He Let Our Daughter Die, I Became A Tycoon's Bride novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: Donor of the Year

The invitation had a second card tucked behind it.

It was handwritten in blue ink by the chair of the hospital board, who wrote that she had read the news and could not cancel the evening, only tell me about it.

Bring the paper, the card said.

I brought the paper.

The Slenale Memorial gala was held in the hotel ballroom, under three chandeliers, with two hundred people in black tie.

I walked in on Cillian's arm in a midnight-blue gown with the lab sheet in my clutch.

Heads turned across the whole room.

"Mrs. Draper," the doorman announced.

Neil stood on the stage.

He wore a tuxedo and a donor's medal on a ribbon, and he was halfway through his speech.

"...because a hospital is a family," he was saying, "and a family looks after its own."

Kirsten sat in the front row in pale gray.

Marjorie sat beside her in pearls.

Neil saw me.

He stopped mid-word.

The room followed his eyes and turned.

"Penelope," he said into the microphone, and then, with a bright smile that didn't reach his face, "ladies and gentlemen, my wife. She's been through a hard time."

"I'm not your wife," I said.

Nobody made a sound.

I walked down the long aisle between the tables.

The board chair rose from her seat near the front.

She was a tall woman with white hair and a steady face.

She didn't say anything.

She held out her wireless microphone.

I took it.

"Thank you," I said.

I climbed the stage steps with my hand on the rail, because my leg still hurt in heels.

Neil stood very still.

"Penelope, this isn't the place."

← Chapter 10 · All chapters · Chapter 12 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend