Chapter 13: The Husband Who Knew the Truth
I listened to the recording three times.
Each time, the same sentence destroyed another piece of the marriage I had spent three years trying to protect.
Daniel already knows what happened to Elizabeth. He knows exactly why she died.
I sat in my penthouse living room with Claire opposite me and Renee standing beside the window.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Claire closed her laptop.
“I'm sorry, Nia.””
I looked at her.
“Don't apologize for telling me the truth.””
“But he's your husband.””
I stared at the photograph of Daniel sitting beside me at our wedding.
The man in that photograph had promised to love me through everything.
I wondered whether he had been looking at his future wife or at the daughter of the woman his family had helped destroy.
“Call him,” I told Renee.
She looked surprised.
“Now?””
“Yes.””
Renee dialed his number and placed the call on speaker.
Daniel answered after the second ring.
“Nia?””
“Where are you?””
“At home.””
“I need you to come here.””
“Is something wrong?””
I looked at Claire.
“It's about my mother.””
The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.
Then Daniel whispered:
“I'll be there.””
He arrived forty minutes later.
He entered the apartment carrying a small leather briefcase. His face was pale, and his eyes moved immediately toward Claire.
He stopped.
“Who is she?””
I stood.
“Your wife's sister.””
Daniel looked confused.
Then recognition crossed his face.
“Claire Morgan?””
She nodded.
“You know me?””
“I've seen your name in the compliance reports.””
Claire gave a bitter smile.
“Of course you have.””
I placed the recording device on the coffee table.
“Sit down, Daniel.””
He remained standing.
“Nia, whatever this is, I can explain.””
“Then explain why your mother says you knew what happened to Elizabeth Hayes.””
His expression changed.
He looked at Claire.
Then at Renee.
Finally, he lowered himself into the chair.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he opened his briefcase.
He removed a thick envelope.
“I found this in my father's study six months ago.””
I stared at it.
“What is it?””
“Copies of correspondence between my father, Samuel, and your father.””
He placed the papers on the table.
“I didn't understand everything at first. But I recognized your mother's name.””
I picked up the first letter.
It was dated eight years earlier.
Edward Carter had written to Samuel Whitmore.
The situation with Elizabeth must remain closed. Thomas is becoming difficult. If he continues asking questions, the original arrangement will be exposed.
I looked at Daniel.
“When did you find this?””
“Six months ago.””
“And you said nothing?””
He lowered his head.
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Of what my father had done.””
I almost laughed.
“Your father was already dead, Daniel.””
“I know.””
“Then what were you afraid of?””
He looked at me.
“Losing you.””
I stepped closer.
“You knew my mother had been murdered, and you kept it from me because you were afraid I would leave you?””
His eyes filled.
“I didn't know the full story.””
“What did you know?””
He rubbed his face.
“My father told me that Elizabeth had discovered financial misconduct at Carter Dynamics. He said she was threatening to destroy the company.””
“And?””
“He told me that someone had arranged for her car to be sabotaged. He didn't say who.””
I stared at him.
“Did you believe him?””
“No.””
“Did you investigate?””
“Yes.””
He opened the briefcase again.
“I found payments to a mechanic. I found messages between my father and Samuel. I even found a letter from Patricia.””
He handed it to me.
The letter was short.
Edward, the girls cannot remain connected to the Hayes family. If Thomas discovers what happened, everything we've built will collapse. Daniel must never become involved.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at my husband.
“You knew your mother was involved.””
He nodded.
“I confronted her.””
“When?””
“Four months ago.””
“And what did she say?””
“She told me that if I continued investigating, she would release documents suggesting Hayes Capital had manipulated Carter Dynamics' rescue financing.””
I stared at him.
“So she threatened to destroy my reputation.””
“Yes.””
“And you protected her.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I thought I could find enough evidence to stop her without involving you.””
“You didn't protect me, Daniel. You protected yourself.””
He began crying.
“I loved you.””
I looked at him.
“Maybe you did. But you loved your family secrets more.””
He reached for my hand.
I stepped away.
Claire suddenly stood.
“There's something else.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What?””
She placed the flash drive on the table.
“Patricia and Samuel discussed the trust three days ago. They planned to use you as the fall guy for the Northbridge transactions.””
Daniel frowned.
“What?””
Claire played the recording.
Patricia's voice filled the room.
Daniel signed the guarantee. If the investigation reaches the bank, he'll take responsibility. Nia will be too busy defending her company to challenge the family trust.
Samuel responded.
And Brielle?
Brielle is useful until she isn't.
Daniel stared at the device.
His mother had been planning to sacrifice him.
The woman he had defended for his entire life.
The woman whose approval had mattered more to him than his wife's dignity.
He slowly stood.
“I need to talk to her.””
“No,” I said.
He turned.
“She has to answer for this.””
“She will. But you are not going to confront her alone.””
I walked toward the table and picked up the original documents.
“Tomorrow morning, the board will hear everything.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Will you be there?””
“Yes.””
“Will you let me testify?””
I studied his face.
For the first time, I saw a man who understood that he had lost something he couldn't simply apologize for.
“I'll let you tell the truth.””
He nodded.
Then he placed his wedding ring on the table.
“I don't expect you to forgive me.””
I looked at the ring.
“Good.””
He turned toward the door.
Before leaving, he stopped.
“Nia?””
I didn't answer.
“My father kept one more file. It was hidden in a safe behind his study bookshelf.””
“What file?””
He looked at Claire.
“Birth records.””
Claire's face changed.
Daniel continued.
“Not just yours. Brielle's. Claire's. And another document showing who arranged the adoption.””
I frowned.
“Who?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Patricia Carter.””
The door closed behind him.
I looked at my sisters.
May you like
For the first time, we were standing on the same side.
But the next morning, we would have to face the woman who had spent thirty years making sure we never knew we belonged together.
