The Ring That Sank, The Love That Drowned Chapter 02
A server caught up with me and handed me a cup of hot lemon water.
In a low voice, they said, “Ms. Sinclair, Mr. Vaughn had the kitchen make this for you.”
My fingers paused around the cup.
A moment later, another staffer hurried past carrying a silver tray loaded with honey-lemon tea, a cashmere throw, a thermometer, and a heating pad.
“Hurry. Ms. Hale had quite a scare. Mr. Vaughn wants to give her the tea himself.”
I looked down at the paper cup in my hands.
Apparently, even his concern depended on who was receiving it.
I set the hot lemon water back on the tray without taking a sip.
Beyond the doors, the lake lay black beneath the night. The ring lay at the bottom, just as I had in my previous life.
But this time, no one could force me to go after it.
The heat was cranked up in the ballroom.
I had barely sat down when Spencer’s assistant came over with another message.
“Ms. Sinclair, Mr. Vaughn says the press is still here. Please change, and we’ll redo the group photos in ten minutes.”
A damp towel lay across my knees, and my calves were stiff and aching from the cold.
“Where are my clothes?”
The assistant briefly looked away, then led me to the dressing room.
Inside were two racks of gowns.
Everything on the left belonged to Vivian—champagne, ice blue, dusty rose, even backup wraps coordinated by color.
There was only one dress on the right.
It was black.
The waist had been taken in, with the alterations hidden inside the lining. From the outside, no one would ever know.
The assistant lowered his voice.
“Mr. Vaughn said you aren’t picky. Wear this one for now.”
I ran my fingers over the waist.
The measurements were exact.
He remembered my size.
And still, I got whatever was left.
Vivian’s voice came from the doorway.
“Natalie, don’t blame Spencer. I had this one altered ahead of time because I was worried you might not have anything that fit.”
She stepped inside in a snow-white gown. The hem was edged with the handworked lace the Paris atelier had reserved for only three gowns that year.
I looked at her.
“So this is the one you passed on?”
Vivian went slightly pale, but the wounded look returned almost immediately.
“I just thought black was more understated. It suits you.”
Spencer walked in behind her.
He heard her answer and frowned.
“Natalie, Vivian was trying to help you. Stop taking digs at her.”
I put the black dress back on the rack.
“I’m not wearing it.”
The dressing room went silent.
Spencer stepped closer, his gaze settling on my wrist, blue with cold.
He touched it lightly.
“Get changed before you make yourself sick.”
I caught the scent of cedar on him.
I used to love that smell.
In my previous life, all it took was for him to come a little closer, and I could swallow every hurt that had come before.
Vivian gave a quiet laugh beside us.
“Spencer, don’t go soft on her yet. She still hasn’t signed the statement. Once she feels better, she’ll turn around and say we mistreated her again.”
Spencer’s hand stopped in midair.
I went still too.
So that little bit of tenderness had only been meant to coax me into swallowing everything they had put me through tonight.
Spencer turned toward her, his voice dropping.
“Vivian.”
Vivian immediately lowered her eyes.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
But the damage was already done.
Her words pierced the last illusion I had left.
I drew my wrist away.
“Take the pictures without me.”
The last trace of softness disappeared from Spencer’s face.
“Natalie, don’t push your luck.”
I put on my own coat and opened the dressing-room door.
The reporters were already waiting outside.
The lights hit me, and every camera swung my way.
I didn’t turn away.
In a half-soaked evening gown and my old coat, my face white from the cold, I walked down the red carpet one step at a time.
Behind me, Vivian slipped her arm through Spencer’s while wearing the couture gown that should have been mine that night.
Camera flashes burst around them.
Someone murmured, “So who exactly is tonight supposed to be about?”
Spencer didn’t answer.
I didn’t look back.
Everyone there had already seen the answer.