Part 2: I had surgery to restore my sight after 20 years of blindness, even though my husband begged me not to — the moment I opened my eyes and saw him, I finally understood why.

A tiny movement around her eyes.

But I noticed it.

And something inside me went cold.

"Mom?"

She looked away.

"What do you mean?"

"The boy who pushed me from the swing. Nicholas Vale. He's Nigel."

Mom sat down slowly.

"Oh, Mara."

I stared at her.

"Did you know?"

She didn't answer immediately.

"Mom."

Her eyes filled.

"I suspected something when you first introduced him."

My breath caught.

"You suspected?"

"He looked familiar."

"And you didn't say anything?"

"I wasn't certain."

Her voice became defensive.

"Besides, sweetheart, you were happy. After everything you'd suffered, you finally had someone who loved you."

I felt a strange mixture of anger and disbelief.

"So you decided I didn't need to know?"

"Mara, I was trying to protect you."

I pulled my hand away.

I was beginning to hate those words.

*Trying to protect you.*

Nigel had used them.

My father had apparently used them.