Chapter 4: The Woman Behind The Smile
Daniel did not sleep that night.
Neither did Margaret.
The wedding venue emptied slowly, leaving behind abandoned flowers, untouched desserts, and hundreds of memories that would never exist.
By midnight, Daniel sat at his mother’s kitchen table.
The same table where Lauren had sat weeks earlier.
The same table where she had discussed “practical decisions.””
The photograph on his phone remained open.
It showed a document.
A property agreement.
His mother’s house.
Daniel looked sick.
“She wanted you to sell?””
Margaret nodded.
“She said it would make things easier.””
“For who?””
Margaret did not answer.
She did not need to.
Daniel already knew.
The next morning, he found Lauren waiting outside his office.
She looked exhausted.
But not sorry.
“Daniel.””
He stopped walking.
“What are you doing here?””
“We need to talk.””
“No.””
Her expression hardened.
“You owe me a conversation.””
He stared.
“I don’t owe you anything.””
That hurt her pride.
Not her heart.
“You’re really doing this?””
Daniel looked at her.
“You still don’t understand.””
“Understand what?””
“That you hurt my mother.””
Lauren sighed.
“Oh my God, we’re still talking about that?””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Yes.””
“Because she cried?””
“No.””
“Because you saw a mark on her face?””
“No.””
“Then why?””
His voice became quiet.
“Because you weren’t sorry.””
Lauren looked away.
“I was stressed.””
“You were cruel.””
“I had pressure.””
“Everyone had pressure.””
She crossed her arms.
“You have no idea what I was dealing with.””
Daniel almost smiled.
“You’re right.””
He nodded.
“I don’t.””
A pause.
“Because you never cared enough to tell me.””
Lauren’s eyes softened.
“Daniel, I love you.””
He looked at her.
Then at the ring box in his hand.
“Love doesn’t look like this.””
“What?””
“Love doesn’t humiliate someone weaker.””
Lauren became angry.
“So now I’m a monster?””
“No.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You’re someone who got used to getting whatever you wanted.””
She stepped closer.
“You’ll regret this.””
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“Is that a threat?””
“No.””
Her voice dropped.
“It’s a warning.””
Later that day, Daniel met Evelyn Carter at a small café.
She placed a folder on the table.
“I didn’t want to get involved.””
Daniel opened it.
“What is this?””
“Proof.””
Inside were messages.
Emails.
Financial records.
Lauren had been asking questions about Margaret’s home for months.
Not casually.
Strategically.
“She knew about the property value,” Evelyn explained.
Daniel turned the pages.
“She was planning to sell it?””
“After marriage.””
His stomach twisted.
“And my mother?””
“She wanted Margaret to move into a smaller place.””
Daniel closed the folder.
“She never told me.””
“Because your mother loves you.””
Evelyn looked at him sadly.
“She thought you were happy.””
Daniel stared out the window.
He remembered every moment.
Every time Lauren complained.
Every time his mother stayed silent.
Every time he told himself it was nothing.
Then his phone rang.
It was Margaret.
He answered immediately.
“Mom?””
Her voice was shaking.
“Daniel.””
“What happened?””
“I found something.””
“What?””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“I found a letter Lauren left in my house.””
Daniel stood.
“What letter?””
Margaret took a breath.
“She wrote it before the wedding.””
Daniel’s grip tightened around the phone.
“What did it say?””
Silence.
May you like
Then his mother said:
“She knew you would choose her over me.””
