Chapter 3 - My Husband’s Dinner Party
Grant believed I was still in Paris.
So I let him.
For forty-eight hours, Rebecca’s investigators followed money while Daniel audited every company Grant had touched.
What they found made the affair look almost trivial.
Northstar Advisory Holdings was controlled through three layers of shell companies.
The final beneficiary?
Meredith Whitaker.
My sister-in-law.
Rebecca placed the documents on my desk.
“Your husband authorized the payments. Meredith received the money.”
“Does Skye know?”
“We don’t know.”
“And the fertility clinic?”
“Appointments are hers.”
I stood.
“Then tonight we find out.”
Rebecca frowned.
“Evelyn—”
“Grant is hosting dinner at my house tonight.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Meredith posted the caterer on Instagram.”
Dad sighed.
“You’re going home.”
“Yes.”
At 8:03 p.m., I entered my own townhouse through the front door.
Laughter drifted from the dining room.
I walked in.
Grant stood at the head of my table.
Meredith sat beside him.
Skye was three seats away.
Six other guests surrounded them.
Grant’s wineglass stopped halfway to his mouth.
“Evelyn?”
Meredith went white.
Skye looked like she had seen a ghost.
I smiled.
“Surprise.”
Grant recovered quickly.
“You weren’t supposed to be home until tomorrow.”
“I missed my husband.”
I kissed his cheek.
His skin was cold.
“How was Paris?” Meredith asked.
“Educational.”
I took my seat.
Skye wouldn’t look at me.
Grant cleared his throat.
“Evelyn, this is Skye Bennett. She’s helping Meredith with a fashion project.”
“Really?”
Skye nodded.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I imagine it is.”
Grant shot me a warning glance.
Dinner continued.
For twelve minutes.
Then I placed the cream blanket with silver stars on the table.
Meredith dropped her fork.
Grant stared at it.
Skye stopped breathing.
I unfolded the blanket carefully.
“I found this in a trash bag upstairs.”
“Evelyn,” Grant said quietly.
“Strange place for it.”
Meredith stood.
“I can explain.”
“Sit down.”
She did.
Grant’s face hardened.
“You’re embarrassing everyone.”
“No. I’m about to save everyone considerable confusion.”
I turned to Skye.
“How long have you been sleeping with my husband?”
A guest gasped.
Grant pushed back his chair.
“That’s enough.”
Skye looked at him.
“Grant?”
“Don’t answer her.”
I smiled.
“Interesting instruction.”
Meredith stood again.
“You’re insane.”
I unlocked my phone.
Her recorded voice filled the dining room.
Once you’re pregnant, he’ll file for divorce.
Meredith froze.
Then came the sentence.
The family needs an heir, not a decorative billionaire with a broken womb.
Grant looked at his sister.
“What did you do?”
Meredith stared at me.
“You recorded us?”
“Inside my house? Yes.”
Skye’s face crumpled.
“You said she knew.”
I turned toward her.
“What?”
Skye looked at Grant.
“You said you were separated.”
Grant stood.
“Skye, stop talking.”
“You said the divorce was already negotiated!”
Meredith whispered, “Shut up.”
Skye’s eyes filled with tears.
“You told me Evelyn didn’t care who you dated.”
I looked at Grant.
For the first time, he had no answer ready.
Then Skye said something none of us expected.
“And you told me the fertility treatments were being paid from your personal account.”
I leaned forward.
“They weren’t.”
She stared at me.
“What?”
“They were paid with company funds.”
Grant slammed his palm against the table.
“Enough!”
Silence.
I looked at him.
“Sit down, Grant.”
“This is my house.”
“No.”
His expression changed.
I smiled.
May you like
“It never was.”
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