"Yes, it's over between us. Honestly, I wanted it to end six months ago—I just never imagined it would drag on this long."

Seven years of marriage had worn her love for him down to nothing.

She'd spent all those years waiting, never getting so much as a hint of affection in return.

At first, she'd told herself he was just reserved, that he struggled to show his feelings. She put up with everything: no wedding, no public acknowledgment, not even a simple word of reassurance.

But in the end, it wasn't that he was cold by nature he simply didn't love her.

His heart had always belonged to someone else.

He could fill notebook after notebook with Sheila's name, plan her wedding with painstaking care, and even handwrite every invitation for a celebration that would never be hers.

Even those invitations she'd found in the box-Timothy had addressed each one himself.

On them, there was a photo: Timothy and Sheila, cheek to cheek, dressed in their wedding best.

It was only then that she understood why he'd insisted on keeping their marriage a secret.

He'd never wanted a wedding with her; it was all for Sheila.

Jessica realized just

know what you've decided. It'll help me deal with him,

met Vince's gaze. "When the month is up, I doubt he'll just sign the divorce papers

you can act as if he doesn't exist. Legally, you're still Salome, and he can't do anything about it if he

right. The weight in Jessica's chest eased a little. If she remained Salome, she could cut Timothy out of her

grateful to have

"If I hadn't met you, I have no idea when—or if— I'd ever have gotten out

powerless. Orphaned, jobless, voiceless, and invisible-she

suffocating under the pressure, enduring her

coldness, and the contempt

wanted to lose herself like

have let your suffer like this. From now

"Thank you, Vince."

the back of her hand with quiet

is what

since you came back into our lives, Mom's spirits have soared.

wave of sadness washed over Jessica. She couldn't keep hiding the

there's something I haven't told you

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