Chapter 9

Sarah's POV

My stomach dropped. I hadn’t expected it this early.

Eleanor squeezed my arm. “Go. Smile. Read it exactly as we practiced. Word for word, Sarah. Don’t embarrass us.”

I walked to the stage. Every step felt like walking underwater. Hundreds of eyes on me. Cameras. Adrian looked up from his phone, with his eyes fixed on me. Eleanor in the front row, posture perfect, smile sharp.

The podium was cold under my hands. The leather folder with Eleanor’s script was there, open to page one. Her handwriting in the margins. Pause here. Smile here. Don’t act nervous.

I cleared my throat. The mic picked up the sound and sent it through the whole room.

Good evening,” I began. My voice shook. “I am honored to stand here tonight as part of the Moretti family.”

Eleanor’s smile grew. She liked that line.

I read her words. About legacy. About duty. About how proud I was to support my husband Adrian and his vision. About how family came first, always. Each sentence tasted like dust.

The audience nodded. Polite applause between paragraphs. This was what they expected. A quiet wife who knew her place.

I got to the last paragraph. The closing line Eleanor made me memorize. “The Moretti Foundation will continue to build, to give, and to lead, because that is what our name demands.”

I looked up from the page. For one second, I saw Adrian in the back, barely visible. He gave me the smallest nod.

My throat tightened.

I had two sentences written in pencil in the margin. Two sentences no one knew about except me. Two sentences that were mine.

I had two sentences written in pencil in the margin. Two sentences no one knew about except me. Two sentences that were mine.

Eleanor was watching. Waiting for me to close the folder and step down.

Adrian was checking his watch.

The room was silent, waiting for the polite ending.

And I was so tired of being silent.

I closed the folder. Put it down.

“I was Sarah before I became Moretti,” I said. My voice was soft, but the mic carried it. “And I still am.”

Silence.

Eleanor’s smile froze. Adrian looked up, frowning. The director shifted on his feet.

I continued, before I could lose my nerve. “This foundation does important work. But important work is done by people, not just names. By people who have stories before they wear a title. I’m proud to be part of this. As Sarah. As a Moretti.”

Then I stopped. No more. I wouldn’t fight them on stage. I wouldn’t make a scene.

I stepped down.

The applause was scattered.

Eleanor’s face was a mask. But her eyes… her eyes promised me a conversation later.

Adrian met me at the bottom of the stairs. He didn’t look angry. He looked… inconvenienced.

“What was that?” he asked quietly, steering me away from the crowd.

“Nothing,” I said.

“It wasn’t in the script, Sarah.” He sighed. Like I’d spilled wine on his suit. “Mother spent weeks preparing that. The board expects a standard speech. You can’t just improvise.”

“Common… it's not that deep,” I said. “I just thought I should add a few more sentences.”

He didn’t answer. Just led me back to the table. Eleanor was already there, pouring herself water.

The rest of the night passed in a fog. Everyone wanted to speak with me. Business proposals were everywhere but Eleanor always found an opportunity to talk even before I'd reply.”

Eleanor didn’t say a word to me until we were in the car. The doors closed. The driver put up the partition.

Then she turned to me slowly.

“That was very interesting, Sarah,” she said, voice softly. “You think you’re clever, don’t you? You think saying your name makes you a person in this family?”

“I am a person,” I whispered.

“No, dear.” She leaned forward. Pearls catching the streetlights. “You are a Moretti wife. That is your person now. Your father understood that when he signed the papers. Adrian understands it. The only one who doesn’t seem to understand it is you.”

Adrian stared out the window. He didn’t defend me. He didn’t agree with her. Just… nothing.

Eleanor continued, “You embarrassed us tonight. Not badly. But enough. Enough for people to talk. And they will talk, Sarah. Do you know what that does to Adrian’s reputation? To the company?”

“I’m sorry,” I said. The words came automatically weak. Because I was already tired.

“Don’t be sorry. Be obedient.” She reached over and smoothed my hair, like I was a child. The gesture was more terrifying than a slap. “We’ll fix this. Tomorrow you’ll apologize to the director. Privately. You’ll say you were nervous. That you misspoke. And then you’ll let me handle your public appearances from now on. No more speeches. No more ‘Sarah’. Just Mrs. Moretti. Understood?”

I nodded, even when I knew I wouldn't do it. Because my voice was gone. Because fighting her in the car would change nothing.

Back at the house, Adrian went straight to his study. “Long night,” he said over his shoulder. “Try not to keep Mother up.”

Then he closed the door.

I went upstairs alone. The room was dark. I changed out of the dress, carefully, like it might bite. Then I sat on the bed and pulled out my phone. No messages from Kael. He couldn’t text me.

Alone in the dark, I whispered the two sentences to myself until I believed them.

I was Sarah before I became a Moretti. And I still am. And no one would take that back. Not even them.