Kate was left sitting frozen on the veranda, her mind struggling to process the betrayal. The air seemed to grow colder around her, the beautiful scene of the sun setting over the lake twisted into a mockery of the dream she once held dear. The words “so very naive” echoed in her mind, each repetition hammering home the reality of the situation. How could she have not seen this coming? How could the man she loved, the man she trusted, have orchestrated such a deception?
As Mark turned and walked into the house, leaving her alone in the fading light, Kate’s mind began to race. The house was indeed in both of their names, but she recalled the details of the paperwork she had trusted Mark to handle. Had he manipulated something she hadn’t noticed? She hoped she could find a loophole, a way to reclaim what was rightfully hers.
