Chapter 3

Dutton walked over, his anger barely contained. "Put Zayla down. There are so many guests here. Don't push me."

I glanced at Rachel standing behind him. The smug look on her face was impossible to hide.

"You don't push me either," I said. "Some things are better left unsaid in front of everyone."

Dutton's face darkened. "What do you mean by that?"

I didn't answer.

Suddenly, a man in a gray suit squeezed through the doorway, clutching a document bag.

He stopped short when he saw me, and then quickly dropped his gaze. "Mr. Sinclair, here's what you asked for."

Dutton took the document bag and shot me a warning look. "River, don't pull any tricks."

I caught sight of the red seal on the document bag and looked up at him.

Charlotte noticed it too and muttered under her breath, "Unbelievable, they brought the divorce papers to the funeral."

Dutton heard her. "She's the one who pushed me into this."

I hugged Zayla tighter and gave a cold smile. "Go ahead, make it final. Don't leave anything unfinished today."

I was escorted back to the side hall of the Sinclair residence.

"Escorted" was a nice way of saying two servants stood guard at the door, making sure I couldn't return to the mourning hall.

Zayla sat beside me, quietly picking up those paper cranes that had been stomped flat.

Charlotte was pacing back and forth, clearly anxious. "You should've given Dutton a couple of slaps. He said, 'He's a boy.' God, that really gets under my skin."

I carefully refolded a paper crane for Zayla. "Don't be so worked up."

"Seriously? Rachel's practically walking all over you. Is that boy really Dutton's?"

Zayla looked up.

I gently patted her head. "Charlotte is annoying. Don't pick up her habits."

Charlotte lowered her voice. "You're still sticking up for him? Dutton had a kid with someone else during those five years. Did you really not know at all?"

I looked out the window toward the mourning hall.

The wind blew the petals from the funeral up the steps, and the black-and-white wreaths swayed so much that it was almost blinding.

"I knew a little," I said.

Charlotte nearly jumped out of her skin. "You knew and still put up with him?"

"I have to put up with it. But trust me, there are people out there who want to see him crash and burn more than I do."

Charlotte was stunned for a moment.

Suddenly, Margaret's voice came from outside the door. "Open the door."

The servants immediately stepped aside.

Margaret walked in with Rachel, followed by two relatives from the Sinclair family.

Dutton wasn't there.

Rachel had changed into mourning clothes, looking like she was the most pitiful person alive.

Margaret sat down and slammed a document onto the table. "Sign it."

I glanced at it.

It was a divorce agreement.

The property division section said I'd leave without a single dollar to my name. And Zayla's custody went straight to Dutton.

Charlotte snatched it up, read it, and her face went pale with rage. "Do you have any shame? When River married into this family, Sinclair Group was about to go broke.

"Who was it that used her wedding money to patch up your mess? Now you want her kicked out with not a single dollar, and you're trying to snatch her kid away?"

Margaret slammed her hand on the table. "Charlotte, who do you think you are? This is the Sinclair family business. You have no right to stick your nose in."

Charlotte jabbed a finger at herself.

"I'm her friend, okay? At least I've got some decency. Unlike you vultures. Mr. Philip Sinclair's not buried yet, and you're already tearing River apart."

Rachel quickly tried to smooth things over. "Margaret, don't argue with Ms. Solomon. River's upset. It's only natural for Ms. Solomon to take it out on me."

She slid the agreement toward me. "River, I know you can't stand the thought of losing Zayla. But the Sinclair family can give her the best education. If you take her away, how are you going to provide for her?

"I'm not going to fight you for being Mrs. Sinclair. Sign the papers, and Dutt will make sure you get some cash."