Chapter 2
By morning, Daniel was sweet again.
He brought me coffee in bed.
He kissed my forehead.
He acted like the night before had never happened.
“Are you excited to start our life together?” he asked.
I looked at his smile.
Then I looked at the faint bruise still visible on my knee from the engagement dinner.
“Yes,” I said.
But I was not excited.
I was alert.
Daniel left for work after reminding me to wash the dishes from the reception leftovers.
I waited until his car disappeared.
Then I photographed every room in the house.
The furniture I had bought.
The artwork I had paid for.
The appliances I had helped choose.
I saved every file in three places.
My laptop.
A new email account.
A cloud folder Daniel did not know existed.
I also called my friend, Marissa.
She was a family-law attorney.
I did not tell her everything.
Not yet.
I only asked one question.
“If someone paid half the down payment on a house but was not added to the deed, what proof would matter?”
There was silence.
Then Marissa said, “Why are you asking?”
“I’m organizing finances.”
“Save everything,” she told me. “And do not sign anything without letting me read it.”
That evening, Daniel came home angry.
The kitchen floor was clean.
Dinner was ready.
The laundry was folded.
Still, he found something.
“This chicken is dry.”
“I’m sorry,” I said.
He stared at me.
“What did you say?”
“I said I’m sorry.”
His face softened.
That frightened me most.
He wanted submission more than love.
For two weeks, I played the role he expected.
I cooked.
I cleaned.
I thanked him when he criticized me.
And every night, after he slept, I gathered more evidence.
Then I found the first surprise.
Daniel had opened a credit card in my name.
The bill was hidden inside a stack of mail in his office.
The balance was nearly twelve thousand dollars.
My hands shook as I read it.
Expensive restaurants.
Electronics.
Hotel rooms.
Charges I had never made.
Charges Daniel had never told me about.
At the bottom of the statement was one purchase that made my stomach drop.
A jewelry store.
May you like
Three thousand dollars.
The date was one week before our wedding.
