Chapter 8: The Truth About## Chapter 8: The Truth About Daniel
I read the message from the unknown number so Daniel
I read the message from the unknown number so many times that the words began to blur.
*Ask Ethan what happened to Daniel after you many times that the words began to blur.
Ask Ethan what happened to Daniel after you left.
For seven years, Daniel had been a closed chapter of my life.
I had mourned him, forgiven him for leaving, and eventually left.*
For seven years, Daniel had been a closed chapter of my life.
I had mourned him, forgiven him for leaving, and eventually accepted that our relationship had ended because grief had broken something neither of us knew how to repair.
I had never imagined there accepted that our relationship had ended because grief had broken something neither of us knew how to repair.
I had never imagined there was another explanation.
Yet someone had sent me a photograph of my original letter, complete with a red circle around a sentence I remembered was another explanation.
Yet someone had sent me a photograph of my original letter, complete with a red circle around a sentence I remembered writing.
There is one thing I have never told anyone else.
I looked at Margaret.
“Can someone tell me what happened to Daniel?””
writing.
There is one thing I have never told anyone else.
I looked at Margaret.
“Can someone tell me what happened to Daniel?””
She set the property documents aside.
“We need to establish who sent that message before drawing conclusions.””
“But whatShe set the property documents aside.
“We need to establish who sent that message before drawing conclusions.””
“But what if it's true?””
“Then we establish the facts. We don't let an anonymous message dictate what you believe.””
David if it's true?””
“Then we establish the facts. We don't let an anonymous message dictate what you believe.””
David leaned forward.
“Can you contact Daniel?””
I shook my head.
“I haven't spoken to him in eight years. I don't even know if he still lives in the same state.””
“ leaned forward.
“Can you contact Daniel?””
I shook my head.
“I haven't spoken to him in eight years. I don't even know if he still lives in the same state.””
“Do you remember where he moved?””
“Ohio. At least, that's where he said he was going.””
David tookDo you remember where he moved?””
“Ohio. At least, that's where he said he was going.””
David took out his phone.
“My company has offices in Ohio. I can ask my legal team whether there's out his phone.
“My company has offices in Ohio. I can ask my legal team whether there's a legitimate way to establish his current whereabouts, provided we don't cross any privacy boundaries.””
Margaret nodded.
“First, Claire, a legitimate way to establish his current whereabouts, provided we don't cross any privacy boundaries.””
Margaret nodded.
“First, Claire, preserve the message. Don't respond to the sender.””
I saved the photograph and forwarded a preserve the message. Don't respond to the sender.””
I saved the photograph and forwarded a copy to Margaret.
Then I called Ethan.
He answered after four rings.
“Claire?””
“Who is Daniel?””
Silence.
copy to Margaret.
Then I called Ethan.
He answered after four rings.
“Claire?””
“Who is Daniel?””
Silence.
Not confusion.
Not the hesitation of someone trying to remember a name.
Silence.
“Where did you hear thatNot confusion.
Not the hesitation of someone trying to remember a name.
Silence.
“Where did you hear that name?”” he finally asked.
“Answer my question.””
“Claire, I can't talk about this over the phone.””
“Then meet name?”” he finally asked.
“Answer my question.””
“Claire, I can't talk about this over the phone.””
“Then meet me.””
“Where are you?””
“That's not important.””
“It is if me.””
“Where are you?””
“That's not important.””
“It is if we're going to have this conversation.””
I closed my eyes.
“Ethan, someone sent me a photograph of my letter. They told we're going to have this conversation.””
I closed my eyes.
“Ethan, someone sent me a photograph of my letter. They told me to ask you what happened to Daniel after I left.””
His breathing changed.
Then he whispered, “You need to me to ask you what happened to Daniel after I left.””
His breathing changed.
Then he whispered, “You need to come home.””
“Why?””
“Because I need to explain something.””
“What?””
“Please, Claire. Not come home.””
“Why?””
“Because I need to explain something.””
“What?””
“Please, Claire. Not over the phone.””
I ended the call.
For several seconds, I sat motionless in Margaret's office.
Then David spoke.
“He knows something.””
I nodded.
over the phone.””
I ended the call.
For several seconds, I sat motionless in Margaret's office.
Then David spoke.
“He knows something.””
I nodded.
“And whatever it is, he doesn't want to say it where someone might hear.””
Margaret gathered“And whatever it is, he doesn't want to say it where someone might hear.””
Margaret gathered the documents.
“Don't meet him alone if you're uncomfortable. We can arrange a meeting here.””
I the documents.
“Don't meet him alone if you're uncomfortable. We can arrange a meeting here.””
I agreed.
Two hours later, I returned to the house.
Ethan was waiting in the living room.
He had removed agreed.
Two hours later, I returned to the house.
Ethan was waiting in the living room.
He had removed his tie, and his shirt was wrinkled. A glass of untouched water sat on the coffee table.
When he his tie, and his shirt was wrinkled. A glass of untouched water sat on the coffee table.
When he saw me, he stood.
“Thank God.””
I remained near the doorway.
“Tell me about Daniel.””
He ran a hand through his saw me, he stood.
“Thank God.””
I remained near the doorway.
“Tell me about Daniel.””
He ran a hand through his hair.
“Seven years ago, Vanessa told me that your former fiancé had contacted her.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why hair.
“Seven years ago, Vanessa told me that your former fiancé had contacted her.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why would Daniel contact Vanessa?””
“She said he'd found out about our wedding and wanted to warn me.””
“Warn you about what?””
would Daniel contact Vanessa?””
“She said he'd found out about our wedding and wanted to warn me.””
“Warn you about what?””
Ethan looked away.
“About you.””
I stared at him.
“What did he say?””
“He claimed you had hidden something from him before your relationship ended.””
I felt my throat tightenEthan looked away.
“About you.””
I stared at him.
“What did he say?””
“He claimed you had hidden something from him before your relationship ended.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“Ethan, I was honest with Daniel about the pregnancy. We went through the loss together.””
“I know that.
“Ethan, I was honest with Daniel about the pregnancy. We went through the loss together.””
“I know that now.””
“You knew it then. I told you in the letter.””
He closed his eyes.
“I know.””
“Stop saying that. You now.””
“You knew it then. I told you in the letter.””
He closed his eyes.
“I know.””
“Stop saying that. You didn't read the letter. You let Vanessa tell you what was inside it.””
He flinched.
“Yes.””
I stepped closer.
“Then tell me what she said about Daniel.””
Ethan didn't read the letter. You let Vanessa tell you what was inside it.””
He flinched.
“Yes.””
I stepped closer.
“Then tell me what she said about Daniel.””
Ethan sank onto the sofa.
“She told me Daniel had tried to contact you after your engagement ended. She said you refused sank onto the sofa.
“She told me Daniel had tried to contact you after your engagement ended. She said you refused to answer him because he knew something about your past that you wanted to keep secret.””
“That is to answer him because he knew something about your past that you wanted to keep secret.””
“That is a lie.””
“I understand that now.””
“No, you don't. You still haven't told me what happened.””
He stared at his hands.
“Vanessa said Daniel had been involved in a serious accident.””
The room seemed to shrink a lie.””
“I understand that now.””
“No, you don't. You still haven't told me what happened.””
He stared at his hands.
“Vanessa said Daniel had been involved in a serious accident.””
The room seemed to shrink around me.
“What?””
“She said he was driving back to see you when it happened. She said he'd been hospitalized and that his family didn't around me.
“What?””
“She said he was driving back to see you when it happened. She said he'd been hospitalized and that his family didn't want him contacted.””
I gripped the back of a chair.
“Was he alive?””
Ethan looked up.
“Yes.””
“Did you see him want him contacted.””
I gripped the back of a chair.
“Was he alive?””
Ethan looked up.
“Yes.””
“Did you see him?””
“No.””
“Did you speak to him?””
He hesitated.
Then he nodded.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
?””
“No.””
“Did you speak to him?””
He hesitated.
Then he nodded.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“You spoke to Daniel?””
“Once.””
“When?””
“Before our wedding.””
I could barely hear myself.
“You spoke to“You spoke to Daniel?””
“Once.””
“When?””
“Before our wedding.””
I could barely hear myself.
“You spoke to my former fiancé before marrying me, and you never told me?””
Ethan's eyes filled.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
“From being pulled back into a relationship my former fiancé before marrying me, and you never told me?””
Ethan's eyes filled.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
“From being pulled back into a relationship that had already hurt you.””
I stared at him.
“You decided that for me?””
“I was twenty-nine years old, Claire. I was scared. Vanessa told me he that had already hurt you.””
I stared at him.
“You decided that for me?””
“I was twenty-nine years old, Claire. I was scared. Vanessa told me he was unstable and that contacting you could cause problems.””
“You were twenty-nine, not nine.””
“I know.””
He stood and approached me, was unstable and that contacting you could cause problems.””
“You were twenty-nine, not nine.””
“I know.””
He stood and approached me, but I stepped away.
“What did Daniel say?””
Ethan stopped.
“He said he wanted you to know that he was sorry.””
“Sorry for what?””
“For leaving.””
My eyes but I stepped away.
“What did Daniel say?””
Ethan stopped.
“He said he wanted you to know that he was sorry.””
“Sorry for what?””
“For leaving.””
My eyes burned.
“That doesn't explain anything.””
“He said he hadn't known how to deal with the loss. He said he wanted to apologize in person, but he didn't want to burned.
“That doesn't explain anything.””
“He said he hadn't known how to deal with the loss. He said he wanted to apologize in person, but he didn't want to disrupt your wedding if you had moved on.””
I swallowed hard.
“And you decided not to tell me?””
“Yes.””
“Did you tell him I was getting married?””
“I did.””
“What disrupt your wedding if you had moved on.””
I swallowed hard.
“And you decided not to tell me?””
“Yes.””
“Did you tell him I was getting married?””
“I did.””
“What did he say?””
Ethan's voice broke.
“He said he hoped I'd treat you well.””
I turned away.
For seven years, I'd imagined Daniel moving on with did he say?””
Ethan's voice broke.
“He said he hoped I'd treat you well.””
I turned away.
For seven years, I'd imagined Daniel moving on with his life. I'd pictured him finding someone else, building a family, and eventually forgetting the woman he'd once planned to his life. I'd pictured him finding someone else, building a family, and eventually forgetting the woman he'd once planned to marry.
I'd accepted that his silence was his choice.
But he'd reached out.
He'd apologized marry.
I'd accepted that his silence was his choice.
But he'd reached out.
He'd apologized.
And my husband had decided I wasn't allowed to know.
“Did Vanessa know you spoke to him?””
“Yes.””
“Did she arrange.
And my husband had decided I wasn't allowed to know.
“Did Vanessa know you spoke to him?””
“Yes.””
“Did she arrange the conversation?””
Ethan didn't answer quickly enough.
I turned back.
“Ethan.””
“She gave me his number.””
The room went silent.
I sat down the conversation?””
Ethan didn't answer quickly enough.
I turned back.
“Ethan.””
“She gave me his number.””
The room went silent.
I sat down because my knees no longer felt steady.
“Why would she do that?””
“I don't know.””
“You're because my knees no longer felt steady.
“Why would she do that?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying again.””
He looked at me helplessly.
“Claire, I swear I thought she lying again.””
He looked at me helplessly.
“Claire, I swear I thought she was trying to help.””
“By arranging a secret conversation with my former fiancé and then telling you not to tell me?””
He was trying to help.””
“By arranging a secret conversation with my former fiancé and then telling you not to tell me?””
He lowered his head.
“I made a terrible decision.””
I looked at the lowered his head.
“I made a terrible decision.””
I looked at the man I'd married.
I had spent years believing that if I were patient enough, loving enough, and understanding enough, he man I'd married.
I had spent years believing that if I were patient enough, loving enough, and understanding enough, he would eventually tell me what troubled him.
Instead, he had collected secrets like stones and used them to build a wall between us.
“Did you ever tell Daniel I was pregnant?”” I asked.
Ethan looked startled.
“No.””
“Did you tell him I had written you a letter explaining would eventually tell me what troubled him.
Instead, he had collected secrets like stones and used them to build a wall between us.
“Did you ever tell Daniel I was pregnant?”” I asked.
Ethan looked startled.
“No.””
“Did you tell him I had written you a letter explaining everything?””
“No.””
“Did you tell him Vanessa had read it?””
He swallowed.
“No.””
I stood.
“Then you don't know what he was trying to tell me. You everything?””
“No.””
“Did you tell him Vanessa had read it?””
He swallowed.
“No.””
I stood.
“Then you don't know what he was trying to tell me. You don't know what Vanessa said to him. And you don't know why she wanted you to keep that letter.””
“I know.””
“Stop don't know what Vanessa said to him. And you don't know why she wanted you to keep that letter.””
“I know.””
“Stop saying that!””
My voice echoed through the living room.
Ethan stared at me.
For the first time, I didn't care whether my anger made him uncomfortable.
“You had seven years to ask saying that!””
My voice echoed through the living room.
Ethan stared at me.
For the first time, I didn't care whether my anger made him uncomfortable.
“You had seven years to ask me the truth. Seven years to open a letter I wrote because I trusted you. Instead, you let another woman me the truth.
Seven years to open a letter I wrote because I trusted you. Instead, you let another woman convince you that I was hiding something.””
“I was wrong.””
“Yes.””
“I want to make this right.””
I looked at the man who had once promised to love me without conditions convince you that I was hiding something.””
“I was wrong.””
“Yes.””
“I want to make this right.””
I looked at the man who had once promised to love me without conditions.
“Then tell me everything.””
He hesitated.
I watched him make the decision.
And I knew, before.
“Then tell me everything.””
He hesitated.
I watched him make the decision.
And I knew, before he spoke, that he was still holding something back.
“Vanessa told me Daniel had been investigating her he spoke, that he was still holding something back.
“Vanessa told me Daniel had been investigating her,” he said.
“She claimed he'd discovered information about a financial arrangement involving her family.””
I stared at him.
“What financial arrangement?””
“I,” he said.
“She claimed he'd discovered information about a financial arrangement involving her family.””
I stared at him.
“What financial arrangement?””
“I don't know all the details.””
“Then why bring it up?””
“Because she said Daniel was using the information to threaten her don't know all the details.””
“Then why bring it up?””
“Because she said Daniel was using the information to threaten her.””
“Threaten her how?””
“She didn't explain.””
I shook my head.
“You're telling me that Vanessa convinced.””
“Threaten her how?””
“She didn't explain.””
I shook my head.
“You're telling me that Vanessa convinced you my former fiancé was dangerous, then used that story to make you distrust me?””
Ethan's face tightened.
“When you put it that way—”
“How else you my former fiancé was dangerous, then used that story to make you distrust me?””
Ethan's face tightened.
“When you put it that way—”
“How else is there to put it?””
He sat down again.
“I know how this is there to put it?””
He sat down again.
“I know how this sounds.””
“It sounds like you've allowed Vanessa to control your decisions for seven years.””
He looked at me.
Then, finally sounds.””
“It sounds like you've allowed Vanessa to control your decisions for seven years.””
He looked at me.
Then, finally, he said something I hadn't expected.
“She told me that if I ever found out the truth about your letter, he said something I hadn't expected.
“She told me that if I ever found out the truth about your letter, I'd understand why she had kept it.””
I felt a chill move down my spine.
“Why?””
“She said you weren't the, I'd understand why she had kept it.””
I felt a chill move down my spine.
“Why?””
“She said you weren't the only person who had suffered after the pregnancy.””
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
He opened his mouth.
Then the doorbell rang.
We both turned toward the hallway.
only person who had suffered after the pregnancy.””
I stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
He opened his mouth.
Then the doorbell rang.
We both turned toward the hallway.
I walked to the front door and opened it.
A woman stood on the porch holding a thick envelopeI walked to the front door and opened it.
A woman stood on the porch holding a thick envelope.
She was in her early sixties, with silver hair pulled into a neat bun and a dark coat buttoned to her throat.
“Claire Bennett?””
“Yes.
She was in her early sixties, with silver hair pulled into a neat bun and a dark coat buttoned to her throat.
“Claire Bennett?””
“Yes.””
“My name is Patricia Morgan. I was Daniel's mother.””
The world stopped.
I hadn't seen.””
“My name is Patricia Morgan. I was Daniel's mother.””
The world stopped.
I hadn't seen Patricia since the year my engagement ended.
She looked at me for a long moment, her eyes shining.
Patricia since the year my engagement ended.
She looked at me for a long moment, her eyes shining.
“I've been trying to find you for years,” she said.
I could barely speak.
“Why?””
She looked past me and saw Ethan standing in the hallway.
Her“I've been trying to find you for years,” she said.
I could barely speak.
“Why?””
She looked past me and saw Ethan standing in the hallway.
Her expression hardened.
“Because someone told my son that you never wanted to hear from him again.””
I expression hardened.
“Because someone told my son that you never wanted to hear from him again.””
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Who told him that?””
Patricia tightened her grip on the envelope.
“Your husband's former felt the blood drain from my face.
“Who told him that?””
Patricia tightened her grip on the envelope.
“Your husband's former wife.””
May you like
She stepped inside.
“And I have the letters to prove it.””
