Chapter 13: The Choice Daniel Made
For a moment, nobody moved.
Not me.
Not my father.
Not even Richard.
The only sound in the house was the soft hum of the refrigerator.
Then Daniel stepped inside.
But he didn’t look like the confident man who had walked away from us earlier.
He looked scared.
Actually scared.
“Daniel,” I whispered.
His eyes met mine.
And for the first time in years, I didn’t see anger.
I saw fear.
Richard closed the door behind him.
“Interesting, isn’t it?””
My father stared at Daniel.
“You brought him here.””
Daniel shook his head immediately.
“No.””
Richard smiled.
“Still pretending?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Shut up.””
That surprised everyone.
Because Daniel had never spoken to his father like that.
Richard tilted his head.
“You’re finally growing a spine?””
Daniel clenched his jaw.
“I said shut up.””
I looked between them.
Something had changed.
Something I didn’t understand.
Richard walked farther into the room.
“Your mother was always dramatic.””
My fists tightened.
“Don’t talk about her.””
He smiled.
“Still protective.””
My father stepped forward.
“You’re leaving.””
Richard looked amused.
“You don’t get to decide that anymore.””
Then Daniel spoke.
“Yes, he does.””
Everyone turned.
Daniel looked at me.
“I know you hate me.””
I didn’t answer.
Because I did.
But there was something else too.
Disappointment.
Pain.
A feeling that came from loving someone who became someone else.
Daniel swallowed.
“I deserve that.””
Richard laughed.
“Don’t embarrass yourself.””
Daniel ignored him.
“I didn’t know how far he would go.””
My father’s expression hardened.
“You knew enough.””
Daniel looked down.
“I knew.””
Silence.
The admission was heavier than any argument.
I stared at him.
“You knew what?””
He looked at me.
“I knew my father was using me.””
My heart sank.
“Then why?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Because I spent my entire life trying to become someone he would respect.””
Richard’s face remained calm.
“You were weak.””
Daniel looked at him.
“No.””
His voice shook.
“I was scared.””
That was the first honest thing I had ever heard from him.
Daniel continued.
“When I met you, I was supposed to get close to you.””
My stomach twisted.
“So it was real?””
He looked away.
“At first, no.””
The words hurt.
Even though I already knew.
“But then?””
Daniel’s eyes filled with regret.
“Then you became real.””
Nobody spoke.
“I started caring about you.””
I laughed quietly.
A painful laugh.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“It’s supposed to explain why I hated myself every day.””
Richard stepped forward.
“Enough.””
Daniel turned.
“No.””
For the first time, he stood against him.
“I’m done.””
Richard’s expression changed.
“You think she’ll forgive you?””
Daniel looked at me.
“No.””
His answer surprised me.
“I don’t expect that.””
Then he pulled something from his jacket.
A small drive.
My father immediately became alert.
“What is that?””
Daniel looked at him.
“Everything.””
Richard’s face changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
“What did you do?””
Daniel held the drive tightly.
“I copied the records.””
Richard’s calm disappeared.
“You wouldn’t.””
“I already did.””
My father stepped forward.
“Give it to me.””
Daniel walked toward him.
But before he reached him, Richard moved.
Fast.
He grabbed Daniel’s arm.
“After everything I gave you?””
Daniel pulled away.
“You didn’t give me anything.””
His voice broke.
“You took everything.””
The room exploded into chaos.
My father moved between them.
I grabbed Lily’s baby monitor from the table.
Then I remembered.
Lily.
I ran upstairs.
She was awake.
Crying.
“Mommy?””
I rushed to her.
“We’re leaving.””
She grabbed my hand.
“Is Daddy okay?””
I looked at her.
That was the hardest question.
Because the answer was complicated.
“I don’t know.””
Downstairs, I heard sirens.
My father had called for help.
When I returned downstairs, Richard was standing still.
Daniel was sitting against the wall.
Not hurt.
Just exhausted.
The police entered moments later.
Richard didn’t fight.
He just smiled.
As if he still believed he had control.
But as they walked him away, he looked at Daniel.
“You’ll regret this.””
Daniel looked back.
“No.””
Then he looked at me.
“I already do.””
May you like
For the first time in years…
I believed him.
