Chapter 2 - The Twisted Accusation
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The only sound came from tiny pieces of crystal settling across the marble floor.
Daniel recovered first.
He laughed.
The sound was too loud.
Too forced.
“This woman is insane.”
Mara remained perfectly still.
Emily leaned against the wall.
“Mara, what did you mean?”
Daniel immediately stepped between them.
“Nothing.”
Emily looked at him.
“I asked her.”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Emily, you nearly died.”
“I know.”
“You’re in shock.”
“So answer the question.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
Mara moved around him.
“This morning, I saw your husband standing on the upstairs balcony beside the chandelier support.”
Daniel spun toward her.
“You’re fired.”
Emily flinched.
Mara continued.
“He had tools with him.”
“You’re lying.”
“I saw wire cutters.”
Daniel grabbed Mara’s arm.
“Get out of my house.”
Mara pulled free.
Emily had never seen Daniel lose control so quickly.
He was usually charming.
Polished.
Almost impossible to embarrass.
Now his face was red.
His hands trembled.
“You’ve always been jealous of us,” Daniel said.
Mara almost smiled.
“Jealous?”
“You hate that Emily trusts me.”
“She trusted you enough to marry you.”
Daniel turned toward Emily.
“Do you hear this?”
Emily said nothing.
“She’s manipulating you.”
Mara pointed toward the broken chandelier.
“Then explain that chain.”
Daniel looked down.
“It was old.”
“The metal was cut.”
“Corrosion can look like that.”
Mara picked up another section.
“Not with tool marks.”
Emily slowly approached.
She examined the metal.
Even without technical knowledge, she could see the straight indentation across the link.
Her stomach tightened.
Daniel reached for her hand.
“Emily.”
She pulled away instinctively.
Daniel froze.
The movement had been small.
But all three understood what it meant.
Doubt had entered the marriage.
Daniel softened his voice.
“Baby, please.”
Emily stared at him.
“I need you to tell me exactly where you were this morning.”
“My office.”
“All morning?”
“Yes.”
Mara answered quietly.
“No.”
Daniel looked ready to strike her.
Emily stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Daniel stared at his wife.
“I’m protecting you.”
Emily looked toward Mara’s bleeding forehead.
“She protected me.”
Daniel swallowed.
Then he changed tactics.
“If you believe her, call the police.”
Mara’s eyes narrowed.
Daniel spread his hands.
“Go ahead.”
His confidence unsettled Emily more than his anger had.
Daniel knew powerful people.
Judges attended his charity dinners.
Police commanders played golf with him.
City officials owed him favors.
Mara understood it too.
“That’s exactly what you want,” she said.
Daniel smiled faintly.
“What does that mean?”
“You want us to make an accusation before we have proof.”
His smile disappeared.
Emily watched the exchange.
She suddenly understood something terrifying.
This was no longer an argument.
It was strategy.
Mara was thinking ahead.
So was Daniel.
Emily realized she had become the prize in a game she did not know was being played.
Then Mara looked at her.
“There’s more.”
Daniel’s eyes sharpened.
“Mara.”
The maid ignored him.
“The chandelier wasn’t the first accident.”
May you like
Emily felt a chill move through her body.
Because deep inside her mind, three memories had already begun returning.
