Sloane admitted she had known Callum was married when their relationship began.

Lorraine had told her that my marriage was effectively over, that I didn’t want children, and that Callum had wasted years trying to please me.

Sloane had accepted those claims because they made her own choices easier to excuse.

“I’ve never met anyone who becomes better by pretending they had no choices,” I said.

She nodded, tears collecting in her eyes.

“I know.”