Chapter 96

• Nicole sat alone on a park bench, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of the park where she had spent countless hours as a child. She had played here with Jack, laughed and explored, and created memories that she had treasured for years.
• But now, as she sat on this same bench, Nicole felt a deep sense of hurt and disappointment. She was hurt by Jack's lack of trust, by his willingness to believe the worst about her without even giving her a chance to explain. She was disappointed in herself for allowing herself to get hurt again, for opening herself up to the possibility of pain and heartache.
• As she sat on this park bench, Nicole realized that she had been fooling herself. She had thought that Jack understood her, that he trusted her and believed in her. But she had been wrong.