Chapter 2 - THE DOOR SHE CHOSE
Amy reached the fountain at the bottom of the terrace steps before Daniel called again.
This time, anger had disappeared from his voice.
"Amy, please."
She stopped.
Not for him.
Her daughter kicked hard enough to make her inhale sharply.
Amy placed both hands over her stomach.
The movement settled.
Behind her, Daniel slowed.
The ballroom lights spilled over only half his face.
His bow tie hung loose.
Without the polished posture and practiced smile, he no longer looked like the heir to a development empire.
He looked like a man who had just realized something important could leave him.
"Amy."
She turned.
"Don't come any closer."
Daniel stopped immediately.
"I can explain Celeste."
"You've been explaining Celeste for six weeks."
"Because there's nothing happening."
Amy studied him.
"Then why did you delete her messages?"
A flicker crossed his face.
Small.
Quick.
Enough.
"You checked my phone?"
The offended tone in his voice almost stunned her.
Amy gave a short laugh.
"That's your answer?"
"You went through my private messages?"
"I saw her name on the screen."
"Amy."
"You turned the phone over."
Daniel glanced toward the ballroom doors.
People were watching.
His voice lowered.
"This isn't the place."
Amy nodded once.
"You're right."
She turned away.
Daniel followed a step.
"Where are you going?"
"Away from you."
"For how long?"
She looked over her shoulder.
"I don't know."
His expression hardened.
"You can't just walk out."
"I already did."
"We got married four hours ago."
Amy looked at the child beneath her heart.
Then she looked at him.
"And somehow you managed to make me regret it before dessert."
Daniel flinched.
Margaret came down the steps carrying Amy's coat.
She draped it around Amy's shoulders.
Daniel stared at his mother.
"You knew she was going to do this?"
Margaret's voice was controlled.
"I watched you spend half your wedding reception with Celeste."
"It was a dance."
"It was not just a dance."
Daniel said nothing.
Margaret held his gaze.
"What is going on between you two?"
He rubbed both hands over his face.
"Nothing."
Amy watched Margaret's expression.
Margaret asked quietly.
"That wasn't the question."
Daniel looked at Amy.
"There are business things I haven't told you yet."
Amy's anger abruptly shifted into fear.
"What business things?"
"It's complicated."
"Then simplify it."
A new voice came from above them.
"Daniel."
Celeste stood at the top of the staircase.
A black shawl covered her silver dress.
Amy turned.
Celeste saw her bare hand.
The color drained from her face.
"Where's your ring?"
Amy almost smiled at how absurd the question sounded.
Daniel moved toward Celeste.
"Go inside."
Celeste ignored him.
"Amy, you need to hear something before you leave."
Daniel's body stiffened.
"Celeste."
Amy noticed instantly.
"What?"
Celeste looked at Daniel.
He shook his head.
Just once.
Amy's pulse quickened.
"What do I need to hear?"
Celeste opened her mouth.
Daniel interrupted.
"Not tonight."
Amy stared at him.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"What did you do, Daniel?"
His eyes moved away.
The silence answered more than words could.
Amy reached for her phone.
Daniel stepped closer.
"What are you doing?"
"Calling a car."
"I'll take you."
"No."
"Amy, you're pregnant."
"I'm aware."
"It's late."
"I'm also aware of that."
Margaret reached into her purse and removed her keys.
"I'm driving her."
Daniel looked genuinely shocked.
"You can't be serious."
Margaret met his eyes.
"I have never been more serious in my life."
Celeste descended several steps.
"Amy, I'm sorry."
Amy looked directly at her.
"Did you sleep with my husband?"
Everyone went silent.
Daniel cursed beneath his breath.
Celeste swallowed.
"No."
Amy held her gaze.
"Did you want to?"
Celeste looked at Daniel.
That was enough.
Amy's throat tightened.
Celeste spoke quietly.
"That isn't the worst part."
Daniel's face emptied.
Amy looked at him.
"What is the worst part?"
Daniel stepped between them.
"Enough."
Amy's expression hardened.
"No."
She spoke slowly.
"You don't get to decide when I've heard enough anymore."
A black sedan pulled toward the valet area.
Margaret guided Amy toward it.
Daniel followed.
"Amy, please."
She opened the passenger door.
He reached toward her arm.
Amy moved back before he could touch her.
Daniel froze.
For one terrible second, Amy saw the version of him she still loved.
The man who made terrible pancakes on Sunday mornings.
The man who held her hair through months of morning sickness.
The man who cried when the ultrasound technician first played their daughter's heartbeat.
But that man lived inside the same body as the man who had lied to her.
Tonight, Amy could no longer separate them.
Margaret climbed behind the wheel.
Amy got into the passenger seat.
Daniel stood outside.
"Where are you going?"
Margaret started the engine.
Amy lowered the window slightly.
"Somewhere I can think."
"Come home."
Amy shook her head.
"That house doesn't feel like home tonight."
Daniel's gaze dropped.
"Amy."
She raised the window.
Margaret drove away.
They traveled three blocks without speaking.
Amy watched the hotel shrink in the side mirror.
Only when it disappeared did she realize how badly she was shaking.
Margaret reached across the console.
Amy took her hand.
"I'm sorry."
Margaret frowned.
"For what?"
"For ruining tonight."
Margaret immediately pulled to the curb.
She turned toward Amy.
"Listen to me."
Amy looked over.
"You did not ruin anything."
Margaret's eyes glistened.
"If my son has done what I think he has done, tonight was already broken before you walked into that ballroom."
Amy stared at her.
"What do you think he's done?"
Margaret faced the windshield.
Fear appeared in her expression for the first time.
"I don't know yet."
Amy waited.
Margaret tightened both hands around the steering wheel.
"But three weeks ago, Daniel asked me a question."
"What question?"
"He asked whether your father ever put the Linden Street property into a trust."
Amy felt cold.
Linden Street was the apartment building her father had left to her.
Its value exceeded eight million dollars.
But the money was not what made it important.
It was the final major piece of her father's life that still belonged entirely to her.
"Why would Daniel ask you that?"
Margaret looked back at her.
"I was hoping you could tell me."
Amy's phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
Amy opened it.
Nine words filled the screen.
ASK DANIEL WHAT HE SIGNED YESTERDAY WITH CELESTE.
Amy read the sentence again.
Then again.
Margaret saw her expression.
"What is it?"
Amy handed over the phone.
Margaret read it.
The car remained parked as traffic passed beyond the windows.
May you like
Finally Amy whispered.
"What did I marry into?"
