I could tell Melanie was seething, but I didn’t care. This had gone on long enough. “I don’t think I can address her the same way you do,” I continued, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Your big brother is truly amazing to make you his ‘Mrs. Murphy.’”
Without another word, I turned and left the office, feeling my anger simmering under the surface. I had no time to argue with them. Ava was waiting at home, and if she woke up before I returned, there would be hell to pay.
I hurried out of the building, grabbed a cab, and made my way home, my fingers tightly gripping the keys.
When I opened the door, I noticed something odd. There were two extra keys on the keyring—ones I didn’t recognize. There were the usual keys to my house, my in-laws’ house, and my office. But the other two? I had no idea where they belonged.
A sense of unease crept over me. I had to know. Without wasting time, I grabbed my coat and left again. There were a few key duplication shops in the east side of town, and I knew one that was small and discreet. I had two copies made quickly, my mind racing with possibilities.
By the time I returned home, Ava was still miraculously asleep. A wave of relief washed over me—at least I wouldn’t have to deal with her tantrums. But just as I set my things down, I heard the front door open. Matthew had returned.
I turned to him, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest. “Why are you back so early?”
“I just wanted to make sure Ava was okay,” he said casually, brushing past me to enter the bedroom. “I was worried she’d wake up and cry.”
I followed him into the room, my nerves on edge. Matthew approached Ava, who had just stirred at the sound of his voice. Her eyes blinked open, and Matthew’s face lit up with a smile.
“Hello, my sweetheart,” he greeted her, his voice soft and affectionate.
“Daddy! I want ice cream!” Ava beamed up at him, her eyes filled with hope.
“All right, we’ll play a little longer, and then Daddy will take you and Mommy out for dinner and ice cream, okay?” Matthew pinched Ava’s little nose, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him happily.
“Daddy, you’re the best!”
I watched them, my heart heavy but also softened by the sight of their bond. As I poured Ava some water, I noticed Matthew glance over at the cabinet by the door, his gaze lingering for just a moment. His body seemed to relax, as though the sight of the keys there reassured him.
I entered the kitchen and started peeling apples for Ava, trying to focus on something else. But as I cut the apples, something caught my eye. The keys. They were no longer on the cabinet.
My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, the knife trembling in my hand. The apple I had been slicing dropped from my grasp and rolled across the coffee table with a soft thud.
Matthew’s gaze shifted to me, a curious expression crossing his face. “Is everything okay?”
My mind raced, my pulse quickening. What was going on? Where had those keys gone?