After the funeral, the lawyers handled the massive inheritance in quiet rooms. My outward life didn’t change because I kept my old car and continued shopping for groceries at the local market.
Simon knew I had inherited some family assets, but he never asked for specifics. At the time, I thought his lack of questions was a sign of respect.
Now I realize that what looked like respect was actually a total lack of curiosity. We married two years later, and I made sure the prenuptial agreement was signed before the wedding.
Simon signed the papers in a room with a notary while barely listening to the legal explanations about asset exclusions. He thought it was just a formality to protect my modest savings as a freelancer.
He kissed me afterward and joked that the boring paperwork was finally finished. It wasn’t my deception that hurt, but rather his certainty that there was nothing important about me he didn’t already know.
His mother, Beatrice Vane, disliked me from the start in the polished way that only certain socialites can manage. She specialized in backhanded compliments disguised as maternal concern.