Chapter 10
Blanche squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the bitter tears back.
“But I remember–the Andersons and Marshalls are supposed to be engaged. Ingrid is my best friend.”
“So what, Jeannette is your and Ingrid’s mistress?”
“Kelvin, how could you do this to Ingrid?”
Kelvin, caught under Blanche’s sharp questioning, immediately let go of Jeannette’s hand and stammered, nervously pleading with Blanche.
“Sis–in–law, it’s not what it looks like… Jeannette came on to me… Please, you can’t tell Ingrid about this.”
“Security, get her out of here.”
The club’s security guards entered at once.
Jeannette stared in disbelief as they grabbed her by the hair and began dragging her out.
“No-!” she screamed, struggling wildly. “Let me go! I’m not Kelvin’s mistress! I never seduced
him!”
“Eddy, please, help me! I belong to you!”
As Jeannette flailed, a silver wedding band slipped from under her blouse and fell to the floor.
Blanche yanked the necklace from around Jeannette’s neck. For a moment, Jeannette’s bravado vanished; she hung her head in shame.
Blanche held up the necklace for all to see, the ring swinging in front of everyone’s eyes. The initials “SG” were engraved inside–bold and unmistakable.
SG: the initials of Blanche and Eddy’s last names, carved by Eddy himself.
She couldn’t bear it. Right under her nose, they’d used her ring, her symbol, as their token of
love.
“Why is the wedding ring I lost hanging from Jeannette’s neck?”
Blanche’s voice trembled with pain as she turned to Eddy.
“Jeannette says she’s not Kelvin’s mistress, but yours?”
“What is she to you, Eddy?”
Jeannette’s arms were pinned behind her by the guards, her hair disheveled, looking utterly pathetic.
Since she’d been with Eddy, she’d never endured humiliation like this.
apter
Five years–she’d spent five years with him, even given him a child.
How was she any different from Blanche? Why was she forced to hide in the shadows, never allowed into the light, while Blanche got to stand proud and untouchable, basking in everyone’s admiration?
Rage overwhelmed reason. Jeannette suddenly shrieked, hysterical, “I am Eddy’s true love-!”
“Enough!”
Eddy stepped forward, pulling Blanche into his arms and cutting Jeannette off. He looked. devastated, his pain obvious. “Do you know how much this wedding ring means to Blanche and me?”
“How could you do this to her?”
“Take her to the police. File charges.”
His hatred and anger toward Jeannette were naked, his voice ice–cold. The room went dead silent; even Jeannette seemed stunned into silence, as if the ring really had been stolen rather than given to her by him.
With a flick of Eddy’s eyes, the guards dragged the limp Jeannette out.
Something cool brushed Blanche’s fingers.
She looked down to see Eddy gently sliding the wedding ring onto her finger. He took her hand, speaking solemnly, “Honey, no one can steal what belongs to you.”
“Don’t cry.”
“Seeing you in tears hurts more than anything in this world.”
He wiped away one of her tears as the ring glimmered before her
eyes.
For a moment, Blanche was almost convinced he was still the man she’d once loved.
He’d always tried to shield her from pain, done everything to protect her all these years–but the truth was, all her pain had come from him.
No one could steal what belonged to her?
But the man who used to love her with his whole heart had already given away what was rightfully hers.
Blanche’s heart ached so much she could barely breathe.
She pushed his hand away, walked out of the lounge, and headed for the restroom.
Cold water on her face brought a measure of clarity.
Suddenly, the door swung open. Healy rushed in and dropped to her knees at Blanche’s feet. “Mom, I gave your ring to Miss Jean. Please, don’t let the police take her away. If someone has to go, let it be me.”
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