Chapter 3 - My Father's Apology Gets Rejected
The hallway outside the ballroom was cool and quiet. I leaned against the patterned wallpaper, trying to catch my breath.
Footsteps echoed on the marble floor. I looked up, expecting Daniel. Instead, my father came hurrying around the corner, my mother right on his heels.
"Emily, sweetheart!" my mother gasped, reaching out to touch my arm. "Are you alright? What a shock!"
"Don't touch me, Mom," I said, pulling away. "Ten minutes ago, you told me I was ruining my life. You refused to even look at him during the vows."
"That was before we knew!" my father interjected, his tone defensive but laced with a new, sickening respect. "We thought he was a vagrant, Emily. You can't blame us for worrying."
"I can and I do," I snapped. "You didn't care about my happiness. You only cared about how it looked to your country club friends."
"Well, it looks brilliant now!" my mother said, forcing a bright smile. "Vanguard Tech, Emily! Do you know what this means for our family? Your father's firm could secure the Vanguard account!"
I stared at them in disgust. The greed in their eyes was so blatant it made my stomach churn.
"You're unbelievable," I whispered.
"Just go back in there," my father urged, checking his watch. "Apologize for running out. Be a supportive wife. We need to capitalize on this before the press gets wind of it."
Before I could respond, the heavy wooden doors of the ballroom opened. Daniel stepped out.
He didn't look at my parents. His focus was entirely on me.
"Richard, Margaret," Daniel said coldly, without turning his head. "Leave us."
My father puffed up his chest, trying to assert some authority. "Now see here, Daniel. We are family now. We should discuss how to handle the PR for this—"
"I said leave," Daniel's voice was a low growl. It carried the weight of a man used to breaking empires.
My parents froze. The social masks slipped from their faces, replaced by genuine intimidation. They exchanged a nervous glance and scurried back into the ballroom without another word.
Daniel took a slow step toward me. He stopped a few feet away, giving me space.
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"They're going to use you," I said, my voice shaking. "Everyone in that room is going to want something from you now."
"I don't care about them," Daniel said softly. "I only care about the woman who sat in the rain with me because she didn't want me to be lonely."
