Something uncontrollable was stirring in his chest. Certain things were spinning out of control, but he couldn’t see it yet.
Finally, Nathan opened his eyes. They were flat and emotionless now.
Her games couldn’t fool him. She’d been by his side seven years–he knew exactly how she operated.
She couldn’t survive without him.
Nathan drove back to Harrison Group and handled business like any other day Everything seemed normal, but something felt different underneath.
“Ding.”
New email alert. Nathan opened it–an invitation to a charity gala. Tomorrow night, 7 PM. The invite mentioned he could bring a date.
“Buzz.”
His phone vibrated. Text from Vivian.
Nathan, I heard Cavendish Group is hosting a charity gala. I want to help those patients however I can, but I don’t have access. Do you have tickets? Could you take me?
He rarely went to these charity things. In seven years, he’d attended exactly three times.
For events like this, you brought a work secretary, professional date, girlfriend, wife, or family member.
Given Nathan’s personality, whenever he showed up to these functions, he only ever brought Amelia. For seven years at these events, by his side, there was only ever Amelia.
Since he and Amelia were still in their cooling–off period, Nathan had planned to turn Vivian down, but…
For some reason, his mind flashed back to that hospital room–Amelia and Caspian huddled together behind the frosted glass.
His jaw clenched as weird emotions flooded through him.
He texted back: Sure.
Time crawled by. At New York General, Amelia was video–calling Mars Santiago about their next performance.
Her phone buzzed with a new message–charity gala invitation.
The hospital door burst open and Louie rushed in.
“What’s up?” Amelia asked, confused.
Mars heard commotion on Amelia’s end and said he’d handle other stuff first.
After ending the call, Amelia looked at Louie.
Louie sat down heavily. “Your health…”
He seemed torh, struggling to spit it out.
“I’ll go.” Amelia said before he could finish.
“What?” Louie looked genuinely baffled. “You know what I was gonna say?”
17:03
Mr. Harrison, Wake Up Your Wife’s Gone
17.26
Chapter 39
Amelia handed him her phone. The charity gala invite was open on “Elena’s” screen.
Tomorrow night, 7 PM, hosted by Cavendish Group.
If this message had reached “Elena’s” phone, it meant Louie hadn’t lost the family war yet.
She had to win “Voice of Heaven,” and since the gala invite had found her, she had to show up.
Louie looked stressed. “It’s… messy.”
Amelia raised an eyebrow.
Louie rubbed his head. “My grandfather thinks I’m hooking up with you, and he’ll be there, so…”
Amelia grinned. “Then you better help me pick a gift for your grandpa–classy but not flashy.”
“You think this is funny!” Louie was genuinely freaking out.
Everyone else he could handle. His asshole brothers just annoyed him, but he could fight them for territory. His dad was worthless–a total deadbeat.
But Grandpa Cavendish… That was the ruthless old bastard who’d built the Cavendish empire from nothing.
Obviously Amelia knew this. The Cavendish family was one of New York’s big three dynasties.
Old Man Cavendish had two daughters and two sons. Louie’s father was the younger son. His older brother had died before having kids, and feeling like a failure, Louie’s dad had spent his life chasing tail and making babies.
Over the years, Louie’s father had burned through several wives and had three sons with three different women.
Louie’s mother was his dad’s final wife–came into the family late, had Louie late. Eventually, Grandpa said his son’s lifestyle was embarrassing, so he stopped the musical chairs marriages. If not for the “no bastards” rule, Louie might have even more half–brothers.
Louie’s two aunts and female cousins had roles in the family business, but ultimate control of Cavendish Group would go to one of the three brothers/
Through “Voice of Heaven” and Cavendish Entertainment, Amelia was tied to Louie’s success. Plus, he’d already stuck his neck out for her–she owed
him.
She had to deal with this.
Getting her logic, Louie didn’t push back.
“I’ll handle the dress and gift,” Louie said. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”
After a beat, he added seriously: “When I boot those two dickheads and take over, you’ll get a piece of Cavendish.”
Amelia neither agreed nor disagreed, just told Louie to make arrangements.
“Oh yeah, legal says the cease–and–desist for ‘Slight Love‘ went out.”
Louie dropped that news and bolted.
Amelia nodded. The legal threat was also a test–she wanted to see how Vivian would react.
Something about Vivian’s whole act felt off.
That night, Vivian was picking tomorrow’s gown while her British caregiver watched.
“Ms. Hope, isn’t the buzz from the live show still trending? Why go to a charity gala?” the caregiver asked, confused. “Your medical chart says your condition can’t handle this level of stress.”
17:03
Mr. Harrison, Wake Up Your Wife’s Gone
Chapter 39
Vivian turned from the mirror to face her caregiver. “Then help me figure out how to keep this bullshit story going.”
The caregiver started to speak but shut her mouth.
Vivian glared at her reflection. “With my current fame and my relationship with Nathan, they didn’t even invite me to this New York elite gala. What the fuck were they thinking?”
“Whatever–I’m going anyway, as Nathan’s plus–one!”
Vivian practiced a fragile, beautiful smile in the mirror. “I’m gonna milk this for everything it’s worth. Hopefully it kills Amelia.”
“When she sees me in the spot that should be hers, right next to Nathan, will she be devastated? Maybe she’ll just disappear forever, haha…”
Vivian was drunk on her own success.
Her email chimed. Vivian frowned and clicked it open.
A cease–and–desist letter about “Slight Love.” It clearly demanded she stop the copyright infringement immediately.
The caregiver beside her totally panicked. “Ms. Hope, what the hell do we do?”
