“You do not,” he said. “Because on the other side of the curtain is being mine. Belonging to me, and I do not mean the version of myself that I’ve allowed you to see. I do not mean the careful, thoughtful man that you believe that I am. I’ve fostered that belief—fed it as much as I could—because I do regret that your future had to be sacrificed for my gain, and it will make the next handful of years go easier for us both. But you do not want to test me on this, darling. Stay on the other side where it’s safe.”
