Chapter 5 - THE ARRANGEMENT I NEVER AGREED TO
Chloe tried to recover.
“I meant the seating arrangement.”
I looked at her.
“No, you didn't.”
She glanced toward Theo.
“This isn't appropriate in front of children.”
I stepped between them.
“Then stop bringing adult cruelty into children's lives.”
Chloe's expression hardened.
“Julian was going to explain everything.”
“When?”
She didn't answer.
“Before or after he introduced you as his partner?”
Her silence told me enough.
Theo tugged my sleeve.
“Mom, can I wait with Ms. Bennett?”
I looked down.
He was pale.
I hated that he had to ask.
“Of course.”
Margaret appeared immediately and took him toward the foundation's hospitality room.
Only when he was safely gone did I turn back to Chloe.
“Now tell me what you meant.”
Chloe crossed her arms.
“Julian wants a different life.”
“Then he can file for divorce.”
She blinked.
Apparently she had expected screaming.
Tears.
Begging.
I gave her none.
“You don't understand,” she said. “He's been unhappy for years.”
“That sounds like something he should have discussed with his wife.”
Chloe looked away.
Then spoke quietly.
“He said you knew.”
I stared.
“Knew what?”
“About us.”
“I suspected.”
“He said you were staying married for appearances.”
I almost laughed.
Julian had spent years telling me that I was imagining things.
Meanwhile, he had told his mistress that I had agreed to them.
Two lies.
Perfectly designed to keep both women in place.
“Chloe,” I said, “I never agreed to share my husband.”
For the first time, uncertainty crossed her face.
“He told me—”
“He lied.”
She swallowed.
I watched her carefully.
“How old is Sophie?”
“Eight.”
“Is Julian her biological father?”
Chloe hesitated.
Then nodded.
“Yes.”
My knees almost buckled.
Eight years.
Eight years of birthday parties.
Family vacations.
School meetings.
And somewhere in those years, Julian had been living another life.
“Does Sophie know about Theo?”
Chloe looked toward the ballroom.
“She knows he has a son.”
“Does she know he's married?”
Chloe didn't answer.
I felt sick.
Sophie had been raised inside a story built on lies too.
I turned away.
Chloe reached for my arm.
“Eleanor, wait.”
I pulled back.
“Don't touch me.”
She lowered her hand.
“What are you going to do?”
I looked at her.
“Protect my son.”
“And Julian?”
I smiled sadly.
“Julian is an adult.”
I walked away.
That night, Theo and I took a cab home.
He held his scholarship certificate on his lap.
For several minutes, we rode in silence.
Then he asked, “Are you and Dad getting divorced?”
I looked out at the city lights.
“I don't know exactly what will happen yet.”
He nodded.
“Would it be because of me?”
I turned toward him immediately.
“Never.”
He looked at me.
“Promise?”
I took his hand.
“I promise. None of this is your responsibility.”
He leaned against my shoulder.
“Okay.”
I held him close.
May you like
And as Manhattan moved past the windows, I made a decision.
I would never again ask my son to pretend that neglect was love.
