CHAPTER 18: INSIGNIFICANT AND SMALL

An awkward silence descended on the crowd at Stanley's enigmatic knowledge about such private matters. George's marriage likely wasn't a love match but pragmatic. Even estranged couples kept up public pretenses. Yet George had divorced and apparently planned to acknowledge this other woman formally. An open scandal viewed with distaste. Furthermore, Stanley clearly knew about it, which didn't bode well for George's ambitions. Admitting concealment was useless now, George acknowledged it plainly. "Yes, we divorced due to irreconcilable differences after years of discord." "So, you have an ex-wife?" Stanley emphasized coldly. "But with how terribly she married down, their failed marriage should be considered the biggest stain of her life." Everyone grew intrigued by Stanley's mysterious connection to George's ex-wife, and he kept defending her so staunchly. Murmurs rose in the crowd as people tried to figure out who the ex-wife was. "Do you know her?" Someone asked his partner. "I