Chapter 9: The Choice He Made
I don’t think I breathed for several seconds.
Daniel had met Megan.
After our worst fight.
During the exact moment she had been waiting for.
I stepped away from him.
“When?””
“Emily—”
“When?””
“That night.””
I laughed quietly.
Not because it was funny.
Because I didn’t know what else to do.
“So she was right.””
“No.””
“She said you would understand her.””
“I didn’t.””
“But you went.””
Daniel looked broken.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
“What happened?””
He sat down.
“She met me at a coffee shop.””
“Alone?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I was angry.””
I nodded slowly.
“Angry at me.””
“Yes.””
“And she knew.””
“Yes.””
The room was silent.
“What did she say?””
Daniel looked down.
“She said she wasn’t trying to take your place.””
I almost smiled.
“That’s exactly what someone trying to take my place would say.””
“I know.””
“What else?””
“She said she had always cared about me.””
My throat tightened.
“And what did you say?””
“I told her I loved you.””
I looked at him.
“Then why stay?””
“Because I was angry, not confused.””
The answer came quickly.
“I left.””
“When?””
“After ten minutes.””
I stared.
“Ten minutes?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I was ashamed.””
I looked away.
“I understand being ashamed.””
He flinched.
“But I don’t understand hiding it.””
“I know.””
My phone rang.
Claire again.
I answered.
“Hello?””
“Emily.””
Her voice sounded terrified.
“You need to know something.””
“What now?””
“I found the original letter.””
My heart tightened.
“Where?””
“Ryan had it.””
I looked at Daniel.
“How?””
“Because Megan accidentally left it in their house.””
“What does it say?””
Claire hesitated.
“Emily, this changes everything.””
“Read it.””
A pause.
Then Claire began.
“‘Daniel, I know you think you chose the right person…’”
I closed my eyes.
“‘But someday you’ll realize I was the one who understood you before anyone else.’”
My hands curled into fists.
“She really wrote that?””
“Yes.””
Claire continued.
“‘I don’t need you to leave her now. I know that would make me look like the villain.’”
Daniel looked at me.
The words felt like hearing Megan’s voice.
“She knew.””
Claire continued.
“‘I just need patience.’”
Silence.
Then:
“‘When Emily fails you, I’ll be there.’”
I felt something inside me break.
Not because Megan wanted Daniel.
Because she had planned to wait for my pain.
She wasn’t hoping for love.
She was hoping for my failure.
“Claire,” I said quietly.
“Yes?””
“Thank you.””
After we hung up, Daniel and I sat in silence.
Then he said:
“I want to show you something.””
“What?””
He walked to his office.
When he returned, he held a small box.
“I kept this because I didn’t know what to do with it.””
He opened it.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
My stomach tightened.
“What is that?””
He handed it to me.
I opened it.
It was a letter.
From Megan.
Another one.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
*Emily,*
*I hope someday you understand that I never wanted to hurt you.*
I looked at Daniel.
“When did you get this?””
“The week after our wedding.””
I kept reading.
*I know you think I’m happy for you. I am. But part of me will always wonder what would have happened if things were different.*
My hands shook.
The next sentence made my blood run cold.
*I think you and I both know Daniel and I have something special.*
I stopped reading.
“She sent this to me?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“She wanted me to know.””
I folded the letter.
“And you kept it?””
“I didn’t know how to explain it without destroying your friendship.””
I looked at him.
“You were protecting me?””
“Yes.””
I shook my head.
“You were protecting the wrong thing.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then Daniel’s phone rang.
Megan.
Again.
He looked at me.
“Do you want me to answer?””
I thought about it.
Then I nodded.
“Speaker.””
He answered.
“Megan.””
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
“I know you found the letter.””
Neither of us responded.
“I’m not angry.””
Daniel frowned.
“Then what do you want?””
A soft laugh.
“I want Emily to hear the truth.””
I looked at the phone.
“What truth?””
A pause.
Then Megan said:
“The truth is Daniel didn’t choose you because you were the better woman.””
My stomach tightened.
“He chose you because he didn’t know what else to do.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Megan, stop.””
But she continued.
“Ask him why he never told you about the first time I kissed him.””
The room went silent.
My heart stopped.
I turned toward Daniel.
“What?””
Megan whispered:
May you like
“Ask him.””
Then she hung up.
