Chapter Thirty-One

That evening, after brunch, Leslie dozed off on the couch, exhaustion pulling her under. Her dreams were full of memories and pain, replaying the moments that had broken her spirit. In her nightmare, she was back at the small desk in Luke’s office, flipping through the pages of his journal. Each entry tore into her soul like shards of glass. Katie’s smile today was the only bright moment of my shift. I wish I could tell her... Another entry reads If only I hadn’t married Leslie. It was a mistake born of pity and pressure. Leslie’s dream twisted into vivid images of her mother waving goodbye with a sad smile. Leslie jolted awake, gasping for air, her heart racing as if she had been running for miles. Her cheeks flushed with humiliation and anger as she wiped away a stray tear. She sat up, clutching a pillow tightly to her chest. "Enough. I deserve better," she whispered, her voice trembling. She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the lingering ache. The realization had never b