She Called Me A Kept Woman, I Kept The Family Fortune Chapter 01

She Called Me A Kept Woman, I Kept The Family Fortune Chapter 01

My husband and I were both invited to a charity auction that weekend.

During the auction, his assistant and I both set our sights on the same oil painting.

I was ready to bid fair and square. Then, right in front of me, my husband placed an uncapped bid for her.

“Evelyn Hart, you’re nothing but a woman my family supports. What makes you think you have any right to bid against me?”

As the other bidders dropped out one by one, I snapped my fingers at the auctioneer.

“Whatever Mr. Caldwell bids, I’ll go one dollar higher.”

***

The moment I said it, every guest at the auction turned to look at me.

A beat later, the room erupted in laughter.

“Is she insane? She’s bidding against her own husband. What, does she have money to burn?”

“Insane? She doesn’t have a brain in her head. A trophy wife challenging Mr. Caldwell in public? She really doesn’t know her place.”

“I heard Mr. Caldwell kept a trophy wife tucked away at home for years. Never thought I’d see her in person.”

The whispers grew louder, and Ethan’s expression darkened by the second.

Then he shot to his feet and pointed at me.

“Evelyn, put the paddle down. Now. Do you hear me?”

“You’re bidding with Caldwell money. How dare you use my family’s money to compete with me?”

I settled back in my chair, perfectly calm, and met his glare without a trace of warmth.

“Ethan, I’m still your wife. You can watch your tone.”

“Why should I give up something I want just because someone else wants it too?”

My expression cooled.

“And for the record, I’ve never spent a cent of Caldwell money. Don’t start inventing things just because you’re angry.”

Ethan’s face went red.

“How many times do I have to tell you? In public, it’s Mr. Caldwell.”

“You’re just a woman my family keeps around. You and I have nothing to do with each other.”

I sighed softly and held his gaze.

“Mr. Caldwell, are you really going to fight me over a painting for your little assistant?”

I’d known something was wrong the moment I walked into the ballroom.

As Ethan’s wife, I should have been seated beside him, not shoved into a seat in the farthest corner of the room.

I’d even let that slide. Richard had always treated me decently and would occasionally ask me to play chess with him.

I figured a woman like me could afford to indulge an arrogant husband once in a while.

Then I learned that the seat meant for me had been given to Ethan’s assistant, Madison Reed.

She’d just graduated from college. Aside from being younger than me, there was nothing particularly remarkable about her.

And somehow, my idiot husband had decided she was worth defending.

Just thinking about it sent my temper through the roof.

But Mr. Caldwell, Boston’s so-called rising business star, was completely oblivious. He just kept pushing.

“Who the hell do you think you are? You don’t get to tell me how to do anything.”

“You’ve lived under my roof and lived off my family for years. What exactly do you have to compete with me?”

By then, Ethan had completely lost his temper.

“And since you want the truth, fine. I’m buying the painting for Madison.”

Before I could even get angry, his assistant cut in, a challenge written all over her face.

“Ms. Hart, if I were you, I’d let it go.”

“If you upset Mr. Caldwell, things at home could get very uncomfortable for you.”

Then she gave a smug little laugh.

“A trophy wife should know how to act like one. Don’t you agree, Ms. Hart?”

Madison’s jab drew another burst of laughter. Even the auctioneer onstage had trouble hiding a smile.

I waved it off with a cold laugh.

“So what you’re saying, Ms. Reed, is that you’re determined to see this through?”

Madison gave me a smug smile, contempt all over her face.

“Ms. Hart, I’m not trying to be cruel, but you’re a stay-at-home wife without a job. What exactly are you planning to bid with?”

“Mr. Caldwell just placed an uncapped bid. There’s no ceiling. Do you really have enough money to keep up?”

I lifted my chin and smiled at her.

“You’re mistaken, Ms. Reed. You and I are nothing alike.”

“I don’t need a man to pay for anything I buy.”

That only set off another round of mockery.

“Oh my God, listen to her. She probably couldn’t even get through the door without Mr. Caldwell.”

“Exactly. The only reason she’s sitting here is because she married into the Caldwell family.”

“Without Mr. Caldwell, who would even know her name? Auctioneer, just call it already. Stop wasting our time.”

The ridicule kept coming, but I didn’t care.

Because every word I’d said was true.

If I hadn’t spent all these years protecting Ethan’s pride, I could have stood up right then and told everyone Caldwell Holdings was mine.

My silence only made Madison bolder.

“See? I told you. A woman with nothing of her own should stay home instead of humiliating herself in public.”

Before she could finish, I raised my bid paddle again.

“Who said I was done bidding?”

“If this is about money, I’ve got more than enough.”