Chapter 4: The Woman Behind The Smile
Martha stopped breathing for a second.
Then she laughed.
“That’s impossible.””
Nick opened the envelope.
Inside were printed messages.
“She texted someone three weeks ago,” he said.
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
Nick looked at Martha.
“Caroline.””
The name hit the room like a storm.
Caroline.
The woman Martha always wanted Nick to marry.
Martha’s expression shifted.
“She’s just a friend.””
Nick held up the papers.
“Really?””
He read aloud.
“‘Once Lily is embarrassed enough, Nick will finally realize he made a mistake.’”
A wave of anger moved through me.
My hands curled into fists.
“You wanted him to leave me?””
Martha looked at me.
“You don’t understand.””
“No,” I said quietly.
“I understand perfectly.””
For years, I had wondered what I had done wrong.
Why she looked at me like I was an inconvenience.
Why every achievement I had was never enough.
But the answer was simple.
It was never about me.
Martha had already decided I wasn’t worthy before she ever knew me.
Nick walked toward the center of the room.
“I found these messages because Caroline sent them to me.””
Martha’s eyes widened.
“She wouldn’t.””
“She did.””
Nick smiled sadly.
“She said she was tired of being part of your plan.””
Martha looked furious.
“She betrayed me.””
“No,” Nick said.
“She finally told the truth.””
The DJ quietly turned off the music.
Nobody was dancing anymore.
Nobody wanted to.
This wasn’t a wedding reception anymore.
It was an intervention.
Martha looked around.
“You’re all acting like I’m some monster.””
Eleanor answered softly.
“No. We are acting like you need to take responsibility.””
Martha looked at me.
“You think you won?””
I almost laughed.
Because months ago, that sentence would have hurt.
But now?
No.
“I never wanted to beat you,” I said.
She stared at me.
“I just wanted you to accept that your son loves me.””
For the first time, Martha looked smaller.
Not powerful.
Not intimidating.
Just lonely.
But then her eyes hardened again.
“I gave Nick everything.””
Nick shook his head.
“You gave me things.””
He stepped closer.
“But Lily gave me something you never understood.””
“What?””
“Peace.””
The word seemed to hurt her more than any accusation.
I watched Nick take my hand.
“I’m leaving.””
Martha blinked.
“What?””
“I’m leaving this behind.””
He looked around the ballroom.
“The money. The expectations. The control.””
His voice became steady.
“I choose my wife.””
Martha’s lips parted.
“You would abandon your family?””
Nick squeezed my hand.
“No.””
He looked at Eleanor.
“I’m finally choosing the family that chooses me.””
Martha stood silently.
Then she noticed something on the table.
The braid she had cut.
She picked it up.
And for a moment, she looked almost regretful.
Almost.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Her face turned pale.
“What happened?”” I asked.
She didn’t answer.
Nick looked at her.
“Who is calling?””
Martha slowly lowered the phone.
And whispered a name.
May you like
A name that made Eleanor’s expression change instantly.
“Your father.””
