chapter 3

I didn't sleep that night.

Daniel's words kept replaying in my head.

I'll tell you eventually.

Eventually.

That wasn't something Daniel said.

Not to me.

We had never kept secrets from each other.

At least, I thought we hadn't.

The next morning, I called him.

He didn't answer.

I called again.

Nothing.

By noon, I was angry.

By three, I was worried.

By six, I was standing outside his office.

His assistant looked surprised when she saw me.

“Miss Claire?”

“Is Daniel inside?”

She hesitated.

“Yes.”

“Then I'll go in.”

“Actually, he—”

I opened the door before she could finish.

Daniel looked up from behind his desk.

The moment he saw me, his expression hardened.

“Claire.”

“Why aren't you answering my calls?”

“I was busy.”

“For an entire day?”

He leaned back in his chair.

“I had meetings.”

I crossed my arms.

“Don't lie to me.”

He stared at me.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then he sighed.

“What's wrong?”

“You.”

He almost smiled.

“That's vague.”

“You're hiding something.”

The smile disappeared from his face.

“Claire—”

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Daniel.”

I stepped closer.

“You know me. I know when you're lying.”

He looked away.

That frightened me more than anything he could have said.

“Is this about Victoria?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

He remained silent.

I waited.

Finally, he stood and walked toward the window.

“There are things happening with my family.”

“What things?”

“Things I need to handle.”

“Does Victoria know?”

“Yes.”

The answer came too quickly.

I stared at him.

“So she knows everything, and I know nothing?”

“It's not like that.”

“Then explain it.”

He rubbed a hand over his forehead.

“I can't.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“You can't or you won't?”

His eyes met mine.

“I don't want you involved.”

That sentence hurt more than it should have.

“I've been involved in your life for years.”

“I know.”

“I'm Ethan's mother.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you shutting me out?”

His jaw tightened.

“Because this is bigger than you think.”

I stared at him.

“What are you afraid will happen?”

He didn't answer.

Before I could push him again, the door opened.

Victoria walked in.

She stopped when she saw me.

“Am I interrupting?”

“Yes,” I said.

Daniel gave me a warning look.

Victoria smiled as if my answer didn't bother her.

“I can come back.”

“No,” Daniel said quickly.

She walked toward him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

The small gesture bothered me more than it should have.

“Your father called,” she said.

Daniel's expression changed immediately.

“What did he say?”

“He wants us at the family house tonight.”

I watched Daniel closely.

Whatever she had said, I could see the worry spread across his face.

Victoria noticed me watching.

Then she smiled.

“Don't worry, Claire. Everything will be fine.”

I didn't believe her.

Not for a second.

That evening, I followed Daniel's car.

I knew it was wrong.

I knew I was crossing a line.

But something inside me wouldn't let it go.

Daniel's family mansion stood on a huge piece of land outside the city. Tall gates surrounded the property, and security guards stood at the entrance.

I parked far enough away that no one would notice me.

From inside my car, I watched the mansion through the darkness.

Through one of the large windows, I could see Daniel, Victoria, and several older members of his family gathered around a long dining table.

I couldn't hear what they were saying.

But I could see that the conversation wasn't going well.

Daniel suddenly slammed his hand against the table.

Everyone went silent.

One of the older men said something.

Daniel shook his head.

Then Victoria started crying.

My hand moved toward the door.

I almost got out.

Whatever was happening inside, she looked terrified.

But before I could open the door, Daniel walked toward her.

He held her shoulders and said something quietly.

She nodded.

Then she wrapped her arms around him.

I froze.

I didn't know what I was feeling.

Jealousy?

Confusion?

Fear?

I looked away.

None of it made sense.

A few minutes later, Daniel came outside alone.

I immediately ducked down in my seat.

He stood near the entrance, running a hand through his hair.

He looked exhausted.

Then his phone rang.

He answered.

I couldn't hear the person on the other end.

Daniel listened.

His face slowly changed.

The color drained from it.

“Don't touch Ethan.”

My entire body went still.

I stopped breathing.

Daniel turned away from the house.

“No.”

His voice was low, but I could hear the anger in it.

“Leave my son out of this.”

My blood ran cold.

My son.

Ethan.

Who was threatening my child?

Daniel ended the call and stood there in silence.

He looked toward the mansion, then out into the darkness.

He had no idea I was watching him.

And suddenly, everything I'd been thinking about Victoria seemed unimportant.

The cold smiles.

The strange warnings.

The secret Daniel refused to tell me.

None of it was about jealousy.

None of it was about the wedding.

Someone had threatened Ethan.

My son.

I pressed a trembling hand against my chest.

For the first time, I understood why Daniel had been trying to keep me away.

But instead of making me feel safer, it made me more afraid.

Because if someone was willing to threaten Ethan, what would they do when they realized I knew?

I sat frozen in my car, staring at Daniel.

The wedding wasn't what it seemed.

And whatever Daniel was hiding from me wasn't about romance.

It was about my son.

And somehow, I was already in the middle of it.