Three years married to Morton Delgado, and I had never once appeared on his social media feed. I told myself he was just a private man.

Then came the day his company rang the IPO bell, and the big screen looped a video titled "A Family Message for Mr. Delgado."

His parents were in it. His sister. Even the family dog.

And Sabina Pruitt, standing at his side, smiling as she called out "Happy New Year." But not me.

When I asked him about it, he said, "The company people spliced it together carelessly. Don't blow it out of proportion."

My mother-in-law weighed in too. "A man needs to save face out in the world. You're his lawful wife. Why fuss over little things like this?"

It was only later that I realized he wasn't someone who never posted.

He had posted the tie Sabina gave him. The cake Sabina baked. The seaside sunset from a business trip Sabina took with him.

I just couldn't see any of it.

He had filed me away in a group called "Family—Do Not View."

And Sabina existed, in every one of his public posts, exactly like his wife.

The cruelest part was the day Morton rang the IPO bell, when the host invited Mr. Delgado's family up to present flowers.

As my mother-in-law passed me, she slid the bouquet out of my arms and pressed it into Sabina's hands.

"Go on, Sabina. You've walked all these years beside him."

When the flashbulbs went off, the bouquet still in my hands suddenly felt very heavy.

So it wasn't that he couldn't make me public. He had simply never intended to.

……

After the bell-ringing ceremony, Morton was swarmed by reporters.

Sabina stood at his right, a white corsage pinned to her chest.

It read: Family Guest.

I looked down at my own chest. Nothing.

A staff member came over and stopped me, politely.

"Ma'am, the media zone is off-limits."

I said, "I'm Morton Delgado's wife."

She paused, then flipped through her tablet.

"I'm sorry. The only family member on Mr. Delgado's list is Miss Pruitt."

I stared at that line.

Sabina, family.

The two words sat close together, as if they'd been arranged that way long ago.

We'd had no wedding when we married.

Morton had said the startup phase was delicate, that the capital markets didn't like a founder's private life being magnified, and asked me to keep things quiet with him.

So for three years, apart from the Delgados and a handful of close friends, no one at the company had ever truly seen me.

Morton finally pushed his way out of the crowd and came toward me.

"Mavis Winfield."

I held out the bouquet to him.

"Looks like you won't be needing this. Someone's already handed one over."

His expression shifted slightly.

"That just now was a last-minute arrangement. My mother was afraid the moment would fall flat."

"So Sabina goes up, and it doesn't fall flat."

"She used to help the company. The media know her."

I nodded.

"So I'm the one who can't be seen. Is that it?"

Morton frowned.

"Today matters. Don't make a scene here."

I gave a small smile.

"Did I make a scene?"

He stopped.

"You look terrible."

I handed him my phone. On the screen was the press release.

【Delgado Group founder Morton Delgado, joined by family member Sabina Pruitt, witnessing the moment of the IPO together.】

Morton stared at that line, his fingertips going stiff for a beat.

"I'll have PR fix it right away."

He turned and called his assistant.

The assistant hurried over, face uneasy.

"Mr. Delgado, the release has already been picked up by the finance accounts. Pulling it now would hurt the public sentiment."

Morton was silent for a few seconds, then dropped his voice.

"Get through tonight first. We'll deal with it tomorrow."

I laughed.

"Morton, I really am a laughable excuse for a wife."

His face darkened.

"Mavis, now isn't the time to change it."

Just then Sabina walked over, still holding the bouquet I had prepared.

"Mavis, I'm so sorry. I really had no idea the release would be written like that."

I looked at her.

"You had no idea?"

Her eyes reddened.

"I only went up on stage because Mrs. Delgado arranged it. I never thought it would make you uncomfortable."

Sylvia happened to overhear, and her brow furrowed at once.

"Sabina didn't do it on purpose. It's the company's first day public, and you insist on making a scene?"

I looked at Morton. He said nothing.

Every time he stayed silent, it was his way of telling me to swallow it.

Once the banquet began, I was seated at the second table.

At the head table sat Morton, Sylvia, his father, Sabina, and a few investors.

Someone raised a glass, smiling.

"Mr. Delgado and Miss Pruitt really have supported each other every step of the way."

Sylvia's smile came easily.

"Sabina truly weathered a lot of hardship alongside Morton."

Morton heard it.

He picked up his glass and said only, "That's all in the past."

He offered no correction.

I lowered my head and looked at my phone.

Under the news, the comments kept piling up.

【Miss Pruitt has such elegance. She and Mr. Delgado make such a lovely couple.】

【No wonder the Delgado brand's aesthetic is so consistent. Turns out the boss's wife is the designer herself.】

【The power-couple energy is off the charts.】

I opened Morton's social media feed.

Blank.

Not because he hadn't posted. Because I couldn't see it.

Jean Fox sent me the screenshot.

Morton had posted a photo from the bell-ringing.

The caption read: 【Grateful to everyone who walked this road with me.】

In the picture, Sabina stood at his side. I zoomed in and stared at it for a long time.

That night on the way home, the car was very quiet.

Morton spoke first.

"The release will definitely be corrected tomorrow."

I looked out the window.

"And the post?"

He paused.

"What post?"

"You posted something today, didn't you?"

His hand tightened on the steering wheel.

"Just a work update."

"Then why can't I see it?"

He was silent, so I said it for him.

"Because I'm in the group that isn't allowed to see."

The car braked hard at a red light. Morton turned to look at me.

"Who told you that?"

I smiled.

"So it's true."

He tugged irritably at his tie.

"It's not aimed at you. Some business updates aren't convenient for family to see."

"Sabina isn't family?"

He fell silent. I nodded.

"Understood."

The next day, I took our wedding photo down from the bedroom wall. A layer of dust had settled behind the frame.

Morton saw the bare wall.

"Where's the photo?"

"Put away."

"Why?"

"No one sees it. It's a waste to keep it hanging."

He frowned.

"Mavis, there's no need for this."

I set down my cup.

"Morton, you won't make me public, and you keep even liking me hidden away. If it's like this, you shouldn't have married me in the first place."

Just then the doorbell rang.

Sylvia stood outside, Sabina behind her.

"We're at the old estate tonight. The investors' wives are coming, so, Mavis, go over early and help out."

She changed her shoes and came in, and saw the empty wall.

"Why did you take down the wedding photo?"

I said, "Too much dust."

Sylvia gave me a look.

"Some places, when other people set you up in them, you ought to be content. Don't always be reaching for the brighter spot."

I understood.

She wasn't talking about the photo. She was talking about me.

At six that evening, I arrived at the old estate. Sylvia was directing the housekeeper on arranging the flowers.

Sabina sat on the sofa, a tablet in her hands, helping Morton go over the investor list.

When Sylvia saw me, she handed over a stack of place cards.

"Mavis, set these out. Don't get the head table wrong. Sabina sits next to Morton."

I picked up the place card.

"Where am I sitting?"

Sylvia paused.

"You'll be at the second table. Easier for you to look after the guests."

Sabina looked up quickly.

"Aunt Sylvia, why don't I take the second table instead?"

Sylvia pressed her back down into her seat.

"You'll be spending the whole evening talking design with several of the ladies. How would it look for you to sit at the second table?"

I looked down at the place card.

After Sabina's name it read: Delgado Brand Consultant.

I asked Sylvia.

"Is this your arrangement?"

She frowned.

"Didn't you study PR in college? This sort of thing is right up your alley."

Sabina said softly, "Mavis, Aunt Sylvia only trusts you with it."

I gave a small smile.

"Sure."

I set the place cards out and went to the kitchen to check on the refreshments.

The housekeeper said under her breath, "Ma'am, Mrs. Delgado said not to come out too early. Wait until the guests are seated before serving the tea."

Ma'am. That title only existed in the kitchen.

At seven, the guests began to arrive.

One of the ladies took Sabina by the hand.

"Miss Pruitt, you must be Mrs. Delgado? I've seen you in the news. You're even prettier in person."

Sabina flushed a little.

"You've misunderstood."

Sylvia jumped in at once, smiling.

"Sabina is very close to our family. Whether or not she's called Mrs. Delgado, she's just as dear to us."

I walked over carrying the tea, and the lady glanced at me.

"And who is this?"

Sylvia said, "Mavis. Family help."

Family help. Not the daughter-in-law, not Mrs. Delgado. Just someone around the house who could pour tea.

Morton walked in right then and heard it.

He looked at me, and for a second his expression turned uneasy.

I set the tea down.

"Mr. Delgado, your tea."

Morton's face changed.

"Mavis."

I didn't look at him. I turned and went back to the kitchen.

After the dinner got underway, Sylvia handed a gift box to Sabina.

"Sabina, this watch is from Morton's IPO. I picked it out just for you."

Sabina hurried to refuse.

"Aunt Sylvia, I can't accept this."

"What do you mean you can't? You've walked all this way with Morton. You've earned it."

I sat at the very edge of the second table.

My phone buzzed.

It was a message from Morton.

【Don't read too much into it. Mom's just thanking her.】

I replied.

【Read too much into what?】

He didn't answer again.

Before long, Morton came over holding a glass of wine.

"Go sit at the head table. I'll have my assistant switch the seats."

I lifted my head and looked at him.

"Switch them now?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you switch them before?"

He pressed his lips together.

"There were too many people just now."

I laughed.

"Are there fewer people now?"

Morton's face stiffened.

Just then, someone at the head table called out to him.

"Mr. Delgado, Miss Pruitt says the two of you even slept at the office back when you were starting the company. Is that true?"

The whole table laughed, and Sabina ducked her head, embarrassed.

Morton glanced at me, but he still turned and went back.

I stayed where I was, and all at once none of it seemed worth it.

After the dinner broke up, Sylvia walked Sabina to the door.

"It isn't safe for you to go back alone. Let Morton drive you."

Sabina looked at me.

"Mavis wouldn't mind, would she?"

I picked up my bag.

"I mind."

Everyone froze.

Sylvia's face darkened at once.

"Mavis, what has gotten into you today?"

I looked at her.

"You asked whether I minded, didn't you? I answered."

Morton came over.

"I'll have the driver take her."

Sylvia said immediately, "The driver can take an outsider, but how could you let the driver take Sabina?"

I gave a small laugh.

"So the driver's for outsiders."

Sabina's eyes reddened again.