Chapter 6 - The Cracks in the Empire
The viral post hit the Whitmore family where it hurt most: their bank accounts and social standing.
By Monday morning, the charity board Margaret presided over issued a public statement announcing that Margaret Whitmore had been "indefinitely suspended" from her role as chairperson pending an internal review regarding her public conduct.
At the same time, Evan’s real estate firm began losing high-profile corporate clients who did not want to be associated with the "wedding scandal."
My phone rang at noon. It was Lucas, Evan’s best man.
"Nora," Lucas said, his voice dripping with guilt. "I... I'm calling to apologize. I never meant to trigger all of this at the reception."
"You told the truth, Lucas," I said coolly. "Even if it was by accident."
"I was angry at Evan," Lucas confessed. "He sat in my living room three days before the wedding and told me his mom was threatening to cause a scene. I told him to cancel it, or at least tell you! But Evan said he couldn't risk losing you or infuriating his mother. He thought he could have both if he just timed it right. He was selfish, Nora. He was a coward."
"I know," I said.
"He's losing his mind," Lucas added. "His mother is blaming him for the charity firing her, the firm is considering removing him as partner, and he spends every night drinking at his apartment calling your offline number. He wants to meet you. Just once. To explain."
"Tell him if he wants to talk to me, he can do it at our official mediation session on Thursday," I replied firmly.
That evening, I received a package at my door. It was a massive box of red roses with a handwritten letter from Evan:
“Nora, I will destroy my mother’s influence over my life if you give me one more chance. I will cut her off completely. Just tell me what to do. Please come home.”
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I didn't cry. I didn't feel a pang of regret. I took the roses, walked down to the building's trash chute, and dropped the entire hundred-dollar bouquet straight into the incinerator.
He was only ready to cut his mother off now that his life was falling apart. When it was only my dignity on the line, he had made a deal with her.
