Chapter 5 - A Bride Already Chosen
I read the announcement twice. The words stayed the same.
Nicholas Hale and Sloane Whitcomb, the families are delighted to announce...
Nick swore under his breath. “I never agreed to this.”
“Then why did your mother think she could print it?”
“She kept saying Vivian had a plan to save the company. I told her no. I thought that ended it.”
Elliot read the fine print on the settlement proposal. “The marriage isn't the only thing they want to unwind. See this?” He pointed to a paragraph about public statements concerning Riverbend House. “They're asking Anna to waive any claim she has connected to her mother's volunteer work.”
“Why would my mother give me a claim to a building?”
“That's what I need to find out.”
The door opened again. This time it was Sloane Whitcomb, in a pale blue satin dress. I'd spent years pretending not to notice Martha comparing us: Sloane's money, Sloane's manners, Sloane's easy laugh at country clubs where I wasn't welcome.
Sloane's mascara had run. “I heard what happened. I'm sorry.”
“Did you know about this?” Nick demanded, holding up the announcement.
She read the first line and went white. “My mother said it was a contingency plan. She told me not to worry about it.”
“A contingency for what?” I asked.
Sloane set down her clutch. “Your mother-in-law owes my mother three million dollars. She promised to repay it when a property deal closed. If that failed, my mother wanted our families connected another way.”
“By marrying Nick?”
“I told her I wasn't interested.” She looked at Nick. “No offense.”
“None taken,” he said flatly.
Sloane turned toward me. “There's something else. Yesterday, Martha asked me to hold an old silver box until after the wedding. She said you weren't supposed to see it.”
May you like
She unlocked her clutch and laid a small brass key on the table.
“It's in my car,” she whispered. “And I think it contains your mother's handwriting.”
