Raisel’s POV
I sat on the couch, fingers wrapped around a warm cup of tea. Across from me, Susan stared, her expression unreadable. We were alone in her office, the weight of unspoken words pressing between us.
“Are you ready to hear me out?” she asked gently.
I exhaled, my grip tightening around the cup. “Do I have a choice?”
Her lips pressed together. “No.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay,” she cut in. “You hate change. And secrets, especially when they appear out of nowhere.”
A bitter chuckle escaped me. “After my ex-husband’s affair came to light, I’ve been forced to see the truth in places I never looked before. Maybe I was too naïve to believe the lies.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Can you believe that? A twenty-year-old, still foolish enough to trust?”
S
