My work was unglamorous and my pay modest, but I liked earning money from something I could do.

Patrick said my deadlines were unnecessary pressure.

He said I could return to work later, when we had settled into married life.

“I want to take care of you,” he told me.

I had wanted to believe him so much that I treated the loss of my income as evidence of his generosity.

Across the courtroom, he adjusted the sleeve of his suit.

Chloe sat in the second row.