Chapter 183

• -Beth
• The hall is filled with the Ricardos, and I can feel myself shrinking under the weight of their presence. I never felt so out of place in my life. It’s like being trapped in a gilded cage, surrounded by men who look at their wives with disdain, their eyes cold and uncaring. Women cling to their arms, young enough to be their daughters, wearing smiles that don’t reach their eyes. The bruises on their faces, some covered by makeup, others left exposed, are badges of honor in this twisted world. The Ricardos wear them like trophies, like it’s something to be proud of. And I’m supposed to be one of them now.
• I never wanted this. I never asked for it. But here I am, standing on the precipice of my future, bound by a contract I didn’t sign, in a life I didn’t choose.