His arms tightened around me.
“I thought you stopped loving me.”
“I never stopped.”
Neither did he.
I cried harder than I had when my first husband died.
Because grief was one kind of loss.
This was different.
This was six years of love stolen by a lie.
Grant Finally Spoke
Behind us, Grant said:
“I did what I thought was best.”
Eli released me.
Slowly, we both turned.
“What was best?” I asked.
Grant straightened his shoulders.
“I was protecting our family.”
“Our family?”
I stared at him.
“You destroyed it.”
“He was tearing us apart.”
Eli gave a short, bitter laugh.
“I was eighteen.”
“You refused to listen.”
“I refused to become someone I wasn’t.”
Grant pointed at him.
“You expected everyone to accept your choices.”
“No.”
Eli shook his head.
“I expected my home to be safe.”
Silence filled the room.
Grant looked at me.
“Mara, you’re hearing only one side.”
