Chapter 4
I opened the folder and pulled out a stack of bank statements.
"Here," I said.
Austin took them.
After flipping through a couple of pages, his face darkened.
"The monthly payment account is Miranda's," he said.
Cecilia whispered, "Daniel, why did you tell us something else?"
Daniel didn't look at her.
He stared at me. "You came prepared."
"I printed them last night," I said.
"So you started scheming since yesterday, huh?" Daniel said.
"I stopped you from pulling your tricks," I replied.
He let out a laugh. "Miranda, you're ruthless."
"If I wasn't ruthless, should I cook you all a big meal today and pretend I didn't see anything?" I shot back.
Linda closed her eyes and then opened them. "Daniel, sign it."
Daniel whipped his head around to her. "Are you my sister or hers?"
"I'm your sister. That's why I don't want to see you embarrass yourself even more," Linda said.
Daniel gripped the pen, but didn't sign.
"I want to see Anne now," he said.
"She's at Daisy's place downstairs," I said.
"So you hid her from me?" he accused.
"She shouldn't have to see any of this," I said.
He slammed the pen down on the coffee table. "I'm not signing."
I looked at him. "That's fine."
He looked up.
"Fine, let's settle this in court," I said.
Cecilia immediately said, "Don't let it come to that."
"I'm not afraid," I said.
Daniel asked quietly, "Is that what you really want? To leave me?"
I stared at the red mark beneath his collarbone.
"Yes," I said.
Suddenly, his tone softened. "Miranda, sorry. I messed up."
My mom's eyes filled with tears.
Daniel stepped forward. "I'll break it off with her."
I didn't move.
"Who is she?" I asked.
He paused.
"Just a friend," he said.
Linda immediately shot back, "A friend who ends up in your bed?"
Daniel snapped, "Linda, enough."
Edwin said coldly, "Say her name."
Daniel clenched his jaw.
I said it for him. "Katie Lawson."
Daniel looked up sharply. "How did you know?"
"Her earring had her initials," I said.
Daniel's eyes widened in realization.
I added, "Don't worry. I didn't take it."
Cecilia clutched her chest.
"Katie? Is that your business partner's sister?" she asked.
Daniel didn't say a word.
Edwin's face fell. "Are you out of your mind? The Lawson family is still working on a deal with us."
I couldn't help but smile.
"So it's more than an affair, huh?" I said.
Daniel looked flustered. "It's not what you think."
"Yeah, you always say it's not what I think," I shot back.
I slid the pen toward him again.
"Sign it," I said.
He looked at me. "What are you going to do if I don't sign?"
Right then, the doorbell rang.
Everyone turned to look.
I got up to open the door.
A young woman was standing outside.
She was wearing the silver-gray high heels.
Her nails were painted a deep wine red.
She only had one pearl earring on.
Her smile froze the moment she saw everyone in the living room.
"Daniel, did I leave my earring here?" she asked.
The living room went dead silent.
Daniel rushed over. "What are you doing here?"
Katie took a step back. "I called you, but you didn't answer, so I..."
She spotted the divorce papers on the coffee table.
Then she saw me.
She quickly pulled herself together.
"Miranda, don't get the wrong idea. It's not what you think between Daniel and me," she explained.
I asked, "You know I'm Daniel's wife?"
Her smile faded. "Of course I do."
"And you still showed up for your earring?" I asked.
She looked at Daniel.
Daniel said quietly, "You should go."
Katie's eyes filled with tears. "Did I come at a bad time?"
Linda laughed. "You couldn't have picked a better time."
Cecilia stood up. "Did you sleep here yesterday?"
Katie bit her lip.
"Mrs. Conner, I wasn't feeling well, and Daniel was looking after me," she said.
"Looking after you in the master bedroom?" I shot back.
She looked at me. "Do you have to be so mean, Miranda?"
I nodded.
"Alright, then you say something nice," I replied.
Katie's ears flushed red.
It wasn't shyness. It was the awkwardness of being put on the spot in front of everyone.
"Daniel and I have known each other for years. He's under a lot of pressure, and there are some things he can only talk to me about," Katie said.
I asked, "Does that include holding you while you sleep?"
Daniel snapped, "Miranda!"
I stared at him. "Are you feeling sorry for her?"
He didn't answer.
Cecilia pointed straight at Katie. "Get lost."
Tears welled up in Katie's eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
"I'm not a bad person, Mrs. Conner," Katie choked out.
"That's what all the bad people say," Linda said.
Katie turned to Edwin. "Mr. Conner, my brother's still waiting for Daniel's reply about the project.
"With all this going on today, I don't want it to affect our partnership."
Edwin's face went cold.
"Are you trying to use the partnership as leverage?" he asked.
Katie froze.
"That's not what I meant," she said.
I picked up my phone.
"Ms. Lawson, does your brother know you were at my place yesterday?" I asked.