Chapter 3
The air froze solid. A few seconds of dead silence passed before an even louder roar of laughter exploded from the group.
"Pick you up?" Emily's voice shot up an octave, as if she'd just heard the joke of the century. "Seraphina, have you lost your mind? Open your eyes and read the sign!
She jabbed a finger at the placard. "Seraphina Grant! Wife of Alexander Grant, CEO of Grant Group! Do you have any idea who he is? He snaps his fingers and Brighton City shakes! We're here for Mrs. Grant! Who do you think you are?"
Jonathan's face darkened. "Seraphina, a year away and the only thing you learned is delusions? You think you can pass yourself off as Mrs. Grant? Get lost. We're waiting for an important guest!"
"Exactly," Ryan backed him up. "Jonathan's company just landed a deal with Grant Group, and you know how hard it was to even get the chance to pick up Mrs. Grant? If you tick her off, can you afford the fallout? Beat it!"
Lily rolled her eyes. "Some people just can't figure out where they stand. You think sharing a name means you can ride someone else's coattails? A nobody's a nobody, no matter how hard she pretends!"
Their chatter drifted over clearly. "Mr. Grant is famously obsessed with his wife. Half his business deals are apparently based on her mood."
"I heard Mrs. Grant wears a Starlight Tears diamond bracelet everywhere she goes. Mr. Grant dropped eight figures in USD at an auction for it. One of a kind, worldwide!"
"Right? Mrs. Grant is literally living every woman's dream!"
The corner of my mouth twitched upward before I could stop it. Alexander. He really did spoil me beyond all reason.
Emily had been staring daggers at me, hunting for any trace of humiliation or jealousy on my face. The moment she caught the hint of a smile on my lips, her expression twisted into something venomous.
I had no interest in arguing with them. All I wanted was to get out of this suffocating situation. Alexander's car should be waiting outside. I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and moved to walk around them.
"Stop right there!" Jonathan seized my wrist in a bruising grip. "Seraphina, are you done with the tantrum? You're coming home with me! I'll pay you double for the nanny gig!"
His touch made my stomach turn. I wrenched my arm free and snapped, "Let go of me. Jonathan, we're done. We've been done. Have some self-respect."
"Self-respect?" Jonathan looked like I'd slapped him. He stepped closer, his broad frame casting a shadow over me.
"Seraphina, I'm giving you a way out here. Don't push your luck. Look at yourself. Who else would even want you? Come home and take care of Emily and the baby. That's the best you're ever gonna get!"
He stared down at me with the expression of a man tossing scraps to a homeless guy.
I stared at the check he'd pulled from his jacket, then back at this man I'd once loved so desperately he could have destroyed me, and now could barely stand the sight of. The irony was suffocating.
The spending allowance on the supplementary card Alexander had given me was worth hundreds, if not thousands of times that number.
"That won't be necessary, Mr. Reed." I pushed his hand aside. The check fluttered to the ground. "Save your money and hire a proper nanny."
I grabbed my suitcase and walked away without looking back.
Behind me, Emily's shrill mockery and Jonathan's barely restrained snarl chased after me. "Seraphina! Just you wait! You'll come crawling back to me, and you know it!"