Three's a Crowd

Chapter 4

He stood, came over to me, and lowered his voice, displeasure coloring every word.

"Didn't I tell you to wear that blue dress? All our uncles are here today. What do you think you're doing, showing up like this?"

"That's what you wanted. Not what I wanted." I looked at him coldly. "I decide what I wear."

Surprise flashed in his eyes before his face darkened. "What's gotten into you today? Do you have to make a scene in front of everyone?"

Sylvia approached with her wineglass and slipped her arm through Adrian's, smiling coyly.

"Adrian, don't be so hard on my little sister. You know Ivy. She's been stiff and boring since we were kids."

As she spoke, she deliberately thrust out her chest.

A dazzling pigeon-blood ruby necklace hung around her neck: the prize she'd bought with Adrian's supplementary card that morning.

"Ivy, isn't this necklace beautiful? Adrian gave it to me as a welcome-home gift. He said it was to make up for the past 4 years."

I looked at the glaring ruby and found, to my surprise, that I felt almost nothing.

When I'd married Adrian 4 years ago, we hadn't even had a public wedding. Only our parents had witnessed the ceremony in the church.

My wedding ring was a plain band he'd had his assistant pick up at a department store without much thought.

"It's lovely." I forced a faint smile. "Perfect for someone who likes other people's leftovers."

Sylvia's smile froze.

"Ivy Walker! What are you talking about?!"

My mother slapped the table. "Ivy! How dare you speak to your sister like that? Apologize right now!"

The noise in the banquet room died instantly. Every relative turned toward me, amusement in their eyes as they waited for the spectacle.

Adrian's fingers tightened. He stepped forward, placing himself in front of Sylvia.

"Ivy, apologize to Sylvia." His voice was very low, carrying the authority he habitually used to issue orders in business. "My patience has limits. Don't make me humiliate you in front of everyone."

I looked at the man protecting another woman—my legal husband.

The hurt, obedience, and restraint of the past 4 years had turned to cold ash. There was nothing left to ignite.

"What if I don't?" I asked, meeting his eyes and enunciating every word.

A vicious glint flashed in his eyes. He seized my wrist.

"Ivy, remember your place. You're standing here because you're my wife, not because you've accomplished anything yourself!"

"Let her go."

A cool, low voice came from the entrance.

Everyone turned toward it.

A tall man stood in the light and shadow of the foyer, early-winter snow dusting his trench coat. He wore silver-framed glasses, his expression cold and distant.

Dr. Felix Hoffmann.

Fairhaven's leading academic neurosurgeon, a specially appointed guest evaluator at the Lindenstadt Institute, and someone who'd been ahead of me in the same university department.

Whispers spread through the room.

The Hoffmann family held enormous influence in Fairhaven's medical and political circles, though they kept a low, almost mysterious profile. Even Reed Group had been trying to establish a partnership with Hoffmann Medical Laboratories.

Adrian's grip loosened involuntarily, his gaze turning wary.

"Mr. Hoffmann? What brings you to a private Walker family dinner?"

Felix walked straight through the crowd to me without looking at him.

He took a clean cotton-linen handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to me, his eyes on my reddened wrist.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said softly, though everyone heard him clearly. "I brought the final documents for Ivy to sign for her transfer. Lindenstadt needs the originals for its records, and tonight's international express-mail cutoff is 9 p.m."

The announcement landed like an explosion.

The banquet room erupted.

Adrian whipped his head toward me as though he'd been struck.

"Transfer documents? What do you mean, Lindenstadt?"

At last, his composure slipped. A barely perceptible note of panic entered his voice.

"Ivy, what is he talking about?"