Daniel leaned forward when I reached him. “Maya,” he hissed, “what the hell are you doing?”
I smiled like a bride.
“Your mother forgot one thing,” I whispered. “I know the secret that will destroy you both.”
His eyes flicked to Eleanor.
Good.
Fear recognized fear.
The priest cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved—”
“Wait,” I said.
A ripple moved through the room.
Daniel grabbed my wrist. “Don’t embarrass yourself.”
I looked down at his hand until he released me.
Then I turned to the guests.
“I apologize for the delay,” I said, voice calm, carrying through the microphone hidden in the floral arch. “Before we begin, I’d like to thank Eleanor Whitmore for the note she left with my dress.”
A murmur rose.
Eleanor’s smile vanished.
I lifted the stained paper. “Know your place,” I read.
Daniel whispered, “Maya, stop.”
I didn’t.
“For a long time, I thought my place was beside Daniel. I ignored the warnings. The secret calls. The missing money from our joint account. The way his mother answered questions meant for him.” I looked at him. “But then I remembered my actual place.”
I reached into my bouquet and pulled out a small silver flash drive.
“My place is senior forensic accountant for the state attorney’s financial crimes division.”
The room went silent enough to hear Eleanor inhale.
Most people knew I worked in finance. Very few knew exactly where, because Daniel had always introduced me as “doing numbers for the government,” like my career was a hobby.
I nodded to Tessa.
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