Claire lowered her head.
“It isn’t the money.”
I pointed toward the dining room.
“It isn’t even the house.”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“The worst part is that while I was standing there tonight, feeling humiliated in front of everyone, you had already decided that I was the person who needed to be kept in the dark.”
Mark’s face crumbled.
“I was scared.”
“So was I.”
I opened the door.
“But I didn’t lie to you.”
I left.
For the first time since our wedding day, I didn’t look back.
I spent the night at my sister’s house.
The next morning, Mark called twenty-three times.
I didn’t answer.
Then he sent a message.
Please let me explain.
I deleted it.
Another message arrived.
Claire told me you left.
I stared at the screen.
Then another.
She knows everything now.
I didn’t understand.
Until Claire called me.
I answered.
