Chapter 2: The Men in Black Suits
Three black SUVs rolled across the Carter mansion driveway like they belonged there.
The music stopped.
The conversations disappeared.
Even Margaret’s confident expression finally cracked.
Seven men stepped out wearing black suits.
They moved with the kind of calm that made everyone else nervous.
Daniel released my arm.
“What is this?””
I didn’t answer.
The oldest man walked toward me.
He had silver hair and carried a thick leather folder.
When he reached me, he lowered his head slightly.
“Mrs. Carter.””
Margaret frowned.
“Mrs. Carter?””
The man looked at me.
“Your father asked us to bring everything immediately.””
He handed me the folder.
My fingers shook as I opened it.
For years, I had avoided using my father’s influence.
I had wanted a normal life.
I had wanted Daniel to love me without knowing who my family was.
My father, Richard Bennett, built Bennett Holdings from a small construction company into one of the largest private investment firms in Texas.
When I met Daniel, I never mentioned it.
I wanted him to love Emily.
Not the daughter of a billionaire.
Not the woman with a famous last name.
Just me.
But today, Margaret had reminded me exactly why I had hidden it.
Daniel stared at the folder.
“Emily…”
His voice changed.
Fear.
“You never told me.””
I closed the folder.
“You never asked.””
Margaret stepped forward.
“What does that mean?””
I looked at her.
“It means the company you’ve been bragging about for years?””
Her face tightened.
“What about it?””
“My father owns it.””
The color drained from Daniel’s face.
“Wait.””
He looked between me and the men.
“That company?””
I nodded.
“The one holding the mortgage on this mansion.””
A wave of whispers moved through the guests.
Margaret’s expression turned furious.
“You’re lying.””
The oldest man calmly pulled out another document.
“Mrs. Carter, perhaps you should review the ownership records.””
Margaret snatched the paper.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
For the first time since I met her, Margaret Carter looked afraid.
“This isn’t possible.””
I tilted my head.
“What isn’t possible?””
She looked at Daniel.
“You said she was nobody.””
The sentence hung in the air.
I felt my chest tighten.
Daniel looked away.
I noticed.
And that hurt more than anything else.
“Nobody?””
I whispered.
Margaret realized her mistake too late.
“Emily, that’s not what I meant.””
“No?””
I stepped closer.
“Then explain what you meant.””
Nobody answered.
The seventh man cleared his throat.
“Mrs. Carter, there is one more matter.””
He held out a smaller folder.
I looked at him.
“What is it?””
His expression changed.
Not anger.
Not sympathy.
Professional disappointment.
“You asked us to investigate anything related to your husband.””
My stomach dropped.
“Why would I need that?””
He glanced at Daniel.
“Because your father was concerned.””
Daniel’s face went pale.
“Emily…”
I opened the folder.
The first photograph showed Daniel entering a hotel.
With another woman.
I stared at it.
My fingers went numb.
“No.””
Daniel immediately stepped forward.
“Emily, wait.””
I looked at the next photograph.
The same woman.
Different day.
Different location.
Then the final picture.
The woman stood beside Margaret.
Her hand rested on her stomach.
She was pregnant.
And Margaret was smiling proudly beside her.
The backyard became silent again.
I looked at my husband.
“Who is she?””
Daniel opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Margaret stepped forward.
“Emily, you don’t understand.””
I laughed softly.
A painful sound.
“You’re right.””
I held up the photograph.
“I don’t understand.””
My eyes moved from Margaret to Daniel.
“Because I thought my husband was asking me to apologize after his mother assaulted me.””
Daniel looked desperate.
“Emily, please let me explain.””
“Explain what?””
The woman in the photograph suddenly became the only thing I could see.
“Explain why your mother knew about another pregnant woman?””
Margaret’s face hardened.
“Careful.””
I looked at her.
“Careful?””
She stepped closer.
“You don’t know what you’re accusing us of.””
I felt my daughter move inside me.
A tiny kick.
A reminder.
I placed my hand over my stomach.
Then I looked at Daniel.
“Tell me the truth.””
He stayed silent.
That silence was my answer.
The oldest man beside me spoke quietly.
“Mrs. Carter, there’s something else.””
I turned.
“What?””
He reached into the folder and removed one final document.
“It concerns the woman in the photographs.””
I took the paper.
And when I saw the name printed at the top, my entire body went cold.
May you like
Because she wasn’t just another woman.
She was someone I knew.
