May (Celeste’s mother)

“Richard, I’m leaving now,” I muttered, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

Richard’s face lit up with that same warm smile he’d been giving me lately. He’d been such a wonderful husband these past few weeks—buying me everything I wanted, treating me like a queen.

The guilt twisted in my stomach. If only I could love him the way he loved me. If only my heart didn’t belong to someone else. But it did. It belonged to Dave, and nothing could change that.

“Okay, darling,” Richard stated. “Don’t stay out too long.”

“Aww,” I purred, touching his arm and pretending my heart was his. “I love you,...