When a cry came from my throat, Cecilia seemed delighted. She laughed, crouched down and grabbed my throat, saying with a sneer, "Sophia, I warned you to get divorced quickly. Why won't you listen? Why do you insist on clinging to Richard?"

Then she spoke gently, "How many times do I have to tell you, you're not good enough for him!"

Insisting, she added, "Why can't you accept it? Surely even you understand."

She covered her mouth and giggled, then roughly squeezed my ...