Chapter 5 - Preston Had Been Preparing Her Clients Too
The first client called Amelia that afternoon.
“Are you really taking the rest of the year off?”
Amelia sat upright.
“What?”
The woman sounded confused.
“Preston emailed us last week.”
Amelia’s stomach dropped.
“What did he say?”
“That the wedding had changed your priorities and your studio would be transitioning projects to senior staff while you focused on family.”
Amelia closed her eyes.
Her design studio was not enormous.
That was why this mattered.
Clients hired Amelia personally.
Her reputation was the business.
“How many people got that email?”
The answer became worse over the next hour.
At least eight clients.
Two vendors.
Her accountant.
One architect she partnered with frequently.
Preston did not have authority over her studio.
But most recipients knew him.
Some assumed Amelia approved the announcement.
Others thought it was a charming new-husband gesture.
One even replied:
Congratulations! You deserve to enjoy married life.
Amelia stared at the messages.
The isolation plan had not started after the wedding.
It started before.
Quietly.
By the time Amelia arrived at Lake Briar, her clients were supposed to believe she chose to disappear.
Her staff would believe she wanted distance.
Her friends would assume honeymoon bliss.
Her family would be told she needed rest.
Everyone would have a different innocent explanation.
Nobody would immediately ask whether Amelia wanted any of it.
Grace asked:
“Did he ever tell you he wanted you to stop working?”
“No.”
“Did Veronica?”
“Constantly.”
That was the difference Amelia had missed.
Veronica said the ugly part openly.
Preston smiled and said:
“You don’t have to prove anything.”
“Work less if you want.”
“We can afford for you to enjoy your life.”
Amelia had heard support.
Maybe Preston had meant permission.
And permission can be withdrawn.
Her phone rang again.
Not the doctor.
Her studio manager, Lena.
“I found something.”
“What?”
“Three weeks ago Preston asked me whether you had ever discussed selling the studio.”
Amelia stood.
“He asked you that?”
“Yes.”
“What did you say?”
“I said absolutely not.”
“What did he say?”
Lena hesitated.
“He said, ‘People change after marriage.’”
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That was when Amelia stopped thinking of Lake Briar as Veronica’s old-fashioned fantasy.
Preston was building a world where Amelia’s disappearance from her own life looked voluntary.
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