Chapter 4
The private sale was in two days. I spent the morning making calls — confirming the lot number for my mother's violin, checking my bidding limit.
Everything was in order. I just needed to show up and win it.
Around noon, I went downstairs for water and found Madeleine in the living room with a wedding magazine. She looked up and smiled.
"Julie, come look. Which dress do you think suits me better?"
I ignored her and headed for the kitchen.
"You know," she called after me, "Dom told me something interesting this morning. He said you claim you're married." She let out a small laugh. "He thinks it's cute that you're still trying so hard to make him jealous."
I filled my glass. The water trembled slightly. I set it down.
"It's not a performance, Madeleine."
"Then where's your husband?" She tilted her head. "Where's your ring?"
I wore my ring on a chain around my neck — a habit from when I'd been hiding the pregnancy. I didn't owe her an explanation.
She stood and walked toward me, magazine still in hand. Her voice dropped to that particular pitch — honeyed and sharp at once.
"Julie. Let me be honest with you." She stepped close. "Dom never loved you. Those three years you were married? He spent every night thinking of me. He told me everything. How you'd wait up for him. How you'd cook meals he never ate. How pathetic—"
"I know." My voice came out flat. "I know he never loved me. That's exactly why I left."
Her smile faltered — just a fraction.
Then she recovered. "Good. Then you understand why you shouldn't interfere with our engagement. Whatever you came back for, get it and leave."
For once, we agreed.
I took my water and went upstairs.
That evening, Dominic returned to the house. I heard him and Madeleine in the garden, laughing together. His voice sounded warmer with her — almost human.
I closed my window and put in earbuds. Ethan had sent a voice note.
"The kids drew you pictures today. Luca's is a dragon eating a bad guy. Rosie's is our family holding hands. She labeled everyone. You're the tallest one, by the way. I'll send photos."
I smiled in the dark. Two more days.
The next morning, everything shattered.
I woke to my phone ringing. An unknown number.
"Ms. Hartley? This is the auction house. I'm calling to inform you that the lot containing the antique violin has been purchased privately ahead of the sale. A buyer made a full-price offer this morning."
My blood turned to ice. "Who?"
"I'm not at liberty to say, but—"
I hung up and threw on clothes. I knew. I already knew.
I stormed downstairs. Madeleine sat at the table eating fruit, still in her silk robe. She looked up with innocent surprise.
"Julie? You look upset. What happened?"
"Where is it?" My voice shook. "My mother's violin. Where is it?"
She popped a grape into her mouth. "Oh, that? Dom bought it for me yesterday. A pre-wedding gift. He said I should learn to play. Isn't that sweet?"
The world tilted. I gripped the edge of the table.
"That was my mother's." Each word came out through clenched teeth. "You know it was my mother's."
Madeleine blinked, all practiced confusion. "Was it? I had no idea. Dom just said it was a rare antique. If it means so much to you…" She paused, considering. "I suppose I could give it back."
Hope cracked through my chest. "Name your price."
Her eyes glittered. "Kneel."
---
Everything was in order. I just needed to show up and win it.
Around noon, I went downstairs for water and found Madeleine in the living room with a wedding magazine. She looked up and smiled.
"Julie, come look. Which dress do you think suits me better?"
I ignored her and headed for the kitchen.
"You know," she called after me, "Dom told me something interesting this morning. He said you claim you're married." She let out a small laugh. "He thinks it's cute that you're still trying so hard to make him jealous."
I filled my glass. The water trembled slightly. I set it down.
"It's not a performance, Madeleine."
"Then where's your husband?" She tilted her head. "Where's your ring?"
I wore my ring on a chain around my neck — a habit from when I'd been hiding the pregnancy. I didn't owe her an explanation.
She stood and walked toward me, magazine still in hand. Her voice dropped to that particular pitch — honeyed and sharp at once.
"Julie. Let me be honest with you." She stepped close. "Dom never loved you. Those three years you were married? He spent every night thinking of me. He told me everything. How you'd wait up for him. How you'd cook meals he never ate. How pathetic—"
"I know." My voice came out flat. "I know he never loved me. That's exactly why I left."
Her smile faltered — just a fraction.
Then she recovered. "Good. Then you understand why you shouldn't interfere with our engagement. Whatever you came back for, get it and leave."
For once, we agreed.
I took my water and went upstairs.
That evening, Dominic returned to the house. I heard him and Madeleine in the garden, laughing together. His voice sounded warmer with her — almost human.
I closed my window and put in earbuds. Ethan had sent a voice note.
"The kids drew you pictures today. Luca's is a dragon eating a bad guy. Rosie's is our family holding hands. She labeled everyone. You're the tallest one, by the way. I'll send photos."
I smiled in the dark. Two more days.
The next morning, everything shattered.
I woke to my phone ringing. An unknown number.
"Ms. Hartley? This is the auction house. I'm calling to inform you that the lot containing the antique violin has been purchased privately ahead of the sale. A buyer made a full-price offer this morning."
My blood turned to ice. "Who?"
"I'm not at liberty to say, but—"
I hung up and threw on clothes. I knew. I already knew.
I stormed downstairs. Madeleine sat at the table eating fruit, still in her silk robe. She looked up with innocent surprise.
"Julie? You look upset. What happened?"
"Where is it?" My voice shook. "My mother's violin. Where is it?"
She popped a grape into her mouth. "Oh, that? Dom bought it for me yesterday. A pre-wedding gift. He said I should learn to play. Isn't that sweet?"
The world tilted. I gripped the edge of the table.
"That was my mother's." Each word came out through clenched teeth. "You know it was my mother's."
Madeleine blinked, all practiced confusion. "Was it? I had no idea. Dom just said it was a rare antique. If it means so much to you…" She paused, considering. "I suppose I could give it back."
Hope cracked through my chest. "Name your price."
Her eyes glittered. "Kneel."
---