Chapter 8 - The Man Who Walked In Late
Before Robert could question Diane further, the reception doors opened.
Daniel Parker entered.
He walked with a slight limp and used no cane.
The guests applauded automatically.
Daniel ignored them.
His eyes found Megan.
He stopped.
For nine years, he had known her only as Specialist Brooks.
He had imagined meeting her again hundreds of times.
He never imagined seeing her alone while his family whispered about her.
Daniel crossed the ballroom.
Megan’s calm finally broke.
Not visibly.
Only in the slight movement of her fingers against the clutch.
Daniel stopped in front of her.
“You disappeared.”
“You recovered.”
“That was not an answer.”
Robert placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.
“She did not want recognition.”
Daniel looked at Megan.
“She always says that.”
Lauren stared between them.
“You knew my sister?”
Daniel nodded.
“She kept me alive for eleven hours.”
Diane stepped backward.
Daniel noticed.
“Aunt Diane.”
She forced a smile.
“You look wonderful.”
“Why did you access the Parker security archive?”
The room froze again.
Diane denied it.
Daniel removed a small security card from his pocket.
The request had been traced to a private account belonging to the Parker Foundation.
Diane controlled that account.
She had searched Megan’s classified status three months before the wedding invitation was sent.
Robert asked the question everyone was thinking.
“Why?”
Diane looked at Megan.
“Because she was never supposed to come back into this family’s life.”
May you like
Megan’s eyes narrowed.
The statement confirmed that Diane knew far more than she had admitted.
