Adam Morgan spirals into a scotch-fueled depression, desperately seeking a connection to Kelly Summers's past. Meanwhile, Sarah Morgan's calculated legal strategy takes shape, even as a mysterious encounter leaves her resolved to divorce Adam after the trial, regardless of the outcome. However, a shocking revelation awaits Adam, one that will shatter his perception of everything he thought he knew.
Chapter 36: Adam Morgan
Adam continues his investigation, cold-calling numbers in search of Nicholas Miller, the brother of Kelly’s first husband, but finds no luck. He leaves voicemails for Rebecca, the reporter assisting him, and a loving one for Sarah, questioning her silence. He suspects someone from Kelly's past, like Greg's brother, or even Scott Summers, is responsible for her murder.
His mother, Eleanor (Anne), arrives unexpectedly, bearing childhood snacks to lift his spirits. Adam shares news of his seven-figure book deal, a tell-all about his ordeal. While proud, Eleanor reveals that other lawyers considered Adam's case a "lost cause." Her naive belief that "innocent people don't go to prison" contrasts with Adam's fear. Shaken but determined, Adam returns to his list after she leaves for an overnight trip.
Chapter 37: Sarah Morgan
Sarah watches as Sheriff Ryan Stevens interrogates Jesse Hook, a nervous man who frequented Kelly's coffee shop. Jesse claims they were "friends," but Stevens confronts him with a co-worker's statement that Jesse was obsessed with Kelly. Jesse confirms Scott's abuse toward Kelly and that he saw Kelly with Adam at the coffee shop.
Sarah is distracted by texts from her private investigator, also named Anne, revealing Adam's rendezvous with the reporter, a $10,000 mattress purchase, and numerous phone calls. This confirms her suspicions of Adam's recklessness. Frustrated, she dismisses Deputy Hudson, accusing him of covering himself. Stevens believes Jesse is just an admirer, not the killer, but agrees to expedite a DNA test. The theme of Betrayal and Deception intensifies as Sarah realizes the extent of Adam's secret activities.
Chapter 38: Adam Morgan
Sarah confronts Adam about the reporter, phone calls, and the $10,000 expenditure. Adam explains that Rebecca is helping him investigate Kelly's past, a lead Sarah dismissed. The argument escalates, exposing the breakdown of The Façade of a Perfect Marriage. Sarah reveals Jesse Hook corroborated Scott's abusive nature, undermining Adam's conversation with him.
The fight turns vicious. Adam claims the $10,000 was an advance on his book, and Sarah retorts that she'll pay it back if he's convicted, declaring it "MY money." He brings up their marriage, and she throws his affair in his face. Adam's announcement of his tell-all, already in a bidding war, is the final straw. Appalled that he and his mother are turning the murder trial into a "goddamn circus," she declares "I'm done" and leaves.
Chapter 39: Sarah Morgan
Enraged, Sarah orders her PI to disconnect the lake house landline to stop Adam. She has dinner with her friend Matthew, who questions her decision to rush the trial. Sarah lays out her legal strategy: capitalize on negative press about Kelly's past and leverage the unknown third DNA profile and the anonymous threat to create reasonable doubt.
That night, Sarah has a mysterious, sensual encounter. An unnamed person enters her bedroom while she is half-asleep, and they have a passionate, dreamlike sexual experience that fulfills a deep "longing." The person is gone by morning. The experience solidifies her decision to divorce Adam after the trial. The next morning, she meets with her boss, Bob Miller, who is eager to help protect the firm's reputation. He receives a strange call that he dismisses as a "wrong number." Sarah asks him to "take care of" the reporter, Rebecca, and he agrees. Sheriff Stevens then delivers devastating news: Jesse Hook's DNA is not a match. Sarah is back at square one, feeling defeated.
Chapter 40: Adam Morgan
Adam's final five calls are dead ends. The last man curtly says, "Wrong number," and hangs up. Enraged, Adam slams the phone down repeatedly, breaking the connection, unaware that Sarah had it disconnected. Rebecca arrives with files on three individuals from Kelly's past, including Greg Miller's brother, Nicolas Robert Miller. Adam recognizes Nicolas, but can't place the memory.
Defeated, Adam gives up. Rebecca examines the box of evidence Sarah left behind and pulls out the threatening photo Adam received weeks before the murder. Adam notices a Post-it note on one of the files with Sarah's handwriting. He grabs the photo and the note, holding them side-by-side. He realizes the handwriting on the threatening note—"You will pay for what you did to her"—is identical to Sarah's.
Key Events
- Adam's mother reveals other lawyers considered his case hopeless.
- Jesse Hook confirms Scott Summers was abusive to Kelly.
- Sarah confronts Adam about his secret investigation, leading to a fight.
- Sarah has the phone line at the lake house disconnected.
- Sarah has a mysterious sexual encounter and resolves to divorce Adam.
- Jesse Hook's DNA is not a match for the third set found at the crime scene.
- Climax: Adam discovers the handwriting on the anonymous threatening note matches Sarah's.
Character Development
- Adam Morgan: He transitions from passive depression to proactive desperation, distrusting Sarah's defense. The final discovery shatters his perception of his wife, shifting his fear to her.
- Sarah Morgan: Sarah becomes more controlling, manipulative, and secretive, revealing a ruthless desire to manage the case. Her emotional detachment and decision to divorce Adam signal a focus on her own future.
- Bob Miller: Bob's character gains suspicion. His sudden desire to "help" and his strange phone call suggest a hidden agenda.
Themes & Symbols
- Betrayal and Deception: This theme peaks as Sarah's surveillance, Adam's secret investigation, and Sarah's authorship of the threatening note reveal the central conflict is between husband and wife.
- Power, Control, and Manipulation: Sarah's actions are driven by a need for control, attempting to manipulate the narrative. This demonstrates the theme of Power, Control, and Manipulation as a central element of her character.
- The "Wrong Number": The phrase symbolizes the investigation's misdirection and false leads, ironically preceding Adam's discovery connecting Sarah to the threat.
Significance
This section marks the novel's turning point. The plot shifts from a traditional murder mystery to an internal psychological thriller. The question becomes "Is my wife framing me for murder?" This re-contextualizes Sarah's actions, forcing Adam and the reader to question her motives and sanity.
Analysis
"You will pay for what you did to her"
This quote, revealed to be written by Sarah, signifies a shift in the narrative. It transforms the story from a murder mystery with external suspects to a psychological thriller centered on betrayal within the marriage. The threat is no longer from an unknown assailant but from the person closest to Adam, his own wife.
Jeneva Rose uses the dual-perspective narrative to build dramatic irony and suspense. The reader knows Sarah's actions while Adam remains ignorant, highlighting his powerlessness and Sarah's control. The pacing systematically eliminates external suspects, creating despair. This makes the final reveal—a clue hiding in plain sight—shocking and effective. The shift from investigation to domestic betrayal makes the threat more personal and terrifying.