His Wife's Place Was Never Mine

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 "FamilyDo 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.

Never mind. Ill get myself home.

Morton looked at her, his brows drawing together.

In that single second, I already knew the answer.

He said, Ill drop her at the corner. Ill be right back.

I nodded.

Go.

He froze for a beat.

I didnt wait for him to come back. As I stepped out of the old family estate, Jean called me.

Why do you sound like that?

I said, Jean, do you think Morton loves me?

The line went quiet for two seconds.

Then she said, I always knew this day would come sooner or later.

I stood at the curb, the wind stinging my eyes.

So the humiliation I thought Id hidden so well, everyone else had seen a long time ago.

On the third day, Morton offered to take me to the company himself.

Theres an internal celebration today. Ill introduce you properly.

I looked at him.

Properly to what degree?

He said, In front of all the executives.

I asked, Is Sabina going?

Morton paused.

Shes the brand consultant. She might come.

I smiled.

Then I understand.

He said, Mavis, dont pin everything on her.

I said nothing more.

At three in the afternoon, I arrived downstairs at the Delgado building.

The receptionist saw Morton and shot to her feet.

Mr. Delgado.

Morton took my hand.

This is my wife, Mavis.

The receptionist blinked, then quickly nodded.

Hello, Mrs. Delgado.

It was the first time. And before I could feel even a flicker of anything, the turnstile buzzed.

Red light. My badge wouldnt let me through.

The receptionist checked for a long while, her face growing more and more awkward.

Mr. Delgado, the family contact bound in the system is Miss Sabina Pruitt.

Mortons face darkened in an instant.

Who entered that?

The administrative manager hurried down.

Mr. Delgado, Mrs. Delgado arranged it before. She said Miss Pruitt came to the office often, so it would be convenient for her to get in and out.

I looked at that turnstile. Sabina could walk through without registering.

Me, the actual Mrs. Delgado, was blocked at the door.

Morton tightened his grip on my hand.

Change it right now.

The administrative manager opened the back end and asked carefully, Mr. Delgado, do you want me to delete Miss Pruitts access?

Add Mavis first.

I lifted my head to look at him.

Why not delete hers?

He said in a low voice, She still has projects to come and go for.

I pulled my hand free.

Then dont bother adding mine.

Morton frowned.

Mavis.

I said, I dont want to be tacked on after her.

Inside the conference room, the executives were already seated.

When I walked in, Sabina was standing in front of the big screen, presenting the brand campaign.

On the cover of the proposal was her name. I stopped.

That proposal was the one Id stayed up three nights to help Morton revise.

From the user profiles to the crisis-response plan, from the post-IPO brand pivot to the entry point into the female consumer market, all of it was my work.

Morton saw it too, and his expression shifted.

When Sabina finished, applause filled the room.

Someone said with a smile, Consultant Pruitt truly is the person closest to Mr. Delgado who understands the brand best.

Sabina glanced at Morton.

Actually, Morton gave me his input on a lot of the details.

I gave a small smile.

Morton stood up.

Mavis was involved in this proposal too.

Too.

One word, and my three sleepless nights became a casual favor.

Sabina spoke up at once. Right, Mavis looked over a few typos for me.

Someone in the room laughed.

Mrs. Delgado is very meticulous too.

I looked at Morton. His brows were pulled tight.

"Sabina, explain yourself."

Sabina's face went white.

"I thought Mavis was just helping polish it. Morton, you never told me"

There she went again.

One "I didn't know," and every fault got shoved back onto someone else.

The conference room froze.

Morton dismissed the executives.

Once they'd all gone, I opened my laptop.

"The original file. Edit history. Timestamps on when it was sent. It's all right here."

Morton stared at the screen, his face darkening bit by bit.

Sabina's eyes reddened.

"Mavis, I really didn't do it on purpose. Auntie said you don't like being in the spotlight, so I put my name on it."

I laughed.

"I don't like the spotlight?"

"Or is it that you all don't like me being seen?"

Morton looked at Sabina.

"Who told you to do this?"

Sabina bit her lip.

"Auntie said the investors know me better, that putting my name on the campaign would be safer."

Morton closed his eyes. I watched him.

"So you thought it was safer too."

He said, "I didn't know."

Those three words. I'd heard them too many times.

I shut the laptop.

"Use the campaign. Go ahead."

Morton caught my arm.

"Mavis, I'll credit you."

"No need."

"Why?"

I looked at him.

"Something that's been stolen and handed back is already dirty."

That night, the Delgado brand campaign blew up online.

Some blogger dug up how parts of it lined up almost word for word with a public talk I'd given before.

The comments filled with people calling Sabina a plagiarist.

My mother-in-law called.

Her first words weren't to ask if I'd been wronged.

They were, "Mavis, put out a statement. Say you authorized Sabina to use the campaign."

I thought I'd misheard.

"What did you say?"

"Morton just went public. There can't be any bad press. Sabina still has to make her way in this industry. Give her a hand."

I gripped the phone.

"And what about me?"

My mother-in-law's patience thinned.

"You're a Delgado. What's wrong with family taking a little hardship?"

Morton called soon after, his voice worn out.

"Mavis, put out the statement first. I'll make it up to you later."

I asked him.

"Make up what?"

"Credit, a bonus, a public thank-youwhatever you want."

"Then why can't we just tell the truth now?"

He was silent.

"Because Sabina's connected to the resources behind a new project. Nothing can go wrong right now."

I laughed.

"So you're choosing her again."

Morton's voice dropped a little.

"I'm not choosing her. I'm choosing what's best for everyone."

I hung up.

That night, I contacted Lawyer Hughes.

Can the divorce agreement be drawn up tonight?

He answered fast.

Yes. The more complete the evidence, the better.

I opened my laptop and sorted through three years of it, one piece at a timetransfer records, chat logs, campaign source files, press-release screenshots, screenshots of my social media privacy groups.

At two in the morning, Morton came home.

He stood in the study doorway.

"Still up?"

I didn't turn around.

"Almost done."

"About the statement"

"I won't be putting it out."

Morton walked in.

"Mavis, can you not pick a fight with me right now, of all times?"

I looked up at him.

"Morton, do you know what the most laughable part is?"

He frowned.

"What?"

"When you all needed me invisible, you said I was family."

"When you all needed me to take the blame, you said I was family too."

His face lost a little color.

"But I'm not a trash can."

Friday night, Morton said he was going back to the old family estate.

"I'll set things straight with my mother. You'll get your credit back on the campaign."

I looked at him.

"She agreed to that?"

"I'll make her agree."

I nodded.

"Fine."

The lights in the old estate's living room were blazing.

My mother-in-law sat on the sofa, Sabina beside her, eyes swollen and red.

A draft statement lay on the coffee table.

The moment Sylvia saw me, she shoved the paper across.

"Sign it."

I picked it up and read.

I, Mavis Winfield, voluntarily authorize Ms. Sabina Pruitt to use the relevant brand content, and there is no plagiarism dispute.

I laughed.

"Whoever wrote this has done it before."

Sylvia frowned.

"Mavis, don't be so petty. Sabina's being torn apart out there. Can you really stand by and watch?"

I looked at Morton.

"So this is what you meant by getting my credit back?"

His face darkened.

"Mom, that's not what I meant."

Sylvia gave a cold laugh.

"Then what did you mean? You'd ruin Sabina for her sake? Ruin the company's new project?"

Sabina said through her tears, "Forget it, ma'am. I'll pull out of the project. Don't put Morton in a hard spot."

Sylvia's heart went out to her at once.

"Pull out of what? You've run yourself ragged for the Delgado Group. Why should you be the one they drag through the mud?"

I set the statement back on the table.

"Because she took something that wasn't hers."

Sylvia shot to her feet.

"Mavis!"

Morton stepped in front of me.

"Mom, enough."

Sylvia froze.

"You're raising your voice at me?"

Morton lowered his voice.

"Sabina was in the wrong on this."

The color drained from Sabina's face.

Sylvia couldn't believe it.

"Morton, have you lost your mind? Sabina's stood by you all these years. Everything she does is for you."

I looked at Morton.

"Did you hear that?"

"She's stood by you all these years."

"And me?"

Morton turned back.

"Mavis, you're my wife."

I gave a small laugh.

"You only ever say that when there's no one around to hear it."

The living room went quiet.

I took a folder out of my bag and laid it on the coffee table.

"Since everyone's here today, let's all take a look together."

Morton looked down.

The divorce agreement.

His face went rigid.

Sylvia recovered first.

"Who do you think you're scaring with that?"

"It's not to scare anyone."

I set down another document.

"This is a lawyer's letter."

The third.

"And this is my notice withdrawing the personal loan guarantee I gave the Delgado Group in its early days."

Morton's head came up.

"What did you say?"

I looked at him.

"Back when your startup needed cash flow, I used my premarital savings to guarantee two loans for you."

"Now that I want a divorce, I want the accounts settled too."

His breath caught for an instant.

Sylvia's expression shifted.

"Mavis, are you trying to destroy Morton?"

"I'm only taking back what's mine."

Morton picked up the agreement and flipped through a few pages.

Asset list, transfer records, campaign source files, press-release screenshots, family-access logs, screenshots of the social media privacy group.

One item after another.

Like every day of these three years I'd been kept hidden, laid out in front of him all at once.

His voice went hoarse.

"When did you put all this together?"

"From the day I found out you'd put me in a special group on your messenger."

Sabina said quietly, "Mavis, do you really have to take it this far?"

I looked at her.

"I'm not taking it anywhere. I'm ending it."

Sylvia was shaking with fury.

"Leave Morton, and what do you think you'll have left?"

I gave a faint smile.

"At least I won't have to prove I'm his wife anymore."

I turned to leave, and Morton came after me.

"Mavis."

The wind in the courtyard was cold, and he still had that agreement clutched in his hand.

"Come home with me first. We'll talk it through, slowly."

"I'm not going back."

He froze.

"What do you mean?"

"I moved my things out this afternoon."

He stood there, rooted to the spot.

That was when his phone rang.

He glanced down. It was the company's finance office.

He picked up, and the voice on the other end was frantic.

"Mr. Delgado, the bank received a lawyer's letter from Ms. Winfield demanding the release of her pledge and confirming she won't renew the guarantee. The credit line triggered a review. The bank is asking us to submit additional credit-enhancement documents."

Morton looked up at me, and for the first time his eyes filled with panic.