Paying

"Irene?" Leo Jones called out, his voice filled with a mix of concern and frustration.

"Yes, Dad," Irene replied, her heart pounding in her chest as she stood before the Jones family. She felt a jumble of emotions, knowing that this encounter was not going to end well. The way her mother had sounded on the phone, so angry and disappointed, it was clear that trouble was brewing.

Leo's question hung in the air, and Irene couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion. How was she supposed to answer? Everyone knew she had no relationship with Theodore Myers, let alone ever met him. The situation seemed absurd.

"He is my husband, that's all, Dad," Irene responded, her voice steady despite the anxiety that threatened to consume her. She didn't want to reveal the turmoil inside her, the fear that gripped her heart.

Leo's voice rose, filled with anger and frustration. "I never said he's not your husband, you foolish girl! I'm asking what on earth you're doing, what kind of wife you are, when yo