Chapter 1

Ten minutes before Edward Hill's 70th birthday dinner began, William called me into the study and told me he wanted a divorce.

"Grace has been with me for three years," William 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 27 now. I can't keep asking her to stay hidden," he said.

I studied him for a moment. "So?"

William frowned, clearly surprised by my composure. "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 keep things from turning ugly."

Laughter drifted up from downstairs.

Today was Edward's 70th birthday dinner. 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 party.

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 party?"

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.

I thought, 'So in his eyes, asking one question already means I'm taking my anger out on an old man.'

"Don't worry." I reached up and smoothed the crease near his collar. "I'll do it properly for the one last time."

I turned toward the door, but William called after me. "We'll discuss the divorce after the party. Grace is here today too. Don't embarrass her."

I paused without turning around. "Where is she sitting?"

"Beside the main table," he said.

"Got it."

The ballroom was brightly lit.

The moment I came downstairs, Edward waved me over. "Evelyn, come here. Diane insists she brought this bottle, but I'm certain Charlie gave it to me. Take a look."

I checked the bottle. "Diane brought the other case. Charlie gave you this one."

Edward immediately smiled. "I knew I remembered correctly."

Everyone around him praised his memory.

None of them knew he had recently started taking his morning medication twice by mistake. None of them knew I had already sorted an entire week's pills into seven separate boxes before today's party.

William came downstairs and took the seat beside me as naturally as ever.

His secretary, Grace Turner, sat diagonally across from us.

She wore a white dress and understated makeup. The moment she noticed me looking at her, she quickly turned away.

A delicate diamond necklace rested against her throat.

I recognized it.

Last month, William had told me the company wanted gifts for outstanding employees at its anniversary celebration and asked me to choose a few options.

I had picked three.

The most expensive one had ended up around Grace's neck.

During dinner, William stopped people from pouring her wine twice.

The gestures weren't openly intimate, but they were far too practiced.

Diane Hill noticed and teased him with a smile. "You take good care of your employees."

William didn't so much as blink. "Her stomach is sensitive. She can't drink."

I lowered my eyes and placed a piece of steamed fish on Edward's plate.

We had been married for ten years, and William had never remembered that cold foods upset my stomach.

But Grace couldn't drink, and he remembered that perfectly.

"Evelyn." Edward suddenly held out a black card. "This family has depended on you all these years. William is always so busy we hardly see him.

"If you hadn't been taking care of me, I'd probably have ended up in the hospital more times than I could count."

The table fell quiet for a moment.

William glanced at me.

Grace looked up too.

I accepted the card and set it aside. "Dad, it's your birthday. As long as you're happy today, that's what matters."

Edward smiled and patted my hand. "When you two have children someday, stop spending all your time looking after me. William can hire someone to help. You should focus on building your own life together."

I didn't answer.

William lifted his glass and took a drink.

Grace's face went slightly pale. She probably hadn't expected that, in Edward's eyes, William and I still had such a long future ahead of us.

Unfortunately, we didn't.