Chapter 2
“Is this the one?” Aiden.pulled a familiar file from the stack.
“That’s it. Thanks, Aiden,” Pete said.
Aiden just nodded, unfazed. In the past couple of years, he’d barely seen Mr. Newton’s famously secretive wife out in public. But paperwork from the Newton estate? That never stopped coming. There was always something–some of it ordinary, some of it downright strange.
Sometimes, even moving a couple of trees around the property needed Mr. Newton’s sign–off.”
At first, Mr. Newton would go through every document carefully. Now, whenever something came from the estate, he barely glanced at it. Maybe he figured that woman in the wheelchair couldn’t stir up much trouble anyway.
Aiden watched Pete leave. He was about to sit down when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of bright red at the door. His heart skipped a beat.
Thank God Pete was already gone. Otherwise…
Pete made his way back to the Newton estate, holding the file. When he handed it to Patricia, he hesitated. His grip didn’t loosen.
Patricia tugged at the file, but Pete wouldn’t let go. “Pete?“}
“Pattie, if you leave the Newton house, who’s going to look out for you?“}]
The Martin family was a mess. Before the accident, Patricia could still hold her own. But now, she couldn’t even stand, so how was she supposed to handle those sharks on her own?
Patricia’s eyes dropped, her voice soft but cutting. “Pete, what exactly has Oliver done to make you think he’d ever protect me?“}
She wondered what on earth Oliver had done to give Pete that idea, when Oliver acted nothing like her husband besides putting his name on their marriage document. If he’d just left her alone, she could live with that. What drove her crazy was that he ignored her while somehow making sure she noticed every detail of his life with his little mistress.
Pete just sighed and let go of the file.
Patricia opened it. Tucked beneath a pile of papers was a divorce agreement.”
She stacked the documents and shoved them to the very bottom of the study’s safe.
She was about to wheel herself out when the housekeeper came in. “Mrs. Newton is here.”
For the past two years, Patricia had gotten used to Kelly Newton making her life difficult. Oliver’s mother was a big name in Riverdale–famous as a singer, a real icon back in her day. Years ago, when Oliver’s father had gone to inspect the company with the late Mr. Newton, he’d spotted Kelly in a crowd, who was tall, strikingand impossible to ignore. He insisted on marrying her, no matter what anyone said.}
From actress to socialite, and with plenty of grit and talent, Kelly had built a name for herself in the art world.
People in the arts, Patricia thought, always seemed to look down on everyone else. And Kelly had never bothered to hide her disdain for Patricia, the girl in the wheelchair.
The sound of her wheels made Kelly frown the moment Patricia entered.
Marian pushed Patricia into the room. Kelly squeezed her eyes shut, like she was trying to block out something unpleasant. She took a breath before speaking. “Did Oliver come home last night?“0
“No.“Z
Kelly hadn’t expected that kind of answer. Any other woman would be losing her mind if her husband missed their anniversary. But Patricia just acted like she didn’t even have a husband.}
“Patricia, you can’t even keep your own man.
“It’s true you once saved Oliver. But for years, the Newtons have supported you and your family. I’d say that’s enough. My son deserves a better future–not to be stuck with you forever.”
“Stuck?” Patricia let out a laugh, like she’d just heard the punchline to a bad joke. “Mrs. Newton, let’s not forget how I ended up in this wheelchair.
“If I hadn’t saved Oliver, I wouldn’t even be-“W
“Did we ask you to save him? Did we beg you to do that?” Kelly cut her off, her voice sharp and icy.N
