I’ll repay everything.”
Mark’s expression turned cold.
“The board will review the expenses Monday morning.
You will not access company accounts until then.”
“You’re suspending me over a personal matter?”
“Submitting false expenses is not personal.”
Eric glanced toward several colleagues seated near the dance floor.
None met his eyes.
For years, he had built his identity around being admired.
He could survive private guilt because private guilt did not damage his reputation.
Standing beneath ballroom lights while his business partner discussed false expense reports was different.
“Rachel put you up to this,” he said.
Mark shook his head.
“Rachel gave me the opportunity to tell the truth.
You should try it.”
Eric’s anger swung back toward me.
“You want everyone to think you’re some kind of hero?”
“No.
I want everyone to understand why I am leaving.”
“You could have handled this with dignity.”
The cruelty of that sentence almost made me laugh.
“I stood silently while my sister announced your affair and mocked years of medical grief.
I think my dignity survived.”
My mother walked toward me.
For one uncertain second, I thought she might ask me to forgive Natalie for the sake of the family.
Instead, she took my hand.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
The apology broke through the restraint I had carried all evening.
Not enough to make me collapse, but enough to fill my eyes.
I squeezed her fingers.
“I know.”
My father joined us.
He looked at Eric first.
“Leave.”
Eric stared at him.
“This is my anniversary party.”
“Not anymore.”
Hotel security had already moved closer after hearing the raised voices.
Eric noticed them near the ballroom doors and seemed to understand that refusing would create another humiliation he could not control.
He looked at me one final time.
“Ten years, Rachel.
You’re throwing away ten years.”
“No,” I said.
“I’m refusing to give you an eleventh.”
He left with the divorce papers under his arm.
No one followed him.
Natalie remained seated until Mark quietly asked whether she needed a ride home.
She refused.
Our mother offered instead, but Natalie shook her head and hurried toward the exit alone, covering her face as she passed the guests she had expected to impress.
Mark stayed long enough to give Grant the original laboratory documents for safekeeping.
Before leaving, he approached me.
“I’m sorry I was part of this.”
“You told the truth when you learned it.
That’s more than they did.”
“I should have seen what she was doing.”
“So should I.”
