Chapter 4

Grandma's birthday banquet was held at the Summit Hotel.

Crystal lights hung from the domed ceiling.

A single bottle of wine on one of the tables cost enough to pay for Dad's surgery twice.

I stood outside the ballroom wearing a gown borrowed through the society program and called Duncan again and again.

Twelve calls. He didn't pick up once.

Mom called from the hospital in tears. "Nora, forget it. Your father says he doesn't want the operation. Don't make things hard for yourself with the Lockwoods."

"Mom, tell the doctor to prepare. I'll find a way."

When I ended the call, I had squeezed a crease into the borrowed evening bag.

For years, I had been a wife first, then a mother, then a daughter-in-law.

I had almost forgotten that I was still my parents' daughter too.

Now my father was lying in a hospital bed, and I couldn't even tell my parents not to worry about the money without feeling like a liar.

I found Diana checking the guest list and handed her the diagnosis papers, which had gone soft from my grip.

"My father's surgery requires thirty thousand dollars. Transfer some of the money Duncan gives me. Treat it as a loan if you want."

She didn't take them. Instead, she stepped back.

"Today is the senior Mrs. Lockwood's birthday. Do you really have to talk about money here?"

"The hospital is waiting."

"Ms. Lennox, last month your parents needed house repairs. This month your father suddenly needs surgery. Mr. Lockwood's money isn't unlimited."

People nearby began looking over, so I lowered my voice. "The repair money came from my event work."

Diana raised hers. "Supporting your parents with Mr. Lockwood's money wasn't enough? Now you're using a sick man to force him to pay more?"

The surrounding conversations stopped.

I tried to explain, but the looks on everyone's faces had already found me guilty.

Mallory approached carrying a glass of wine.

"No wonder Duncan never wanted to announce the marriage. Marrying a small-town girl means marrying her entire family's debts."

Evelyn's expression cooled too. "We can help if your father is ill. But making a scene at Grandma's birthday? Are you trying to force Duncan to publicly acknowledge you as Mrs. Lockwood?"

"I'm not forcing him."

"Then go home and wait."

The hospital had only guaranteed the operating slot until ten.

I panicked and reached for Diana's hand.

"Don't touch me."

She jerked away, and the diagnosis papers scattered across the floor.

The noise pulled every eye in the ballroom toward us.

"You already knelt beside my car once. Who are you performing for now?"

I crouched to gather the papers, but my hands shook too badly to hold them.

The chandeliers were so bright there was nowhere to hide.

I suddenly remembered my first day at the program.

I had believed learning the right etiquette and wearing the right clothes would finally make me good enough for Duncan.

Three months later, all I had really learned was how to keep smiling while being humiliated.

"Nora?"

Ms. Palmer had been leading several students as they arranged a charity auction table.

She saw me and immediately crouched down to hold the papers before the air-conditioning scattered them.

"This patient is your father? This is urgent. How much are you short?"

"Thirty thousand."

Miranda transferred five thousand dollars on the spot.

Several other classmates pulled out their phones, but I stopped Miranda's hand.

"I can't take it. We've only known each other three months."

Ms. Palmer had introduced me to a household-management position paying forty thousand a year, but the first paycheck wouldn't arrive until the following month.

The hospital couldn't wait.

I grabbed Ms. Palmer's hand, and for the first time, I didn't make excuses for Duncan. "Ms. Palmer, do you know anyone who needs a long-term companion?

"I can care for the elderly, plan formal events, and keep track of clients' habits.

"I only need two things: an advance for my father's surgery, and Nell comes with me."

I paused and looked toward Grandma in the ballroom.

"Grandma still depends on me. I'll leave only after she's stable."

The people around us went completely quiet.

My classmates didn't know what to say, so they just helped me gather the papers.

Evelyn and Mallory looked at me with open disgust and walked away.

Less than a minute later, my phone rang. It was Duncan, his voice low. He had clearly heard what happened at the banquet.

"Nora, for thirty thousand dollars, you're standing at Grandma's birthday looking for another man to support you?"

Three months of humiliation rose all at once.

"Yes. I'm done being your kept woman."

He was silent for two seconds, then his voice went cold.

"I authorized five hundred thousand dollars for you last month.

"Diana said it wasn't enough, so this month I added another two hundred thousand. You could pay a thirty-thousand-dollar deposit with one of your cards.

"Instead, you had to make this public. Nora, have I spoiled you too much?"

I stood there with the phone for a long time, stunned.

"What five hundred thousand?

"Diana gives me five hundred dollars a month."