Chapter 3

The grand ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel glittered with chandeliers and Boston's elite. Montgomery Holdings' annual charity gala was in full swing, champagne flowing freely as millions were pledged to children's education. I stood near the back of the room, my fingers nervously adjusting the modest pearl earrings I'd chosen instead of the diamonds sitting in my family's vault.

Three weeks had passed since my hospital discharge. Three weeks of documenting Ryan's lies, of pretending I didn't notice the late nights and whispered phone calls. Three weeks of grieving alone.

"Isabella." Eleanor Vance, our family attorney, approached with concern in her eyes. "I didn't expect to see you here tonight. Your father mentioned you were still recovering."

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Ryan insisted we attend. His company's being considered for a Montgomery investment."

Eleanor's gaze sharpened. "And does Ryan know who's evaluating his pitch?"

"No." I smoothed down my simple black dress—purchased deliberately from a department store, nothing like the couture pieces that filled my childhood closet. "He still has no idea who I really am."

"Bella—" Eleanor began, but stopped as Ryan appeared across the room.

My husband looked handsome in his tuxedo, animated as he spoke with the investment committee. I started toward him, then froze.

Charlotte Stevens stood at his side, resplendent in a crimson gown that hugged every curve. Her hand rested possessively on Ryan's arm as she laughed at something he said. And there, gleaming at her throat, was the sapphire necklace—my necklace.

Ryan leaned close to whisper something in her ear, his lips brushing her temple with casual intimacy. She smiled, a private smile meant only for him.

"Isabella?" Eleanor's voice seemed to come from far away.

I watched as Ryan guided Charlotte to their table—the head table, where the most important guests were seated. My place card, I discovered moments later, was at Table 19, near the kitchen doors.

"He's seated me in Siberia," I whispered to Eleanor, who had followed me. "While he parades her at the main table."

"This is unacceptable," Eleanor hissed. "I'll speak to the coordinator—"

"No." I placed a restraining hand on her arm. "Let me handle this my way."

I took my assigned seat, watching as Ryan and Charlotte whispered and laughed throughout dinner. He never once looked for me, never checked if I was okay. The sapphire at Charlotte's throat caught the light each time she moved, a constant reminder of his betrayal.

I excused myself before dessert, unable to watch anymore. In the quiet of the hotel lobby, I finally allowed myself to breathe. A text message lit up my phone—Sarah checking in. I was typing a response when a deep voice interrupted.

"Isabella Montgomery."

I looked up to find a tall, impeccably dressed man watching me with intense dark eyes.

"It's Walsh now," I corrected automatically.

"Is it?" He smiled slightly. "I'm Alexander Blackwood. We met many years ago, though you wouldn't remember."

Something about his steady gaze made my heart race. "I'm sorry, I don't—"

"You were sixteen. A charity ball much like this one." He stepped closer. "You were the only person who noticed when a waiter was being berated by a guest. You intervened. Kindly, but firmly."

The memory surfaced hazily. "That was fifteen years ago."

"Yes." His eyes never left mine. "I've been watching over you ever since."

Before I could process this strange declaration, Ryan appeared in the lobby, Charlotte still attached to his arm.

"Izzy!" His voice carried false cheer. "There you are. Why aren't you at your table?"

I returned to our apartment alone that night, Ryan claiming he needed to "network" after the gala. The next morning, he stumbled in as I was making coffee, his bow tie stuffed in his pocket and lipstick on his collar.

"We need to talk," I said quietly.

"About what?" He yawned, pouring himself coffee.

"About Charlotte."

His posture stiffened momentarily before he arranged his features into a mask of confusion. "What about her?"

"You seated me at the back of the room while you had her at your table. She was wearing the sapphire necklace you bought three weeks ago."

"Jesus, Izzy." He rubbed his face. "Are you spying on me now? Going through my credit card statements?"

"Answer the question, Ryan."

"The necklace was a business gift. Charlotte's father is considering investing—"

"Stop lying!" My voice cracked. "I saw the way you looked at her. I've seen your messages."

Ryan's expression hardened. "You're not thinking clearly. Ever since the miscarriage, you've been unstable, paranoid—"

"Don't you dare." My words came out in a whisper. "Don't use our baby as an excuse."

"Look." He sighed heavily. "Charlotte is a business connection. That's all. You're seeing things that aren't there because you're grieving. You're too emotionally fragile right now to see reality."

The gaslighting was so blatant, so cruel, that for a moment I couldn't breathe. In that silence, I heard Alexander Blackwood's words again: *I've been watching over you ever since.*

"You're right," I said finally, my voice steady. "I haven't been seeing reality. But I'm starting to now."