Chapter 2: The Secret in the Wedding Folder
The car ride home was silent.
Rain tapped against the windshield as Daniel drove with both hands gripping the steering wheel.
I watched his face reflected in the window.
The same face I had kissed goodnight when he was small.
The same face that had once cried because a bird hit our kitchen window.
Now that face looked older.
Broken.
“Daniel,” I whispered.
He did not answer immediately.
“I’m sorry.””
My chest tightened.
“For what?””
He pulled into the driveway.
“For bringing you into that situation.””
I stared at him.
“You think I wanted you to stay married to someone who could do that?””
“No.””
He looked down.
“I just never wanted my wedding day to become a disaster.””
I reached over and touched his hand.
“Your wedding was not destroyed by me.””
His eyes filled.
“I know.””
Inside the house, everything looked exactly the same.
The old clock on the wall.
The photographs on the shelf.
The wooden frame holding a picture of Daniel and his father fishing.
Daniel walked over and stared at it.
“I should have seen it.””
“Seen what?””
He sat down slowly.
“Who she really was.””
I wanted to comfort him.
But before I could answer, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“Who is it?””
He hesitated.
“Lauren.””
He declined the call.
A few seconds later, another notification appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Twenty-seven missed calls.
Daniel opened the messages.
I saw his face harden.
“What did she say?””
He turned the phone toward me.
The first message was simple.
*You embarrassed me in front of everyone.*
The second:
*Your mother manipulated you.*
The third:
*If you leave me tonight, you will regret it.*
Daniel locked the phone.
“She thinks this is about embarrassment.””
I looked at him.
“Maybe she has always thought everything was about appearances.””
He looked away.
For years, Daniel had been the kind of person who searched for good in everyone.
That was why I worried.
People like him often gave too many chances.
The next morning, Daniel went to his office.
I stayed home.
Around noon, someone knocked on my door.
I expected a neighbor.
Instead, I found Lauren’s mother standing there.
She was dressed perfectly, as if she had walked out of a magazine.
“Mrs. Carter,” she said.
I held the door halfway closed.
“How can I help you?””
Her smile was polite.
Too polite.
“We need to talk.””
“I don’t think we do.””
Her expression hardened.
“You are making a serious mistake.””
I stared at her.
“My mistake?””
“Yes.””
She stepped closer.
“Daniel has always been emotional. He will calm down.””
I almost laughed.
“Your daughter hit me.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“And you made sure everyone saw it.””
The words stunned me.
“You think I wanted that?””
“I think you know exactly how to make Daniel choose you.””
For a moment, I could not speak.
Then I opened the door wider.
“Leave.””
She looked surprised.
“I beg your pardon?””
“I said leave.””
She adjusted her coat.
“You have no idea what you’ve done.””
After she left, I stood in the doorway for a long time.
Because there was something strange about her words.
Not anger.
Fear.
That evening, Daniel returned home carrying a thick folder.
He placed it on the kitchen table.
“Mom.””
I looked at him.
“What happened?””
He opened the folder.
Inside were bank statements, emails, and printed documents.
“I found something.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
He pulled out one page.
“Lauren wasn’t planning a marriage.””
I looked at the paper.
“What does that mean?””
He pointed at a line highlighted in yellow.
“She was planning an acquisition.””
I frowned.
“Daniel, I don’t understand.””
“She knew about my company before she met me.””
I sat down.
“What are you saying?””
His voice became quiet.
“She didn’t fall in love with me.””
He placed another document on the table.
“She targeted me.””
Before I could respond, Daniel’s phone rang.
He answered.
“Hello?””
His face changed within seconds.
“What do you mean she already filed something?””
He stood up.
“Who gave her permission?””
A pause.
Then his eyes moved toward the folder.
“Send me everything.””
He hung up.
“Daniel?””
He looked at me.
“Mom.””
His voice was different now.
“She didn’t just want my money.””
“What did she want?””
He stared at the papers.
May you like
Then whispered:
“She wanted something my father left behind.””
