Claire turned toward the voice Mrs.
Reed.
Rosalind, still smarting from yesterday’s slap, felt a flicker of fear at the sight of her.
But there was no graceful retreat now she stepped forward and grabbed Mrs.
Reed’s arm before Claire could reach her.
“Mrs.
Reed!
What a coincidence I was just telling Ethan yesterday, now that he’s taken over as CEO, our two families are bound to see a lot more of each other.
I really should be visiting you and Gerald more often!”
A subtle reminder we’re business associates now, and given how close I am with Ethan, you’d be wise not to burn this bridge.
Mrs.
Reed wasn’t the type to soften for anyone.
She pulled her arm free with visible distaste.
“Ms.
Rosalind, that’s an impressive amount of self-promotion.
Yes, our families will cross paths but it’s Mr.
and Mrs.
Ashford who’ll be doing the visiting.
What exactly gives a grieving widow the standing to insert herself into that?”
With that, she marched straight over to Claire, announcing loudly, “Mrs.
Ashford!
I’ve been looking forward to having you both over.”
The title landed with deliberate weight, and the crowd caught the implication instantly.
“Wait so it really was the sister-in-law going after her own brother-in-law?
Unbelievable.”
“Caught red-handed and still denying it.
Who goes shopping carrying their marriage certificate, anyway?”
“I’d heard rumors the younger Ashford brother had a thing for his sister-in-law figured it was industry gossip.
Guess not.”
Claire pulled up a photo on her phone, her and Ethan, together.
“I didn’t bring the marriage certificate, no, but I never could bring myself to delete our wedding photos.
Strange, having to prove my own husband belongs to me.”
The sales associate swooped in and grabbed the shirt.
“Mrs.
Ashford, let me ring this up for you right away.”
As she passed Rosalind, she muttered, just loud enough, “Are there no single men left on this earth?
Buying clothes for someone else’s, husband is shameless.”
Rosalind wanted nothing more than to scream at her, but with this many eyes on her, she couldn’t afford to crack her composure any further.
Once the spectacle died down, people paid for their things or drifted off, and Ethan finally arrived late, as usual.
He caught the sales associate’s obvious disdain, then spotted Mrs.
Reed standing protectively beside Claire, and immediately sensed trouble.
“What happened here?”
Rosalind lowered her head, wounded.
“Nothing.
Claire and I both liked the same dress.
If she wants it, she can have it.”
Ethan’s brow furrowed, already halfway to scolding Claire.
It’s a piece of clothing.
Why does it need to turn into a fight?
The associate returned with the bags.
“All packed, Mrs.
Ashford.
We’re running a promotion, spend eighty thousand on menswear, get a complimentary tie.
Would you like to pick one out?”
Ethan’s eyes landed on the bag.
A dark, subtly patterned shirt.
After everything I’ve put her through lately, she’s still buying me clothes?
Is this about tomorrow our anniversary?
The thought softened something in him.
“Rosalind, it’s just clothing.
Since Claire already picked it out, why don’t you look at something else?”
Rosalind stared at him, stunned.
He’s not taking my side?
Mrs.
Reed scoffed.
“Well.
At least you’re not a complete lost cause.”
Claire shot her a grateful look.
“You didn’t get to see the roses yesterday before they were destroyed.
I’ll send a batch of seedlings over tonight, if that works?”
“Perfectly convenient.
Nothing on my schedule tonight come by, we’ll talk.”
After a bit more small talk, Mrs.
Reed left with the wrapped menswear.
Claire turned back to find Ethan still standing there.
“Something else?”
“You haven’t picked your tie yet,” he said, almost too quickly.
Claire frowned.
“I know.
I’m heading over now, are you coming?”
Reading her reluctance, Ethan figured he could just let her open his real surprise tomorrow night instead, no point ruining whatever she had planned today.
“No, go ahead without me.
I’ve got things to handle this afternoon.”
Since Claire was clearly taking their anniversary seriously this year, he couldn’t afford to phone in his own plans.
He needed somewhere romantic.
He still had to order another bouquet; the wedding dress should already be arriving today, and tomorrow, he’d surprise her properly.
Satisfied with the plan, he walked out of the store and turned to Rosalind.
“Actually didn’t you mention wanting to try the hot springs out at Lakemere Valley?
Why not head over tonight, stay a few days, relax?”
Lakemere Valley’s hot spring resort had a reputation, stunning natural scenery, equally impressive architecture, and price tags steep enough to keep it exclusive.
Derek had taken more than one girlfriend there over the years.
Ethan’s logic was simple: the resort was massive.
Book two separate suites, and Claire and Rosalind would never have to cross paths.
Rosalind’s nerves finally settled.
She had, in fact, mentioned wanting to visit Lakemere before.
But her real goal had never been the hot springs; it was closing the distance with Ethan.
Publicly, she played up how devoted he was to her.
Privately, she knew the truth: since Julian’s death, Ethan had pulled back from her advances more than once, refusing to cross that particular line no matter how she tried.
He might be willing to abandon Claire for her right now but who could say what tomorrow held?
If Claire kept pushing, kept lingering in his orbit, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t change his mind.
Because the truth was, that jar of paper cranes he couldn’t let go of none of them had ever been folded by her.
If I could just get pregnant, she thought, everything would be different.
Buoyant, Rosalind hurried back to Ashford Manor to pack, only to be stopped by a package a maid had just brought in.
“Is this…
a wedding dress?”
Not as delicate as the handmade lace gown she’d destroyed, but far more extravagant a mermaid silhouette dripping with diamonds, catching the light like fire.
“Did Ethan order this?”
The maid nodded.
“He wants it packed carefully, and another bouquet of roses delivered to the Lakemere Valley hotel tomorrow night.”
Rosalind’s eyes lit up.
So this is why he’s sending me there, a surprise this big.
“Have someone go arrange the flowers.
I’ll bring the dress myself.
And don’t mention any of this to Ethan.
I want it to be a surprise for him too.”
The moment he sees me in this dress, he won’t be able to look away.
She had the maid carry the dress to her room and couldn’t wait to try it on.
It was snug she had put on a little weight lately, being with Ethan so much.
Her old size would’ve fit fine.
She squeezed into it anyway, admired herself in the mirror, and snapped a photo, sending it straight to Claire.
You used our “shared property” to buy him a shirt.
Maybe you should ask him for a refund.
She simply couldn’t imagine it going any other way.
No matter how composed Claire pretends to be, surely even she can’t stomach watching her husband propose to another woman.
This has to be the one that finally breaks her.