Duke nodded, understanding in his gaze. “When did you know it was over? Before you caught him with your sister?”
“Last Christmas.” The memory surfaced clearly. “We hosted this huge party at our house. Everything perfect, everyone important there. I was wearing this ridiculous dress that cost more than my car, playing the perfect hostess.”
She paused, the scene replaying in her mind. “I caught my reflection in a window. Didn’t recognize myself. Not just how I looked—who I was. This smiling, nodding stranger wearing my face.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing.” Shame colored her voice. “I kept smiling. Kept nodding. Kept playing the role because I was too scared to do anything else.”
“Until you caught him cheating.”
“Until I caught him cheating,” she confirmed. “Funny how something so awful
