Chapter 2 - The Wealthy Pretense
For three years, Nathan Ashford and his parents had treated Madison like an unwanted charity case inside their household.
The Ashford family ran a mid-sized architectural firm in Charleston, constantly trying to project an image of old-money aristocracy. When Nathan married Madison three years ago, Madison was working as an independent floral designer, living modestly in a small cottage outside the city.
Vivian had immediately categorized Madison as a penniless orphan, constantly making snide comments about her simple clothes, demanding she cook family dinners, and forcing her to manage household chores without assistance.
Nathan supported his mother’s arrogance, regularly reminding Madison that she should spend every day thanking him for elevating her social status.
When the Ashfords decided to host their thirty-year business anniversary gala, Nathan booked the grand ballroom at Magnolia House—Charleston's most prestigious, historical estate venue with a six-month waiting list and a fifty-thousand-dollar rental fee.
To pay the steep booking deposit, Nathan had secretly pressured Madison to sell her late grandmother’s vintage jewelry collection, promising he would place her at the head table as a guest of honor.
Instead, the moment they stepped into the ballroom, Nathan moved her seat card to the trash cans near the kitchen to impress his wealthy corporate clients.
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He had no idea that the cottage and floral design business were merely Madison’s quiet hobbies.
👉 Read Part 3 to learn the secret legacy behind Magnolia House.
