He Ran to the Waitress and Called Her Mommy

Chapter 3: The Night of the Fire

Vivian tried to leave the ballroom.

Edward caught her wrist before she reached the door.

"Tell me the truth."

Vivian's eyes flashed. "The truth? The truth is that she was never good enough for you."

Clara closed her eyes, as if those words confirmed something she had always known.

Edward stared at Vivian. "What did you do?"

Vivian looked around the ballroom. Every guest was watching. Every whisper now belonged to them.

Finally, her mask cracked.

"I loved you before she ever came into this house," Vivian hissed. "I was the one your family approved of. I was the one who understood your world. Then she appeared, some little orphan with pretty eyes, and you married her."

Edward's face turned cold. "So you tried to kill her?"

"I didn't mean for the fire to spread."

The words landed like a gunshot.

Clara held Noah tighter.

Vivian covered her mouth, realizing what she had said.

Edward's mother, Lady Margaret Hale, stood from the head table. Her face was pale, but not shocked enough.

Edward saw it.

"You knew," he said.

Margaret lifted her chin. "I knew Clara was a danger to this family."

"My wife was a danger?"

"She was going to take Noah and leave. She found out about the trust."

Clara's voice was quiet. "Because you were planning to remove Edward from control and use Noah's inheritance."

The ballroom erupted.

Edward looked at his mother as if seeing her for the first time.

Margaret said, "I protected this family."

Clara shook her head. "No. You sold me."

Edward turned sharply. "Sold?"

Clara took a breath.

"After the fire, I was alive. Burned, drugged, and hidden. Vivian's uncle signed the papers declaring me mentally unfit. Your mother paid for the private hospital."

Edward's hands shook.

Then Clara looked toward the service entrance.

"But someone helped me escape."

A young kitchen boy stepped forward, holding a locked medical file.

And behind him stood the family doctor.

His face was gray with fear.