Chapter 3 - THE MAN I WAS SUPPOSED TO MARRY
Daniel came to my apartment that evening.
He did not enter.
Renee had advised Emily not to meet family members without counsel until the immediate situation stabilized.
So when Daniel knocked, I stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind me.
He looked exhausted.
“Is she inside?”
“I’m not discussing that.”
“Claire.”
“Her attorney will contact your family.”
His expression changed.
“You got her a lawyer?”
“She asked for one.”
“She doesn’t understand what she’s doing.”
There it was.
Not:
Thank God she’s safe.
Not:
Can I speak to her?
She doesn’t understand.
I crossed my arms.
“She understands plenty.”
“You met her yesterday.”
“And you’ve known her twenty-six years.”
His jaw tightened.
“Exactly.”
“Then explain why your family company has collected nearly half a million dollars in fees from her trust.”
His face went blank.
Half a second.
Then controlled again.
“What?”
“Mercer Ridge.”
“I know what Mercer Ridge is.”
“I’m aware. You own forty percent.”
“That’s completely separate.”
“From Emily’s trust?”
“Claire, you have no idea what you’re looking at.”
That sentence offended me professionally more than personally.
“Maybe.”
I smiled.
“Which is why Emily hired people who do.”
His voice dropped.
“Do not turn my sister into one of your investigations.”
“I’m not.”
“She came to me.”
Daniel looked genuinely hurt.
That made this harder.
“She’s sick.”
“No one is disputing that she has anxiety.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then help me understand.”
He stopped.
I waited.
Finally:
“Emily has made reckless decisions.”
“Like?”
“She gave money to people online.”
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“Anything since?”
“That isn’t the point.”
“It is exactly the point if you’re using it to justify controlling six million dollars indefinitely.”
He stepped closer.
“Watch yourself.”
I stared at him.
That tone.
The same one he used at dinner when I questioned the oatmeal.
“Or what?”
Daniel immediately stepped back.
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did.”
His face changed.
For the first time, I saw how much of Daniel’s charm depended on everyone staying inside the version of him he preferred.
Calm.
Protective.
Responsible.
Good son.
Good brother.
Future husband.
He continued.
“My parents saved Emily from people who took advantage of her.”
“Then why charge her trust for the saving?”
His mouth tightened.
“Those fees are legitimate.”
“Maybe.”
“Stop saying maybe.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re implying fraud.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I’m saying records need review.”
He laughed bitterly.
“You really can’t turn it off.”
“What?”
“Compliance brain.”
There was contempt in the phrase.
I had heard him brag about my job at parties.
Claire catches people other investigators miss.
Apparently my skills were admirable only when pointed away from his family.
Then he said:
“Come home with me.”
I stared.
“What?”
“We’ll sit down with my parents.”
“No.”
“They’ll explain everything.”
“No.”
“Claire, our wedding is four months away.”
That almost made me laugh.
“You think we’re discussing seating charts?”
His face went white.
“Don’t do this.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re letting Emily destroy us.”
That sentence ended whatever remained.
“Emily isn’t doing this.”
“Then who is?”
“You.”
Silence.
I took off my engagement ring.
Daniel stared at it.
“Claire.”
“You knew about the food.”
“No.”
“You told me she had digestive problems.”
“That’s what Mom said.”
“You knew she was being monitored.”
“She needs structure.”
“You own forty percent of a company paid almost half a million dollars from her trust.”
“That’s not personal income.”
“Do you receive distributions?”
He said nothing.
There was my answer.
I held out the ring.
He did not take it.
“Keep it,” he said.
“No.”
“Throw it away.”
“No.”
I placed it on the hallway table beside a plant.
“You gave it to me as part of a promise we’re not keeping.”
Then I opened my door.
Daniel whispered:
“You’re choosing someone you barely know over me.”
I turned.
“No.”
I looked directly at him.
“I’m choosing what I can see.”
Then I closed the door.
Inside, Emily sat on the couch.
She had heard enough.
Tears ran down her face.
“I’m sorry.”
I crouched in front of her.
“For what?”
“You were going to marry him.”
“That was my decision.”
“I ruined it.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You showed me something.”
Her voice broke.
“What?”
“The truth before I signed anything.”
Neither of us spoke for a while.
Then she asked:
“Do you hate him?”
I thought.
“No.”
That was the worst part.
I still loved Daniel.
May you like
Truth does not politely wait for love to leave first.
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