As I woke up, the smell of disinfectant pierced every nerve in my body. When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was James resting against the bedside table. His expression remained unchanged, as if frozen in time from the first day we met. It was a fleeting glance that had drawn me into what I thought was love.

James, coming from a poor rural background, contrasted sharply with my privileged upbringing. My family had opposed our marriage, but I had stubbornly pressed on. My blind determination had led to Alice’s suffering and my own. Seeing his face now, I was consumed by a storm of hatred and...