I'd been so out of it with the fever yesterday, my head swimming.
Today, thinking a little clearer, I finally noticed.
The person who'd posted the smear was Curtis's new secretary. Margot Pruitt.
I'd met her before.
Young. Pretty. And hostile—every time she saw me, she looked ready to spit fire.
At first, I figured talented people were just temperamental.
Now I understood. She'd already cast herself as the next Mrs. Delgado.
I clicked through to her profile. It was full of her life with Curtis.
Ski trips. Galas. Wine country estates.
The glossy, gilded world of the elite.
But the photo that stopped me cold was from last night's charity gala.
Margot in a couture gown worth more than most people's houses. Jewelry dripping from her neck. Standing beside Curtis under the lights, smiling for the cameras.
It clicked.
Why the organizers had revoked my invitation at the last minute.
Why Curtis hadn't answered my calls.
He'd already moved on. Margot was the new favorite.
And now, with his blessing, she couldn't wait to tear me down so she could take my place.
I couldn't help but look up at the people laughing and chatting inside the private room.
Under the dim, romantic lighting, Curtis was drinking a lover's toast with Margot, their lips meeting over the rim of the glass.
Margot pretended to stumble and fell into Curtis's arms, her face flushing red as the others whooped and cheered.
One of his friends laughed and teased him.
"Curtis, you really know how to play the game."
"Didn't spend a dime and still landed Emma Henson—that gorgeous woman—and kept her devoted to you all these years."
"But aren't you worried she'll find out and turn on you?"
Curtis lifted Margot's hand and kissed it lightly, then laughed like it was nothing.
"You know how much Emma owes in penalties for breaking her contract?"
"Eight hundred million dollars."
"Without me, she couldn't pay that off in a lifetime."
"So no matter what happens, she has no choice but to stay right by my side."
With that, Curtis smugly shared his expertise in "wife management" with the room.
How he'd bankrupted my family's company, then swooped in like a hero to win my heart.
How he'd used a box of fever medicine to destroy my reputation and wreck my career, leaving me no choice but to stay with him.
As he spoke, his face was full of pride.
He had no idea that outside the room, tears were streaming down my face.