Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO FINALLY TOLD THE TRUTH
Daniel asked to meet three months after the wedding.
My attorney advised against a private meeting.
So we met in a conference room with counsel present.
He looked terrible.
Unshaven.
Tired.
His expensive suit hung loosely.
For a moment, I remembered the man I'd loved.
Then he spoke.
“Emily, I made mistakes.”
I stared.
“Mistakes?”
He swallowed.
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“Eleven months of cheating?”
He looked down.
“Yes.”
“Mocking me behind my back?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
“Trying to gain control of my inheritance?”
He closed his eyes.
Silence.
Finally, he whispered:
“I was desperate.”
I stared.
“For what?”
He looked up.
“My firm was failing.”
Daniel explained that he'd made several bad investments.
Borrowed money.
Hidden losses.
Promised returns he couldn't deliver.
Then he'd looked at Whitcomb Harbor.
My grandmother's properties.
My inheritance.
And decided marriage was the solution.
“I thought once we were married, you'd help me,” he whispered.
I stared.
“You could've asked.”
He shook his head.
“You would've said no.”
I looked at him.
“Then you knew what you were doing.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“I loved you.”
I swallowed.
“No.”
He looked up.
I continued.
“You loved what you thought I could save you from.”
He began crying.
For a moment, I felt sorry for him.
Then I remembered Grandma's lace.
The messages.
The forged documents.
The years I'd spent shrinking myself to keep him comfortable.
I stood.
“Daniel, I hope you take responsibility.”
He looked at me.
“Can you forgive me?”
I considered.
“Maybe someday.”
Hope appeared in his eyes.
Then I continued.
“But forgiveness won't bring us back together.”
May you like
I walked out.
And didn't look back.
