“I’m going to say this once, because I’ll never say it sober,” Nora’s recorded voice said from the balcony. She admitted Dalton’s money was part of why she was marrying him, but that wasn’t the real reason she wanted to leave her family home. The real reason was her brother.

She stared down at her drink and confessed that everyone had targeted him for twenty years while she stood safely aside. They never aimed their cruelty at her, so she let it continue. “He’s the best person I know, and I’m a coward.” The recording ended, leaving the hall completely silent. I had expected to feel victorious after finally exposing the truth. Instead, I felt exhausted, as though I had been carrying something fragile for years and was afraid of what would happen if I finally put it down. Click continue reading below

Dalton stood first. He didn’t yell. He simply looked at Nora for a long moment and touched her shoulder.