Chapter 6: The Choice Martha Offered
Daniel turned from Elena to his mother.
“What did you do to my company?”
Martha straightened her jacket.
“I kept it alive.”
“Answer me.”
“The renewal on your largest credit line requires my signature as trustee of your father’s estate.”
Rebecca opened her file.
“That trust was created to support Daniel, not control him.”
“Read the amendment,” Martha replied.
“If Daniel brings public disgrace upon the family, I can suspend every distribution.”
Elena moved back beside her.
“If the wedding continues, the transfer can be described as an advance for our new home.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Daniel asked.
Martha’s smile tightened.
“The bank calls the loan.
Your employees learn tomorrow that their paychecks may not clear.”
A murmur passed through the guests.
Daniel’s business partner, Marcus, stepped forward.
“She’s right about the loan.
Without that credit line, we have perhaps ten days.”
Elena touched Daniel’s sleeve.
“Walk back to the altar.
We can solve everything privately.”
“You expect me to marry you after hearing that recording?”
“I expect you to protect two hundred employees.”
Martha turned to me.
“Claire, take Leo and leave.
I’ll return your letters, and this ends.”
“You want me to abandon Daniel again so you can say the recording was true.”
“I want you to understand that love does not pay wages.”
Daniel looked at me.
“Would you take Leo home?”
Leo clung to my hand.
“Daddy, are you still marrying her?”
Daniel did not answer him.
My voice broke.
“Daniel, look at your son.”
“I am looking.”
“No, you’re looking at the company, the guests, and your mother.
That is what you did two years ago.
Everyone’s voice mattered except mine.”
He took a step toward me.
“Claire—”
“You believed a message without asking me to say those words to your face.”
“I called you.”
“Your mother changed my number in the family account.
Rebecca found the request.”
Martha waved one hand.
“Administrative confusion.”
“You came to my apartment,” I said.
“You told me Daniel never wanted to see me again.”
Daniel’s eyes fixed on his mother.
“You saw Claire after she left?”
“She was emotional.”
“She was carrying your child’s letters,” Rebecca said.
I wiped my face.
“Here is the truth you should have heard from me.
I didn’t stop loving you, Daniel.
I stopped begging a man who never came to the door.”
His shoulders dropped.
“And here is mine,” he said.
“I believed you stopped loving Leo and me because that hurt less than admitting I chose my mother’s lies.”
Leo began to cry between us.
Daniel knelt and opened his arms, but he waited.
“May I hold you?” he asked.
Leo moved into them.
Daniel buried his face against our son’s hair.
Elena glanced at the clock.
“This touching reunion is costing your employees their jobs.”
Daniel rose slowly.
“You’re right.
We need to finish the ceremony.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
Martha gave a satisfied nod.
“A sensible decision.”
“Guests, please take your seats,” Daniel said.
“Elena, return to the altar.”
Elena smoothed her dress and lifted her bouquet.
Martha leaned close to me as she passed.
“He always chooses duty,” she whispered.
Daniel walked by next.
Without turning his head, he pressed the small brass key into my palm.
May you like
“Trust me for ten minutes,” he murmured.
“Then play the final file on Sophie’s tablet.”
