Chapter 5 - The Marriage That Was Never What It Seemed
Rachel spent the next three days away from the Mercer house.
She stayed in a hotel under her maiden name.
Daniel didn't ask her to come home.
That hurt more than she expected.
They communicated only through short messages.
Are you safe?
Yes.
Did you eat?
Yes.
The doctor appointment?
Thursday.
I'll be there.
Rachel almost deleted that message.
Instead, she stared at it.
Thursday came.
Daniel arrived at the doctor's office fifteen minutes early.
He looked exhausted.
Rachel sat beside him without speaking.
When the doctor entered, Daniel's eyes immediately moved to Rachel.
For the first time in days, he looked like the man she had married.
Concerned.
Gentle.
Afraid.
The appointment passed quietly.
The baby was healthy.
Daniel listened to the heartbeat.
His eyes filled with tears.
Rachel looked away.
Afterward, they sat in the parking lot.
Daniel didn't start the car.
"I've imagined this moment."
Rachel looked at him.
"When?"
"Before everything went wrong."
"What did you imagine?"
"Us."
He smiled sadly.
"You holding the baby. Me pretending I wasn't terrified."
Rachel almost smiled.
Then remembered the divorce.
"You still filed."
"I know."
"Why?"
Daniel looked at the steering wheel.
"Because if I didn't, they would have used you."
"Who?"
"I still don't know."
Rachel sighed.
"You're always protecting me from information."
"I'm trying to protect you from consequences."
"Those are not the same thing."
Daniel turned toward her.
"I love you."
Rachel's expression didn't change.
"You don't get to say that after filing divorce papers."
"I know."
"Do you love Vanessa?"
Daniel looked genuinely shocked.
"No."
"Did you ever?"
"No."
"Then why is she involved?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Because Vanessa knows what my family did."
Rachel waited.
"She was blackmailing my father."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
Rachel stared at him.
"You're telling me your own cousin has been blackmailing your dead father?"
"Yes."
"And now she's threatening you?"
"Yes."
"And somehow I'm in the middle."
"Yes."
Rachel looked out the window.
"I hate that answer."
"I know."
Her phone rang.
It was her attorney.
Rachel answered.
The attorney's voice was tense.
"Ms. Mercer, you need to come to my office."
"Why?"
"There is a problem with the divorce filing."
"What kind of problem?"
"I can't discuss it over the phone."
Rachel looked at Daniel.
"What happened?"
The attorney lowered his voice.
"Someone filed another document this morning."
Rachel's heart stopped.
"What document?"
"A revised divorce agreement."
"Who signed it?"
"Your signature is on it."
Rachel stared at her own hands.
"I didn't sign anything."
The attorney paused.
"That's why I need you here."
Rachel hung up.
Daniel immediately asked.
"What happened?"
Rachel looked at him.
"Someone forged my signature."
Daniel's face changed.
And suddenly he understood.
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The person manipulating the money wasn't simply trying to destroy them financially.
They were building a case against Rachel.
