“I was waiting to see whether Daniel would become a man.””

Daniel stepped backward.

His chair bumped the wall.

“I did become a man.””

Robert shook his head.

“No.””

He looked at the documents.

“You became very good at hiding things.””

Daniel looked at me.

“Emily, listen to me.””

I didn’t answer.

“There’s more to this.””

Robert’s eyes narrowed.

Daniel continued.

“The house isn’t the only thing.””

My stomach dropped.

“What do you mean?””

Daniel opened his mouth.

Then stopped.

He looked toward his mother.

Margaret shook her head violently.

“Daniel, no.””

That was when I knew.

Whatever came next was worse.

I looked between them.

“What aren’t you telling me?””

Nobody answered.

I took one slow step toward Daniel.

“What else did you put in my name?””

His eyes filled with fear.

And from the other end of the table, Margaret whispered the words that made my blood run cold.

“Your name wasn’t the only name on that loan.””

I turned toward her.

“What does that mean?””

Margaret looked at Robert.

Robert’s face hardened.

“It means the debt wasn’t the only thing Daniel hid.””

He opened the envelope one last time.

And pulled out a photograph.

He placed it faceup on the table.

I looked down.

It was Daniel.

Standing outside a bank.

Beside him was another woman.

A woman I had never seen before.

And written across the back of the photograph, in Daniel’s handwriting, were four words:

*Before Emily finds out.*

I stared at the photograph until the woman’s face blurred.

She was standing beside Daniel outside a bank.

Not a restaurant.

Not an office.

A bank.

She looked to be in her early thirties, with dark hair pulled over one shoulder and a camel-colored coat buttoned to her throat. She was smiling at the camera.

Daniel wasn’t.

His expression was tense.

Careful.

The way he looked whenever he knew he was doing something he didn’t want anyone to discover.

I turned the photograph over again.

The handwriting was unmistakable.

Daniel’s handwriting.

*Before Emily finds out.*

My fingers went cold.

I looked at him.

“Who is she?””

Daniel opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

“Who is she?””

“I can explain.””

I almost laughed.

“That’s what people say when there is something to explain.””

Margaret moved toward me.

“Emily, you’re upset.””

I looked at her.

“My husband is standing outside a bank with another woman, and there is a photograph of them that literally says I wasn’t supposed to find out.””

“It isn’t what you think.””

“Then tell me what it is.””

Margaret looked at Daniel.

He wouldn’t meet my eyes.

That hurt more than anything.

Not the picture.

Not the hidden debt.

Not even the slap.

His inability to look at me told me there was something worse behind that photograph.

Robert remained completely still.

“Daniel,” he said quietly.

Daniel swallowed.

“Her name is Vanessa.””

I waited.

“And?””

“She worked with me.””

“Worked?””

“She doesn’t anymore.””

“What did she do?””

He rubbed his palms together.

“She handled some of the financial side of the restaurant.””

I stared at him.

“You told me you did all the finances.””

“I said I handled most of them.””

“No.””

I shook my head.

“You told me you handled all of them.””

He sighed.

“Emily, I was trying to keep things organized.””

“You were trying to keep me out of them.””

He didn’t answer.

I looked at Robert.

“Who is Vanessa?””

Robert’s jaw tightened.

“She was an accountant.””

I looked back at Daniel.

“Your accountant?””

“Yes.””

“Then why did you take a photograph with her?””

He hesitated.

“Because she helped me with the loan.””

“What loan?””

Daniel looked down.

“The business line of credit.””

I felt something inside me drop.

“Which business line of credit?””

Daniel remained silent.

Robert answered.

“The one secured against the house.””

My heart stopped.

I turned toward Robert.

“I’m sorry?””

Robert’s eyes darkened.

“The house was used as collateral.””

I looked at the deed in my hand.

Then at Daniel.

Then back at Robert.

“How?””

Robert took a breath.

“Because Daniel borrowed against the property after the title was changed.””

I couldn’t process the words.

“You said he had no ownership.””

“He didn’t.””

“Then how could he borrow against my house?””

“He couldn’t lawfully do it without authorization.””

My stomach twisted.

“Did he?””

Robert didn’t answer.

That was enough.

I turned slowly toward Daniel.

“Did you sign something with my name?””

“No.””

The answer came too quickly.

Robert’s eyes narrowed.

“Daniel.””

“I didn’t forge anything.””

I looked at him.

“I didn’t ask whether you forged anything.””

He froze.

“Did you use my name?””

Daniel’s face went pale.

“I used the documents that were already on file.””

My mouth went dry.

“What does that mean?””

“The lender had copies of the deed.””

“And?””

“And your name was there.””

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