*You ever been married"?
His expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker in his eyes that seemed like curiosity, maybe, or annoyance. I couldn’t tell.
I swallowed hard and continued. “My father was furious. He was embarrassed, scared of what it would do to his reputation if word got out, I mean, his business was already down bad. He threatened me, told me I had to take her place or else…” my voice faltered. “Or else he’d stop funding my mother’s treatment. Like she wasn't his wife to begin with”
I paused, biting the inside of my cheek to keep the tears at bay. Talking about it felt like tearing open a wound I’d only just managed to close.
“So, I agreed,” I said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I didn’t have much of a choice. It wasn’t about you. It was about my
