Chapter 4
At eight o'clock that evening, the Grand Crest Hotel ballroom glittered under crystal chandeliers.
Richard had booked out the entire top floor for Claire's welcome-back reception. A champagne tower caught the light near the entrance, and a live band played smooth jazz from a low stage.
The guest list read like a who's who of the city's elite, and Claire moved through them effortlessly in a Valentino couture gown, as poised and graceful as a swan gliding across still water.
Richard stood in the corner with a glass of whiskey he hadn't touched.
He'd spent the entire day trying to reach Evelyn. She had blocked his number, blocked him on every messaging app, and ignored every text.
His assistant, Adam Chapman, had tracked her down to Maplewood Apartments, a run-down residential complex on the older side of town. He couldn't figure out why she would move to a place like that.
The contract still had a month left. He was still wiring her money. What was she in such a rush to leave for?
"Richard." Claire walked over, trailing the familiar scent of her signature perfume. "Why are you standing here all by yourself? Not happy to see me back?"
"That's not it." He set the glass down. "I'm just a little tired."
Claire studied him, her gaze sharp and knowing. "I heard that while I was gone these past three years, you had someone by your side."
His fingers tightened around the edge of the table. "Who told you that?"
"Do I really need someone to tell me?" She let out a soft laugh. "You were married for three years, and your wife never once showed her face in public.
"Everyone's been talking about it. They say you found a stand-in just to keep your family off your back."
The word "stand-in" cut through the noise of the room.
"She moved out today," Richard said, his voice flat and even. "The arrangement ended early."
Claire raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Just like that? How obedient."
"She was always obedient."
"Good." Claire slipped her arm through his and leaned in. "Richard, I'm back now. People like her, people who don't belong in our world, they need to be cleared away. Our future doesn't need any shadows hanging over it."
Our future.
Richard looked at Claire's flawless profile, and a memory from three years ago surfaced. The day she left the country to train at a ballet conservatory abroad, she had told him, "Richard, love isn't everything. I have my own ambitions."
He had told her he'd wait. He respected her dreams and was willing to wait for her. And then he met Evelyn, a woman whose profile looked just like hers.
"Richard?" Claire called out to him.
"Yeah."
"Come look at apartments with me tomorrow. I want to buy a place downtown, something closer to the theater."
"Sure."
Claire smiled, satisfied, and turned to mingle with the other guests.
Richard stood where he was, watching her walk away, but something hollow settled in his chest. He pulled out his phone and dialed Evelyn's number for what felt like the hundredth time.
"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable—"
She was still blocking him.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket and turned to Adam. "I'm heading to Lane Manor. Stay here and keep Claire company."
"Sir, are you sure that's—"
"Just do it."
Richard grabbed his coat and left. As the elevator descended, he caught his own reflection in the mirrored doors. His tie was the royal blue Claire preferred, and his shirt was a style she had picked out. Everything was supposed to be falling back into place.
So why didn't he feel a damn thing?