Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Stopped Being His Secret
Brier disappeared from the city for two weeks.
When she returned, she asked to meet me in a quiet café near Central Park.
She looked different without designer dresses and perfect makeup. Smaller somehow. More human.
“I owe you an apology,” she said.
“You do.”
“I was cruel to you because I thought you had the life I wanted.”
“And now?”
“Now I know I never wanted Declan. I wanted to feel chosen.”
Her honesty surprised me.
Brier told me Declan had been seeing another woman as well—a real estate broker named Celeste. He had promised Celeste the same things he promised Brier: that his marriage was over, that he felt trapped, that he would leave soon.
“He had a different story for every woman,” Brier said.
“No,” I replied. “He had one story. He was the victim, and everyone else was supposed to save him.”
Brier nodded.
She had accepted a deal to cooperate with authorities. She would return the money she could and testify against Declan.
Before leaving, she placed a small envelope on the table.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Letters Declan wrote about you.”
I did not open them immediately.
Later that night, I read one.
Sarah will never leave. She needs me too much.
I folded the letter slowly.
Then I threw it into the fireplace.
The flames consumed the paper in seconds.
For years, Declan had mistaken my loyalty for dependence.
He had mistaken my patience for permission.
May you like
He had mistaken my silence for surrender.
He had been wrong about all of it.
