My Regretful Ex-Husband novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Two Hundred Witnesses

Wren put the fountain pen in her apron pocket and went downstairs.

The cake was already in the ballroom, three tiers high on a rolling table.

Two hundred guests in evening dress stood around it with champagne.

Margaret was at the microphone on the little stage.

She saw Wren come through the service door, and her face lit up with warm, delighted welcome.

"And here she is," Margaret said into the microphone. "The woman who made our cake. Please, dear, come up here."

Wren stopped where she was.

The room turned to look at her. A white apron, a hairnet, a cardigan under it, flour still on her wrist.

"Come, come. Don't be shy."

"No, thank you," Wren said.

"Then I'll say it from here." Margaret held a cream-colored folder against her silk dress.

"Many of you were surprised when my son's marriage ended. I owe you the truth."

Jonas stood beside the staircase, very still.

Camille was ten feet from him, with her hand inside her coat.

"Three years ago, I made an arrangement," Margaret said. "I was worried about Jonas."

"I paid for this young woman's mother to have care, and in exchange, she agreed to marry him."

A gasp ran through the ballroom.

"Here is the agreement." She opened the folder and lifted a page.

"'Wren Hollister agrees to marry Jonas Pryce and remain for a term of three years.'"

"The term ended last month. She took the money and walked out the door."

"I never took a cent," Wren said.

"Dear, it's in writing."

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