Chapter 2
Rocco wanted Preston removed from the hospital immediately.
Audrey stopped him.
“Not yet.”
Rocco looked at her.
“You want him here?”
“No.”
She took a breath.
“I want him to think I haven’t told you everything.”
Rocco studied his daughter.
He had spent her entire life solving problems before she asked.
For once, he waited.
“What haven't you told me?”
Audrey looked toward the closed door.
“Preston has been different for almost a year.”
Different began with money.
He wanted access to accounts Audrey kept separate.
Then came questions about where she went.
Who called.
Why she still met former colleagues without him.
After Audrey became pregnant, Preston’s behavior tightened.
He wanted her to stop working.
Stop driving herself.
Stop seeing friends who “stressed her.”
None of it sounded dramatic in isolation.
Together, Audrey felt as if her life had become smaller by inches.
Brenda reinforced everything.
Pregnant women should rest.
Wives should trust husbands.
Rocco’s daughter had been “too independent for too long.”
“What did I miss?” Rocco asked.
Audrey’s eyes filled.
“I made sure you missed it.”
That hurt.
“Why?”
“Because you would’ve done exactly what you're thinking about doing right now.”
Rocco did not pretend otherwise.
Audrey continued.
“And Preston knew that.”
If Rocco discovered the truth, the marriage would end immediately.
So Preston made sure Audrey felt responsible for keeping peace between the Reed and Moretti families.
His business relationships depended heavily on Moretti-connected venues and transportation contracts.
A public divorce would damage more than his marriage.
Rocco finally understood something.
“This was never just about you leaving him.”
Audrey shook her head.
“No.”
“If you left, he lost access.”
“Yes.”
“To me?”
“To everything around you.”
Rocco looked toward the corridor.
Preston had not married Rocco.
But marriage to Audrey placed him close enough to benefit from Rocco’s name, business network and protection.
Audrey placed one hand over her stomach.
“I told Gary I was leaving.”
Rocco turned back.
“Gary?”
“He was the only Reed I still trusted.”
“When?”
“The morning of the first fall.”
Rocco’s expression became still.
Gary knew Audrey intended to leave before the accident happened.
May you like
And tonight Gary had been the one who shouted:
The first fall already failed.
