My initial reaction was denial. How could the person who had been so attentive, so genuinely interested in me, be capable of such deception? Yet, the evidence was right there in my trembling hands. I felt the room spinning slightly, the clink of cutlery and murmur of fellow diners fading into the background as my mind raced.

I glanced toward the kitchen, searching for the waitress. Why had she done this? How did she know him? Her actions suggested she had a personal stake in warning me, but her motivations were shrouded in mystery. Her face was a blur in my memory, but her urgency and fear were unmistakable.

Michael returned from the restroom, looking unperturbed by the incident. He apologized for the delay with that same charismatic smile that had seemed so genuine just an hour ago. But now, with the knowledge of his alleged past, that smile took on a sinister undertone.