“No.”

She watched him.

He forced himself not to look away.

“No,” he repeated. “It wouldn’t.”

Serena leaned back.

For the first time, her composure looked costly.

“You keep saying I was innocent.”

“Of what he accused you of.”

“Yes. But I wasn’t innocent of everything.”

Matteo said nothing.

“I stayed,” she continued. “I understood enough. I made excuses because I loved you, and because being the only person you trusted made me feel necessary.”