‘Oh right, so you’re the expert on relationships, are you?’ I said, a dangerous amount of rage coursing through my veins. I was still wearing my coat, and I flung it on the ground. ‘You know what I’ve learnt – what Amber’s made me see – is that you and Dad are the whole reason I’m so fucked! You let him cheat on you in our house, and when I found out, you fucking gaslighted me, like I was the problem! No wonder I’ve gone for men who confirmed all my worst fears about how unlovable I am. It’s textbook – and you’re the one who taught me all my lessons.’

Mum stood up, her ivory skin splashed red. Her finger jabbed at me.

‘You have no idea what I’ve sacrificed to keep this family together.’

‘Yes, I do! You ignored him fucking the nanny. And probably, like, a thousand assistants. Well done. You’re a hero.’

She wouldn’t meet my gaze, staring blankly out of the window, even though there was nothing to see but the sodium glow of a streetlight.

‘You’re not the queen!’ I continued, on a roll now. ‘No one cares if you’re divorced. You’re a grown woman with a career. You’ve chosen to stay in that marriage, and it’s not just you that’s paid for it.’

‘No, it’s not that,’ she said, her voice low and quiet. It was disturbing. ‘I did everything I could to protect you. A mother’s love. You can’t understand it, but you have to trust me.’

When I look back now, I curse myself for not pushing harder on that door, but perhaps on some level I knew I was too fragile to let it swing open just yet.

‘So, you admit it?’ I shouted. ‘Just admit you knew about him and Esther all along. And she’s back now? What the fuck is that about?’

Her calm was starting to infuriate me.

‘Marriage is hard, Rachel. Hopefully one day you’ll have the chance to find that out firsthand.’

There it was, her sugar-coated spite. Rage charged through me like a power surge. Why couldn’t she tell me she was sorry? Why did she have to keep hurting me instead, making herself into the heroine of her own twisted narrative? And how many lifetimes had I let her abuse me? I was free now. Amber had shown me the road out.

‘Just go, okay?’ I said. ‘Just leave. Get out of my house.’

‘You don’t mean that, darling,’ she said, stepping towards me. ‘I love you!’ I stepped backwards, putting my hands up to protect myself as if she was poised to strike.

‘I do. I really do. This – this is toxic. You’re toxic for me.’