Chapter 2: The Bride Who Refused to Cry
Chapter 2: The Bride Who Refused to Cry
“You’re not seriously going downstairs,” Daniel said.
Mary picked up her clutch.
“That’s exactly where I’m going.”
“You can’t walk into that ballroom after this.”
“Why not?”
“Because everyone will know something happened.”
Mary looked at his unbuttoned shirt.
“Then you should finish getting dressed.”
Sophia stared at her in disbelief.
“You’re still marrying him?”
Mary turned toward her.
“No.”
Daniel exhaled in relief, but Mary continued.
“I’m still attending the ceremony.”
His relief vanished.
“Mary, listen to me. We can handle this privately.”
“Privately?” she repeated. “Like you handled Sophia?”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“You don’t understand what’s at stake.”
“I understand perfectly. Our wedding activates the merger agreement. Once we sign the marriage certificate, your family gains access to my company’s voting structure.”
“That isn’t how it works.”
“It is exactly how it works.”
Mary’s father, Richard Caldwell, had warned her against combining personal promises with corporate contracts.
She had called him paranoid.
Now she understood.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Your father wants this merger. Hundreds of employees depend on it.”
“No. Your family depends on it.”
Sophia shifted under the duvet.
“Mary, there’s something else.”
Daniel spun around.
“Shut up.”
Sophia looked terrified, but she continued.
“He has another phone. It’s inside the hotel safe.”
Daniel crossed the room in two strides.
Mary moved faster.
She reached the safe first and stood in front of it.
“What’s the code?”
Daniel laughed bitterly. “You think I’m giving you that?”
Sophia spoke from the bed.
“Your wedding date.”
Mary entered the six digits.
The safe clicked open.
Inside sat a black cellphone, several passports and a thick envelope marked CALDWELL ACQUISITION.
Mary removed the phone.
Daniel grabbed her wrist.
For the first time, her calm expression cracked.
Not with fear.
With warning.
“Take your hand off me.”
“You have no right to go through my property.”
Mary stared at his fingers around her wrist.
Then at the security camera mounted in the corner of the suite.
“This hotel belongs to my father’s company,” she said. “That camera records whenever the emergency alarm is activated.”
Daniel followed her gaze.
A tiny red light blinked above the door.
Mary had pressed the silent security button when she first entered.
Daniel released her immediately.
Mary opened the black phone.
There were dozens of messages between Daniel and his mother.
One message had been sent that morning.
Once Mary signs, transfer the shares before she discovers the debt.
Another message followed.
If Sophia becomes a problem, use the theft report again. No one believed her last time.
Mary slowly lifted her eyes.
Daniel was no longer looking at her.
May you like
He was staring at Sophia.
And his expression was murderous.
