Faye questioned her husband playfully, "Why do you keep tasting all of my food? Are you worried it is poisoned?"
That's when she noticed the smile vanish from Sterling's face, leaving him with a grim expression. He pressed his lips together in a tight line, as if refusing to give her an answer.
She had gone too far with the teasing. The moment Faye posed her question, she could tell by the immediate change in his body language that she didn't have to wait for a response.
She already understood—it was yes.
Faye carefully took the cup of tea from Sterling, and it clattered on the saucer when her hands trembled from the realization of what was occurring.
Her husband was taking his own life at mortal risk to protect hers.
As she gingerly sipped her hot tea, it no longer tasted sweet. Instead, it left a bitter taste in her mouth.
She mumbled, staring down into the billowing steam rising from her teacup.
"There has to be a better way…"
