Chapter 39

Cassandra stood frozen, her shoulders shaking with unspoken questions. “But Zo,” she finally whispered, voice quavering, “his transformation has been so abrupt. It’s as if the man I married has vanished—replaced by someone…else.”

Zoe settled into the plush armchair opposite her friend, smoothing the fabric beneath her palms. Evening light filtered through gauzy curtains, casting a warm glow over the cozy living room. She sighed, leaning forward. “Cass, he isn’t a different person—he’s still the man you fell in love with. The changes you’re witnessing now were always there, hidden beneath the surface. He kept them from you because he feared startling you. But now that you’ve seen this side of him, it’s as though a dam broke. He’s liberated—finally free to be his full, authentic self.”

Cassandra’s gaze dropped to her trembling hands, fingers laced together on her lap. “It was just so overwhelming,” she murmured. “I felt completely outpaced, like I couldn’t keep up with who