Chapter 3

I stayed where I was. I didn't move.

When Marjorie saw that I wasn't kneeling, her face darkened further, and she jabbed a finger at me, cursing me to my face.

"You still have the nerve to stand there!"

"Those photos are all over the internet. Where does that leave the Stephens name?"

Spit flew as she cursed, and every word was aimed straight at the softest part of me.

Bella stood off to the side, adding fuel to the fire.

"Mom, why are you even wasting your breath on her?"

"She acts so pure all day, but who knows how filthy she really is behind closed doors. If my brother weren't so soft-hearted, he'd have thrown her out ages ago."

I watched this mother-and-daughter act with cold eyes.

Then I turned my gaze to Lester by the window.

He drew on his cigarette, exhaled the smoke slowly in rings, and looked at me through the white haze without saying a word.

"Bertha."

Beverly rose to her feet then, came to my side, and gave my sleeve a gentle tug.

"Just apologize to Mrs. Stephens, please."

"If you're just a little more agreeable, she won't really hold it against you."

I shook her hand off.

Beverly stumbled back two steps and landed right in Lester's arms.

He caught her without thinking, and his face went dark in an instant.

"Bertha James, haven't you made enough of a scene!"

"My mother's furious, would it kill you to just go along with her? Do you have to blow this up until there's no fixing it?"

I looked at him, and suddenly I wanted to laugh.

"I'm making a scene?"

"Who sent out those photos? Don't the lot of you know perfectly well?"

Something flickered in Lester's eyes.

"Is there any point in bringing that up now?"

"The fact is the photos are already out there, and the Stephens family has become a laughingstock in our circle because of you."

"Having you sign the statement ending the engagement is to protect you, and to give the Stephens family something to show for it."

His tone was pure charity.

"Just keep your head down. Once this blows over, I won't leave you out in the cold."

"Lester..." Beverly looked at him with reddened eyes. "Don't be so harsh with Bertha, she didn't mean any of this."

"Beverly, you're just too kind."

Marjorie let out a cold snort. "A woman like her isn't fit to stand beside our Lester."

She pointed at the jade bracelet on my wrist.

"That bracelet has been passed down in the Stephens family for generations. It goes only to the future mistress of the house."

"Since you've already signed the statement ending the engagement, take it off and give it back to me."

I lowered my eyes to the bracelet on my wrist.

It was the one Marjorie had slipped onto me herself the day of the engagement.

She'd said the bracelet knew its owner. Once you wore it, you belonged to the Stephens family.

Lester glanced at me, that faint, condescending charity in his eyes.

"Bertha, give the bracelet back first."

His tone was gentle, like he was coaxing a child who didn't know any better.

"Do it to calm my mother down. Be good."

Demanding I put up with Beverly's presence, demanding I swallow every last grievance, demanding I play along with this sickening act of his.

I said nothing. I just slid the bracelet off my wrist.

I set it down on the coffee table.

"It's yours now."

Marjorie picked it up with satisfaction, wiped it with a handkerchief, and turned to hand it to Beverly.

"Beverly, dear, you hold on to this for now."

Beverly's face went all flustered and honored, and she quickly waved her hands.

"Mrs. Stephens, I couldn't. It's far too precious, I can't take it."

I watched the warm little family scene, and my stomach churned.

"Is the show over?"

I spoke coldly.

"Because if it's over, I'm leaving."

I turned to go.

"Bertha James!" Lester called after me. "What kind of attitude is that?"

I stopped and looked back at him.

"What attitude would you like from me?"

"Should I be down on my knees thanking you for leaving me a way to live?"

Lester's face went livid.

"I only want you to understand that right now, without me, you have nothing."

He stepped in front of me and looked down at me from above.

"Stop trying to provoke me with this coldness. It won't do you any good."

"Go back to the apartment and wait for me like a good girl. Later I'll take you to that sushi place you love."

He reached out to touch my head.

I tilted my head away.

"No need." I looked at him. "The apartment keys, I already left them in the entryway."

"From now on, don't come looking for me again."