He Chose Her, So I Left

Synopsis

Ten minutes before Edward Hill's 70th Birthday Banquet began, William Hill called me into the study and told me he wanted a divorce. "Grace has been with me for three years," he said. He stood by the window, still wearing the tie I had knotted for him half an hour earlier. His tone was so calm that he might have been discussing an ordinary staffing decision. "She's never pressured me or asked me for anything. But she's twenty-seven now. I can't keep asking her to stay hidden." I studied him for a moment. "So?" William frowned slightly, as if he hadn't expected me to take it so calmly. "I'll compensate you fairly. The house, our savings, whatever you want, we can discuss it. I only hope we can handle this with dignity and not turn it into something ugly." Laughter drifted up from downstairs. Today was Edward's 70th Birthday Banquet. I had chosen the menu, checked the guest list, and pushed his medication back half an hour so he wouldn't have to take it on an empty stomach. Dozens of guests were waiting downstairs for me to host the banquet. And this was when my husband chose to tell me he wanted to make his secretary his wife. I nodded. "Understood." William visibly froze. "That's all? You don't have anything else to ask?" I thought for a moment. "Do you still need me to host the banquet?" His expression darkened. "Evelyn, this is between us. Dad isn't well. There's no reason to bring your feelings into his birthday." I smiled faintly. So in his eyes, one question from me already counted as taking my anger out on an elder. "Don't worry." I reached up and smoothed the crease near his collar. "I'll do it properly for the one last time."