Part 3:

Marcus reached me at the same time Ethan did.

That alone felt like a cruel little portrait of my life: the man who broke me and the man who once loved me arriving from opposite sides of a ballroom while everyone watched.

Marcus grabbed my elbow.

Too hard.

“We’re leaving. Now.”

I tried to pull away.

“Let go. You’re hurting me.”

His grip tightened.

“I said we’re leaving.”

Ethan’s voice cut through the noise.

“I don’t think the lady wants to leave.”

Marcus turned slowly.

“This is none of your business, Blackwood.”

Ethan stepped closer.

“Donating ten million dollars to her cause makes it my business.”

The crowd pressed in. Phones were raised everywhere now. The gala had stopped pretending to be a charity event. It had become a live-streamed disaster.

Helena hurried toward us.

“Gentlemen, please. This is not the place.”

Vivian appeared at Marcus’s side.

“Marcus,” she said softly, “we should go.”

We.

Such a small word.

Such a revealing one.

My head turned.

“Why is your assistant here as your plus one?”

Silence.

Marcus’s jaw flexed.

Vivian’s eyes flicked down.

That was when Beth whispered, “Grace. Look at her wrist.”

I looked.

And the floor seemed to shift beneath me.

Vivian was wearing my bracelet.

Custom Cartier. Three interlocking diamond circles. My anniversary gift from Marcus. Or so I had thought. It had disappeared three months earlier, and Marcus told me it was at the jeweler for repair.

I touched my bare wrist.

“That’s mine.”

Vivian’s hand jerked back, but it was too late.

“The bracelet you said was being repaired,” I said, turning to Marcus. “You gave it to her?”

“You’re being hysterical,” Marcus snapped. “Pregnancy hormones. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The baby kicked.

I almost laughed.

“Your daughter just kicked,” I said. “Right now. While you stand here explaining why your mistress is wearing my jewelry.”

Vivian went pale.

Ethan looked at her.

“When did he give it to you?”

Vivian’s mouth opened.
…
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