It wasn’t the anger alone.

I’d been angry with Olivia before.

It was the sudden realization that I had spent months teaching myself to endure her cruelty because I wanted Ethan to choose me.

He never did.

Every time his mother hurt someone, he asked the injured person to be understanding.

Every time she made a questionable decision, he called it complicated.

Every time I asked for honesty, he offered reassurance.

Now my mother was sitting beside a pool in a ruined dress.