Chapter 3: The Mansion’s Ultimatum

Right then, my mother-in-law burst in, no knocking, waving a letter and crying and laughing at the same time.

She said Mr. Lee was being called back to Washington.

Years ago, Mr. Lee ticked off the governor with his blunt advice and got sent out west. That’s when Mrs. Lee’s cousin, Mrs. Zane, used Jackson’s injury as an excuse to break off his engagement to the senator’s daughter.

Now Mr. Lee was back in favor and headed to D.C. He’d always treated me like his own. The family was about to be together again, and everyone was over the moon.

But before we could celebrate, someone from the governor’s mansion showed up, saying Mrs. Zane had a wedding gift for us and wanted us to come to the mansion.

My mother-in-law snorted:

“My cousin’s always been a schemer. When our family lost power, she broke off the engagement and made my son a laughingstock. Now that my husband’s back in the game, suddenly she remembers we’re family.”

She figured that with the state about to name a new lieutenant governor, Mrs. Zane wanted to pull the Lee family into her corner—maybe even set up another marriage between Jackson and the senator’s daughter.

But he was already married; the senator’s daughter couldn’t be a second wife. That meant I’d be the one getting the boot.

My mother-in-law looked at me, then leaned in and whispered to him:

“You shouldn’t go to the mansion. If you do, Mrs. Zane will try to force you to divorce your wife.”

Jackson lowered his head, quiet for a long time before saying:

“But the Lee and Zane families are in-laws, and Mrs. Zane is tight with the governor. Best not to cross her.”

Hmph, so Mr. Limp is still thinking about the senator’s daughter.

My mother-in-law jumped up, pointing at him and hollering:

“You thinking of divorcing your wife and marrying the senator’s daughter? Don’t even dream about it! I’ll only ever accept this daughter-in-law!”

With that, she dragged me away.

On the day Jackson went to the mansion, he slipped into my mother-in-law’s room and quietly asked if I wanted to come along.

My heart squeezed, but I still nodded.

He took my hand and tiptoed out. My mother-in-law was snoring away, completely oblivious.

The mansion was enormous, all twists and turns until I was dizzy.

The long hallways only gave you a sliver of sky.

Jackson strode ahead, leaving me way behind.

“Is he really that eager to see the senator’s daughter?”

Watching him walk away, I felt something bitter and strange twist inside me.

When he saw I wasn’t keeping up, he turned back to come get me.

“Taylor, stay close—don’t get lost in this big old place!”

Without thinking, I shook off his hand.

He looked confused and hurried after me, grabbing my hand tight—no matter how I tried, I couldn’t shake him loose.

I told myself I didn’t care, but my chest went tight anyway.