Chapter 6 - Victoria Cross Cancels the Reception
Victoria canceled the reception herself.
Not because of the triplets.
Because Jonathan could not honestly marry anyone that afternoon.
She removed her veil and handed it to her sister.
Her father wanted a private discussion.
Victoria refused.
“Nothing about today is private anymore.”
Then she surprised me.
She approached.
“I didn’t know.”
“I know.”
“I was told you left Jonathan for another man.”
I almost laughed.
“Of course you were.”
Victoria looked toward Eleanor.
She had been given an entire biography of me.
Unstable.
Ambitious.
Unfaithful.
Desperate for money.
The same narrative had circulated through Chicago society after the
divorce.
My business success had complicated it, but old-money families were
skilled at preserving useful myths.
Victoria asked:
“Did Jonathan ever publicly correct those stories?”
I looked at him.
He knew the answer.
No.
He had not started the smear campaign.
He had benefited from silence.
Victoria removed her engagement ring.
Jonathan looked devastated.
“Victoria—”
“I’m not punishing you for children you didn’t know existed.”
She placed the ring in his hand.
“I’m refusing to marry you while you’re still learning how much of your
life your mother has been managing.”
Then she walked upstairs to change.
Eleanor whispered:
“You’ve destroyed everything.”
I looked at her.
“No.”
May you like
For once, Jonathan answered before I could.
“You did.”
