Chapter 1: A Secret That Refused to Stay Buried
Chapter 1: A Secret That Refused to Stay Buried
Hannah smiled for the first time that day.
"The baby wants to keep everyone guessing."
Ben grinned.
"I think it's a boy."
"And why is that?"
"Because boys kick harder."
Martin laughed softly.
"I suppose that's scientific enough."
For a few peaceful minutes, the kitchen felt like home.
Then the ballroom manager appeared at the doorway.
"Hannah."
She stood immediately.
"Yes?"
"Mrs. Whitlock wants another bottle of champagne."
Martin frowned.
"I'll send someone else."
The manager shook his head nervously.
"She specifically requested Hannah."
Martin's face darkened.
"I had a feeling."
The ballroom sparkled beneath crystal chandeliers.
Politicians.
Judges.
Corporate executives.
People whose names appeared on magazine covers.
Hannah kept her eyes lowered as she carried the silver tray through the crowd.
She had almost reached Claire when someone deliberately stepped into her path.
Champagne splashed across Claire's white designer dress.
The room gasped.
Claire slowly looked down.
Then at Hannah.
"You filthy idiot."
"I'm sorry," Hannah whispered.
"It was an accident."
Claire's smile was colder than ice.
"No."
"It was disrespect."
She reached toward a nearby table.
Someone had been using decorative scissors to trim ribbon around flower arrangements.
Claire picked them up.
Martin shouted from across the room.
"Don't!"
Too late.
The blades closed.
A thick lock of Hannah's hair drifted to the marble floor.
The ballroom erupted into stunned silence.
At that exact moment...
Daniel Carver entered.
He saw everything.
The scissors.
The tears.
The trembling pregnant woman.
Without a word, he walked straight toward Hannah.
Every guest instinctively stepped aside.
He removed his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
Then he noticed something else.
Hannah's hand wasn't protecting her face.
It was protecting the silver locket hanging around her neck.
The chain had broken during the struggle.
The locket had fallen open.
Inside was an old photograph.
Daniel froze.
The smiling young man beside Hannah...
was Aaron Brooks.
His closest friend.
The man everyone believed had died in an accident.
Daniel's expression changed completely.
"Where did you get this?"
Hannah stared at him.
"He was my husband."
The color drained from Daniel's face.
Claire suddenly realized she had made a terrible mistake.
Because Daniel whispered words no one in the room expected to hear.
May you like
"Aaron saved my life."
And the silence became even heavier.
