Nine Rejected Marriages, I Wed My Ex's Rival novel · Chapter 20 of 24

Chapter 20: Her Name

Delaney had no makeup on, and her hair was pulled back in a rubber band.

She looked ten years older, and for the first time she looked like herself.

"You can't talk to me out here," Claire said. "Come up."

"You're letting me in?"

"I'd rather see your hands."

The flat was on the third floor, one room and a kitchen with a window onto a fire escape.

Delaney stood in the middle of it with her coat on, looking at the books piled on the radiator and the narrow bed under the window.

"So this is where you live," she said.

"This is where I live."

"I thought you'd have more."

Claire put the kettle on and did not answer.

"I'm sorry," Delaney said.

It came out stiff.

"For what?"

"For all of it. The hearts. The ankle. I got carried away, and I hurt you."

"Is that the apology?"

"It's the one I have."

"Then it's not enough," said Claire. "What do you want?"

Delaney's face changed, and the softness went out of it.

"My father won't take my calls. The Foundation dropped me from the spring season. My agent says nobody wants a scandal that comes with a hotel receipt."

"That was true on Saturday."

"I need you to go to my father and tell him it was a misunderstanding. That I was helping Preston through a bad time. He'll listen to you. The whole room did."

"No."

"I have the photograph, Claire."

"Which one?"

"The coat check. April. You and Crane, with his hand on your arm and your engagement ring on." Delaney's voice rose. "A man from the Post has had it since Sunday. He's downstairs right now."

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