rriage hadn't started

corruption in the city's housing department. David, the

return, I helped him understand the media landscape, polished his speeches, even used

usiness failed, saw David as a lifeline. They pushed m

ts, endless strategy sessions, using my investigative ski

onent was using, a legitimate scoop

rds to expose a zoning deal that benefited another rival,

ard, and I'd instinctively shielded David, twisting my ankle badly in the process. He'd patted my good sho

his first significant ele

business proposition, deliv

ife would be good for my image.

. But my journalism career had stalled; I'd become too enmes

t seemed like the

They saw David's rising st

lavish affair David paid for, desig

ldened by champagne and Dav

arah. He's going place

arents, and Victoria were having a celebratory

g my wine glass. "Relax

I remembered clearly was Victoria smiling

bed, with a hazy, sickening mem

solicitous, but there was a

night, Sarah," he'd said,

ing was amiss, praising Dav

e. The official narrative became that I had "seduced" him, and he,

ing, the cage

ch work. "A politician's wife shouldn't b

inances, giving me an "

ues, drifted away, uncomfortable with David'

ho kept in touch, though

s for his political gatherings

e my pride, were now used to

wings clipped, my voice silenced. De

th Ethan. Unplanned. Unwanted, by m

ill complete the picture," he

onment. He used it as an excuse fo

rest, for the

go out alone, y

ostensibly helping, but always w

ruel, manipulative car

hrough the next election cycle, I'll set you up with your own research consul

n then, but a tiny sliver of

wn business

pe like a drowning woman

as difficult, l

s, I looked at his tiny face and thoug

thing

me, he was an absent father, leaving all the care

erialized. "Not the right time, Sa

more comfortable

ached with a love that fe

through. He craved his father's

s weakness, my attempts a

d me with Ethan, buying him expensive gift

stand how important your f

w a tantrum because I wouldn't

wish Victoria was my mom! Sh

e outburst, just chuckl

humiliation came

resent me with a handma

directly at me, then turned and ran to Victoria, who was si

like a real mom to me," he

Victoria accepted the card with a

the eyes of every par

wasn't just unloved; I was an ob

d, over and over, by everyone

at humiliation, of all the betrayals,

d the s

evoid of the tears he expected, the hysteric

er, his threats, or Ethan's