Chapter 4

Julia suddenly grabbed Edward's hand. "Edward, Mr. Quinn can't stand drama. If she stirs things up with that photo during the opening, the whole day is shot."

Edward's gaze hardened as he looked at me. "Evelyn, hand over the photo."

I shook my head. "No."

He lunged forward to grab it.

I jerked back, but he seized my wrist, his grip so tight that it made my wrist throb. "Evelyn, don't push me."

I looked up at him.

The man who used to promise he'd never let me get hurt was now grabbing the evidence right out of my hands to protect another woman.

The door swung open again.

Ryan rushed in, his voice urgent. "Mr. Stone, the media's already filming."

He stopped in his tracks when he saw Edward holding my wrist.

I said, "Ryan, call the cops."

Ryan stood there, frozen.

Edward glared at him. "Get out."

Ryan gritted his teeth. "Evelyn, don't stir things up today."

I looked at the young man I'd once brought into the gallery.

Back when his mom was in the hospital, I was the one who paid the bills.

He kept his head down, not daring to meet my eyes.

I asked, "So you think I'm the one making a scene?"

He struggled to get the words out. "Julia is pregnant."

Gratitude betrayed by cruelty knew no age.

I shook off Edward's hand and put the photo back in my bag. "Let's get this show on the road."

Edward blinked in surprise. "You're going to let this happen?"

I stood up. "I want to see who's got the guts to call her Mrs. Stone right in front of me today."

The second-floor exhibition hall was packed with people.

Twelve paintings hung along the long wall, each one with Edward's name displayed beside it.

My eyes swept from the first to the last.

Seven of them bore traces of my old drafts.

Two were ones I'd reworked.

And then there was Homeward. He pretty much copied my original sketch.

Julia was holding onto Edward's arm, standing under the spotlights, chatting up the guests.

Her hand stayed on her belly, and every so often she'd look down with a gentle smile, like she was showing off something priceless.

An elderly man with white hair walked over.

Edward hurried to greet him. "Mr. Quinn, you're here."

Samuel Quinn looked me over. "And who is this?"

Edward didn't say a word.

Julia flashed a smile. "She's an art restorer Edward used to know. She's here helping out with the setup today."

I stood there, keeping quiet.

Samuel nodded. "Restoring paintings isn't easy. You need a steady hand and a steady heart."

Julia chimed in, "Yeah. Too bad some people can't keep their hearts steady, always coveting things that don't belong to them."

The ladies nearby let out a few laughs.

"Julia, you're blessed twice over. Don't waste your energy on outsiders."

"Mr. Stone treats you so well. We all saw him helping you upstairs just now."

"How far along are you? You should take better care of yourself."

Listening to all their congratulations, I honestly felt like I was sitting through my own funeral.

Edward glanced at me, his look basically telling me not to say a word.

The host stepped up to the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming to Mr. Edward Stone's solo exhibition, Homeward. Today, he will also be announcing some wonderful news."

Applause filled the room.

Julia blushed and looked down.

I spotted Ryan standing by the door, holding the event schedule, refusing to meet my eyes.

The host called out, "Mr. Stone and Mrs. Stone, please come up to the stage."

Julia headed toward the stage, holding onto Edward's arm.

I called out from the crowd, "Hold on."

Everyone turned to stare at me.

Edward's expression hardened. "Evelyn."

Julia's smile faded. "What now, Ms. Lane?"

I strode up to the front, locking eyes with the host. "You mentioned Mrs. Stone, right?"

The host was caught off guard. "Yes."

"Who is Mrs. Stone?" I pressed.

Julia's face darkened. "Edward, are you going to let her do this?"

Edward came down from the stage and grabbed my arm. "Don't make a scene."

I shook him off. "Edward, in front of Mr. Quinn and all these guests, tell me who your wife is."

The room fell silent.

Samuel frowned.

A woman wearing an emerald bracelet asked, "Mr. Stone, what's going on here?"

Julia immediately pressed her hand to her forehead. "I feel dizzy."

Edward instinctively turned toward her.

I said, "She pulls this every time. Aren't you sick of it?"

Julia's tears started falling again. "Ms. Lane, I know you like Edward, but you can't make someone love you."

I shot back, "I love my husband. Do I need your approval for that?"

A few guests stood up.

"Husband?"

"Is this woman crazy?"

"Mr. Stone, say something."

Edward's forehead was slick with sweat.

He grabbed my arm, his voice low. "Evelyn, if you ruin today, I'll never forgive you."

I looked him in the eye. "Then don't."

Julia suddenly raised her voice. "You keep insisting you're Edward's wife, but where's your proof? Where's your marriage license? If you can't show it, then stop making things up about Edward and me."

I didn't bring the marriage license.

She obviously knew I didn't have it.

I only came here to drop off a cake.

The crowd immediately started siding with her.

"She doesn't have proof, and she's still causing trouble?"

"This kind of woman is scary."

"Ms. West is pregnant. Don't let her get upset."

Edward closed his eyes. "Security, escort her out."

It was the same security guard from downstairs.

He rushed in, his face gleaming with vindictive glee. "Ms. Lane, please come with me."

I didn't move.

He reached out to push me.

A woman's voice suddenly rang out from the entrance of the exhibition hall. "Try touching her."

My best friend, Grace King, burst in with her bag, rocking a red trench coat and blazing like a fireball.

She knocked the security guard's hand aside. "Is this crappy gallery run by people who can't see straight? The real Mrs. Stone is right here, and you're all busy worshipping the mistress, calling her Mrs. Stone?"

Julia's face changed. "Who are you?"

Grace pointed at her. "I'm here to teach you a lesson."

Edward snapped, "Grace, this is my gallery."

Grace sneered, "Your gallery? Then how many of these paintings hanging here are yours, huh? Evelyn is the one who created the original sketches."

Edward's face darkened. "Keep it up, and I'll call my lawyer."

Grace pulled a USB drive from her bag and waved it in the air. "Go on, and call everyone you want.

"This drive has scans of Evelyn's original sketches from seven years ago, chat logs of you begging her to fix your paintings, and a recording of you saying you wanted to keep your marriage under wraps."

My hand paused mid-air. I did not know she had kept this evidence.