Chapter 4
4
"What, did you take a bribe at the hospital just so you could play rich for one night?"
I rolled my eyes, grabbed my credit card, and headed for the reception desk.
On my way out, Adrian called. He was running late and told me to keep the family entertained a bit longer.
I smiled, told him to drive safe, and turned back toward the private room.
Right as I reached the door, Julian blocked my path.
He looked me up and down with utter disdain, pulled out a stack of cash, and threw it at my feet.
"If you can't afford it, stop pretending. Take it and pay the bill. Don't say I never did anything for you."
I kicked the cash back toward him. "I don't need your money. And this wouldn't even cover the appetizers."
"Cut the act. I know exactly how much you make. I told you when we divorced to quit that thankless job. You work yourself to the bone for pennies."
The "art-above-all" persona Julian had carefully crafted completely shattered.
Underneath it all, he was just a shallow, petty man obsessed with status.
The relatives could see it too, but with his fame, no one dared call him out.
I couldn't be bothered to waste my breath. I stepped around him.
But before I could take two steps, Claire appeared.
She sidled up to Julian, looping her arm through his.
"Julian, why don't you bring your painting out and show everyone?"
Julian pinched her cheek and agreed.
I reached for the door handle, but Claire called out.
"Evelyn, I really hope you aren't harboring any delusions about Julian. He's my husband. You have nothing to do with him."
"I know exactly what you're doing. You set up this dinner to use the family to get close to us. If your life is miserable, that's your fault. Don't try to use us as a stepping stone."
"Stop playing these pathetic games. It just makes us pity you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Sure."
These two really were made for each other. They loved projecting their own twisted narratives onto everyone else.
I hadn't given them a second thought since the day we divorced. I wasn't going to start now.