Chapter 11 •Cracks in the Foundation•

Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as Socks stretched across the bed, his paws brushing Maddie’s side. She groaned softly, not ready to face the day.

She turned her head and saw Mark already up, his side of the bed empty and neatly made.

In the kitchen, the smell of coffee greeted her, but Mark was nowhere to be seen. A note was stuck to the counter: Had a meeting. Be back later.

Maddie exhaled, unsure whether she felt relieved or disappointed. Shaking off the thought, she grabbed her mug and filled it, leaning against the counter as Socks padded in, meowing softly.

“Good morning to you too,” she said, scooping him up. His warmth spread through her like a balm, grounding her in the quiet moment.

By mid-morning, Maddie was on the couch with her laptop, catching up on work emails. Socks had claimed her lap, and she absentmindedly scratched his ears while scrolling through messages.

Her phone buzzed on the armrest, and she glanced at the screen. Mark’s name flashed, and she hesitated before picking it up.

“Hey,” she said, trying to sound neutral.

“Hey,” Mark replied, his tone curt. “I need you to pick up some groceries for dinner tonight. We’ll eat in.”

Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Sure. Is there anything specific you want?”

“I’ll send you a list. Just don’t take all day. I don’t want you to waste time.”

The comment stung, but she swallowed her irritation. “Got it. See you later.”

The call ended abruptly, and Maddie stared at her phone, her chest tightening. Socks meowed, as if sensing her frustration, and she gave him a weak smile. “Looks like it’s just us again.”

The afternoon was spent running errands. Maddie wandered the grocery store aisles, tossing items from Mark’s list into her cart while Socks’ supplies filled another bag.

Back home, she unpacked quickly and glanced at the time. Mark was due back any minute, and the air in the house already felt heavy with his impending presence.

When he arrived, Maddie greeted him with a tentative smile. He barely acknowledged her, heading straight for the kitchen to inspect the groceries.

“You didn’t get sparkling water,” he said, frowning as he shuffled through the bags.

“You didn’t put it on the list,” Maddie replied, keeping her tone calm.

Mark sighed heavily, like her mistake was monumental. “Never mind. I’ll get it myself next time.”

Dinner was a quiet affair, marked by the clink of cutlery and Mark’s occasional comments about work.

Maddie responded politely, but her mind was elsewhere. Socks watched them from his perch near the window, his tail flicking lazily.

Later that night, Maddie retreated to the bedroom while Mark stayed in the living room, glued to his laptop. She changed into pajamas and crawled into bed, Socks curling up beside her.

Her phone buzzed, and she smiled when she saw Ethan’s name.

Ethan: How’s Socks holding up? Any wild adventures today?

Maddie chuckled softly.

Maddie: He’s fine. Spent most of the day being his spoiled self.

Ethan: A true king. Glad to see he’s got you wrapped around his paw.

Her smile lingered as their conversation carried on, the easy banter easing the tension that had hung over her all day. For a brief moment, she felt like herself again, free of Mark’s shadow.

But as the conversation ended and the house grew silent, Maddie stared at the ceiling, a knot forming in her stomach.

The cracks in her relationship with Mark were becoming impossible to ignore, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were only going to get wider.

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