CHAPTER 7: THE DINNER
Richard and Natalie arrived at 7 PM sharp.
Richard looked like a younger, more polished version of Daniel—same sharp jaw, same cold eyes, but with an easy smile that didn't reach his face. Natalie was stunning, blonde, dressed in a gown that probably cost more than my car.
"Daniel," Richard said, shaking his brother's hand. "So good to see you. And you must be Sarah."
He kissed my cheek, and I felt the venom beneath the contact.
Natalie just stared at me.
"So," she said, her voice honeyed and lethal. "You're the woman who finally caught my brother-in-law's attention."
"I wouldn't say caught," I replied. "We met. We connected. It's simple."
"Simple," she repeated. "Daniel doesn't do simple."
Daniel's hand found the small of my back. "Sarah is different."
We moved to the dining room. The table was set with crystal and silver, and I remembered the script: act natural, stay calm, deflect all probing questions.
"Where did you two meet?" Richard asked.
"I was stranded on the side of the road," I said. "Daniel stopped to help."
"Stranded? How dramatic."
"More like desperate," I said. "My children and I were in a bad situation. Daniel offered a way out."
Natalie's eyes flickered. "Children?"
"Two of them. Ethan and Ava."
"How... unexpected." She turned to Daniel. "I didn't know you wanted children."
"I didn't know either," Daniel said smoothly. "But sometimes life surprises you."
The conversation continued like that—passive-aggressive, probing, hostile. Richard asked about my past, my education, my family. I deflected with practiced ease.
But Natalie was relentless.
"And your ex-husband?" she asked. "What happened to him?"
"I don't have one."
"Really? Two children and no husband?"
"It happens more than you think."
Natalie leaned forward. "I bet it does."
The dinner dragged on. I smiled, nodded, played my part. But I could feel Natalie's eyes on me the entire time, analyzing, dissecting, searching for weakness.
When they finally left, I collapsed against the kitchen counter.
"That was exhausting."
Daniel handed me a glass of wine.
"You did well."
"Did I convince them?"
"I think so. But they're not done. They'll keep digging until they find something."
"Good luck to them," I said. "I've been hiding for three years. They'll never find the truth."
Daniel studied me.
"What exactly are you hiding from?"
I met his eyes.
"Someone who wants to take my daughter."
"The text message?"
"Yes."
"And she's still looking for you?"
"She never stopped."
Daniel didn't say anything. He just nodded, like he understood.
May you like
Then he walked away, leaving me alone with my secrets.
And I knew, in that moment, that I couldn't keep them forever.
