Chapter 1 – The Secret He Chose to Carry
Margaret Holloway had imagined hundreds of disasters that could happen on her only son's wedding day.
Cold feet.
A missing ring.
A late limousine.
She had never imagined discovering a sealed envelope hidden beneath the bride's vanity.
The bridal suite was empty for barely thirty seconds.
The makeup artists had stepped into the hallway.
The photographer was arranging the bridesmaids downstairs.
Margaret had entered only to leave Olivia a sapphire bracelet that had belonged to the Holloway women for four generations.
Then she noticed the makeup case.
It had been left slightly open.
A cream-colored envelope peeked from beneath a silk scarf.
She never intended to invade anyone's privacy.
But written across the front, in faded black ink, were three words.
"If Daniel Marries Me."
Her pulse stopped.
She opened it.
Inside were several old photographs.
One showed Olivia standing beside an older man outside a courthouse nearly six years earlier.
Another showed them embracing.
Not like father and daughter.
Like lovers.
Beneath the photographs rested certified court documents.
Marriage license.
Divorce decree.
Different names.
Different identities.
Olivia Bennett.
Olivia Carter.
Olivia Hayes.
Each document revealed another marriage.
Another wealthy husband.
Another enormous financial settlement.
The final page made Margaret's blood run cold.
A newspaper clipping.
Businessman Dies Six Months After Marriage. Widow Inherits Entire Estate.
Margaret barely realized she was shaking.
She rushed into the hallway.
Daniel was already walking toward the ballroom, adjusting his cufflinks while guests applauded somewhere below.
"Daniel."
He turned.
One look at her face erased his smile.
She pushed the envelope into his hands.
"You cannot marry this woman."
He opened it.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Without surprise.
He looked at every photograph.
Every document.
Then quietly returned everything to the envelope.
"I know."
Margaret stared at him.
"You... what?"
"I've known for almost three months."
The hallway became impossibly silent.
"You knew she married three wealthy men?"
"Yes."
"You knew one of them died?"
"Yes."
"You still proposed?"
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
"I'm not marrying Olivia because I trust her."
Margaret whispered,
"Then why?"
He looked toward the ballroom.
"Because she's not the one I've been investigating."
Before Margaret could answer—
May you like
The church bells began ringing.
The ceremony had officially started.
