I raised an eyebrow, though very little about that statement surprised me.
“What do you mean?”
Her eyes filled.
“He’s controlling. Manipulative. He’s been tearing me down for years, and I kept telling myself I could fix it. I can’t.”
For a moment, sympathy flickered in me despite everything. Then I pressed it down. This was the woman who helped wreck my marriage. Still, I knew the look on her face. I knew what it meant to live beside someone who made you smaller day by day.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said quietly. “But what exactly do you want from me?”
She looked at me like she was standing on the edge of something and couldn’t see the ground below.
“I don’t know. I just needed to tell someone. I feel trapped.”
I nodded slowly.
“Then start by helping yourself. Talk to a lawyer. Find out what your options are. Keep records. Save messages. Write things down. If you decide to leave, you’ll want a clear timeline and documentation.”
She wiped at her eyes and nodded.
“Okay. I can do that.”
Later, during more showings, I watched Ethan and Chloe more carefully. He dismissed every house within their price range with a sneer, as if the market itself had personally insulted him.
“Is this the best you can do, Zara? I thought you were supposed to be the top agent in town.”