Chapter 2: The Account He Should Never Have Touched
Daniel released my wrist immediately.
The fear on his face lasted only a second before he tried to hide it.
“What is he talking about?”” he asked.
But his voice was different.
Too fast.
Too defensive.
The room was still watching us.
Chloe stood beside her mother, suddenly less interested in my stolen-ring accusation and more interested in the conversation happening between my husband and me.
I held the phone closer.
“Dad said you accessed my trust account.””
Daniel looked away.
That was all the answer I needed.
Three years earlier, when my grandmother passed away, she left me a small inheritance. It was protected by a family trust my father helped manage. It wasn’t something I used for luxury.
It was security.
For my future child.
For emergencies.
Daniel knew that.
“Emily, don’t do this here,” he whispered.
I almost laughed.
“Don’t do this here?””
I looked around the ballroom.
“At Chloe’s wedding? After your sister ripped my dress apart in front of everyone?””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“You’re being dramatic.””
That word hurt.
Because I remembered every time he had used it.
When I cried after Eleanor insulted my cooking.
When Chloe mocked my pregnancy weight.
When I told him I felt alone.
Somehow, every time his family hurt me, I became the problem.
My father’s voice came through the phone.
“Emily, do you want me to send the documents?””
“Yes.””
Daniel heard that.
His face changed.
“Documents?””
I looked at him.
“About what you did.””
The venue director approached carefully.
“Mrs. Carter, your father has asked that you and the baby be moved somewhere private.””
Chloe suddenly stepped forward.
“Wait.””
Everyone looked at her.
She forced a smile.
“This is a misunderstanding. Emily is emotional because of her pregnancy.””
I stared at her.
A few hours earlier, she had torn my dress.
Now she wanted everyone to believe she cared about my emotions.
“You accused me of theft,” I said.
Chloe crossed her arms.
“Because the ring disappeared when you were nearby.””
“And after you searched me?””
Her lips tightened.
She had no answer.
Eleanor stepped in.
“Let’s not forget that Daniel is her husband. He knows her better than anyone.””
I looked at Daniel.
That sentence should have comforted me.
Instead, it felt like a warning.
Because Daniel did know me.
He knew exactly what could hurt me.
He knew exactly how much I trusted him.
My phone buzzed.
A message from my father appeared.
I opened it.
My hands started shaking.
Attached were bank records.
A transfer.
$75,000.
Sent from my trust account.
To a company I had never heard of.
I looked at Daniel.
“What is Whitmore Events LLC?””
His face went pale.
Chloe noticed.
“What’s wrong?””
Daniel quickly stepped forward.
“Give me the phone.””
I pulled it away.
“No.””
His eyes hardened.
“Emily, you don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
Silence.
The kind of silence that tells you everything before the truth arrives.
Finally, Daniel sighed.
“It was temporary.””
“Temporary?””
“I needed the money.””
“For what?””
He looked toward Chloe.
And she looked away.
That tiny movement broke something inside me.
“You used my money for this wedding?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
Chloe suddenly spoke.
“Daniel was helping his family.””
I stared at her.
“So you knew?””
She shrugged.
“You were going to be family. It didn’t matter.””
I felt my baby move.
A small kick against my stomach.
A reminder that I wasn’t alone.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Emily, listen to me. We can fix this.””
I shook my head.
“You stood there while they humiliated me.””
“I was trying to keep peace.””
“No.””
My voice became quiet.
“You were choosing them.””
The security officers moved closer.
The venue director cleared his throat.
“Mr. Carter, perhaps we should discuss the unauthorized payment elsewhere.””
Daniel looked angry now.
Not guilty.
Angry.
As if I was the person who ruined everything.
“You’re really going to do this to me?””
I stared at him.
“You did this to yourself.””
Then my father called again.
I answered.
“Dad?””
His voice was serious.
“Emily, there’s something else.””
I looked toward Daniel.
“What?””
A pause.
Then my father said:
“The money wasn’t only used for the wedding.””
My stomach tightened.
“Where else did it go?””
My father took a breath.
“Your husband transferred part of it to someone named Marcus Vale.””
Daniel’s face changed instantly.
And when I saw his reaction, I knew one thing.
May you like
He wasn’t afraid of losing the money.
He was afraid I would discover who Marcus was.
