Chapter 4

I looked at her. "Didn't you say you only wanted your son to see his grandfather one last time?"

Rachel's gentle expression faltered for a moment. "I'm doing this for Zayla's sake."

"For her sake? So, you take her place, shove her to the floor, and then try to take away her father and her home?"

Rachel bit her lip, and tears fell instantly. "River, how could you think that of me? I know my background isn't great, but the child is innocent."

Margaret immediately jumped in to defend her, "River, stop being so harsh. Rachel is so much more considerate and well-behaved than you. She's a hundred times better."

Then Allan chimed in. "Divorce isn't exactly something to brag about. Since all the relatives are here, let's get this over with. If we drag this on any longer, it'll make everyone look bad."

I picked up the agreement and flipped to the last page. Dutton's personal seal was already stamped on it.

"Where is he?" I asked.

Margaret snorted. "Someone needs to keep things together at the funeral. You're a woman who couldn't give him a son, so stop expecting him to always be there to comfort you."

I set the agreement down. "Let him come here himself."

Rachel quickly said, "River, Dutt's been running around all day. He's really worn out."

Charlotte shot back, "Of course he's tired. He's been busy making your son legitimate."

Margaret snapped, "Get Charlotte Solomon out of here!"

Two servants stepped forward.

Zayla suddenly stepped in front of Charlotte, her voice soft and sweet. "Don't touch Charlotte."

The servants froze.

Margaret's face fell, clearly annoyed. "You can't even control your own brat. River, look at how you've raised your daughter."

Zayla clutched her paper crane and asked seriously, "Grandma, does that mean you won't want me anymore now that my brother's here?"

Margaret looked taken aback, and then grew annoyed. "Girls are meant to be married off someday. They're not like boys."

Zayla bowed her head and squeezed the paper crane until it crumpled.

I stood up. "I'm not signing the agreement."

Margaret let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Not signing? You really think you have a way out? Your family's long gone, and the Grant residence got snatched up by creditors.

"Now you're mooching off the Sinclair family, eating our food, living under our roof. What gives you the nerve to say no?"

Rachel Lynn let out a gentle sigh. "River, don't make things ugly for yourself. Dutt said, if you listen to him, he'll show you some kindness for old times' sake."

I asked her, "What else did he say?"

Rachel seemed like she'd been waiting for that question.

She pulled out a long, slender rosewood box from her bag and opened it.

There was an emerald bracelet inside.

I recognized it.

It was the Sinclair family's heirloom, always given to their eldest son's wife.

On my wedding day, Margaret personally slipped it onto my wrist, telling me that now that I was part of the Sinclair family, it was my duty to uphold their legacy.

Three months ago, she took it away, saying she was going to get it cleaned up.

Now, Rachel was holding it.

Rachel slid the bracelet onto her wrist and then raised her arm with a deliberate flourish, showing it off to everyone. "Dutt said this bracelet rightfully belongs to the woman who can give the Sinclair family a son."

Charlotte muttered something nasty under her breath.

I fixed my gaze on the bracelet and reached out my hand. "Give it back."

Rachel shrank back, tears welling up in her eyes again. "River, please don't do this. I'm just holding onto it for you."

"Give it back," I repeated.

Margaret stood up and blocked Rachel's way. "This belongs to the Sinclair family. Since when did it become yours?"

I stared Margaret down. "The day you slipped this on my wrist, you told me I'd never take it off unless I was dead."

Margaret's expression shifted.

Allan cleared his throat. "Come on, it's a bracelet. Don't turn a funeral into a battleground."

I reached out and grabbed Rachel's wrist.

She let out a startled cry and nearly fell over.

Just then, Dutton pushed the door open and caught her.

Rachel clung to him, shaking as she sobbed uncontrollably. "Dutt, River tried to take the bracelet from me. I was scared she'd hurt the baby I'm carrying."

Dutton turned to me, his voice stone-cold. "River, how long are you going to keep acting crazy?"

Charlotte stormed over. "She fell on her own. Did you bury your eyes under the ground with the coffin?"

Dutton slapped Charlotte hard across the face.

The side room went dead silent.

Charlotte's head snapped to the side from the blow, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

I set Zayla down in a chair and strode up to Dutton. "How could you hit her?"

Dutton looked stunned for a second, and then turned his face away. "She insulted me. She had it coming."

I raised my hand and slapped him right back.

A crisp smack echoed through the room.

At the door, the servant dropped the tray, sending coffee splashing all over the floor.

Dutton touched his cheek, finally meeting my gaze. "River Sinclair, you dared to hit me?"

I said, "That slap was for Charlotte."

I raised my hand again and, without hesitation, slapped him a second time. "This one is for Zayla."

Margaret shrieked, "This is outrageous. Someone, restrain her!"

Two servants rushed forward.

Just then, the man in the gray suit stepped in front of me, blocking their path. "Nobody should lay a hand on her."

Margaret froze.