Chapter 5 - RACHEL
Daniel saw me looking at his phone and grabbed it.
Too late.
"Who's Rachel?"
"A client."
I laughed. I couldn't help it. My face hurt when I laughed, but the lie was so lazy it was almost insulting.
"A client who can't wait to see you tomorrow?"
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it."
He lowered his voice. "Not here."
Margaret was being led outside, still shouting that she would have me thrown out by morning. Lisa was crying now, though I couldn't tell whether she felt guilty or simply hated consequences.
The paramedic wanted me in the ambulance.
I picked up my ring from beside Daniel's plate.
For one insane second, he looked hopeful.
Then I dropped it into my coat pocket.
"Evidence," I said.
His face collapsed.
At the hospital, the doctor cleaned and dressed the burns across my left hand. My cheek was badly bruised but not fractured.
Robert sat beside my bed the whole time.
At 1:17 a.m., Daniel arrived.
"Can we talk alone?"
Robert stood. "I'll be outside."
Daniel waited until the door shut.
Then he dropped to his knees.
"I'm sorry."
I stared at him.
"For which part?"
He blinked.
"For not defending you. For Mom. For the money."
"Rachel?"
Silence.
"There it is," I said.
He rubbed his face. "It wasn't serious."
"How long?"
"Emily—"
"How long?"
"About ten months."
My wedding had lasted six years. His affair had lasted almost one.
"Was the condo for her?"
He looked at the floor.
That was my answer.
"Get out."
"Please. I can fix this."
"Get out."
He stood slowly.
Before he left, he said, "You can't keep Dad's house. The family will fight you."
I reached for the nurse call button.
"Then tell the family to bring lawyers."
He left.
Five minutes later, Robert came back in and placed his phone on my blanket.
"My attorney just texted," he said. "Daniel already tried to file something against you."
"What?"
May you like
Robert's jaw tightened.
"He says you're mentally unstable and manipulated me into giving you the house."
