She left because of what his lie revealed about his usefulness to her.

She had attached herself to a man she believed was wealthy and powerful, and the moment that belief collapsed, so did her interest, cleanly, without sentiment, because her attachment had never been to Christopher at all.

It had been to his money, which was my money, which meant it had never really existed.

And watching that unfold, I understood that Christopher had not traded me for a better woman.

He had traded a woman who loved him and sustained him for a woman who wanted only what she thought he had — and the moment the illusion of what he had evaporated, he was left with neither of us, which was just what his own choices had built.