“I’d like to contribute an additional item,” I announced. “A Carrington family heirloom.”
The room rippled with whispers.
I slid my wedding ring free. “This was given to me by Nathaniel Carrington. Its value is beyond measure—but tonight, its price will be higher than money.” I met their eyes steadily. “Whoever purchases this ring… will become my future husband.”
The silence was deafening.
Across the room, Nathaniel’s face drained of color.
The ring vanished to the highest bidder, and with it went the last thread tying me to that man.
Nathaniel cornered me moments later. “Are you insane? That ring represented everything my brother gave you! Do you have any idea what you just threw away?”
“Why does it matter to you?” I asked coolly. “You’re not him.”
His jaw tightened. “I’m his family—”
“Your brother is gone,” I said. “And I’ve buried the woman who loved him.”
I walked away.
Delilah followed me outside, ripping my hair back in fury. “You selfish witch! You stole my night!”
I tore her hand free and laughed, hollow and bitter.
“Enjoy the spotlight, Delilah. I won’t be here to compete with you anymore.”
By the time I reached the house, my lungs still felt too tight, like I’d been breathing smoke instead of air. I had barely stepped inside when Lucinda rushed at me, her face flushed with fury.
“Did you really sell off Nathaniel’s belongings?” she snapped. “His ring, his bike, the aircraft—everything that carried his name?”
“I did,” I replied without emotion. “All of it went to auction.”
Her mouth fell open. “Do you even understand what you just threw away? Those were assets worth millions. That wealth belongs to the Carrington family!”
“He was my husband,” I said coolly. “Those things were mine to decide on.”
Her voice dropped. “Then where is the money?”
“I gave it away,” I said. “Every cent. Donated.”
The room went silent, the kind of stillness that buzzes in your ears before a storm. Then her hand was in my hair, yanking my head back until pain tore through my scalp.
“You vile little ingrate!” she screamed. “So this is who you really are. You’ve been pretending all these years!”
I clenched my jaw and stared straight back at her. “You’re the one pretending. You played the loving mother, acted like you cared about me—”
Her slap came so hard my vision burst with light.