Chapter 2
Colton stopped so suddenly that his polished shoes scraped against the gravel.
I watched the color disappear from his face.
For the first time since meeting him, I saw something stronger than arrogance.
Fear.
"Who did you call?" he demanded.
I held the phone against my ear.
"Someone who knew Arthur."
Colton's eyes narrowed.
"Give me that."
He reached toward my phone.
I stepped backward.
"Don't touch me again."
Daniel's voice came through the speaker.
"Colton, I strongly suggest you keep your hands to yourself."
Colton stared at the phone.
"Mr. Mercer?"
"Yes."
A muscle moved in his jaw.
"I wasn't aware you were involved."
Daniel's response was calm.
"That's becoming obvious."
My heart pounded.
I knew Daniel Mercer as Arthur's oldest friend.
They had served together in the Army before opening separate businesses.
Daniel eventually became a respected attorney specializing in property and estate matters.
Arthur trusted him completely.
But after my husband's death, Daniel moved to another state to help care for his sick wife.
We exchanged Christmas cards.
Occasionally, short messages.
I hadn't spoken to him properly in nearly two years.
Now he knew my son-in-law's name.
And Colton looked terrified.
I pulled the phone closer.
"Daniel, what's going on?"
"I'll explain everything when I arrive."
"How long?"
"I'm less than forty minutes away."
I blinked.
"What?"
"I'm in town for a meeting. Arthur would probably call that divine timing."
My eyes filled.
Hearing my husband's name almost broke me.
Colton stepped forward again.
"Diane, let's not make this unnecessarily complicated."
I looked at him.
"You pushed me into a table."
He glanced at my bleeding hand.
For the first time, he seemed to notice the injury.
"That was an accident."
I stared at him.
"You grabbed my arm."
"You lost your balance."
I almost laughed.
The confidence.
The certainty that if he repeated a lie loudly enough, everyone would accept it.
Daniel interrupted.
"Diane, are you injured?"
"Yes."
"Have someone photograph the injury. And ask the venue to preserve any security footage."
Colton's face tightened.
"There's no need for all that."
Daniel ignored him.
"Is your daughter nearby?"
"She's inside."
"Stay somewhere safe. I'll call you when I arrive."
The call ended.
Colton stared at me.
"You're making a terrible mistake."
I slipped the phone into my purse.
"No, Colton. I made a mistake when I believed you loved my daughter."
His expression changed.
For one instant, the pleasant mask vanished.
"You have no idea what's at stake."
"Then tell me."
He looked toward the tent.
"Not here."
I folded my arms.
"You were perfectly comfortable demanding my property in front of two hundred people."
He stepped closer.
I moved away.
"Don't."
My voice was firm.
He stopped.
A moment later, Hannah appeared at the entrance.
Her white wedding dress dragged across the gravel.
"Mom?"
I looked at her.
She had been crying.
Mascara streaked beneath her eyes.
"Please come back inside."
I shook my head.
"Hannah, I need you to answer something."
She looked toward Colton.
I noticed.
And suddenly, I was frightened for her.
"Did you know he planned to demand the orchard tonight?"
She swallowed.
"Mom—"
"Yes or no?"
"Yes."
The word struck harder than the fall.
I closed my eyes.
She started crying.
"He said you would understand."
"Understand what?"
"That we're starting our lives together."
I stared at her.
"By taking mine?"
Colton interrupted.
"Nobody's taking anything."
I turned toward him.
"Then hand me the papers."
He hesitated.
"Why?"
"Because I want to read them."
He glanced toward Hannah.
Then slowly pulled the folded document from his jacket.
I reached for it.
He held it back.
"Only if you'll consider signing."
I looked at my daughter.
"Do you hear yourself, Colton?"
He stiffened.
I continued.
"You assaulted me. Now you're bargaining over whether I can read the document you wanted me to sign."
He shoved the papers into my hand.
"Fine."
I opened them.
The first page listed my orchard.
The second identified a holding company.
Reyes Heritage Development Group.
The third contained a clause I didn't understand.
Irrevocable transfer of controlling ownership interest.
I read it twice.
Then looked up.
"This isn't management."
Colton said nothing.
"This would give your company control of the orchard."
He shrugged.
"That's standard."
"No."
I pointed to another section.
"And what is this?"
He leaned closer.
My stomach dropped.
The agreement referenced authorization to sell, lease, or develop the property without further consent from the original owner.
Me.
Once signed, I would have almost no meaningful control.
I looked at Hannah.
"Did you read this?"
She stared at the pages.
"Colton explained it."
"That wasn't my question."
Her lips trembled.
"No."
I felt tears gathering.
"Sweetheart, you were willing to let me sign something you hadn't even read?"
Colton grabbed the document.
"Enough."
I let him take it.
Because I had already seen what mattered.
Then he said something strange.
"We have a deadline."
I looked at him.
"What deadline?"
He glanced away.
"Business arrangements."
"With whom?"
He didn't answer.
Hannah looked confused.
"Colton, what deadline?"
His expression hardened.
"I'll explain later."
I stared at them both.
That was the moment I realized my daughter might not know the entire truth.
She had betrayed me.
Yes.
But Colton was keeping secrets from her too.
A woman approached from the tent.
She wore a black catering uniform.
"Mrs. Whitaker?"
I turned.
She looked nervous.
"My name is Rosa. I'm the event coordinator."
I nodded.
She glanced toward Colton.
Then lowered her voice.
"I saw what happened."
My chest tightened.
She continued.
"The venue has cameras covering the dessert area."
Colton's head snapped toward her.
"That footage belongs to the venue."
Rosa looked uncomfortable.
I spoke gently.
"Can you make sure it's preserved?"
She nodded.
"I've already contacted my manager."
Colton swore under his breath.
Then he turned and walked away.
Hannah hurried after him.
I watched her go.
The sight hurt more than I wanted to admit.
My daughter had just chosen her new husband over the woman who raised her.
Again.
Rosa helped me sit on a bench near the entrance.
She brought a first-aid kit.
My palm was still bleeding.
As she gently wrapped it, she whispered, "You didn't deserve that."
I looked at her.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I said, "Thank you."
Twenty minutes later, an urgent-care doctor examined my hand at a nearby clinic.
There was a deep cut, but thankfully no major tendon damage.
I received stitches and instructions to keep the wound clean.
When I returned to the venue parking lot, Daniel's dark sedan was waiting.
He stepped out.
His silver hair had grown thinner since I'd last seen him.
But his expression was the same one I remembered from Arthur's funeral.
Steady.
Protective.
He saw the bandage.
His jaw tightened.
"Diane."
I tried to smile.
"Hello, Daniel."
He pulled me into a careful hug.
For a moment, I felt my grief rush back.
Arthur's oldest friend.
A piece of my husband I hadn't realized I missed so deeply.
Daniel stepped back.
"I'm sorry."
I nodded.
Then asked the question burning inside me.
"What did Arthur leave behind?"
Daniel looked toward the wedding tent.
His expression became serious.
"A trust."
I frowned.
"What trust?"
"One Arthur established before he died."
My heart pounded.
"Why didn't he tell me?"
Daniel hesitated.
"He wanted to protect you without making you feel trapped."
I stared at him.
"Protect me from what?"
Daniel reached into his briefcase.
He removed a sealed envelope.
Across the front, in handwriting I recognized instantly, were four words.
For Diane, when necessary.
My knees weakened.
Arthur's handwriting.
I touched the envelope.
Daniel's voice softened.
"Your husband suspected someone would try to exploit the orchard after his death."
I looked toward the tent.
"And Colton?"
Daniel nodded.
"His family has been trying to acquire that land for years."
Then he said the words that changed everything.
"Diane, Colton's father made an offer to Arthur before he died."
I stared at him.
"Arthur never mentioned it."
Daniel's expression darkened.
"Because the offer wasn't really an offer."
May you like
He paused.
"It was a threat."
