Chapter 3

At the gala, they kept me outside the circle of old money, trading family secrets I wasn't supposed to understand.

"Mr. Pruitt, next time I'll take you to meet old Mr. Merchant. He's going to love you."

I watched the man wearing his success so easily now.

At eighteen, when he couldn't scrape together his tuition, he'd stubbornly pushed the money back into my hands.

"I don't want charity. Call it an investment."

"Trust me, sis. I could let anyone down, but never you."

Now the man I'd invested in stood under everyone's watching eyes and introduced us, perfectly calm.

"An old friend."

The distinguished gentleman smiled and pressed him. "Not a girlfriend?"

"Actually, if Marvin here hadn't gotten separated from the family, he and Patsy would practically be childhood sweethearts. Grew up side by side, innocent as anything."

Patsy laughed behind her hand and finally looked at me, as if waiting for me to blow up.

I just lowered my head and set down my fork.

Honestly, the cake on the display table was a little bland.

Same as my mood.

Then, all at once, a ring was unveiled at the gala.

"This is Ms. Henson's newest design, called the Crescent, launched exclusively by Crossway Corporation."

I knew it. That was the design I'd drawn over seven days and seven nights.

It was the anniversary gift I'd made for Marvin.

One of a kind.

I'd named it Beloved.

When I looked over at Marvin, he finally tipped up the corner of his mouth.

The same expression Patsy wore.

Stealing everything I'd poured myself into, stamping her name on it — was that part of the game too?

Marvin, I really don't know you anymore.

"What's that look for?"

"That was one of your early pieces, if I remember right. No loss letting it give her a little polish."

"Patsy's helped me out plenty. You're going to be her sister-in-law now, so you should give her a welcome gift."

"Long distance is hard, you know. Every one of these games she came up with was just to keep us strong."

I looked at that ring, my heart clenched in someone's fist, and I didn't argue.

You want it to give her a little polish?

I lifted my phone and recorded the moment Patsy admitted the design was hers.

A long time passed before Marvin finally spoke, the words sounding as if he'd weighed them a hundred times.

"Daisy..."

"Once this blows over, I'll get you set up with a position. There's no rush on the wedding."

"You understand. I don't want the staff thinking you got in through the back door."

"With your design skills, a few more years and..."

Love or a career, it's always me who has to wait?

"Marvin, if I've got it right, your birthday is seven days from now."

I changed the subject, calm about it.

The brows he'd knit together softened at last when he heard that.

"That's right."

"Look forward to it. I'll give you a birthday surprise you won't forget."

"After all, this is our tenth year together."

I'd meant to end this with a little dignity.

Now I see it. You never needed dignity at all.