Chapter 11 - Margaret Had Known Emily First
Inside was an old photograph.
Margaret stood beside a teenage girl.
Daniel recognized her immediately.
Emily Carter.
Noah’s mother.
Years before Daniel ever met Emily, Margaret had volunteered with a scholarship organization.
Emily was one of the students she helped.
Margaret quietly supported part of Emily’s college education.
Daniel had never known.
The letter contained something more important than the connection.
Margaret warned Daniel about a Mercer family habit.
They confused providing with being present.
Daniel felt exposed.
Since Emily’s death, he had tried to protect Noah by working harder.
More money.
A bigger financial cushion.
A better future.
But he had also traveled more.
Missed dinners.
Delegated bedtime.
Rachel had stepped into that empty space.
Her choices were hers.
Still, Daniel had choices of his own to confront.
He reduced his travel.
Charles took over several negotiations.
For the first time, Daniel began organizing his work around Noah rather than expecting Noah’s childhood to fit around work.
Then Detective Brooks recovered audio from Victor’s hidden camera.
May you like
It proved Rachel had spoken with Michael before the party.
She had lied again about how much she knew.
