Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MASKSix months later, I attended a charity gala.
It was the first major social event I had attended since the wedding.
I wore a black silk gown.
My father's diamonds rested around my neck.
When I entered the ballroom, conversations stopped.
Not because I was beautiful.
Because people knew who I was.
“That's Theresa Sterling.”
“That's the Sterling heiress.”
“Isn't she Hunter Caldwell's ex-wife?”
I heard the whispers.
I didn't care.
Then a man approached.
“Ms. Sterling?”
I turned.
He was tall.
Dark-haired.
Calm.
He held out his hand.
“Daniel Brooks.”
I shook it.
“Nice to meet you.”
“I've heard about your work.”
“Hopefully the good kind.”
He smiled.
“The very good kind.”
We talked for an hour.
Not about money.
Not about Hunter.
Not about my family.
We talked about books.
Travel.
Food.
Music.
When I left, he asked for my number.
I gave it to him.
Three days later, he called.
We had dinner.
Then another.
Then another.
Daniel never asked how much money I had.
He never asked about my inheritance.
He never asked about my father's business.
Eventually I told him.
He simply said:
“That explains why you looked like you wanted to escape every time someone mentioned money.”
I laughed.
“You're not shocked?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because money doesn't explain who someone is.”
I stared at him.
Hunter had always seen my money.
May you like
Daniel saw me.
That difference was everything.
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