Chapter 9: Anna's Perfect Victory Fell Apart

Two months passed and Brandon stopped contesting the divorce. Rhea felt relief rather than victory.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Anna expected Brandon to choose her now that Rhea was gone, but he limited their relationship to legal and medical responsibilities concerning the pregnancy.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

When Anna insisted that they could finally become a family, Brandon refused. He admitted that what he had felt for her was desire, not the kind of commitment he had owed his wife.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Questions later arose about the pregnancy timeline, so Brandon requested proper paternity confirmation rather than relying on assumptions. The result confirmed that he was the father.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

He created financial arrangements for the child and committed to being responsible, while making it clear that co-parenting did not make him and Anna a couple.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Rhea returned to the city for an international consulting project and began introducing herself simply as Rhea Lowe. She refused to carry the shame of Brandon's behavior.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

At a charity event, someone admitted that society had known about Brandon's affairs but romanticized them because everyone believed he loved Rhea most. Rhea rejected the idea that love made repeated humiliation acceptable.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Brandon heard that she had returned but stopped himself from trying to locate her. He finally understood that if Rhea wanted contact, she would choose it herself.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Anna realized that destroying the marriage had not won her the future she expected. Brandon remained alone, reading the old time-capsule letter and confronting the man he had become.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.

Rhea also stopped carrying the embarrassment that belonged to Brandon. Other people's knowledge of his affairs had once made her feel foolish. Now she understood that trusting her husband had never been shameful. The shame belonged to those who betrayed that trust and treated it as entertainment.