paranoia setting in
In the meantime, my stepsister’s laughter became less sincere and she became clearly uncomfortable. I saw her observing, her eyes clouded by mistrust. She realized that things were changing, but I was careful to conceal my intentions. Tension was bubbling beneath placid grins as our chats had become strained. Her unpleasant dance between what she knew and what she feared—a sign that things were not going as planned in her partnership with Mark—served as confirmation of our momentum.
Paranoia Setting In
mark’s suspicions
Mark seems to notice the change as well. His eyes lingered a little longer, searching for evidence of my deceit. He said, “You seem distant,” with a hint of bitterness. Although the façade of charm was tight, fissures were more common. Mark’s focus was on what I was doing, weighing the risks. My plan benefited from his paranoia.
Mark’s Suspicions
