Chapter 4

When Nathan’s mother, Lydia Carter, found out Amelia was back and teaching Leo, she came over immediately, arms laden with luxury gift bags. She settled on the sofa next to Amelia, taking her hand affectionately.

"Amelia, my dear," she cooed. "You’ve been through so much. Oh, if only you and Nathan had ended up together from the start. He could have managed Reed Corp. You wouldn’t be in this position."

Amelia flushed. "Lydia, we shouldn’t talk about that now. It’s all in the past. I’m just grateful Nathan gave me this job."

"Why shouldn’t we?" Lydia gave her hand a pat. "With you teaching Leo, my mind is at ease. And you know Nathan is filing for divorce. You understand what that means, don’t you?"

She lowered her voice. "Don’t you worry, dear. Leo adores you, and so do I. You’d fit right in. Besides, Nathan is fully intending to help get Reed Corp back on its feet."

Though Lydia knew I was home, she hadn’t announced her visit. I listened from a distance. Nathan liked Amelia, Leo liked Amelia, and clearly, so did his mother. Lydia had wanted Amelia as a daughter-in-law from day one. Amelia came from old money, the perfect match for the Carters. The moment Nathan met her, he was smitten. Lydia was thrilled, immediately starting wedding plans.

The only problem was, Amelia didn’t feel the same. She turned Nathan down and left to study music abroad. Lydia, while disappointed, admired her ambition and independence. As for me, from a modest, ordinary family, I was labeled a gold-digger. Lydia was too polite to say it to my face, but her disdain was a constant presence.

Sometimes, I wondered if Amelia had married Nathan from the start, maybe everyone would have been happier.

A buzz from my phone snapped me from my thoughts—a notification that the insurance payout for the accident had cleared. I’d thought the crash would fade into a distant memory, but closing my eyes brought it all back, vivid and raw.

It was pouring that night. Nathan and I were on the highway when his phone rang. I heard the voice on the other end clearly: