CHAPTER 2 — The Promise He Never Meant to Keep
The pain came in another wave.
Hannah gripped Daniel's sleeve before she realized she had moved.
His hand steadied her instantly.
"Call Dr. Mercer," Daniel ordered without raising his voice.
The command cut through the ballroom like a blade.
Three members of the security team disappeared before anyone answered.
Claire laughed nervously.
"Oh, Daniel, she's obviously exaggerating."
He turned slowly.
"What did you say?"
"I said she's making a scene."
Daniel stared at her long enough for the silence to become unbearable.
Then he spoke.
"I watched you assault a pregnant woman."
Claire blinked.
"It was only hair."
"It was battery."
Guests quietly lowered their glasses.
Nobody wanted to become part of whatever was happening.
Daniel looked toward Martin.
"Bring every security camera recording from this ballroom."
Claire frowned.
"Why?"
"So your attorney won't waste everyone's time claiming this didn't happen."
Her face whitened.
"You can't be serious."
"I've never been more serious."
Twenty minutes later Hannah sat inside the mansion's private medical suite.
Dr. Evelyn Mercer completed the examination before smiling gently.
"The baby is frightened," she said.
"But alive."
Hannah closed her eyes.
Relief almost made her cry.
"No heavy lifting. No stress."
Daniel almost laughed at the impossibility of that instruction.
When the doctor left, silence settled over the room.
Daniel remained standing near the window.
"I owe you an apology."
Hannah looked confused.
"You didn't hurt me."
"It happened in my house."
"That doesn't make it your fault."
"No."
His jaw tightened.
"It makes it my responsibility."
For the first time since arriving at Carver Estate months earlier, Hannah looked directly into his eyes.
She expected arrogance.
May you like
Instead she saw exhaustion.
The kind carried by men who had buried too many people.
