CHAPTER 2: THE SECRET BEHIND BEATRICE
CHAPTER 2: THE SECRET BEHIND BEATRICE
Grace spent the rest of the night sitting outside the guest room where Katherine had finally fallen asleep after speaking with a family doctor.
The doctor quietly reassured everyone that Katherine was physically safe, but emotionally shaken.
"Whatever happened," he said, "she needs support, not pressure."
Grace nodded.
Then she walked back to the living room, where Caleb sat alone.
His wedding suit was still perfectly pressed.
His future was not.
Grace sat across from him.
"Tell me about Beatrice."
For several moments he stared at the floor.
Finally, he spoke.
"Three years ago, Beatrice and I were engaged."
Grace frowned.
"You never told us that."
"I was ashamed."
He explained that Beatrice had ended their engagement only weeks before the wedding after discovering he had become possessive and controlling. Instead of accepting the breakup, Caleb convinced himself that Katherine—who worked with Beatrice at the same engineering firm—had influenced her decision.
"I blamed Katherine," he admitted.
"You blamed an innocent woman?" Grace asked quietly.
"I told myself she destroyed my future."
"And so you married her?"
Caleb lowered his head.
"I thought if she loved me enough, she'd understand how much I had suffered."
Grace felt tears welling in her eyes.
"No," she whispered.
"You wanted revenge, not love."
May you like
He said nothing.
Because she was right.
