Chapter 48

I was worried. “Is Frederick going to be okay?”

Gabrielle shook her head. “That’s tricky. Everyone knows that getting on Alicia’s bad side means you’re crossing both the Zimmers and the Fords. The Zimmers are mostly washed up these days. It’s the Fords you have to watch out for.”

I furrowed my brows. “As far as I know, Frederick is part of high society. He should be able to hold his ground, right?”

Gabrielle replied, “The Guzman family is a different story. Frederick’s dad is powerful, but even he has to collaborate with Jonathan sometimes.”

I had lost my memory, so I had no idea how things worked. Gabrielle patiently explained the families’ interconnectedness.

“In Harthelle’s high society, the Ford family is the most established name. If you know what’s good for you, don’t cross them.”

“The Zimmers and the Guzmans have deep roots. In particular, Frederick’s dad is the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. They keep a low profile, but their influence runs deep. Technically, they’re supposed to keep all the other families in line.”

“The Zimmer family used to be a pretty big deal, but they’ve been on the decline these past few years. Even so, no one dares to mess with them because of their connection to the Ford family. The older generation of the two families has strong ties, and the Zimmers manage to stay relevant in Harthville by riding on the Fords’ coattails.”

I couldn’t help but ask Gabrielle, “Who is more powerful—Frederick’s dad, the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, or Jonathan?”

She rolled her eyes. “Seriously? That’s such a dumb question.”

I rubbed my hands. “I’m just curious. If Jonathan is above him in status, aren’t we basically showing up just to get lectured?”

Gabrielle paused before replying, “It’s more complicated than that. Frederick’s dad has been around longer. Plus, he is the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. On paper, he definitely holds more power than Jonathan, but Jonathan is pretty young, and people are already comparing Jonathan to him. That says a lot.” I nodded and fell into deep thought.

Jonathan was still in his late twenties, only a few years older than Gabrielle. People were already comparing him with Frederick’s dad, who was twice his age. That alone showed how much promise he had.

I couldn’t help but sigh. “If he is that powerful, does that mean I can’t get a divorce unless he says yes?”

Gabrielle looked at me with pity. “Technically, that’s the case. That was why I kept telling you to think it through before you got married, but you just wouldn’t listen and jumped headfirst into it—”

I interrupted, “Okay, I get it. Aren’t we trying to fix this right now?”

I had been stuck on the same thought. How was I supposed to come up with 100 million dollars just to get Jonathan to give in? A regular job wasn’t going to cut it. I would be stuck living small and pathetic forever. I didn’t want to end up divorcing Jonathan when I was too old to start over. He had money, so it wouldn’t be hard for him to find someone new. Meanwhile, I would have been the one who threw away her best years.

At the Guzman residence, Gabrielle and I had just gotten out of the car when a black Cullinan pulled in. Jonathan and Alicia got out of the car. She still had a bandage wrapped around her forehead, her face pale as a sheet. It was hard not to feel bad just looking at her. She shrank back behind Jonathan. When she saw me, she pursed her lips, looking scared and defeated.

Jonathan followed Alicia’s gaze and saw me. His brows furrowed slightly. “Where were you last night?” I pretended not to hear his question and walked past him, our shoulders almost touching.