“Then I’ll finally know who believed in me, and who only believed in my money.”

That night I made the worst decision of my life. I packed one suitcase and, before sunrise, took my daughters to a women’s shelter run by Sister Julia without telling Richard where we’d gone.

I left a letter on the table.

I love you too much to become the reason you lose everything. The women who depend on your foundation need you more than I do.

I thought leaving was an act of love. I was wrong.

Ten days later Lily collapsed with a dangerously high fever, and doctors found a congenital heart defect that needed immediate surgery. I had no insurance.