Chapter 1: The Bouquet Fell to the Floor
The bouquet slipped from Daniel's hand.
White lilies scattered across the polished marble beside the ruined birthday cake.
Silence swallowed the room.
Emily remained on her knees, frosting staining the front of her blue dress. She didn't look at her husband. After years of disappointment, she no longer expected anyone to rescue her.
Margaret folded her hands neatly in her lap.
"It was an accident," she said smoothly. "Emily became emotional and dropped the cake herself."
Daniel didn't answer.
Instead, he slowly walked toward his wife.
He knelt beside her without saying a word and gently wiped a streak of frosting from her cheek.
His fingers paused when he noticed a faint bruise near her wrist.
He looked up.
"Where did this come from?"
Emily instinctively pulled her sleeve down.
"I'm fine."
Margaret laughed softly.
"She's always so dramatic."
Daniel stood.
"No."
His voice remained calm.
"She's always covering for someone."
Margaret's smile weakened.
"You don't believe I would hurt your wife."
"I don't know what to believe anymore."
Emily quietly gathered another broken plate.
Daniel stopped her.
"You don't clean this up."
"I'll do it later."
"You've done enough."
For the first time since they married, he helped her to her feet instead of telling her to keep the peace.
Margaret watched in disbelief.
That had never happened before.
Then Daniel noticed something else.
Emily's birthday decorations had all been removed from the dining room walls.
Only one chair had been set without silverware.
Her chair.
"When did this happen?"
Emily hesitated.
"It isn't important."
Margaret answered instead.
"Birthdays are for children."
Daniel slowly turned toward his mother.
"Today is my wife's birthday."
"I know."
"So why was she eating alone?"
Margaret couldn't answer.
Daniel's expression changed.
Not with anger.
With realization.
For years...
May you like
He had been looking away.
And now he was finally looking.
