Mara was quiet for a moment before she began.
She looked at her hands first. Then at Mrs Luciana’s face. Then she started.
“When I left my parents home I had nothing except Daniel and the belief that love was enough to build a life on,” she said. “I was wrong about that almost immediately but I was too proud to admit it.”
Mrs Luciana listened without moving.
“He was never faithful,” Mara continued. “There was a woman. Vivienne. She has been in his life the entire time I was. Before we married. During. All of it.” She paused. “I did not know. Or perhaps I chose not to see it clearly. I am still not sure which is more true.”
“When did you find out?” Mrs Luciana asked quietly.
“Recently,” Mara said carefully. “Everything came out at once.”
Mrs Luciana nodded slowly.
“The properties Da
