Chapter 4

The hall went dead silent in an instant.

My mother-in-law was the first to rush over.

"Oh my, Mr. Fox, you honor us with your presence. What a privilege."

Margery couldn't be bothered to keep humiliating me a second longer. She flew straight into his arms like a bird darting home to its nest.

"Daddy, you came so early? Martin was just saying he'd send the driver to pick you up."

Martin hurried over too, all smiles.

"Uncle Jackson Fox, a man as busy as you, taking the time to come to my mother's birthday. You've gone to such trouble."

I looked hard at them and let out one cold laugh after another. Now I finally understood why Martin had changed so much.

He'd found himself a new father-in-law from a wealthy family.

Jackson laughed and clapped Martin on the shoulder.

"Martin, I always knew you had it in you. Getting in with Tom Pruitt, the richest man in New York. Well done, well done."

Martin bent forward at once, all humility.

"Uncle Jackson, I still have so much to learn from you. I'll be counting on you for the overseas markets from here on."

And with that he ushered Jackson fawningly to the seat of honor.

Margery shot me a smug glance and dropped straight into the seat beside my mother-in-law.

Martin watched me struggle, then strode over fast and dropped his voice into an order.

"Cecilia, everyone here today is somebody important. If you run your mouth again and ruin this for me, you can forget about ever being Mrs. Abbott."

"You go sit with the boys and have a few drinks. Anything you want afterward, buy it yourself and put it on my tab."

The man in the floral shirt and the others hauled me up on the spot and shoved me down at their table.

The guests kept arriving, and the hall came alive. In no time it was packed wall to wall.

Everyone congratulated my mother-in-law on her good fortune and praised Martin for his success, for the partnership he was about to close with the richest man in New York.

Watching so many of the city's elite pour in, Martin only grew more pleased with himself.

I lifted my eyes. There, dead center at the head table, sat a place card with my father's name on it. Tom Pruitt.

So Martin had already gone and broadcast the news of my father's arrival all over town.

No wonder an ordinary birthday for a second-tier family had drawn such a crowd. They'd all come for the name of Tom Pruitt, the richest man in New York.

I sat down quietly.

Martin, let's see how you explain your legal wife sitting at the side table once your real father-in-law walks in.

The birthday tributes began.

Martin knelt there in front of my mother-in-law with Margery on his arm, bowing his head as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought Margery was the Abbott bride.

Margery remembered me and started tugging at Martin, all coy.

"Martin, honey, if I take my sister's place bowing to your mother, she'll be upset for sure."

"Call her over. Let her bow to your mother too, so your mother can teach her the Abbott family rules."

A flash of delight crossed Martin's face.

"Margie, so gracious. That's real class. Giving Cecilia a chance."

"Fine, we'll do it your way. Have Cecilia come over and bow to my mother."

He turned and looked my way, and the punks caught his meaning at once. Snickering, they shoved me up to the head table.

My mother-in-law looked at me sideways, contempt in every line of her face.

"Cecilia, you've been married in a whole year and never once had the chance to see what the Abbott name means. Today you've seen it for yourself. Everyone the Abbotts deal with is a person of real standing."

"From now on you'll be humble and respectful, you'll treat Martin as your whole world, and none of that gutter-wife jealousy. You have to be worthy of the honor of being Mrs. Abbott."

Jackson cleared his throat, and my mother-in-law stopped short.

Martin took the hint at once.

"Uncle Jackson, you're the elder here. Say a few words."

Sure enough, Jackson's cold, contemptuous gaze swept over me.

"A low-born woman who wormed her way into a good family with cheap tricks. How is a woman like that fit to be Mrs. Abbott?"

"Martin, keep her on the side, throw her a little money, that's all she needs. Margie's gracious enough not to fight over it, but my daughter has to have her rightful place."

I gave a scornful little laugh. So this was what they called a great family. Publicly campaigning for the mistress's daughter to take a wife's seat. Shameless to the last.

Martin looked at me with something complicated in his eyes, and my mother-in-law flew into a rage.

"Martin, what are you waiting for? Look at the sorry state of her. Is she fit to be Mrs. Abbott?"

"You're going to do great things, you're going to partner with the richest man in New York. Could you ever bring a low creature like this out in public?"

Martin finally made up his mind and spoke, grave.

"Cece, we really aren't a match. It was you who chased after me back then, and I only got together with you because I felt sorry for you."

"There's a courtyard house out back. You move in there today. Don't worry, I won't shortchange you a cent from here on. Food, clothes, a roof, I'll cover all of it. But when you see Margie you'll be respectful and polite. No sniping, no jealousy."

I curled my lip into a cold smile.

"Martin, you're sure you want to divorce me?"

In that moment I understood, fully and finally, that Martin wasn't just a social climber. He was shameless to the core.

He wanted to keep me, the daughter of the richest man in the country, the crown princess of New York, as a kept woman. Did the man have no fear of dying?

Martin hesitated, looking at me, and the instant Margery pouted, his expression snapped straight and serious.

"Cecilia, only now do I realize the one I love is Margie. Only Margie is worthy of me. Don't worry, even after the divorce you'll still get to see me. If Margie allows it, I'll come visit you."

I couldn't be bothered wasting more breath. I pulled out the divorce papers.

"All right. Sign. I wouldn't want to hold up your marriage to the heiress."

Martin thought for a second, then snatched up the pen and scrawled his name across it.

In that moment, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Jackson, Margery, Martin.

Just as I turned to go, a shout came from beyond the front doors.

"Mr. Pruitt, the Pruitt tycoon has arrived."

At once the whole room shot to its feet. My mother-in-law grabbed Martin in her excitement and swept out to meet him, Jackson and Margery close on their heels.

I stood at the back of the crowd and watched the doors open. My father stood in the doorway in a black tang suit, gold cane in hand, the picture of authority.

"Mr. Pruitt, welcome, welcome."

"Mr. Pruitt, I'm Martin Abbott. You've honored my humble home with your presence."

My father's gaze swept over everyone, settled on Margery hanging off Martin's arm, and his brow drew slightly together.

"Mr. Abbott, where is your wife, Cecilia?"

The whole room froze in place. Martin's mouth fell open in shock.

Into the dead silence, I spoke, slow and even.

"Dad, I'm right here."

The crowd parted at once, opening a path.

Step by step, under everyone's eyes, I walked over, took my father's arm, and gave a cool little smile.

"Dad, didn't I tell you not to come? The Abbotts only want Margie. They don't want the partnership."