"Not well, at first," she admitted. "I tried to be perfect. To never give anyone a reason to criticise me. It was exhausting.""And now?" I asked, genuinely curious despite myself."Now I remember that what others think of me is their business, not mine." Her eyes held mine steadily. "The people who matter know the truth."I picked at a loose thread on the bedspread. "The difference is, your mate actually wanted you. He chose you.""And you think my stepsons don't want you?" Elise raised an eyebrow. "Imogen, those boys have been in agony for years."I scoffed. "Right. That's why they made my life hell.""I'm not excusing what they did," she said firmly. "But I've watched them grow up hating themselves for hurting you, even before they understood why it bothered them so much."The bond pulsed between us, carrying echoes of the Williams brothers' emotions, guilt, remorse, and longing so intense it made my chest ache. I pushed it away, unwilling to let it influence me."It doesn't change
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