Chapter Two: Sophie

Chapter Two: Sophie

The next morning, right on time, Preston's assistant, Lynn, rang my doorbell.

He was holding a dark green velvet box in both hands, the gold logo stamped on the lid gleaming in the sun.

I didn't take it. I just glanced at it.

The ring on my finger had been carved by my husband himself, by hand, in his studio in Zurich. Our initials were engraved on the inside of the band.

Somebody else's ring in somebody else's size? I didn't need it.

I was about to hand the box back when I caught sight of a line engraved on the bottom.

To Nina and Preston. Happy forever.

Nina had been struck through with a black line. Next to it, somebody had scrawled Sophie in marker.

I almost laughed out loud. I pushed the box back into Lynn's arms.

"Wrong address. This is Nina's size and it has Nina's name on it. Take it to her. She'll love it."

Lynn rolled his eyes.

"Ms. Harlow, there's a limit to how much attitude you can get away with. If you hadn't gotten in the way back then, Mr. Kane and Miss Nina would've been together a long time ago. Who are you to be so picky now?"

Like master, like dog.

I didn't waste my breath. I stepped around him and got into the Uber that had just pulled up.

*  *  *

At noon, I went to the Italian restaurant I always went to.

The car had barely stopped out front when I spotted Preston.

He was holding open the door of a black Bentley and offering his hand, his voice so tender it was practically dripping. "Careful, watch the step."

Nina took his hand and stepped out.

She looked up, and the three of us locked eyes.

Preston blinked in surprise, then raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Said you didn't want the ring, and here you are following me. Sophie, when did you start saying one thing and meaning another?"

I didn't bother answering. I headed straight for the door.

He grabbed my arm.

"Stop pretending." He kept his voice low and glanced at the little gray car pulling away behind me. "You don't even have a car anymore, do you? You took an Uber. The Harlows really are finished. You know what a meal costs here? If you can't pay the check, don't expect me to cover you."

I looked down at his hand on my arm, then back up at him.

Just because I took an Uber, my family must be bankrupt?

There were three cars in my garage. My husband just hadn't liked the idea of me driving with the baby while he was away, so this week I'd been calling rides everywhere.

"Let go."

"Sis."

A soft, sweet little voice cut in.

Nina was standing at Preston's side in a pink Chanel suit, her makeup flawless. The girl from three years ago, the one in the faded uniform who walked with her head down, was nowhere to be seen.

Her eyes went red, and she sniffled.

"Sis, you're upset about the ring, aren't you? It's all my fault. Preston felt awkward asking your size, so I told him to use mine... Please don't blame him. It's always been one-sided. I'm the one who's in love with him. His heart only has room for you."

Before she'd even finished, the tears were spilling over, one after another.

Preston pulled her into his arms at once and looked at me with nothing but disappointment.

"Sophie, it's been three years. I thought you'd have done some growing up by now."

"What did I say?" I asked.

That stopped him for a second. I hadn't said a single word.

"You don't have to say anything." He found his footing again fast. "Your attitude is hurtful enough. She grew up poor. Her parents only cared about her brothers. She's sensitive and insecure as it is. Can't you go a little easy on her?"

"If her parents favored her brothers, take it up with her parents," I said. "Why are you taking it up with me?"

"You—"

"Preston!"

A sharp voice came from the restaurant entrance.

The Kanes must have gotten tired of waiting and come out to find them. The moment Mrs. Kane saw me, her face darkened.

"So that's why you were taking so long. Sophie Harlow, you have some nerve showing your face around my son. You're the reason he ran off to London and didn't come home for three years! If Nina hadn't been there for him, God knows how he would've gotten through it!"

Mr. Kane's voice was cold. "Nina is the only daughter-in-law this family recognizes. Stop chasing my son."

Other diners had started to stop and stare.

Nina, still tucked in Preston's arms, slowly slid a jade bangle off her wrist and held it out to me, her eyes swimming with tears.

"Sis, Mrs. Kane gave this to me. She said only a Kane bride gets to wear it... So today, I'm giving it back to you. It should be yours."

Mrs. Kane caught her hand, slid the bangle right back onto her wrist, and looked me up and down.

"Give it to her? As if she deserves it."

"A girl whose family is about to go under, who got dumped by my son and still won't leave him alone? She isn't fit to shine the Kanes' shoes."

Reader comments streamed by overhead, thick and fast:

[What is WRONG with this family??]

[My poor heroine, getting ganged up on like this...]

[Male lead, SAY something!]

Preston said something.

"Mom, don't say that." He let go of Nina and came to stand in front of me, his voice softening as if he were doing me a huge favor. "Sophie, see, my mom's just upset. Apologize to Nina and we'll put this all behind us. I've already ordered a piece of imperial jade. I'm having a whole set of jewelry made for you. Think of it as making up for the last three years."

I looked at him and took a deep breath.

"Preston, I'm going to say this one last time."

"I'm married. I have a daughter."

For a moment, everything around us went quiet.

Then Preston laughed out loud.

"Sophie, stop using that to get to me."

He straightened his cuffs, taking his time.

"Before I came back, I had someone look into you. Your marital status? Single."