I felt only an immense, bone-deep exhaustion, the tiredness of a person who has finally seen, all at once, the full scope of how thoroughly she has been used by everyone she trusted.

“Mom had so many expenses,” Daniel whimpered.

“Aaron was always short on cash.

I just…

I didn’t want it to look like you were the only successful one in the marriage.” And there it was.

The whole ugly truth of it, spoken aloud at last, in a single sentence.

Chapter 14 — The Charade

I didn’t want it to look like you were the only successful one in the marriage.