Chapter 10 - The Marble Aftermath
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It was past midnight when I returned to the mansion.
The heavy front door swung open silently. I stepped into the grand foyer, holding my high heels in one hand, my grandmother’s midnight-blue silk gown sweeping softly across the dark wood floor.
The house was completely dark, save for a single light glowing from the kitchen.
I walked down the hallway and stepped into the room.
Weston was standing beside the marble island. His charcoal tuxedo jacket was thrown carelessly over a stool, his silk tie unraveled and hanging loose around his unbuttoned collar. He held a glass of dark scotch in his hand, his hair disheveled, his eyes bloodshot and haunted.
On the floor, the broken pieces of crystal had been swept away.
Ironically, the man who had ordered me to clean it up hours ago had finally picked up the broom himself.
He turned slowly as he heard my footsteps, staring at me as if looking at an alien being.
“Elowen,” he choked out, his voice raw and gravelly.
I placed my clutch purse calmly on the counter, next to a pristine vase of white lilies.
“How long?” he asked, taking a desperate gulp of his drink.
“How long what, Weston?”
“How long have you been Chairwoman of Meridian? How long have you held the Rowan Trust?”
“Five years,” I answered honestly, leaning against the edge of the island. “Since my grandmother passed.”
Weston let out a dry, manic laugh, slamming his glass down onto the marble counter. “Five years! You let me run around like an idiot for five years! You let me struggle, you let me beg for meetings, you let me court investors—when you could have signed a paper and made me king of this city!”
I looked at him with profound disappointment.
“You still don't understand, do you?” I whispered. “If I had handed you everything on a silver platter, you would have destroyed yourself even faster. I spent five years hoping you would grow into a man who valued people over status. Instead, every step higher made you treat everyone around you with more contempt.”
“You humiliated me in front of the entire city!” he roared, his face flushing crimson. “You destroyed my reputation!”
“No, Weston,” I said, keeping my voice utterly level. “I simply spoke the truth about my money. What humiliated you was realizing that the woman you treated like a maid was the only reason you were standing in that room.”
He stared at me, his shoulders slumping as the alcohol and reality drained the fury out of him. He stepped forward, reaching out a trembling hand toward me.
“I... I made a mistake, Elowen,” he stuttered, tears welling in his eyes. “I panicked tonight. I was stressed about the deal. Please... we can fix this. We can go to counseling. I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll apologize to the press!”
I slowly reached up to my left hand, unclasped my grandmother’s diamond ring, and pulled off my plain gold wedding band.
I set it down on the cold marble surface between us.
May you like
Weston gasped, stepping back as if the ring were red-hot metal. “Elowen, no! Please! Don't do this!”
“I waited eight years for you to see me, Weston,” I said softly, taking a step back toward the hallway where my two packed suitcases were waiting by the door. “I’m done waiting.”
