Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 389

The Smith family really didn’t want Camila around anymore.

At first, Barbara Jones had no idea what had gone down at the Pharmaceutical Association’s gala the night before.

After all, the Smiths had never really been in the medical game, and it never even crossed Barbara’s mind that her son, Jordan Smith, would take Sandra Taylor as his date to a pharma industry event.

Barbara had her own plans that morning—a high-society brunch for the city’s most influential ladies. These brunches were a regular thing, a monthly ritual in the Mrs. Smith circle.

Barbara left home early, dressed to perfection, ready to enjoy the usual fawning and compliments she received, all thanks to her title as Mrs. Smith.

But today, the moment she walked into the country club lounge, she felt it—those strange glances thrown her way, nothing like the usual admiration or friendly flattery. There was something sharper, a little mean, almost like they were all in on some joke she didn’t get.

Barbara tried to shake it off. She was Mrs. Smith, for heaven’s sake. Who in Harrisburg would dare laugh at her?

She kept her head high and made her way to the table, sitting down beside her good friend, Mrs. Ross. Leaning in, Barbara whispered, “What’s going on? Why’s everyone so quiet today?”

Mrs. Ross looked awkward, struggling for words.

Before she could answer, a voice rang out from across the table—cool, mocking. “Mrs. Smith, I have to admire you. Still showing up after last night? Most of us thought you’d be too embarrassed to come out after all that…”

Barbara turned, eyebrows knitting together. The speaker was Mrs. Wilson—the chairwoman of the Wilson Group and mother of Walter Wilson, her long-time social rival. Barbara had never gotten along with her, and that passive-aggressive tone made her bristle.

Now Barbara was sure something had happened, something big, and for once, she wasn’t in the loop.

She didn’t wait for Mrs. Ross to explain. “Why would I be embarrassed? What happened last night?”

Mrs. Wilson put on a face of exaggerated surprise. “Oh, you really haven’t heard? My, you do live in a bubble, don’t you? Word is, your—well, your current daughter-in-law Sandra made a real spectacle of herself again.”

Another one of the ladies piped up, her voice dripping with fake concern, “Oh yes, she insulted one of the city’s most respected doctors—Mr. Morris’s star protégé, no less! Right in front of everyone, at the pharma gala. Caused a real scene. It almost got physical, and she nearly ended up in the back of a police cruiser.”

“That’s right,” another added, “but your son was such a gentleman—stood by his lady, offered an apology and some hush money, and kept her out of jail. Very… loyal of him.”

“Who would’ve thought the Smiths cared so much about Sandra Taylor?” another chimed in, smirking. “Most families would’ve cut her loose for behavior like that.”

The laughter and snide comments stung, but Barbara kept her face carefully neutral—even as her mind raced. Had Sandra really embarrassed herself again? And dragged her perfect son down with her? Impossible.

Her son was a golden boy—wherever he went, people bent over backwards to please him. Who could possibly force him to apologize?

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