Claire looked at the ring, then at Margaret.
“I don't understand.”
Margaret's voice trembled.
“Daniel has been hiding something from you. Something much bigger than Olivia.”
The ballroom continued moving around them. Music played. Glasses clinked. Guests laughed nervously, pretending not to notice the tension.
But Claire could no longer hear any of it.
“What has he done?” she whispered.
Margaret looked toward the dance floor again.
“Before you decide whether to leave this room, I need you to hear the truth.”
Margaret led Claire away from the ballroom and into a small sitting room beside the main hall. The door closed behind them, softening the music to a distant murmur.
Claire lowered herself onto a sofa. Her back ached, and the baby was pressing against her ribs. She held the edge of her dress with one hand and tried to steady her breathing.
Margaret sat opposite her.
“Three months ago,” she began, “Daniel came to me asking for money.”
Claire looked up.
“How much?”
“Eight million dollars.”
Claire blinked.
“Eight million?”
“He said the money was needed to complete a hotel acquisition. He told me the company would lose a major opportunity if we didn't move quickly. But when I reviewed the documents, I found several inconsistencies.”
Margaret opened her handbag and removed a folded envelope.
“I asked him about them. He became defensive. He told me I was interfering in a business decision that belonged to him.”
“What does this have to do with Olivia?”
“Her family was involved in the proposed acquisition. They had offered to help Daniel secure the deal. But the documents showed that a large portion of the money would have gone to a private company connected to Olivia's father.”
Claire stared at her.
“So Daniel was giving Olivia's family money?”
“I believe he intended to. I also believe Olivia knew about it.”
“Why?”
Margaret looked down at the envelope.
“Because she had been communicating with Daniel about the arrangement for months. I found copies of messages attached to the financial records.”
Claire felt sick.
“Was he planning to leave me?”
“I don't know.”
“Did he tell her he loved her?”
Margaret hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Claire closed her eyes.
Margaret continued carefully.
“I found a message in which Daniel wrote that he had made a mistake by marrying too quickly. He said he wanted to settle the business arrangement before making any personal decisions.”
Claire's lips parted.
“Making personal decisions?”
“He may have been referring to you.”
The room seemed to tilt.
Claire pressed her hand against her belly.
She had married a man who was already discussing how to rearrange his life without her.
“Why didn't you tell me before the wedding?”
“I tried. I called Daniel several times and demanded that he explain the documents. He told me he would resolve everything. I wanted to believe that he would do the right thing.”
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“I was afraid that if I told you without proof, you would think I was trying to destroy your marriage. And I was afraid of what would happen if I exposed my own son.”
Claire looked at the ring resting in her palm.
“Then why are you telling me now?”
“Because I watched him walk onto that dance floor with Olivia while you stood alone. And I realized that protecting him had become another way of hurting you.”
A long silence followed.
Claire finally spoke.
“Does he know you're telling me this?”
“No.”
“Will he be angry?”
“Probably.”
“Are you afraid of him?”
Margaret looked almost offended by the question, but then her expression softened.
“I am afraid of losing him. I am afraid of discovering that the boy I raised has become a man who believes he can hurt people without consequences. But I am more afraid of allowing him to destroy your life because I was too weak to confront him.”
Claire looked away.
She wanted to cry, but the tears seemed trapped somewhere behind her chest.
“I'm not asking you to choose between your son and me,” she said.
Margaret reached for her hand.
“I know.”
“I just wish he had understood that I was never his enemy.”
“He should have.”
Before either woman could say more, the sitting-room door opened.
Daniel stood in the doorway.
His bow tie was slightly loose, and his expression was irritated.
“There you are,” he said. “I've been looking everywhere.”
His eyes moved from Claire to Margaret.
“What are you two doing?”
Margaret stood.
“Talking.”
“About what?”
“The truth.”
Daniel's face changed.
“Mother, not now.”
Claire slowly rose from the sofa.
“Actually, Daniel, I think now is exactly the right time.”
He looked at her.
“What's wrong?”
She almost laughed at the question.
“You tell me.”
Daniel glanced at Margaret.
“Did you tell her about the company?”
Margaret did not answer.
Claire looked between them.
“So it's true.”
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Claire, this isn't the place to discuss business.”
“I'm not asking about business. I'm asking why you are dancing with Olivia on our wedding night.”
He glanced toward the ballroom.
“It's one dance.”
“One dance?”
“She arrived unexpectedly. We were talking about an old project.”
“You were holding her like you used to hold me.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Don't make a scene.”
Claire stared at him.
“I am standing in a private room with my husband. I am not shouting. I am not throwing anything. I am asking you a question.”
“People are watching.”
“Then perhaps you should have thought about that before you humiliated me in front of them.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Claire, please. You're emotional. Let's go back outside and enjoy the evening.”
She shook her head.
“Did you tell Olivia you regretted marrying me?”