Chapter 3

### Chapter 3

I gripped the armrests of the wheelchair.

My mother's funeral had already taken place. Everything had been kept simple, as she would have preferred.

I had never consented to a memorial service.

Lucian bent to straighten my skirt.

I pushed his hand away.

"Who told you to hang my mom's photo here?"

"What's wrong with letting everyone say goodbye to her?"

Up on stage, Chloe had already taken the microphone.

"Mrs. Sinclair passed away so suddenly. It's only natural that Celeste can't accept it. There have been misunderstandings lately, but I've never blamed her."

She looked over at me, her eyes glistening.

"I asked everyone to stay so Celeste would know that Luc and I have always had Mrs. Sinclair in our thoughts."

I picked up the program from the table.

The final item read: Family remarks. Clearing up misunderstandings.

Tucked inside was a speech that had already been written for me.

"My mother passed away suddenly from illness, and in my grief, I misjudged Miss Sutton..."

So his promised explanation was a demand that I admit I was wrong.

I pushed myself up on the armrests.

Mitchell steadied me, and I handed him the speech. "Hold on to this for me."

Lucian reached for it. Mitchell turned aside, keeping it out of reach.

"Celeste, just hear her out."

"Hear what?"

I looked toward the stage.

Chloe lowered her head and touched her belly. "Mrs. Sinclair always hoped Luc would have a child. I believe that, watching from heaven, she would give us her blessing..."

"Give me the microphone."

My voice cut her off.

Lucian immediately stepped in front of me. "Calm down."

Down in the audience, Kyle stood up and set a bottle down hard on the table.

"Your mom tried to scam Mrs. Hayes, and Lucian didn't even hold it against you. He went out of his way to arrange this service. Don't be ungrateful!"

I slowly turned my head.

"A scam?"

"Kyle!" Lucian's voice was low and sharp.

Kyle fell silent, but his defiant glare stayed on me.

It suddenly dawned on me what they had been telling people these past few days.

My mother had died without a proper explanation. To hear them tell it, she was a con artist trying to frame Chloe.

"After she drank that milk, she never left the resuscitation room alive."

I looked at Kyle. "Tell me how that was a scam."

Someone in the audience raised a camera.

Lucian signaled for them to stop filming, then pressed a glass of wine into my hand.

"The press is here. Make a toast to Chloe and clear up the misunderstanding."

"And if I don't?"

He leaned close, speaking too quietly for anyone else to hear.

"Your mom's photo is still hanging up there. Don't make this ugly for everyone."

I looked at him and took the glass.

His shoulders visibly relaxed.

I walked up to Chloe, but I didn't apologize.

Instead, I picked up a small glass carafe of milk from the coffee service nearby and poured some milk into a clean glass, then added the red wine.

"Don't you love bringing people milk?"

I held the glass out to her.

"Today it's your turn to drink."

She took a step back, the color draining completely from her face.

"What did you put in it?"

"You watched me do it."

I pushed it closer. "You saw exactly what went into it. What are you afraid of?"

Lucian knocked the glass away.

The glass scraped my arm before shattering on the floor.

He shielded Chloe and growled, "Celeste, don't push me."

I stared at the milk spilled across the floor.

Had he protected my mother like that when she collapsed?

I looked up and was about to speak when the big screen behind him suddenly changed.

My mother's memorial portrait disappeared, replaced by intimate photos of Lucian and Chloe.