Chapter 2

In my past life, even without Victoria in the picture, Grant and I would never have had a loving marriage. He treated me well, but only out of duty.

I quietly selected the most intricately designed ring on the tray.

Just as the Cartier representatives left, Grant’s personal assistant, Daniel Reed, hurried into the room, clutching his phone.

He hesitated, looking nervously between me and the Harringtons. "Miss Carlisle... Grant insisted I show you this message."

He turned the screen toward me.

[Since the ring is picked, the wedding proceeds. Just play the good hostess for the Harringtons. But stay out of my business. Not a single word.]

A bitter taste coated my tongue. I swallowed hard and looked at Daniel.

"Please tell him not to worry. I understand."

Daniel nodded and turned to leave, but Margaret’s sharp voice stopped him.

"Hold it right there. Where is Grant?"

Daniel paled. "He's... at the Ashford estate, ma'am."

Robert’s face darkened instantly.

"That reckless fool. Sneaking off to see Victoria behind my back?" He turned to me, his jaw tight. "Evelyn, I am on your side. I will handle this. When he gets back, I'll make sure he understands exactly what he's risking."

Before Robert could say more, Peter Walker, the operations manager for the Harrington conglomerate, rushed into the foyer.

He reported that Grant had bypassed standard protocols, liquidating several assets and dumping massive amounts of capital to act as a guarantor for Richard Ashford, who was currently drowning in a federal investigation.

Robert slammed his hand onto the console table so hard the porcelain vases rattled.

Margaret’s brow pinched in distress. She gently patted my hand, afraid I would break down.

Looking at their deeply concerned faces, my eyes burned.

After my parents died, they were the ones who truly treated me like family. They had tried so hard to build a bridge between Grant and me.

But no matter how hard they tried, I was never the woman Grant wanted.

"Robert, Margaret... I'm sorry to disappoint you," I said softly.

"I know how good you've been to me. But you can't force love. Grant only cares for me out of habit. I want to respect his choice." I took a steadying breath. "I'm leaving New York. I'm moving to my maternal grandparents' estate in Charleston."

Margaret’s eyes immediately welled with tears. She gripped my hands tighter.

"Evelyn, please don't say things out of anger. We all see how much Grant cares for you. He’s just too blind to realize he loves you yet. When he gets back, I'll tear into him, I promise."

"If he didn't care for you, why would he have begged us to bring you home all those years ago?"

Robert sighed heavily. "The Ashfords are a sinking ship. Grant is just being manipulated by Victoria. He'll wake up soon enough."

"And Charleston is so far away. How can we just let you go off on your own?"

They pleaded with me to stay.

But they didn't know that in my past life, I had listened to them. I had married Grant, and it had ended in the most gruesome, agonizing way possible.

I absolutely refused to walk that path again.

I took them to Grant’s private townhouse in Tribeca.

In the corner of his study sat a massive storage trunk. I opened it.

"Every gift I've given him over the years... he never even unwrapped them. They were all just tossed in here."

I pointed to a small, velvet-lined box on his desk. "But a cheap piece of candy Victoria bought him at a street fair? He keeps it boxed up and perfectly preserved."

"Robert, Margaret, please forgive me. I can't lie to myself anymore."

"If you truly care for me, just let me be your daughter, not your daughter-in-law."

Seeing the absolute finality in my eyes, they finally stopped pushing.

Margaret hugged me, repeatedly telling me to take care of myself. I smiled and squeezed her hands.

"Margaret, please don't tell Grant about this yet. I want to leave it as a surprise."