Chapter 7: The Arrangement Behind The Affair
For a moment, I thought I had misunderstood.
The ballroom was already filled with impossible revelations.
The affair.
The financial betrayal.
The documents.
The humiliation.
But somehow, my father’s words made everything else feel like a smaller wound.
“Your husband didn’t choose Clover.””
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
My father didn’t answer immediately.
He looked at Isaac.
And Isaac looked away.
That was when I knew.
Because guilt had a face.
And Isaac was wearing it.
“Isaac,” I said quietly.
He didn’t look at me.
“Tell me.””
His jaw tightened.
“Flora…”
“No.””
My voice was steady.
“Not another explanation. Not another excuse.””
I stepped closer.
“I want the truth.””
The room waited.
Even the guests who had stayed behind seemed unable to leave.
Because this was no longer entertainment.
This was the collapse of a family everyone thought was untouchable.
Alexander Vance closed his eyes briefly.
“My grandson made a deal.””
Isaac looked at him.
“Grandfather.””
Alexander ignored the warning.
“A deal that involved your marriage.””
My stomach twisted.
“My marriage?””
My father nodded.
“Three years ago, Vance Holdings was facing serious problems.””
Isaac’s face hardened.
“That was private.””
“No,” Noah said.
“It became public the moment you used Flora.””
I looked at Isaac.
“What problems?””
He said nothing.
My father answered.
“Debt. Bad investments. Internal conflicts.””
I felt numb.
“So what?””
Alexander spoke.
“The Sterling family had resources. Connections. Stability.””
I understood.
Slowly.
Painfully.
“They needed me.””
Nobody corrected me.
Because I was right.
Isaac had not married me because I was the woman he wanted.
He married me because I was the solution he needed.
I looked at him.
“Is that true?””
His silence was enough.
“Isaac.””
He finally looked up.
“I did love you.””
The words sounded almost insulting.
Because love was not supposed to arrive after the truth was dragged out.
“When?”” I asked.
His face changed.
“What?””
“When did you love me?””
He froze.
I stepped closer.
“Before you discovered my family’s name?””
No answer.
“Before you realized who my father was?””
Silence.
“Before you needed something from me?””
His eyes dropped.
And that was the answer.
I felt something inside me break.
Not because I loved him.
That part of me had already died.
But because I finally understood that the entire foundation of my marriage had been built on something false.
“You knew,” I whispered.
Isaac looked confused.
“What?””
“You knew exactly who I was.””
My father nodded.
“Your brothers kept their identities private. Flora wanted a normal life.””
Noah added quietly:
“She never used the Sterling name.””
I looked at Isaac.
“And you?””
He looked away.
“I found out after we started dating.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
His silence stretched.
Because there was no good answer.
“You were afraid I would leave?””
“No.””
I looked at him.
“Then what?””
Finally, he admitted it.
“I was afraid you would see me differently.””
A bitter laugh escaped me.
“So you lied.””
“Yes.””
“And then you cheated.””
His face tightened.
“Yes.””
“And then you humiliated me.””
His voice dropped.
“I was angry.””
I stared.
“Angry?””
He swallowed.
“I felt powerless.””
There it was.
The truth.
Not an excuse.
A confession.
He had hurt me because he felt small.
And making me smaller made him feel bigger.
My father’s expression darkened.
“That is the weakest reason a man can give for cruelty.””
Isaac looked at him.
“You don’t understand.””
“No,” my father replied.
“I understand perfectly.””
Then Alexander spoke.
“There is still one question.””
Everyone looked at him.
Alexander turned to Isaac.
“Who told you to pursue Flora?””
Isaac didn’t answer.
My heart began beating faster.
Because suddenly, the affair felt different.
The documents felt different.
Everything connected.
Clover.
The marriage.
The timing.
The secrets.
“Isaac,” Noah said.
“Answer.””
Isaac looked toward the windows.
Then quietly said:
“My mother.””
The entire room froze.
Wendy’s face changed.
“Isaac.””
But it was too late.
I turned slowly.
Toward the woman who had spent years calling me lucky.
The woman who had laughed while I knelt.
“You?””
Wendy stepped back.
“Flora, listen.””
“No.””
My voice shook for the first time.
“You knew?””
She said nothing.
And silence was confirmation.
I stared at the woman who had welcomed me into her home.
Who had called me daughter.
Who had watched her son destroy me.
May you like
Then Wendy whispered:
“There’s something you don’t know about your family.””
