Chapter 1 - THE DINNER AT CORINNE’S HOUSEBy the time dessert arrived, Maren Mercer had already counted four moments when Helena had spoken about her as if she were invisible.
The dining room was beautiful in the expensive, almost intimidating way that made everything feel carefully controlled. Pale sunlight spilled across polished oak. Crystal glasses glittered beneath a chandelier. Fresh flowers rested in the center of the table, arranged low enough that nobody had to lean around them.
But Maren barely noticed any of it.
One hand rested beneath the curve of her thirty-one-week pregnant stomach.
The baby moved.
A small, unmistakable kick.
Maren smiled faintly and whispered beneath her breath, “Mommy’s okay.”
Across the table, Helena continued talking.
“She left Easter brunch early,” she told Corinne. “Family gatherings have become difficult lately.”
Maren swallowed.
She had not left because she disliked the family.
She had nearly fainted.
Her doctor had already warned her about overexertion, and Graham had personally driven her home that afternoon.
But facts had never mattered much inside Helena’s version of reality.
Corinne cut into her tart.
“Mom worked until the day I was born.”
Helena smiled.
“Different generation.”
Maren looked down at her water.
She had learned that defending herself only made things worse.
Then Corinne stood.
“Rosa, leave those plates.”
The housekeeper froze.
“I can clear them, Mrs. Bell.”
“No. You've been working all afternoon.”
Corinne looked directly at Maren.
“Maren can do it.”
Maren slowly pushed herself out of her chair.
“I can take the lighter things.”
“The lighter things,” Corinne repeated.
Helena gave a quiet laugh.
Maren's face warmed.
“My doctor told me not to lift anything heavy.”
Corinne picked up a dirty plate.
“And there it is.”
Maren stared at her.
“What?”
“An excuse.”
The room became strangely quiet.
Then Corinne placed a plate into Maren’s hands.
“Two plates,” she said. “I think you’ll survive.”
A child giggled.
Then another.
Maren felt something inside her crack.
And nobody in that room noticed—
May you like
except Matthew.
And he looked ashamed.
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