Chapter 71

Elaine was this close to blurting out a confused "Huh?" when Marcus said that name—but not Audrey's. Nope. He said hers. Elaine. Her eyes widened like she'd just been zapped by lightning. For a few seconds, she froze, stunned beyond reason. Then, trying to save face, she forced a cough. "Cough, cough... cough cough cough..." Marcus watched her reaction closely. That little performance basically confirmed what he'd already begun to suspect. As crazy as it sounded—it was real. "You okay? That was careless," Marcus said as he gently patted her back. Elaine coughed for real now. Between gasps, she waved her hand and said, "Swallowed the wrong way or something." Did he buy it? Hard to tell. He just gave a casual, "Get some sleep," and walked off. But he didn't go to his room. From the looks of it, he headed to the study. Elaine clutched her chest like her heart was about to bounce right out—she'd never been this nervous in her entire life. No joke. She was pretty sure she'd just been expose