Chapter 5: The Man Who Was Supposed To Be Dead
I stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
The man standing beside my mother looked older.
Different.
But there was something about his eyes.
Something familiar.
A shape.
A feeling.
A memory I couldn't reach.
"No," I whispered.
Daniel didn't argue.
He just watched me break apart.
"My father is dead.""
"I know what you believe.""
The calmness in his voice made me angry.
"Don't say that.""
"Emma—"
"Don't say it like I'm confused.""
I grabbed the photograph from the table.
"You think I don't remember?""
My voice rose.
"I remember the funeral. I remember my mother collapsing. I remember everyone telling me he was gone.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"And I believe you.""
"Then why are you doing this?""
"Because someone else doesn't.""
I looked down at the picture again.
The man in it was standing outside a small office building.
My mother was facing him.
Not shocked.
Not afraid.
Like she knew exactly who she was meeting.
"When was this taken?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Five days ago.""
My stomach twisted.
"Five days?""
I looked at him.
"You had a picture of my mother meeting my supposedly dead father for five days, and you said nothing?""
"I was trying to figure out why.""
"You don't get to decide what I can handle.""
"I know.""
His answer was immediate.
And somehow that made it worse.
Daniel looked exhausted.
"I made mistakes too.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The anger I felt toward him collided with the guilt I had been carrying all night.
Because while I had been hiding Evan...
Daniel had been hiding something impossible.
"Why did you come to the restaurant?"" I asked.
His eyes moved to the tiny recording device.
"Because I wanted to give you a chance.""
"A chance to confess?""
He nodded.
"I thought if you told me the truth, maybe we could start fixing things.""
My throat tightened.
"And if I didn't?""
His silence was enough.
I looked away.
"Then what?""
Daniel looked at the empty chair where Evan had been sitting.
"Then I would know I was the only one still fighting for this marriage.""
The words hit harder than anger.
Because part of me knew he was right.
The waiter approached again, carefully.
"Excuse me, are you still dining?""
Daniel looked at him.
"No.""
The waiter glanced at the untouched plates.
"Would you like these packed?""
I opened my mouth.
"No, thank you.""
The waiter left.
Daniel picked up the document.
"We need to leave.""
"Where?""
"My place.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Your place?""
"Emma, if your mother is telling the truth, and if that man really is your father...""
He stopped.
"What?""
He looked toward the restaurant windows.
His expression changed.
"Someone knows we're here.""
I turned around.
"What?""
Daniel didn't answer.
He reached for my hand.
I pulled away.
The movement hurt both of us.
"I don't know if I can trust you.""
His face fell slightly.
"I understand.""
The fact that he didn't fight made my chest ache.
We walked outside separately.
The night air was cold.
I wrapped my coat tighter around myself.
Daniel stood beside his car, looking at me.
"Come with me.""
I wanted to say no.
I wanted to walk away from all of it.
From the lies.
From the secrets.
From the impossible truth waiting behind that photograph.
But then my phone buzzed.
A message.
Unknown number.
My heart stopped.
I opened it.
There was only one sentence.
*Your husband is not the person you should be afraid of.*
A picture followed.
I clicked it.
And my hands started shaking.
It was a photograph of me.
Taken that night.
At the restaurant.
From outside the window.
Someone had been watching us.
Daniel saw my face.
"What is it?""
I showed him the screen.
His expression hardened.
"We need to go.""
"Who sent this?""
He looked around the parking lot.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm not.""
"Daniel.""
He looked at me.
And for the first time, he looked less like a husband hiding secrets.
More like a man who knew exactly how dangerous this was.
"Emma, whoever sent that message wants us scared.""
I swallowed.
"Why?""
He stared at the picture.
"Because they know we're close to the truth.""
A car engine started somewhere nearby.
We both turned.
A black sedan pulled away from the curb.
Slowly.
Like it had been waiting.
Daniel grabbed his keys.
"Get in.""
I hesitated.
Then another message appeared.
This time, only four words.
*Ask your mother why.*
I looked at Daniel.
And I realized something terrifying.
May you like
The person watching us wasn't trying to hide.
They wanted me to find them.
