Chapter 3 - Margaret’s Judgment
Margaret Vale disliked Emily before they were formally introduced.
She had seen photographs of Nathan leaving diners with a woman in inexpensive clothing. She had heard rumors that the woman had three children and worked in hospital administration.
Margaret believed her son was being targeted.
Nathan had spent his adult life surrounded by people who wanted access to his money, his name, or his family connections. Margaret had watched friends become rivals and partners become opportunists.
She decided Emily was no different.
Their first dinner together confirmed every fear Margaret had already chosen to believe.
Emily arrived at the Vale penthouse in a simple black dress. She brought flowers instead of wine and refused the driver Nathan had sent.
Margaret looked across the dining table.
“Nathan tells me you have three children.”
Emily hesitated.
“I care for three children.”
“That was not my question.”
“Mother,” Nathan warned.
Margaret ignored him.
“Where is their father?”
“There isn’t one involved.”
“Three children and no father?”
Emily placed her napkin beside her plate.
“I don’t discuss their private history with strangers.”
Margaret’s lips tightened.
“We are hardly strangers if you intend to marry my son.”
Nathan reached for Emily’s hand beneath the table.
Emily pulled away before he could touch her.
She finished dinner politely, then left before dessert.
Nathan followed her to the elevator.
“I’m sorry.”
“You knew she would do that.”
“I knew she would ask questions. I didn’t know she would interrogate you.”
“She thinks I’m trying to steal your money.”
“I don’t care what she thinks.”
“You will eventually.”
The elevator doors opened.
Nathan stepped inside with her.
“No, Emily. I won’t.”
She studied his face.
“What did you tell her about Johnny, Paul, and Lily?”
“Only what you told me.”
“That they’re mine to protect?”
“Yes.”
“And you assumed the rest.”
Nathan was silent.
Emily could have corrected him then.
She nearly did.
But she imagined telling him about the fire, the company, and his father’s role. She imagined Nathan wondering whether every moment between them had been part of a plan.
She could not bear it.
So she said, “They come first. Always.”
Nathan nodded.
“I know.”
Margaret’s suspicion grew after Nathan proposed.
He asked Emily in the empty hospital chapel after one of her late shifts. There were no photographers, no orchestra, and no expensive celebration.
He gave her a simple ring that had belonged to his grandmother.
Emily said yes while crying so hard she could barely speak.
When Margaret learned of the engagement, she immediately requested a private meeting with Emily.
She placed a prenuptial agreement on the table.
Emily read it in silence.
The document protected Nathan’s existing assets, which she expected. But it also contained provisions limiting financial support for Johnny, Paul, and Lily.
Emily closed the folder.
“I won’t sign this.”
Margaret looked unsurprised.
“Then perhaps my concerns are justified.”
“I would sign an agreement saying I have no claim to Nathan’s inherited wealth.”
“But not one protecting him from responsibility for your children?”
“They are my responsibility.”
“Yet you want them living in his home.”
“I want them living with me.”
Margaret leaned forward.
“You may have convinced Nathan that this is love, but I have spent my entire life watching people manipulate this family.”
Emily stood.
“And I have spent mine watching families like yours believe money gives them the right to judge everyone else.”
For one second, Margaret’s expression changed.
Emily had struck something deeper than pride.
But Margaret quickly recovered.
“You know nothing about my family.”
Emily picked up her coat.
“I know more than you think.”
She left without explaining.
That evening, Margaret ordered the family attorney, Charles Baines, to investigate Emily Carter.
Three days later, he placed a file on Margaret’s desk.
Inside was the address of the Queens apartment building.
Margaret recognized it immediately.
May you like
She closed the file and told Charles to leave.
Then she locked the door and began to cry.
