Chapter 4

He raised his hand to wipe away my tears, his voice almost breaking with pain.

I shook my head, and my voice was shaking violently.

I replied, "Of course, there's a huge difference, Julian. I'm just a fake.

"I'm a fraud who's stolen someone else's place for twenty years, and finally I have to use fake photos just to hold onto a shred of pathetic self-esteem."

Julian protested, "It's not like that..."

He tried to push back, but I cut him off.

All the grievance and insecurity I'd bottled up for years came pouring out like a flood that burst…