‘According to wh—’ Do you ever learn, Melissa? ‘Sorry. I stopped at the shop.’ My go-to excuse. ‘Picked you up something nice.’

But the inevitable didn’t come, because we weren’t alone: Cecilia was curled into the corner of the sofa – sobbing. She was meant to be with Lynette tonight, not us.

‘Oh, Ces.’ I hurried to her. ‘What is it, hon? Don’t cry.’

‘What the hell do you think it is?’ Rex was almost foaming at the mouth. ‘You knew, Melissa.’

‘Is it your mum, Ces?’

Cecilia shook her head, her face soggy and puffy and bright red.

‘It’s – Zach,’ she croaked out.

My heart went through my trainers. ‘What’s happened now?’

‘You know exactly what’s happened apparently.’ Rex’s voice went dangerously low. ‘You knew yesterday – and yet you withheld it from me. And it’s taken that nice Jackson girl to get the truth out.’

‘I wasn’t withholding anything,’ I started to protest – but when I met his eye over Ceci’s head, I decided not to argue.

‘What about Zach, honey?’ I asked her gently. ‘Has something else happened at school?’

‘You weren’t in school all day, were you, Cecilia?’ Her father sighed heavily. ‘Not by afternoon lessons? Mrs Atkins said.’

Cecilia hiccupped a sob out. I passed her the tissue box.

‘We can overlook it this time, all things considered, I suppose.’ Rex sat significantly at the dining table. He liked to think he was significant, did my husband. ‘God, that bloody family.’

‘Who?’

‘The Marches.’ Now Rex looked triumphant. ‘I knew they were no good!’

‘What?’ I was flabbergasted. ‘When did you know that?’

‘I’ve always known it,’ he said airily, and I looked at him and thought, I actually hate him. I really do.

He is the meanest, most pompous Game of Thrones-loving twat, and I don’t want to be married to him anymore.

‘Well, I don’t agree,’ I said boldly. ‘I mean, obviously. Ruby’s my best mate.’

And yet, I had married him. Through choice. I’d truly believed – albeit infinitesimally – that he was the answer to my prayers.

I’d bought into the whole dream: the flashy dinners, the weekend in Marbella, the compliments, the attention – the idea of love. And it had all been so seductive: the idea of not worrying about money anymore, of building myself up from nothing to something. The idea of finishing (after actually starting) my education: the ultimate dream – an Open University course in psychology, perhaps, or sociology.

Of putting roots down, for once.

Beyond all else, being a family. Having a family of my own.

But it turned out Rex was no different to any other boyfriend. All he wanted was a thin, bendy wife to control and fuck. Someone to be his ‘Mother of Dragons’. He wasn’t an answer at all – he was just a gateway to hell.

And there was no one to blame but myself. We are what we have become, after all.

‘She wants to make a complaint about the March boy,’ Rex interrupted my epiphany. ‘Don’t you, Ceci?’