Chapter 6 - The Husband Who Wanted My Password
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Daniel arrived at my hotel shortly after noon.
He came alone.
He carried flowers from a grocery store and wore the same gray coat he'd worn the night before.
I agreed to meet him in a quiet corner of the lobby.
I didn't want Sophie involved.
She was upstairs watching a Christmas movie with breakfast from room service.
Daniel stood when he saw me.
His expression changed as his eyes settled on my bruised face.
“Claire. My God.”
I waited.
He reached toward my cheek.
I moved away.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then he said, “Rebecca feels terrible.”
“Did she tell you that?”
“She's upset about everything.”
“That isn't an apology.”
He placed the flowers on the table.
“Can we please not do this here?”
“Then tell me why you needed fifty-one thousand dollars for your father.”
His mouth tightened.
“It's complicated.”
“Make it simple.”
“Dad was behind on some things.”
“That's not an answer.”
Daniel glanced around the lobby.
Then he leaned closer.
“I need you to help me fix this.”
I stared at him.
“You want help?”
“Yes.”
“After last night?”
“We're married, Claire.”
“Then act like it.”
He lowered his eyes.
For one brief moment, I thought he was finally going to tell me the truth.
Instead, he asked:
“Can you log into our main bank account for me?”
I felt a chill.
“Why?”
“I need to move some money around.”
“What money?”
“Just let me handle it.”
I remembered the unfamiliar account notification from the night before.
I remembered the password that didn't work.
And I remembered Sophie telling me about Rebecca's warning.
“If Claire ever finds out, you're finished.”
I folded my hands on the table.
“Daniel, did you open an account using my name?”
He looked genuinely startled.
“What?”
“Did you borrow money against our house?”
He stared at me.
A passing hotel guest dropped a suitcase wheel against the marble floor.
The sound echoed through the lobby.
Daniel forced a small smile.
“Where did you get that idea?”
“Answer me.”
“You're exhausted. You're upset. Rebecca hurt you, and now you're imagining things.”
I stood.
His face hardened.
“Claire, don't walk away.”
I picked up my purse.
“You didn't answer the question.”
He grabbed the flowers.
“Fine. You want honesty?”
I turned.
He stepped closer.
“Everything I've done was for this family.”
I held his gaze.
“Then you shouldn't be afraid to show me.”
For the first time in our marriage, Daniel had nothing to say.
May you like
And when I walked toward the elevators, I knew exactly what I needed to do next.
I needed someone who understood bank statements better than family excuses.
