Page 178 of Chandelier Enthralled
“I asked him to leave.”
She nodded. “We’re not a charity. Well, Cameron kind of is, but we don’t all need to be providing generosity to those who hurt us.”
“I agree.”
“Apparently, we have his diagnosis.”
“Diagnosis?”
“Yes, Cameron says that Hugo is a narcissist.” She looked serious. “The thing about that kind of person is that they mirror you, reflecting your own essence back at you. It’s why they feel familiar. They aren’t truly themselves, but a distorted version of who you are, a silent echo of your own self.”
I tried to fathom it. “He was charismatic and fun…”
She tilted her head with understanding. Rose and Cameron really had gotten into my private life.
“They can only keep that mask on for so long,” she continued. “Some people are masters at it. But when it slips, it confuses you, because you suddenly see two people in there.”
“Did you ever date a narcissist?” I asked.
“Darling, if you’re in the dating pool for any length of time, you’ll always come across one. That’s why you need your friends. They see the red flags before you.”
“Why do some women stay?”
“Money issues, fear of being alone, for the children’s sake, or because their self-esteem was destroyed over time. At first, the relationship feels wonderful. You love the same things, you have so much in common, you are best friends. Then, like a frog in a pot, the temperature is slowly raised, and before you know it, the water is boiling but you’re acclimated by that time, used to the verbal or physical abuse. Leaving feels wrong because you’ve taken on a maternal role. You want to protect them above yourself, which means leaving would hurt them. And you couldn’t bear to see them hurt because your job is to keep them happy.”
“That’s insightful,” I said, wondering why Cameron hadn’t mentioned any of this.
He would have, I guessed, when I was ready to hear it.
Rose brightened. “Hugo cheating on you was a gift. Thank him. Say, ‘What a lovely way to see yourself out.’ Not after years of marriage, but right at the beginning before all that damage is done.” She met my gaze. “Women are like glass—fragile yet resilient. They may crack, but they still have the strength to hold what matters.”
“What matters?” I whispered.
“Love.” She gave me a knowing look. “We are the guardians of love.”
That made me smile. Her compassion was never ending when it came to family.
“Willa, you deserve a man who appreciates all of you—your strength, your intelligence, and your drive to give something back to this world.”
“Like you.”
“You’re going to surpass all I’ve done. I might have set the stage, but the rest is yours now.”
“What you achieved is remarkable. Especially during those times.”
She brightened. “It was all our collective efforts. Solidarity amongst women.”
“Did you ever burn your bra?” It made me giggle to say it.
“Not just my bra.” She winked and it looked adorable on her. “Speaking of no bras, how’s Mia?”
I burst out laughing, because she was referring to that time Cameron’s wife had turned up in his foyer naked, except for a submissive’s collar. They hadn’t been married then. Aunty and I had found Mia standing before the stairs waiting for him. I had whisked Mia away before the rest of the family had seen her.
An endearing memory. I often got pleasure from teasing Mia about it, but she always saw the funny side.
“Mia’s out of town but she’ll be back this weekend.”
“Cameron seems a little lost without her.”
