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Every second weekend I watch my children pack their bags, knowing I'm sending them into the arms of someone who will chip away at their sense of self, piece by piece. And legally, I'm powerless to stop it.

The irony is I built this cage myself. Brick by brick, choice by choice, with love and pride. I didn't fall victim to a narcissist. I auditioned for the role of perfect wife and got the part. For years, I played it flawlessly.

My relationship with my ex-husband started as picture perfect. We had the white picket fence, his successful career, my devoted domesticity. I was living t

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