Chapter 3 - WHY VICTOR MARRIED EMILY
Emily did not want to believe it.
Not at first.
Victor married her because he loved her.
Surely.
They met at a charity fundraiser.
He pursued her for months.
He remembered her coffee order.
He waited outside her office in the rain.
He proposed in Vermont.
Those memories were real.
Then Rachel showed emails.
Not Victor’s.
Lorraine’s.
Seven years earlier.
LORRAINE:
Margaret Reed’s daughter is working at Northstar Foundation.
CHARLES:
You’re sure it’s her daughter?
LORRAINE:
Yes.
Then:
LORRAINE:
Victor met her tonight.
CHARLES:
Coincidence?
LORRAINE:
Nothing stays coincidence if you know what to do with it.
Emily closed her eyes.
Margaret said:
“That doesn’t prove Victor was sent to marry you.”
True.
Then another email months later.
LORRAINE:
If this becomes serious, keep him from discussing the founder note.
CHARLES:
Does Emily even know?
LORRAINE:
No. Margaret kept her clean.
“Kept her clean.”
Emily felt sick.
Then a message from Lorraine to Victor shortly before proposal.
MOM:
Do not ask Margaret about old Carter business. Let her volunteer nothing.
VICTOR:
Why?
MOM:
Because some history is better left buried.
Victor knew there was history.
Maybe not every detail.
Enough to avoid questions.
Emily asked Margaret:
“Did you know Lorraine was steering him toward me?”
“No.”
“Did you suspect?”
Margaret hesitated.
“Yes.”
That hurt.
Again:
protection by silence.
Emily stood.
May you like
“Everyone knew except me.”
Nobody corrected her.
