Chapter 5: My Husband Wasn't Supposed to Be There
I stared at James.
"My husband?""
He nodded.
"Ethan Brooks is downstairs with Mr. Mercer.""
I looked at my father.
"That's impossible. Ethan told me he was in Chicago.""
My father didn't respond.
He simply picked up his phone and called the lobby.
"James, keep them there. Nobody enters this room until I say so.""
"Understood.""
I stood so quickly that Grace stirred.
"Danielle," my father said gently, "sit down.""
"Why is Ethan here?""
"I don't know.""
"He's supposed to be in Chicago.""
"Then we'll ask him.""
I shook my head.
"No. I want to ask him myself.""
My father looked at my cheek.
"You're exhausted. You've been through enough today.""
"Dad, that's my husband.""
"I know.""
"And he's standing downstairs with the man who might have stolen from your company.""
My father was silent.
I handed Grace to him.
"Please hold her for a minute.""
He carefully took his granddaughter.
I straightened my cardigan and walked toward the door.
"Danielle.""
I stopped.
My father spoke quietly.
"Whatever happens downstairs, remember that you don't owe anyone an explanation for being here.""
I nodded.
Then I walked out.
The executive elevator opened into the lobby.
Daniel Mercer stood beside the reception desk, wearing a charcoal business suit and holding a leather briefcase.
He was in his late fifties, with silver hair and a warm public smile.
I'd met him several times at family events.
He had attended my wedding.
He'd even given a speech about how lucky Ethan was to have me.
Standing beside him was my husband.
Ethan wore a navy jacket and a white shirt.
His hair was slightly messy, and he had his hands buried in his pockets.
When he saw me, his expression changed.
"Danielle?""
I stopped a few feet away.
"What are you doing here?""
He looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
"I came because I heard about what happened.""
"From whom?""
"Victoria.""
I stared at him.
"Victoria Hale?""
He nodded.
"She called me.""
I felt something tighten in my chest.
"Why does she have your number?""
Ethan hesitated.
"She's a business contact.""
"Since when?""
"Danielle, this isn't the place.""
I laughed once.
"Funny. Everyone seems to think this isn't the place to tell the truth.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Danielle, I'm glad you're feeling better.""
I turned toward him.
"Did you send me that message?""
He frowned.
"What message?""
"The one telling me not to leave the hotel.""
Daniel looked genuinely confused.
Ethan glanced at him.
Then Daniel recovered.
"Ah. That was a precaution. We wanted to make sure you were safe.""
I stared at him.
"Why would you need to keep me inside a hotel?""
"Because there are complicated matters involving your father.""
"Then why is my husband here?""
Ethan sighed.
"Can we please talk privately?""
"No.""
His jaw tightened.
"Danielle.""
I looked at him.
"Did you know Victoria was going to hit me?""
His face changed.
"What? No!""
"Did you know she was going to be here?""
"I knew she was attending a meeting.""
"What meeting?""
Ethan looked toward Daniel.
That tiny movement told me more than any answer could have.
I took a step back.
"You knew.""
"Danielle, listen—"
"You knew she was coming.""
"I didn't know she'd do something like that.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Yes. I knew she was meeting with the hotel management.""
I stared at him.
"And you didn't think to tell me?""
"Why would I? You weren't involved.""
I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing.
I had spent three years married to this man.
We had a daughter together.
And apparently, he had been involved in a business arrangement with the same woman who had slapped me.
Daniel stepped between us.
"This is exactly why we wanted to speak privately. Emotions are running high.""
I turned toward him.
"Don't speak for my marriage.""
Ethan reached for my arm.
"Come on. Let's go home.""
I moved away.
"Don't touch me.""
His expression hardened.
"You're making this worse than it needs to be.""
I stared at him.
"She hit me.""
"I know.""
"She insulted me.""
"I know.""
"The manager tried to throw me out.""
"I know, Danielle!""
"Then why are you standing here defending them?""
Ethan lowered his voice.
"Because you don't understand what's at stake.""
I looked at him.
"Then explain it.""
He glanced at Daniel.
Daniel shook his head slightly.
I noticed.
So did Ethan.
For several seconds, they communicated without saying a word.
Then Ethan sighed.
"Victoria's group is investing in the company. It's a huge opportunity.""
"Why are you involved?""
"I'm helping coordinate the transition.""
"You're helping coordinate it?""
He nodded.
I felt a strange chill.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel answered before Ethan could.
"Ethan has been consulting with us on the operational side.""
I looked at my husband.
"Since when?""
"Six months.""
Six months.
I'd been pregnant for most of that time.
I remembered the late-night calls.
The business dinners.
The weekends when Ethan said he needed to travel.
The expensive watch he'd bought himself two months earlier.
I had asked where the money came from.
He told me he'd received a performance bonus.
I swallowed.
"Are you being paid?""
Ethan looked away.
"Danielle, that's not relevant.""
"How much?""
He exhaled.
"One hundred and fifty thousand.""
I felt as though someone had punched me in the stomach.
"One hundred and fifty thousand dollars?""
"Over the course of the consulting agreement.""
"Where did that money go?""
"Into our savings.""
I shook my head.
"No. Our savings account hasn't changed.""
He frowned.
"Because I used some of it for expenses.""
"What expenses?""
He didn't answer.
Daniel stepped forward.
"Perhaps this conversation should wait until legal counsel is present.""
I looked at him.
"You're right. It should.""
Then I turned toward Ethan.
"Did you know about the document with my father's signature?""
His eyes flickered.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
"Which document?""
"The authorization transferring the foundation's properties.""
Ethan went completely still.
Daniel's expression also changed.
My father had been right.
They knew something.
I took out my phone.
"Did you?""
Ethan lowered his voice.
"Danielle, we need to talk about your mother.""
My blood ran cold.
"What does my mother have to do with this?""
He glanced toward Daniel.
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
"That's enough.""
I turned toward him.
"Don't you dare tell my husband what he can say to me.""
Ethan took a breath.
"Your mother left certain documents before she died.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"What documents?""
"She had a trust arrangement.""
"I know about the foundation.""
"No. You don't know everything.""
I stared at him.
"Then tell me.""
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
"Your mother left instructions that certain properties could only be transferred with the consent of her direct descendants.""
I frowned.
"Her direct descendants?""
He nodded.
"That means you.""
I looked at him.
"Why would you know that?""
He hesitated.
Then he said something that made my entire world shift.
"Because the consulting group needed your consent.""
I stared at him.
"My consent?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because you're one of the trustees.""
I looked toward Daniel.
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
I turned back to Ethan.
"You're telling me that you've been working with these people for six months, and you knew I had legal authority over the foundation?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"And you never told me?""
"We needed time to structure everything properly.""
I almost laughed.
"Structure everything?""
Ethan reached for my hand.
"Danielle, listen. The properties are worth a fortune. The transaction could benefit all of us.""
"All of us?""
"Yes. You, me, Grace. We could finally stop worrying about money.""
I looked at him.
"We've never been worried about money.""
"That's easy for you to say.""
I stepped back.
"What does that mean?""
He rubbed his face.
"Your father has always controlled everything. You don't see it because you've never had to fight for anything.""
I stared at him.
I had worked as a graphic designer before Grace was born.
I'd paid my own bills.
I'd never asked my father for a house, a car, or a business.
Ethan knew that.
He'd watched me do it.
"You think I haven't earned anything?""
"I didn't say that.""
"You just said I've never had to fight for anything.""
"That's not what I meant.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Did you pay my husband to convince me to sign the transfer documents?""
Daniel remained silent.
That was answer enough.
Ethan stepped forward.
"Danielle, don't turn this into something ugly.""
I stared at him.
"You already did.""
Just then, my father emerged from the elevator carrying Grace.
He saw Ethan.
His expression became unreadable.
"Ethan.""
"Richard.""
My father looked between us.
"Why are you here?""
Ethan straightened.
"To help resolve the situation.""
My father glanced at Daniel.
"Interesting. You both seem very concerned about resolving things.""
Daniel opened his briefcase.
"Richard, perhaps we can discuss the acquisition proposal and put this incident behind us.""
My father looked at the briefcase.
"No.""
"Richard—"
"I said no.""
He handed Grace back to me.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"Son, did you know Danielle was a trustee of the family foundation?""
Ethan hesitated.
"Yes.""
"Did you tell her?""
"No.""
My father's jaw tightened.
"Did you receive money from Daniel Mercer?""
Ethan looked down.
"Yes.""
"Did you know about the proposed transfer of the foundation's assets?""
Silence.
My father stepped closer.
"Answer me.""
Ethan finally nodded.
"Yes.""
My father stared at him.
"Then you have made a serious mistake.""
Ethan's face hardened.
"Richard, with respect, this is between me and my wife.""
My father looked at him for a long moment.
"You're right. It is.""
Then he turned to me.
"Danielle, I think you should know something.""
I waited.
"Your mother left a letter with the foundation's attorney. It was never opened after her death because the instructions required your eighteenth birthday and a formal request from you.""
I felt my throat tighten.
"I'm twenty-six.""
"I know.""
"Why didn't anyone give it to me?""
My father looked down.
"Because the attorney reported that the original had disappeared.""
I stared at him.
"Disappeared?""
He nodded.
"And the last person recorded accessing the foundation's private archive was...""
He paused.
Ethan's face had gone completely white.
May you like
My father finished the sentence.
"Your husband.""
