His luck had run out, the consequences caught up to him? "What does that mean?" It was not the literal response she'd expected and with all the inner turmoil she felt she lacked the brainpower to try figuring it out for herself. Why was this happening? She'd been so sure when she'd come to see him that he'd clarify which parts of the article were the fire and which parts were smoke. She'd expected him to admit to some sort of flirtation between the women mentioned but that he'd explain how it was taken out of context and wasn't what it seemed. That he'd confirm her suspicions and tell her the truth about his marriage but this wasn't supposed to be the truth.

Nova still felt certain that he had a good heart but it sounded as though he didn't follow it as closely as she'd thought. Had he really done what only married people were supposed to with innocent young women, lead them astray, spoiled them, and left them to suffer for it alone? She'd stood up for him, quietly insisted upon his innocence, upon foul play. She could endure the pitying looks and the disbelief because she had known in her heart that it was the truth but she'd authored the greatest deception of all.

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