Chapter 11 - The Invitation with No RSVP
"Absolutely not alone," Celia said when I showed her Victoria's message. "You can decline. You owe that woman nothing."
I wanted to go because I was tired of running from rooms where somebody else held all the power. Celia agreed to accompany me, and we told Kim where we'd be. Lily stayed with my neighbor Mrs. Alvarez, who had known us since she was born.
The benefit was in a hotel ballroom full of people who used the word charity as if it erased what they did the other six days of the week. Victoria stood beside Arthur Haynes in a silver gown. Her engagement ring was gone.
"You came," she said. "I admire a woman who can take a hint."
"You sent the hint," I said. "What do you want?"
She glanced at Celia. "A private conversation."
"Then I guess you'll have to find another audience."
Arthur stepped forward. "Miss Vega, my daughter has been under stress. I'm sorry about the misunderstanding with the child."
"It wasn't a misunderstanding. She's being investigated for shoving Lily."
A few donors turned. Arthur's smile tightened. Victoria's eyes flashed, but Celia was already guiding me toward the exit.
By the coat check, a catering supervisor pressed a folded program into my hand. "A man asked me to give you this. He said your professor would understand."
Inside was a copy of an expense voucher dated the night I left New York. It listed a bus ticket and a relocation fee. The beneficiary was my name. The money had actually been paid to a company called Northbridge Protective Services.
At the bottom, under APPROVED BY, someone had stamped ETHAN CALDWELL.
May you like
I had spent four years believing Ethan had refused to fight for us.
Now someone wanted me to believe he'd paid to send me away.
