Chapter 2: The Woman Behind the Smile
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
But by then, Daniel already knew the truth was bigger than a single violent moment in a hallway.
The officers separated everyone into different rooms.
Claire stayed with Ivy in the library.
Daniel remained in the study.
And Sabrina sat alone in the sitting room, still wearing the red dress she had chosen specifically for the charity reception.
The same dress she had worn while greeting donors.
The same dress she had worn while smiling for photographs.
Daniel stood behind the study window, watching guests leave through the front gates.
Everyone would talk.
They always did.
The Mercer name had been built on reputation.
Now that reputation was cracking.
A knock came at the door.
A detective entered.
“Mr. Mercer?””
Daniel turned.
“Yes.””
The detective placed a folder on the desk.
“We recovered the second recorder.””
Daniel looked down.
“And?””
“It contains several conversations.””
“With who?””
The detective paused.
“With your wife.””
Daniel looked toward the library.
“My wife?””
The detective held his gaze.
“The recordings appear to involve Mrs. Mercer discussing Claire and Ivy.””
Daniel opened the folder.
Inside were printed transcripts.
The first sentence made his hands tighten.
“I need Claire gone permanently.””
Daniel read it again.
Then again.
His stomach turned.
The detective continued.
“There’s more.””
Daniel looked up.
“Play it.””
The detective connected a small speaker.
Sabrina’s voice filled the room.
“She thinks because she gave birth to Ivy, she owns her.””
Another voice answered.
A man.
Daniel did not recognize it.
“She can’t expose you if nobody believes her.””
Sabrina laughed.
“Exactly.””
Daniel looked at the detective.
“Who is that man?””
“We’re trying to identify him.””
Daniel continued listening.
The voice returned.
“What about Daniel?””
Sabrina answered immediately.
“Daniel believes what he wants to believe. That’s why he’s useful.””
Daniel felt his jaw tighten.
Useful.
That was the word she used.
Not husband.
Not father.
Useful.
The detective stopped the recording.
“Mr. Mercer, I need to ask you something.””
Daniel nodded.
“Did you know Claire before Sabrina?””
Daniel stared at the desk.
“No.””
The detective studied him.
“Are you certain?””
Daniel looked up.
“I would remember being married.””
The detective did not respond.
That silence bothered him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?””
The detective opened another file.
“Because Claire Mercer’s medical records indicate she was legally married to you twelve years ago.””
Daniel went completely still.
Twelve years.
A strange pressure formed behind his eyes.
Memories.
Broken pieces.
A hospital room.
A woman crying.
A baby’s first scream.
Then nothing.
Daniel pressed his fingers against his forehead.
“I had an accident.””
“Yes.””
“What accident?””
The detective looked at him carefully.
“The one that caused your memory loss.””
Daniel stood.
“What happened?””
The detective hesitated.
“Your car went off a bridge.””
The room became quiet.
“And Claire?””
“She survived.””
Daniel stared.
“Then why did I never see her?””
The detective closed the file.
“That is the question we’re trying to answer.””
Across the house, Claire sat beside Ivy on the library sofa.
The little girl was wrapped in a blanket.
“Mommy?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Is Daddy mad at you?””
Claire looked down.
She wanted to lie.
She wanted to tell Ivy everything would be okay.
But children knew when adults were pretending.
“I don’t know.””
Ivy touched Claire’s hand.
“You came back because of me?””
Claire nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why did you leave?””
Claire looked toward the window.
Rain had started falling outside.
A soft, steady rain.
The kind that reminded her of another night.
The night everything was taken from her.
“Because someone told me your daddy died.””
Ivy frowned.
“But Daddy is alive.””
“I know.””
“Who told you?””
Claire’s eyes filled.
“Sabrina.””
Ivy became quiet.
Then she whispered:
“Mommy?””
“Yes?””
“Why did Sabrina say I wasn’t your daughter anymore?””
Claire looked at her.
Because that was the question she had been afraid of answering.
Before she could speak, the library door opened.
Daniel stood there.
His face was different.
Not angry.
Not confused.
Broken.
“I need you to tell me everything.””
Claire slowly stood.
Daniel looked at Ivy.
Then at Claire.
“I want to know why I forgot my own wife.””
A phone rang.
Everyone froze.
It was coming from Sabrina’s purse in the sitting room.
The detective walked over and answered.
Nobody expected what came next.
Because the person on the other end said one sentence.
May you like
And it changed everything.
“Mr. Mercer isn’t supposed to remember.””
