Chapter 2: The Secret He Already Knew
I couldn't move.
The small object rested between the plates like a weapon.
Not because it was dangerous.
Because I knew exactly what it meant.
A tiny silver recording device.
My first thought was that Daniel had been spying on me.
My second thought was much worse.
He hadn't needed to.
He already knew.
"Evan," Daniel said calmly, "I think you should leave.""
Evan looked at me.
For the first time since I met him, he looked afraid.
"Emma...""
I couldn't answer.
Daniel leaned back in his chair.
"Please.""
Evan stood slowly.
"I didn't know you two were—"
Daniel laughed once.
A cold, humorless sound.
"You didn't know a lot of things.""
Evan's face hardened.
"Maybe you should talk to your wife instead of blaming me.""
Daniel looked at him for several seconds.
Then he said, "You really don't understand what happened here, do you?""
Evan glanced at me.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel didn't answer.
He just looked away.
Evan grabbed his jacket.
"Emma, call me if you want to talk.""
Daniel's eyes followed him toward the exit.
"She won't.""
The door closed behind Evan.
And suddenly, it was just me and my husband.
The man I had betrayed.
The man who had sat across from me at breakfast that morning and kissed my forehead before I lied to him.
"Say something," I whispered.
Daniel looked exhausted.
Not angry.
Exhausted.
"How long?""
My throat tightened.
"Daniel...""
"How long have you been lying to me?""
I looked at the table.
"I don't know.""
"Try.""
The word cut deeper than a shout.
I wiped at my eyes.
"Three months.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
Three months.
Like he was confirming a number he already had.
"Three months," he repeated.
"I'm sorry.""
He looked at me.
"Are you?""
The question hurt because I didn't know how to answer.
"I made a mistake.""
Daniel looked at the device between us.
"No, Emma. A mistake is forgetting an anniversary. A mistake is saying something cruel when you're angry.""
He pointed at the object.
"This was a choice.""
I felt tears building.
"Why did you put that there?""
For the first time that night, his expression changed.
Pain crossed his face.
"I wanted to see if you would tell me the truth.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"I wanted one chance.""
His voice cracked slightly.
"One chance where you could look me in the eyes and say, 'Daniel, something is wrong. I met someone else. I'm confused.''"
He swallowed.
"But you didn't.""
I looked away.
Because he was right.
"I thought you stopped loving me," I whispered.
Daniel closed his eyes.
"And you thought the answer was to find someone who made you feel wanted?""
I had no response.
The waiter approached our table, unaware of the disaster happening in front of him.
"Everything okay here?""
Daniel looked up.
"Yes.""
The waiter glanced between us.
"Would you like dessert menus?""
Daniel gave a small smile.
"No. We're finished.""
The waiter walked away.
Those two words stayed with me.
We're finished.
"Are you leaving me?"" I asked.
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he reached into his jacket again.
This time, he pulled out a folded piece of paper.
He placed it beside the recording device.
"I didn't come here to catch you.""
I frowned.
"Then why?""
His eyes met mine.
"Because I needed you to see something.""
I unfolded the paper with shaking hands.
At first, I didn't understand what I was looking at.
Then I saw the date.
The signature.
The name.
My entire body went cold.
"Where did you get this?""
Daniel's face turned pale.
"That's the question I've been trying to answer for weeks.""
I looked at the document again.
It wasn't about Evan.
It wasn't about my lie.
It was something connected to my family.
Something I had never told Daniel.
Something I didn't even know existed.
"Emma," Daniel said quietly.
I looked up.
"Before you blame yourself for tonight, you need to understand something.""
My hands trembled.
"What?""
He leaned closer.
"The night you told me your mother was sick...""
I held my breath.
"...was the same night someone sent me proof that you weren't the only person hiding a secret.""
My blood ran cold.
"What secret?""
Daniel pushed the document toward me.
At the bottom was a name.
May you like
A name that made my heart stop.
Because it belonged to someone who was supposed to be dead.
