The Belated Bride: Becoming My Own Muse Chapter 14

The Belated Bride: Becoming My Own Muse Chapter 14

Christian’s entire expression collapsed.

The Van Ness family dinner was at the old estate in Long Island.

When I arrived, Christian’s mother, Eleanor, was in the living room, drinking her Earl Grey tea.

Bianca was there too.

She wore an off-white Carolina Herrera dress, perched demurely beside Eleanor like she was already halfway to being the lady of the house.

The moment I walked in, Eleanor’s face dropped.

“So you finally remembered to show up.”

I put down my purse.

“Just here to pick up a few things.”

Eleanor let out a cold laugh.

“Claire, you’ve certainly developed quite the temper lately. Bee wanted to borrow a single dress from you, and you blew it up to the point of sending lawyers after everyone. Do you have any idea what people outside are saying about the Van Ness family now?”

I took off my coat, my tone even.

“That the Van Ness family steals things?”

Eleanor slammed her teacup down.

“How dare you!”

Bianca rushed to pat her arm soothingly.

“Aunt Eleanor, please don’t be upset. It was just a misunderstanding on Claire’s part.”

Eleanor patted Bianca’s hand, her tone softening immediately.

“This is why Bee is so thoughtful. If she hadn’t gone to Switzerland back then, the position of Mrs. Van Ness would never have fallen to someone else.”

The words dropped into the living room like a stone into still water.

The house staff nearby all lowered their heads.

I stood there and suddenly felt like the past three years had been one long, absurd farce.

The very first time I came to this house, Eleanor was sitting in that exact chair.

She’d looked me up and down and said, “A girl from some Midwestern farm town in Ohio… don’t expect the Van Ness family to give you any face. You can register the marriage. But the wedding can wait. We don’t want outsiders saying the Van Ness family was desperate to marry a woman with no background.”

Christian had been standing beside me then.

He said, “Mom, Claire’s not like that.”

At the time, I thought he was defending me.

Later, I understood. He just knew I wouldn’t fight back. So it was easy to push me down.

I walked up to Eleanor.

“Well, now I’m giving it to her.”