Ashley prit un mouchoir et s’essuya les yeux, bien que je n’aie pas vu une seule larme.
“The worst part is that Daniel made me look unstable in front of everybody. He took my ring off like I was some woman he’d caught cheating.””
“You called his mother disgusting.””
“I said she smelled like manure. There’s a difference.””
I pushed the door open.
“Really? What’s the difference?””
Both women turned.
Melissa looked as though she wanted the floor to swallow her.
Ashley went pale for half a second. Then she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.
“You were eavesdropping?””
“I was looking for my wife. Apparently, I found a stranger instead.””
She folded her arms.
“Oh, don’t start with the dramatic speeches.””
“Since when is my mother ‘that woman’?””
Ashley glanced at Melissa, apparently hoping for support. Melissa looked away.
“Since she started acting like she owns every decision we make.””
“She paid for our wedding.””
“And now we’re never going to hear the end of it.””
I blinked.
“What does that mean?””
“It means she’ll use this against me whenever she wants. She’ll remind us that she paid for the flowers, the venue, the food. She’ll make herself the center of our marriage.””
I looked at the expensive gown, the designer shoes beneath it, and the jewelry arranged on the vanity.
“Did my mother ever ask you for anything in return?””
Ashley didn’t answer immediately.
“No.””
“Did she ever demand that you thank her publicly?””
“No.””
“Then what exactly has she done to you?””
Ashley threw the tissue onto the vanity.
“You wouldn’t understand. You’ve grown up surrounded by people who think your mother’s rough manners are charming.””
“My mother’s manners?””
“She dresses like she has no idea what occasion she’s attending. She talks about trucks during dinner. She drives that old SUV everywhere. She doesn’t understand how people see us.””
“How people see us?””
“Yes, Daniel! We are married now. Whether you like it or not, her behavior reflects on our family.””
“Our family?””
“Your family,” she corrected impatiently.
“The Bennett name means something.””
There it was.
Not love. Not partnership.
The Bennett name.
I pulled a chair away from the wall and sat down.
“Let’s talk about the house.””
Ashley frowned.
“What about it?””
“The three-million-dollar house you wanted my mother to help us buy.””
“She refused to help.””
“She said she would contribute to a home we could comfortably afford after we’d lived on our own income for a year.””
“That was insulting.””
“She offered to help with the down payment on a smaller property.””
“Because she wanted to control where we lived!””
“She offered you a choice.””
“She offered me a compromise.””
I let out a slow breath.
“And the sports suite?””
Ashley’s expression hardened.
“What about it?””
“You wanted to use Bennett Freight’s private suite at the stadium for your birthday party. Mom said the suite was reserved for company clients that weekend.””
“Because she didn’t want me there.””
“She said you could use it another weekend.””
“After I’d already sent the invitations!””
I stared at her.
« Tu as invité tes amis sans avoir obtenu leur permission ? »
Ashley leva les yeux au ciel.
« Je supposais que votre mère comprendrait. »
« Et le fonds de fiducie familial ? »
Pour la première fois, elle semblait véritablement mal à l’aise.
« Je ne vois pas le rapport avec quoi que ce soit. »
« Tu t’es plaint que maman ne t’y avait pas ajouté après nos fiançailles. »
« Parce que je devenais un membre de la famille ! »
« Le mariage ne vous donne pas automatiquement droit aux biens d’autrui. »
Sa bouche se crispa.
« C’est facile à dire pour vous. De toute façon, vous hériterez de tout. »
Le silence se fit dans la pièce.
Je l’ai regardée longuement.
« Ma mère a soixante-deux ans, Ashley. Elle dirige toujours l’entreprise qu’elle a fondée avec mon père. Pourquoi parlez-vous de sa fortune comme si elle vous appartenait déjà ? »
Ashley laissa échapper un petit rire incrédule.
« Parce que nous sommes mariés ! Tes biens sont nos biens. »
« Tout ce que je possède n’est pas détenu en copropriété. Et l’entreprise ne m’appartient même pas, je n’ai donc pas le droit de la céder. »
«Vous faites exprès d’être difficile.»
« Non. Je vous demande d’expliquer quelque chose que vous n’avez jamais expliqué auparavant. »
Elle se tourna vers le miroir et prit son autre boucle d’oreille.
« J’ai fait beaucoup de sacrifices pour faire partie de votre famille. »
« Qu’avez-vous sacrifié ? »
Elle fit une pause.
« J’ai fait des compromis. »
“Tel que?””
