Chapter 10 - THE ACCIDENT THAT BUILT A MARRIAGE
Anthony Vale did not deny driving the car.
He only denied that Catherine Reed’s death was intentional.
Emma stood across from him, shaking.
“My mother died in a car accident?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“You were nine months old.”
Emma stared.
“I was told she gave me up.”
“She did.”
“And then?”
Anthony looked broken.
“She changed her mind.”
Emma stopped breathing.
“She wanted me back.”
“Yes.”
The words tore through her.
For twenty-nine years, Emma had believed her biological mother had disappeared willingly.
Now she learned Catherine returned.
Wanted her.
And died.
Anthony continued.
“She discovered Margaret had altered parts of the adoption paperwork.”
“What parts?”
“Your name. Family history. Everything.”
“Why?”
“To prepare the Bellini claim.”
Dominic’s voice was cold.
“And Catherine threatened to expose her.”
“Yes.”
Emma knew what came next.
“Margaret sent you after her.”
Anthony shook his head.
“She sent me to stop her from leaving town.”
“You chased her.”
“Yes.”
“In a car.”
“Yes.”
“She crashed.”
Anthony’s eyes filled.
“I was following too closely. It was raining. She lost control.”
Emma turned away.
Too many people in these families caused deaths by “accident.”
Too many cowards stood nearby.
Dominic looked at Anthony.
“And Margaret covered it up.”
“Yes.”
“She used your guilt.”
“For thirty years.”
Emma walked outside.
Snow had begun falling.
Dominic followed but stayed several feet away.
She wrapped her coat tighter.
“I don’t know who I am anymore.”
He said nothing.
“I’m not a Carter by blood.”
“No.”
“I’m not a Moretti.”
“No.”
“I’m Vanessa’s sister.”
“Yes.”
She laughed softly.
“And I’m pregnant by the man whose mother built our marriage like a business deal.”
Dominic looked down.
“Yes.”
Emma turned toward him.
“Do you know the worst part?”
He waited.
“I loved you.”
His face changed.
“Emma.”
“No.”
She wiped at her eyes.
“I loved you before we married.”
Dominic looked stunned.
“I thought you knew.”
“I didn’t.”
“Of course you didn’t.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You didn’t hear anything unless you wanted to.”
That hit harder than shouting.
Dominic swallowed.
“I loved you too.”
Emma froze.
He continued quickly.
“I know saying it now is useless.”
“It is.”
“But it’s true.”
“Then why did you treat me like furniture?”
Dominic had no defense.
So he gave her the truth.
“Because I was selfish.”
Emma stared.
“I liked knowing you were there without having to give anything back.”
Her eyes filled.
He forced himself to continue.
“I liked your kindness. Your steadiness. The way you made my life easier. And I convinced myself that because I wasn’t cruel in obvious ways, I wasn’t hurting you.”
Emma looked away.
“I was wrong.”
“Yes.”
“I heard you say goodnight.”
She stopped.
Dominic’s voice broke.
“I heard you ask about my day.”
Emma covered her mouth.
“I heard you whisper that you missed me when I was sitting ten feet away.”
Tears spilled down her face.
“And you said nothing.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because answering meant becoming a husband.”
The honesty was brutal.
Emma closed her eyes.
Dominic whispered, “I was a coward.”
She cried then.
Not dramatically.
Silently.
The way she had learned to cry in a house where the man beside her pretended not to hear.
Dominic did not touch her.
He stood nearby and let her decide the distance.
After several minutes, Emma said, “The divorce is still happening.”
“I know.”
“You’re not fighting it.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because loving you does not give me the right to keep you.”
For the first time, Emma saw real change.
Not redemption.
Not yet.
But change.
Her phone rang.
Vanessa.
Emma hesitated.
Then answered.
“Hello?”
Vanessa was crying.
“Emma, I know.”
Emma closed her eyes.
“About us?”
“Yes.”
“Did Margaret tell you?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Gabriel.”
A pause.
Then Vanessa said, “There’s something else.”
Emma almost laughed.
“Of course there is.”
Vanessa’s voice shook.
“The baby isn’t Gabriel’s.”
Emma froze.
“What?”
Dominic turned.
Vanessa began sobbing.
“I thought it was.”
“Then whose?”
“I don’t know.”
Emma went cold.
May you like
Vanessa whispered:
“Margaret had me inseminated.”
