Chapter 11 - The Chasm Between Them
At the sound of Elena’s voice, David finally moved. He didn't look up immediately. Instead, he slowly, painfully pushed himself off the ground, his knees trembling as he stood to his full height. His tailored tuxedo coat was stained with dirt at the knees, his hair slightly disheveled by the cold sweat dripping down his neck. He held the unfolded note tight against his chest, his knuckles bone-white, his fingers crushing the edges of the paper. Slowly, he turned his head and met Elena’s gaze. The physical distance between them was less than three feet, but a vast, bottomless chasm had just opened up beneath their feet. Elena looked at him, her beautiful, perfectly made-up face tight with a mixture of calculated concern and hidden panic. She reached out toward him, her lace-gloved hand hovering in the air. "David, talk to me. You're terrifying your daughter. You're ruining our morning. Give me the paper." But David didn't hand it over. He stared at her, his eyes wide, bloodshot, and filled with a horrifying new realization. He wasn't looking at his loving fiancee; he was looking at a stranger who might have been orchestrating his downfall from the very beginning.
