Some held sympathy. Some held pity. Most held the gleeful curiosity of spectators settling in for a show.
I didn't care.
I walked over to Giles, who had his arm around Lucinda and was introducing her to guests.
When he saw me, his brow creased, but he still pulled me to his side.
"This is my wife, Beulah."
That was all he gave me—three words tossed out like an afterthought before he turned back to his guests.
The gala began.
Giles strode onto the stage in high spirits, holding Lucinda's hand.
He picked up the microphone, his voice carrying clear and strong across the hall.
"Thank you all for being here. On this special occasion, I have an important announcement to make."
He glanced down at Lucinda's belly with a look of deep affection.
"Everyone here knows my wife, Beulah. She's always been too afraid of the pain to have children." He let that land, then spread his hands with a generous smile. "And I've always been understanding about it."
"But the Gilbert family must have an heir."
He paused, letting a carefully measured look of regret settle over his face.
"So to fill that void—and to make sure the Gilbert name carries on—I've decided to take the child Lucinda is carrying and raise it as my own. My one and only heir."
The room erupted.
Lucinda leaned into Giles, beaming so wide she could barely contain it, every line of her face broadcasting triumph.
Giles grabbed my hand and dragged me onto the stage.
The spotlight hit me, stabbing into my eyes.
"Bea, I know you've always been kindhearted."
"So go ahead. Tell everyone how grateful you are that Lucinda is giving the Gilbert family what you couldn't."
The cruelty was surgical.
He wanted me to stand here and confess my own "failure" out loud—then smile and thank the mistress who had stolen everything from me.
I looked out at the faces below the stage, the pity, the contempt, and I looked at Lucinda's face, drunk on her own victory.
I took the microphone from his hand.
The entire room went silent.
Everyone was waiting to watch me cave. Waiting for the dutiful wife to bow her head and keep the peace.
I cleared my throat. My voice came out terrifyingly calm.
"Grateful? Yes, actually."
"Because Ms. Lambert finally showed me how cheap five years of CEO Gilbert's devotion really were."
The color drained from Giles's face in an instant.
"Beulah, what the hell are you talking about!"
I didn't look at him.