A Debt of Time and Tears

g screen, on the past, that I

k of it closing, or the foo

tered was the sharp, an

ia

ng my laptop shu

a sleek, expensive pantsuit, her hair pulled back so tightly it seemed to pull at the corners of

, her voice flat. It wasn't a qu

y heart pounding. "J

ll playing with your little toys while I'm out i

countdown. "You snapped that shut like you wer

just

me

daring me to refuse. We had been down this road before. H

on't be r

the lapto

and practiced. She snatched the laptop from my des

. The last message I'd sent to Past Chloe was visible

er any circumsta

what she was seeing, the strange interface, b

voice dangerously quiet. "Who ar

nother woman. Telling her what a monster your wife is. Is that what you do all day, Liam? Sit

ittle. She saw my passion as a "hobby," my work as "playing with toys." She had no ide

t is," I said thro

your failed projects? Another fantasy world you

e resentment, all the years of being treated li

ng with a rage I hadn't felt in years. "Let's talk about your reali

ce wen

" I pressed on. "You reek of his cologne. You laugh at his jokes on the phone b

er composure cracking. I had hi

rittle. Her eyes darted away from mine. "My work with Mark is c

for the flicker of guilt I saw in her eyes. She wasn't den