Chapter Two

Jayden was the kind of man who did not need to enter a room to own it. But tonight, he had brought a weapon: Melissa Pembroke, who was resplendent in a crimson dress that hugged every curve, and her platinum blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder. The woman he had been dating before their hasty marriage. The woman who, if rumors were to be believed, had never truly left his life.

The fork slipped from Flora's fingers, clattering against her plate with a sound that seemed to echo in the sudden silence. Lisette's smile widened like a predator scenting blood.

"Jayden, darling," she called out. "And Melissa! What a delightful surprise."

Flora sat frozen, unable to look away as her husband guided his former lover toward the table. Toward the empty seat beside his mother. The seat that should have been Flora's.

Three years of marriage, and she had never felt more like an outsider than she did in this moment. Jayden's eyes briefly met hers across the table, not with guilt or apology, but with cool indifference, as if she were nothing more than another piece of his mother's expensive furniture.

Yesterday was their anniversary. Today, he had brought another woman to his mother's birthday dinner. The message could not have been clearer if he had served her divorce papers at the table.

Flora's heart shattered, but she forced her face to remain composed, not willing to give them the satisfaction of seeing her break.

"Oh, my, I had no idea you would join us." Lisette's voice trilled over the table.

Melissa smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Mrs. Kensington. You look stunning as always."

Vivian, seated two places down from Flora, set her wine glass aside and drew Melissa in with outstretched hands. "You look absolutely radiant tonight, Melissa," she said, then cocked her head. "We never see you at these gatherings anymore. I was beginning to think Rockville had lost its charm."

Melissa let herself be embraced, her gaze flitting to Flora before returning to the table's matriarch. "I could never stay away for long. Rockville has far too many... fond memories." The words lingered, sticky-sweet.

Lisette eyed Jayden and Melissa with a strange intensity. "So, Melissa, what brings you back this time? Have you finally tired of the city?"

Melissa dabbed at her lips with her napkin, playing coy. "Father's health has declined, I am afraid. I have taken over as acting CEO at Pembroke Holdings."

"Such a capable woman. I always said so, did I not, Charles?" Vivian beamed at her husband, who grunted his assent.

Lisette's eyes sharpened. "And how long will you be staying in Rockville? For good, I hope." She emphasized the last word, as if every syllable were a barb meant for Flora's heart.

"Oh, I am here for the foreseeable future," Melissa said. She reached for her wine, careful not to let her sleeve brush Jayden's hand, but the effort was performative, not genuine. "There is so much work to be done. And, of course, I have missed my dear friends." Her gaze lingered on Jayden, and then, moved to Flora.

Charles finally spoke. "Heard you brought Pembroke Holdings back from the grave, young lady. Quite the feat." He grunted, then added, "Jayden tells us you two are working on a deal together."

Jayden inclined his head. "We are exploring a strategic partnership," he said. His voice was polite. "There are some synergies worth pursuing."

Melissa nodded as the perfect corporate vixen. "Jayden has a rare gift for leadership. I am honored to be working alongside him."

Lisette purred. "That is wonderful news. I have always hoped my son would surround himself with the right people. The kind who understand our values and traditions." She lifted her glass in a silent toast to Melissa.

Vivian did not let the moment slip by. "Not every woman is up to the challenge of keeping up with a Kensington man. Is that not so, Flora?" Her tone was light, but the intent behind it was leaden.

Flora's throat tightened. "Of course," she said, her hands twisting the napkin in her lap. "Jayden's ambitions are... legendary."

Lisette's smile widened. "That is why I am so grateful for women like Melissa. Dedicated and sophisticated. A proper daughter-in-law."

Flora felt her cheeks burn, but she kept her eyes fixed on her plate, refusing to give them the reaction they wanted. Then, she looked up at Jayden, desperate for a sign that he would stand up for her, that this was still her place at the table. But his gaze was fixed on his phone.

Lisette turned to Flora with a cool expression. "Flora, be a darling and fetch the dessert, would you? The staff has likely forgotten." She leaned in for the kill. "It is so easy to forget the small things, is it not?"

The table tittered. Flora rose, careful to keep her hands from trembling, and walked toward the kitchen. Behind her, she could hear Melissa and Lisette already deep in conversation. She swung the door shut behind her and sagged against it, letting herself breathe.

In the kitchen, the staff moved around her with their heads bowed, pretending not to notice her. She carried out the tray of miniature cakes, arranging them with care around the table, making sure not to meet anyone's gaze. As she placed the final plate in front of Melissa, the other woman caught her wrist.

"You have flour on your dress, Flora," Melissa whispered. "Right here." She brushed the spot off, lingering too long. "You really should be more careful."

Flora jerked her arm back. "Thank you. I will remember that."

Melissa's smile was razor-sharp. "I am sure you will."

The meal ended soon after**,** and the guests started trickling out to the conservatory for brandy and cigarettes. Flora stood at the edge of the room, unsure where she belonged. She watched as Lisette and Melissa glided from group to group, collecting admiration and whispered envy like magpies.

Jayden remained at the table with his face buried in his phone. He did not so much as glance at Flora. After a while, he stood, muttered something to Charles, and disappeared up the staircase. Flora noticed, too, that Melissa was no longer with Lisette; she had vanished from the room entirely.

A slow, poisonous suspicion crept into Flora's chest. She set down her tray and followed the path Jayden had taken, up the wide staircase and down the long hallway that led to the bedrooms.

The house was quiet here; insulated from the noise below. Flora's footsteps made no sound on the thick runner. She passed the guest suite, the linen closet, and came to a stop at the master bedroom—her bedroom, supposedly, though Jayden rarely spent a night there.

The door was not fully closed. From within, she could hear Melissa's low and throaty laughter, followed by Jayden's unmistakable voice, the same one that used to say her name like it meant something.

She pushed the door open and froze.

Jayden and Melissa were tangled together on the bed, his hand buried in her hair, her blouse undone. The white sheets Flora had changed that morning were already twisted, and the comforter was half on the floor. For a moment, neither of them saw her.

It was Melissa who looked up first. She smiled, and it was not apologetic or embarrassed, but victorious. "Oh, Flora," she said. "Did you need something?"

Jayden's eyes snapped up, and for the first time that evening, he looked directly at his wife. "Flora—this is not—" He scrambled up, shoving his shirt back into his waistband. "You are not supposed to be—"

But Flora was already gone, slamming the door behind her. She ran down the hallway with blurry vision and a heavy chest.

She ducked into the nearest guest room and locked the door. Only then did she let the sobs escape, muffling them in her hands as she slid down the door to the floor. From the other side, she could hear Jayden calling her name.

"Flora! Flora, open the door! Let me explain!"

But Flora did not move. She stayed where she was, her body shaking with wracking sobs. Then, she pressed her hands over her ears, shutting him out. There was nothing left to explain.