As Alex delved into his revelations about Preston, I felt a knot of apprehension in my stomach. I wasn't sure where he was going with this, and part of me regretted not asking for more details before the meeting.

"Here's the thing," Alex began, his voice steady but laced with a hint of indignation. "It struck me as odd how Preston knew about Ellie's pregnancy, a detail that was private."

He paused, letting the implication of his words sink in. Across the table, Preston's face was ...