Chapter 2: The Message Nobody Was Supposed to See
The room went completely still.
Daniel set down his glass and stepped forward slowly, like a man who had been waiting a long time to say something he wasn't sure he should.
"Last time we were here," he said, "Naomi wasn't allowed to eat with us either."
Adrian turned.
"What?"
"Camille told her the kitchen was busy.
Asked her to wait upstairs until we left." Daniel paused.
"We thought it was strange.
But we didn't say anything."
Adrian looked at Camille.
Camille's chin lifted slightly.
"I was managing the evening.
That's all."
"Managing," Adrian repeated quietly.
"Yes."
"By removing her from her own home."
Camille's voice dropped to something sharp and controlled.
"She's not—"
She stopped herself.
But everyone heard it.
Naomi heard it.
Adrian heard exactly what Camille had almost said.
He looked at his wife for a long moment.
Then he looked at Naomi, who was standing very still, eyes down, hands folded in front of her — the posture of someone who had learned to make herself small.
He recognized it now.
He had just never let himself see it before.
Then another guest, a woman named Patrice, spoke from near the window.
"Adrian…
I think you should look at what Camille sent us before the party."
She held up her phone.
---
What was in that message — and how long had Camille been hiding this from Adrian?
The full truth is more heartbreaking than anyone in that room expected.
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