Her expression said exactly what she thought of that word.
Brooke stopped beside their table.
Then she looked at Catherine’s place setting.
“Oh, Catherine. You’re doing very well with all those forks.”
Catherine smiled.
“I’ve had excellent training identifying dangerous household objects.”
Two people at the table suddenly became very interested in their napkins.
Brooke’s smile tightened.
When she walked away, one investor leaned toward Ethan.
“Keep that assistant.”
The drive home was quieter.
Finally, Catherine asked, “Who was she really?”
Ethan stared through the windshield.
“My former fiancée.”
Catherine
stopped breathing for half a second.
“Oh.”
Years earlier, Ethan explained, he had trusted Brooke completely.
He had shared his home.
His plans.
His private fears.
He had believed being generous could make somebody feel safe enough to stay.
Instead, Brooke eventually chose a different life with someone whose family had even greater social
November 8, 2026 · editor editor
status.
“The money wasn’t the worst part,” Ethan said.
“What was?”
“Realizing I had confused being useful to someone with being loved.”
Catherine looked down at her hands.
After Brooke left,
