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I rubbed the side of my head. “I hate all these political and corporate power games.” Each time I saw one coming, I felt a headache rising.
“And now you see why I chose a prince.” She snickered gently. “You and I don’t have the stomach for this fight. So, we need the best defense. If you have money already, how do you get enough power and fame that people always want to be associated with you?”
“Become royalty,” I answered. “And all the attention and respect is given to you. All of them would be falling over themselves to take pictures with you.”
“And I wouldn’t have to sit in the corner.” She frowned.
I shook my head. “You should have been a politician with how calculating you are sometimes.”
She shrugged and waved me off. “This is nothing. You should see what some women will do to win a swimsuit competition.”
I didn’t think that was a good comparison, but I let it go and looked back at my sister. I didn’t want to fight with her, but I also didn’t want to close my eyes and pretend I didn’t see her lying to my face. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered what else she was lying to me about.
I had forgotten that marriage wasn’t about love in our world anyway. It was about fortune. Keeping it and growing it. People got married and divorced around here like it was a sport. Augusta must have made that choice as well.
I wanted to be better than that.
But I also didn’t want to be poor, either...or in my sister’s shadow.
Does that make me a bad person?
I wasn’t sure.
“I’m leaving,” I stated, standing up and taking one of the wine bottles from the center of the table with me.
“Where are you going?” my mom asked me.
“Home,” I said to her, and I looked her over. “What are you supposed to be, anyway?”
“Your fairy godmother, of course,” she stated, lifting her arms to show me how long her sleeves were.
I had to hand it to her. She really knew how to stick to her narrative.
“Goodnight, Mom.” I bent down and kissed the side of her cheek. “Don’t stay here too long. God knows what Yvonne will do or say next.”
“Who’s the mom here again?”
I smirked but didn’t say anything, taking the bottle with me and moving toward the double door. In the corner of my eye, I saw Augusta trying to get my attention. I kept walking, ignoring her and stepping out to the coat check, waiting for my jacket from the woman behind the corner.
“Odette.” Augusta dashed out of the double doors, holding on to the bottom of her skirt. “Are you leaving? You just got here.”
“I’m no longer in the mood for this. Thank you,” I said to the woman reaching for my jacket.
“If it’s about your mom—”
“She’s fine. Don’t worry,” I replied. “You should get back. I’m sure your mom wants to introduce you to more people. Bye.”
“Wait.” She grabbed my arm and came closer to me. “You pledged to donate a million dollars. Where are you going to get that money?”
I stared at her. She was truly unbelievable. She wasn’t asking to be concerned. She was asking to snoop.
“I’ll get the money from the same place you did.”
“What?”
I tilted my head to her. “Quick question. Are you going to keep Wyntor as your last name, or are you going to take your husband’s?”
Her eyes widened, her grip loosening. Her lips opened and closed like a damn goldfish.
