Chapter 29: Surrender
When facing your enemy, no amount of training can trump nature…
Emily breathed in and forced her mouth into a smile, struggling to repress the incessant feeling of nausea that plagued her senses. Though the morning hours clearly afforded the best lighting for their wedding photography, they unfortunately coincided with her more recent bouts of sickness, making it all the more harder to hide. But Daniel merely grinned across from her without notice, pulling her towards him on a lavishly decorated swing into an array of mixed florals and a bright beam of sunlight.
It separates the strong from the weak…
"And let her go," the photographer instructed, and Emily closed her eyes and braced herself as Daniel released her, enduring the woozy feeling that followed as she swung backward. "Right there – that's pure bliss!" the photographer continued fawning, admiring their poses. Daniel alternated between standing next to Emily and behind her, eliciting more comments of praise from each move. "Very nice…big smiles…that's good; looking at each other… beautiful… closer…lovely! And now, just the bride?"
Daniel stepped aside while the photographer focused on Emily, who still radiated with beauty despite her discomfort. Yet as the session stretched on, the wave of nausea intensified, impelling her to finally get up when she could take it no longer. "Could you excuse me for a moment, please?" she begged.
And sometimes it tells us that surrender is the strongest move of all…
While Emily disappeared rather swiftly into the dressing area, the photographer nodded without concern. "I think we got it, actually – you can change into the DiSanto!" she called after her.
Daniel observed Emily's rush exit with interest just as the overseeing reporter from Voulez invited him to glimpse the digital negatives. "Isn't she stunning?" she commented, pulling up the stills. "She's positively glowing in this one. We'll be shooting at the stables in thirty; I'd like to get a few questions in between?"
"Ah, she should be right out, Jess," Daniel obliged, recognizing her from the office. He glanced at the tent but Emily was still inside. "Anything I can answer for now?" he stalled.
"Certainly," Jess jumped in, pulling out a tablet. "Tell me, Boss, with your history as a former CEO and now a new position as partner and Senior Editor at Voulez, how does a man like Daniel Grayson take a back seat in all the nuptial preparations?"
Daniel wrinkled his brow, sensing by the nature of the question that it was a Margaux original. "By admitting I don't know the first thing about planning a wedding," he laughed off casually. "All I know is where to show up for the ceremony."
"And your plans for the honeymoon," Jess continued. "Any particular reason why you chose a yacht cruise to Nantucket with the entire family?"
"Well, it may not sound traditionally romantic," he chose his words carefully. "But both Emily and I wanted to share this day with the people we're closest to. This way, it'll be a trip we can all remember," he concluded, realizing Emily's skill at intentional wordsmithing was rubbing off on him.
"How sweet," Jess continued, oblivious. "And what are your plans for the days that follow? Where will you be residing, for instance? Or when will you be in need of a nursery?"
On that question Emily peeked out unseen from the tent, while Daniel shifted warily to respond. She stood back in earnest of his answer. "Hey, one thing at a time," he deflected humbly. "The wedding's been our main focus, and I think right now, it's about all I can handle," he laughed emphatically, striking a heavy pang through Emily's heart as she listened from afar. Rather than announce her presence, she instead retreated back inside to quietly catch her breath. It was a few minutes later when Daniel finally popped in.
"Hey," he inquired of her extended absence. "You alright?"
"Mm-hmm, fine," she fibbed effortlessly, shifting out of her extravagant gown. "This corset is just tight; I needed to catch my breath," she added in partial truth. She wriggled down to delicate undergarments and began rummaging the rack of dresses. "She said the DiSanto was next, right?"
Daniel answered by coming up from behind and wrapping his arms around her waist. "Who cares – you look gorgeous in all of them," he charmed her, planting a kiss at her neck. But Emily rather tensed at his touch, surprising him with an unusual stiffness. "What is it?" he pursued; now certain that something was wrong.
"I um, it's just Amanda being in the wedding is just making me a little on edge, that's all," she stumbled in response, slipping out of his grasp to fit on the next dress in the mirror. Keeping Daniel in the dark about her pregnancy for the past week had it's difficult moments, but to her benefit there was always plenty going on to explain her mood swings.
He watched her go curiously. "I thought you'd be glad about that," he countered. "Especially, when I'm running the article that's going to expose my father for her attempted murder?"
"You mean, Margaux's running it," Emily corrected him, adjusting her neckline. "Since you'll be out of office the next few days…"
He shrugged, joining her reflection. "So? I trust her to handle it. I thought you would just be happy the world knows Amanda's alive. After all, it allows her to be at your side on your special day – just like you were for hers."
Emily relented, softening a bit in acknowledgment. "Her being at the ceremony isn't the problem, Daniel. It's what comes after," she hinted. "Everything has to go exactly as planned on that boat or it's not going to work. Amanda's always had a way of causing things to go off track."
"Well, considering what we're talking about," Daniel reasoned in a low tone beside her. "You could say this is her area of expertise. I mean she did succeed at faking her own death already – on a boat, no less…also the night of her wedding," he added with a grin, taking her hand. "Maybe you could learn a thing or two from her?" He suddenly furrowed his brow in mock interest. "Or was that where you got the idea?"
Emily couldn't help snickering, and turned to face him. "You know, you're surprisingly calm about this," she shifted topic. Daniel's carefree attitude only added incentive to her resolve not to burden him with more worries.
"Hey, don't get me wrong," he assured her, bringing her hand up to his lips. "I'm just as scared as you are," he admitted, as if reading her thoughts. But his eyes were completely naïve, almost as bright and unsuspecting as the first day they had met. "Thing is," he continued. "I'm just trying to keep up with you at hiding what's on the inside."
She bowed her head at the unknown double meaning in his choice of words, but quickly looked up again. "Well we're less than 48 hours away," she sidestepped it with a shrug. "Soon this will all be over, and you won't have to hide anything. By then it'll be a breeze."
He shook his head sweetly. "That's where you're wrong," he corrected her, drawing her close. "Because the closer we get to the moment I have to say goodbye to you? It's only gonna get worse."
His heartwarming reply stirred Emily even more, and she gave in at the tender expression, leaning her forehead against his. "Oh, Daniel," she sighed honestly. "What am I going to do in the months without you?"
Daniel thought of a witty comeback, but kept it to himself as he felt the tone becoming more solemn. "I don't know," he whispered instead. In less than two days Emily would be gone, presumed dead to the entire world at his mother's hand and then everything about his life was going to change. While he would have his hands full bringing his parents to justice, he knew it essentially meant a long time before he could safely see her again. And even then – what awaited them? Would it be their quiet retreat in Paris or a constant life on the run, burying their identity? It was a thought he had accepted for the past month in favor of supporting her cause, and yet now as it was drawing close it was quickly becoming reality.
While they rested against each other, both poring over the secret thoughts that haunted them, a single flash could be heard just outside the opening of the tent. They turned at the noise and the photographer only smirked in reply, clearly proud of the tender moment she happened to catch between husband and wife. "Sorry," she apologized with a grin. "Candid captures make the best photos. Are you ready for the next location?"
They exchanged affirmative looks to break their embrace and Emily trudged ahead first, still feeling somewhat lightheaded though determined not to show it. As much as it pained her to conceal the truth, she had to find a way to hold off. If nothing else, Daniel's undeniable loyalty had convinced her the only way she could leave was if he had no idea their unborn child was leaving with her too.
SCENE
"No good ever comes from dredging up the past…Especially ours."
Conrad turned at Victoria's voice behind him in the foyer, watching him peruse a box of old photographs. "Unfortunately, that mantra is true now more than ever," he agreed begrudgingly, paying her little mind.
She enjoyed the rare ability to watch him squirm. "You've been distant, Conrad," she observed, peering over at the box. "This is the first I've seen you work on your memoirs in over a week. I can only assume your seclusion to be a result of Amanda Clarke's miraculous return. Tell me," she taunted him. "How does it feel to have your ghosts haunt you in the flesh?"
"My ghosts?" he rebuffed her, managing a condescending chuckle. "Don't be so quick to point the accusatory finger. Let's not forget your daughter orchestrated that public display, which was clearly meant just as much for your benefit as it was for mine."
Victoria lifted a rare photo of Daniel when he was a baby into view, pondering the concept. "I'm not convinced it was all Charlotte's doing. Didn't you find it odd how calmly Emily handled herself?" she posed.
"No, not particularly," he countered, taking the photo from her to examine. "In fact I was rather relieved to see how ignorant Daniel appeared to be of the whole design." Staring at the innocent capture of his only son, he found himself reconsidering the past year of resentment. "Perhaps my presumption of his treachery against me has no merit after all," he supposed.
"As if it ever did," Victoria scolded him, dropping the stack back into the box. She went into the parlor, sensing Conrad a step behind her. "You should be more concerned about the charlatan he intends to marry."
"Oh, this again," Conrad sighed, rolling his eyes as he followed her in. "As usual, you are fixated on the wrong person. After that stunt at the bridal luncheon, you should be worried about Amanda instead of obsessing over Emily." He lifted his eyes in thought; recalling the sketchy explanation she gave to the reporters to explain her whereabouts. "I don't believe her story for a second."
Victoria took her throne pensively. "You think it was staged?"
"I think she was forewarned somehow," he hypothesized, taking a seat. "Aggressive measures were taken for her to escape unscathed and for her to stay hidden for this long… She couldn't have done it without help," he surmised, deliberating. "An anonymous tip— maybe even the Initiative?"
"For once, I agree with you," Victoria conceded. "But I don't think it was the Initiative that aided her. I think it was Emily Thorne."
Conrad wrinkled his face in disparity. "And how would she have even been made aware?"
She reproved him with a determined glare. "You know those two were friends, Conrad," she reminded him. "And I'm under the impression they've been in cahoots for some time," she lifted a document from the coffee table. "These are the seating arrangements we're to go over this evening. Emily's added Amanda to the head table – she's replacing Charlotte as the Maid of Honor."
"Reel it in, Victoria," Conrad slowed her. "Last minute changes to her bridal party are hardly enough to accuse her of collusion. If anything it shows her consideration for Charlotte's delicate condition—"
"Or she could be coaxing Amanda into a tell-all as we speak," Victoria shot back. "Either way, she is planning something Conrad!"
"Yes, Victoria – her wedding!" Conrad bellowed, thoroughly annoyed with his wife's paranoia. "Now I would suggest you be careful," he warned. "At the direction you're headed, you are one loosely veiled speech away from the looney bin." He rose with admonition, exiting the room.
"And you are one article away from prosecution!" Victoria alleged, causing him to stop short in the doorway. "If I know Margaux, she'll be first to print the exclusive on Amanda's return to the world of the living, and if Amanda still has the evidence in her possession which you nimbly attempted to eliminate her for, she could use it against you. And then what are you going to do?"
He turned back only to answer her challenge. "Well, then," he replied. "Perhaps I should trot down to Voulez first and give my side of the story?
SCENE
"Afternoon cocktail for the blushing bride?"
Emily shook her head to sidestep the drink Nolan offered as she entered his house, keeping her focus straight ahead while they walked the hallway. "No, thanks," she declined.
"What's wrong?" he sensed.
"I just have to focus," Emily quickly alibied for her unsettled demeanor. "I'm beginning to get worried about Amanda."
Nolan cringed at the mention, anticipating she would stop short once they reached the kitchen. She did so right on cue, spotting Aiden leaned over the counter. "How is Amanda these days," he inquired, looking up dryly from a blueprint and high noon tea. "Settling in with her family, I presume?"
Emily hastened to close the subject. "From what I hear, yes," she replied, discerning he still had unrequited feelings for his former student. "But my concern has to do with the wedding. Amanda's going to be there through every step of this – which means we'll have to bring her in on the plan." She rested her eyes on Aiden in uncertainty. "Since you seem to know her better than I do lately, maybe I should ask your opinion. Do you think she's up for it?"
He pretended to think it over before getting up from the table. "Of course," he assured her. "But as you know my opinion is rather biased," he admitted, finishing off his tea. "Her return only motivates me to get this done so I can get the hell out of town."
Emily noted his understandable irritation. "Aiden—" she began, but he cut her short.
"It wasn't my idea to reveal her; you have your sister to thank for that," he reminded her. With a final look at Nolan he pardoned his exit. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do."
Once he was gone, Nolan joined Emily in a somewhat defeated slump on the counter. "Can't say I didn't see that coming," he mumbled.
"He's bitter," Emily relented. "He's been waiting on her to make a decision this whole time, only to have it sandblasted in his face," she surmised, familiar with once having to watch the one she cared for be with another. Ironically at the time, it involved the exact same people. "It's not his fault," she added, facing Nolan. "None of this was ever supposed to happen."
"It certainly was a surprise," Nolan agreed, despite fondly remembering the shocked look on Conrad and Victoria's faces once they realized Amanda was alive. "Well, hopefully that's the last of the grand revelations," he yearned. Emily lowered her eyes then, and Nolan suddenly felt the need to double check. "Right?"
"There's something else," Emily admitted. "I wanted to tell Daniel the day of the bridal luncheon but after everything that happened… I reconsidered." Nolan furrowed his brow and Emily expounded. "That and knowing if I told him – he'd never let me go through with what we have planned."
"As if anything could stop you now?" Nolan begged to differ.
The insistence in her eyes remained resolute. "The day I went to surprise Daniel at Voulez we got into a fight," she began. "I was upset when I found out he knew Ashley figured out my identity and didn't tell me, so I overreacted. I stormed out of the office and halfway to the parking lot I started feeling dizzy, and that's when I went to the doctor."
Nolan's eyes widened in concern. "Are you alright?"
She met his gaze, emphasizing her admission as she slowly delivered it. "Turns out… I'm pregnant."
SCENE
"Coffee?"
Amanda looked up at Jack's question, latently realizing he was offering her a steaming mug over the bar counter. "Uh, no thank you," she finally stammered and returned to jiggling Carl on her lap, who was content with a midday snack in front of him.
Despite the tension that hung in the fairly empty Stowaway, the sight of reunited mother and son warmed Jack's heart, bringing back memories that felt further away than just over a year ago. But his expression dropped quickly in recollection, realizing how much things had changed since.
Unintentionally breaking up silence that spoke volumes to their estrangement, Charlotte emerged from her bedroom and waddled over to join them. "Afternoon family," she greeted, sighing happily. "Sorry I'm just now getting up but these days I need all the sleep I can get – though I have you both to thank for that," she concluded. "There's nothing more relaxing than to know you're with family."
Jack and Amanda forced pleasant looks in return, appeasing her. "We should be thanking you," Amanda insisted, embracing her with one arm while balancing Carl with the other. "For even making it possible to be together again," she added, gazing at Jack for support.
"That's right," he piped in halfheartedly, glaring back. "We couldn't be happier."
Something in his tone was less than convincing, and Charlotte sensed something was slightly off. But a second later Carl let out an excited cry, distracting her from the awkward moment. "Aw, Carl!" she cooed, nuzzling his sweet face. "I guess he agrees too."
"He's excited to meet his cousin," Amanda filled in, draping her head over him. "Aren't you sweetheart?" She returned attention to Charlotte, nodding down at her belly. "So am I… I'm dying to see what Declan Jr. looks like."
Charlotte grinned and rubbed her stomach. "Let's just hope we find out after two days from now," she cautioned. "I couldn't bear missing Daniel and Emily's big day, especially now that you're going to be there!" Charlotte suddenly remembered something. "Which reminds me, I may need an emergency alteration on my dress— I think DJ grew overnight?"
Amanda looked down in verification, and realized Charlotte's protruding midsection had noticeably dropped from the previous week. "I can take you," she offered. "That's what sisters are for."
"Ugh, thank you!" Charlotte expressed her appreciation, and went to get the garment from her room.
Jack watched until she was out of earshot and then levied an impressed look at Amanda. "You certainly picked up right where you left off playing big sister," he commented.
"I really do see Charlotte as my sister," she explained. "With her, it doesn't feel like a role – which is more than I can say for being a wife," she hinted back for attention. He gave it to her promptly, stopping in the middle of wiping down the counter.
"Amanda, what do you want from me?" Jack begged off honestly. "It's not that easy to just forget everything that's happened—"
"And I don't expect you to," Amanda humbly interjected. "But I can't bear you pretending like none of it did," she argued, while he turned away. "You haven't said a word about it since I've been back – and I know you want to. Go ahead, Jack, scold me, yell at me, just say something!" she begged.
"Alright, fine," he stared her down. "Tell me the truth – would you have even thought about being with me again if Charlotte hadn't revealed you to the world? Because part of me keeps thinking this is all an extension of a game you've been playing ever since you came back!"
Amanda shook her head incredulously. "That's what you think?" She hugged Carl to her, soothing him as he began stirring at their dissent. "Jack, the only reason Charlotte found me is because I called Ashley that morning trying to reach you. I wanted another chance at us," she insisted, digressing. "But when Ashley said she knew the truth, I had to do something and that's when I came back. She was working for a magazine for crying out loud, she could've publicly destroyed Emily and us both!"
"Ashley would never do that," Jack defended her. "The only thing she ever wanted to print was how the Graysons were responsible for what happened to you so that once the truth came out, we could be together," he explained, stopping in thought. "But now that she's gone from Voulez it looks like Margaux will be taking that over."
"I don't trust her," Amanda immediately rose to insist. "She's been hounding me since the bridal shower for an exclusive and I get the feeling she wants to put her own spin on what happened. Plus the whole reason Emily and I came up with a different story is to stop the Graysons from finding out I was onto them and keep them from going after us again."
"Then that's just what we're going to do," Jack reassured her, brewing with an idea. He came around the bar counter and stopped just a pace short of her. "While you and Charlotte take care of your plans today, I'm going to down to Voulez to let them know there will be no exclusive without your consent."
Amanda raised an eyebrow, surprised by his firm conviction. "You would do that for me?" she asked, shifting Carl onto her hip.
Jack gazed at her with certainty, and for the first time since their reunion, Amanda saw the softness return to his eyes. He reached out, protectively grasping both her and Carl with the touch of his hand. "I'm doing it for us."
SCENE
"Well, now where to seat Mr. Ross?"
"Hmm," Emily stewed, clearly distracted by her thoughts while working out the seating arrangements with Victoria at Grayson Manor. She delayed answering and instead replayed Nolan's reaction to her news in mind, followed by his insistent admonition that she needed to tell Daniel. But as Voulez had kept Daniel occupied for the remainder of the day, she was forced to join Victoria and merely requested that he meet her there later on that evening.
"I would say with your other friends," Victoria pried at her silence. "But you don't seem to have any? Oh," she concluded rather pointedly. "Except for Amanda Clarke, that is."
"I'd like to find a place for Nolan at the main table," Emily finally responded, snapping back and ignoring the probe at Amanda. "Seeing as he is walking me down the aisle." The maid approached their table in the parlor with two champagne flutes, but Emily was quickly uneasy. "None for me, thanks," she tried to be discreet but as usual, Victoria was all ears.
"Oh, don't tell me that you've suddenly become a bride obsessed with her figure?" Victoria questioned. "The wedding is less than two days away, my dear. The damage is already done," she added dryly.
"Well, it never hurts to be a little self-conscious," Emily bought into Victoria's theory, sensing that she was still not convinced. She glanced down at the vast seating chart. "With all these people in attendance, can you blame me?"
Confirming her suspicion, Victoria returned to her topic of choice. "I imagine not, though you certainly can't be nurturing a fear of public opinion by making Amanda your Matron of Honor," she pressed. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you did it just for attention?"
"Amanda is a close friend that I long thought to be dead," Emily reminded her, each word dripping with disdain. "It's an honor just to have her back, let alone make her a part of the most important day of my life. And besides," she added nonchalantly, making a small seating adjustment. "It was Charlotte's idea."
"I never doubted your friendship," Victoria affirmed in all honesty. "I merely thought it poor taste to invite one's former liaison to their wedding," she leered, drawing Emily to smolder in response. "After all, isn't that what Amanda's dear husband, Jack Porter is to you? He'll be there with her, of course?" Without giving her time to respond, Victoria quickly corrected herself, glancing at another section of the seating chart. "But perhaps I'm being old fashioned—after all, Daniel has chosen to invite Margaux regardless of their former relationship, too."
Emily felt herself boiling, perhaps a combination of pregnancy hormones along with an overall intolerance for Victoria. But before she could take the bait and deliver a scathing reply, a rather odd sight caught her eye in the window. "Victoria?" she prompted her instead, gesturing for her to turn around.
"Hmm?" Victoria looked up and followed Emily's gaze through the window to a cascade of clothing tumbling into the courtyard from an unknown source above. "What the hell?" she exclaimed.
Moments later Victoria was upstairs with Emily in tow a few paces behind, following the downpour of garments to the master bedroom balcony. As Emily watched intently, Victoria yanked the intruder around to face her and gaped in surprise, identifying them by name.
"Patrick?!"
SCENE
Jack waited patiently outside Margaux LeMarchal's office, finally stepping up to make his presence known when the last of her assistants trailed out. The office was nearly empty with most employees already gone, and as he entered her doorway he hoped his decision to come after hours had been a good call of judgment. "Ms. LeMarchal?" he addressed her.
She half-turned from an unfinished print at her desk. "Oui? May I help you?"
"Hi," he introduced himself casually, putting a hand up in peaceful gesture. "My name is Jack Porter, I'm ah—"
"Amanda Clarke's husband," she answered before he could finish, recognizing him from a week's worth of media coverage. "Or should I say, Rebecca Porter?" she coined drably, recalling the phony name Amanda had given her. Jack's countenance grew serious at the mention but Margaux swiftly lightened the mood, gesturing for him to come in. "No hard feelings, I understood her need for discretion. Please," she offered. "Have a seat."
"Ah, I'm actually not staying," he remained standing. "I just came in response to all your phone calls. Look, I realize this probably seems like the story of a lifetime and honestly, I don't blame you for wanting to cover it. But I'm here to let you know that Amanda wants to keep her silence, and she'd very much appreciate it if you left her alone. With all due respect…" he paused for emphasis, reflective of their trial some past. "We've both been through a lot – and I think we've earned it."
Margaux nodded, sinking back into her seat. "Certainly, I can appreciate that decision," she relented respectfully, concentrating on stack of papers on her desk. "However, I must say it is unfortunate. Her refusal leaves me with only a one-sided version of the story."
Jack furrowed his brow. "From who?"
"From Conrad Grayson," Margaux replied curiously, lifting the document she had been staring at for Jack to see. "One I'm not certain I believe."
"Conrad came here?" Jack probed, paging through the story and just a mere glance told him it was full of deception.
"And offered up every detail," Margaux elaborated, watching his reaction. "How he did everything he could to protect the daughter of his wife's former lover, from creating a foundation for her memory to continuing a search for her long after she was declared missing at sea. It's quite the heroic tale, and he plans to share even more with me this evening," she fawned, while Jack seethed noticeably with disgust. "Do you find any of this surprising?" she ventured.
"Honestly?" Jack sighed, knowing his adversary far too well. "No."
"Mm." Margaux rested an inquisitive look on him before getting up from her desk. "Well, the story will be featured in next month's issue," she intentionally offered, sauntering over to him in close proximity. "Unless of course, your wife reconsiders her decision? In which case I'd love to compare her own version," she tempted, brushing past. "I'm off to my appointment, but I'm sure you will convey the message. Nice meeting you, Mr. Porter."
"Jack," he mumbled over his shoulder, catching eyes with her briefly as she left. He set the story back down on her desk, watching as she stopped to ask her assistant some questions. Feeling his tension mounting at the thought of Conrad pushing blatant lies into the public eye, he ran his hand through his hair nervously, scanning the office until his gaze fell on her computer and a thought came to mind…
SCENE
"Emily," Victoria fumbled nervously, barely taking her eyes off of her son to address her. "Would you please excuse us?"
Emily contained her intrigue at Patrick's appearance and obliged, levying an unsteady glare his way as she slipped back into the hall. Once the sound of her footsteps faded, Victoria spoke. "Son, what are you doing here?! I told you to stay away."
"I left because Conrad had something on me," Patrick asserted, angrily tossing the garment in his hand to the ground. "Well now we have something on him. I heard about Amanda Clarke's reveal at the bridal luncheon last week."
Victoria glanced down at the pile of clothing, realizing they were Conrad's belongings, not hers. "What do you presume to do—" she began.
"Rid this house of his presence," Patrick answered proudly. "You told me yourself Conrad conspired to kill her – well if she's alive and back in town the only possible reason could be that she knows it was him. Don't you see? Amanda wants revenge. And she's going to use her," he pointed beyond his mother, referring to Emily. "To get it… you think it's a coincidence she arrives just in time for the wedding? It's the perfect opportunity for her to go after him!"
Victoria churned at his suggestion, finding merit in his theories. "Even so," she reasoned. "That doesn't make it any safer for you to be here. Conrad has already taken measures to stop Amanda from implicating him, I shudder to think what he might do if he finds you here."
"So I'll wait," Patrick supplied with a shrug. "But I'm staying nearby. Mother, I'm not going to let that man take you down with him once his dirty laundry gets aired. I'm going to be right by your side when Amanda reveals the truth and we are going to watch them take Conrad away forever – just like you've always dreamed of."
While Victoria found herself hanging onto his promise and envisioning the possibility of it coming true, Emily remained perched at the top of the stairwell, overhearing every word. When the front door opened a moment later, she left her hiding spot to creep quietly downstairs, meeting Daniel in the foyer.
"What's going on?" he asked at once.
"Patrick's upstairs," she exhaled irritably.
"What?" Daniel turned his face up in alarm. "I thought she sent him away?"
"Well he's back, which means he could potentially ruin everything," she whispered, checking over her shoulder to listen if they were done talking.
"Ok, so how do we get rid of him?" Daniel pressed, but Emily appeared to be already fixated on a thought.
"I've got a different idea," she countered. Taking the next few minutes to fill him in, she waited with him at the bottom of the steps until Victoria eventually returned with Patrick close behind her.
"Daniel?" Victoria muttered in surprise.
"Mother; Patrick," Daniel acknowledged them, shifting into a defensive stance in front of Emily. "Listen, I'm not exactly sure what's going on but uh, we really want our wedding to be a happy occasion… for everyone." He shot a direct look at his mother before extending his arms in a peaceful gesture. "So Patrick, now that you're back, we both would very much like it if you would be there – that is, if you'll accept a late invitation to be one of my groomsmen?"
Victoria parted her mouth open in protest, but remained silent as Patrick approached Daniel's offer. "Wow, ah, I don't know what to say," he replied. "That's not the welcome I was expecting…" He diverted to look at Emily. "From either of you," he hinted.
Emily shrugged openly, adding to the performance. "Patrick, we may have had our differences in the past, but we're about to become family," she impressed, looking to Victoria expectantly. "I'm sure your mother can find another seat at the head table. Can't you, Victoria?"
Victoria had no choice but to agree, despite how much negotiation she knew it would mean with Conrad beforehand. "Son, if it's truly what you wish?" she posed, shifting the decision back into Patrick's hands.
He mulled it over briefly. "It is," he finally accepted, and inwardly Emily triumphed, expecting that he would. She wore a broad smile in resolve while Victoria's countenance dropped, but neither son noticed.
"Alright," Daniel celebrated, extending a handshake to figuratively seal the deal. "Come up to Voulez tomorrow afternoon," he requested, guiding his brother towards the door. "We'll take care of your tux and I'll even give you a preview of the issue we plan to run next month – I think you'll find it interesting."
Emily remained behind as they went, certain their approach was the best. With Daniel overseeing the article on Amanda Clarke's return and making Patrick feel like he was not only a part of Conrad's takedown, but a beneficiary just as he wished, it would keep him an occupied and unknowing ally. Meanwhile, they could focus their attention on the real target – Victoria. It was to her that Emily returned her gaze, drawing comfort from how surprised she was by the unlikely reconciliation between her sons.
"Look at that, here you were worried about a few silly exes and now you get to have your firstborn there on our wedding day," Emily couldn't help herself from quipping with a shake of her head. "Everything just seems to be falling into place – I couldn't have planned it better myself." When the other sneered in reply, Emily took that as her cue, heading for the door with a sinister smile.
"Goodnight, Victoria."
SCENE
Fortunately, Conrad did not return home until morning and though his absence delayed an inevitable run-in with Patrick, Victoria grimaced at the thought of still having to forewarn him of his attendance to the wedding. She hoped desperately to sidestep that fact when she crossed paths with him the following afternoon, finding him sorting through his closet.
"Hold it there, Mrs. Grayson," Conrad called out as she passed in the hallway. She reluctantly stopped at where he stood in front of a gaping hole of empty hangars. "Has someone been going through my things or is this your subtle attempt at an eviction notice?"
Victoria took a breath, preparing her excuse. "I caught one of the maids last night stealing," she lied seamlessly. "Naturally, I immediately terminated her and had the police retrieve the items – I suppose some are still in disarray. I'll have them brought up by this evening."
"Rather interesting that she chose to ravage my belongings," Conrad mumbled to himself, salvaging something he could put on from what remained. "But you can save your efforts – I won't be home tonight either."
"Two nights in a row, Conrad?" Victoria balked at his taunting. "Quite the slumber party, even for you."
"Ah, all in the name of hard work, my dear," he allayed her suspicion. "You'd do well to follow suit – it's amazing what you can do with power of print. Margaux not only took to my story," he elaborated. "But she seemed rather enamored with it. We met privately and she offered me every assurance to restore my public image so that no matter what Amanda Clarke attempts to do – I remain free from blame."
"How convenient," Victoria feigned support, despite knowing it ran in total contrast to her plan with Patrick. But there was still time to do something about it. "Well, it's too bad her enthusiasm isn't ripened against Emily," she added in casual chagrin. "I'm sure she could do wonders to stop this union from ever beginning."
"Please," Conrad countered as per usual. "By this time tomorrow Emily and Daniel will be man and wife, off in marital bliss planning their own family… if they haven't started already," he chuckled to himself.
The concept suddenly hit Victoria with interest as she recalled Emily's refusal to drink the night before. Ordinarily she would not give it a second thought but with time running out on the wedding and a new obstacle in Conrad's newfound alliance with Margaux, perhaps it was an opportunity to take things into her own hands.
As Victoria plotted, Conrad completed dressing and departed with a change of garment in hand, slipping past her. "Try to leave your angst at home tomorrow, hm?" he pleaded. "I'm off to meet with Margaux again."
Victoria halted at the problem it presented. "More work on your story?" she probed.
"Could be," he grinned devilishly, toying with her. "Or perhaps, just a date?"
SCENE
"Hey – you busy?"
Nolan took his eyes off his laptop long enough to answer the shadow towering over him. "Oh hey, Jack," he greeted him, returning to his screen. He sat poolside, making the most of his backyard retreat while handling a few technical details needed for the plan. "Finding out more than I ever wanted to know as always but, what else is new," he answered honestly; referring to the bombshell Emily had dropped on him the day before.
"I've got a favor," Jack pursued, and at last Nolan sensed the urgency in his tone.
"Ah, sure," he obliged. "It must be a big one if you risked running into Aiden to come here?" At his mention, Jack looked around the patio, forgetting that he was still a tenant. "Fortunately he's out readying the artillery for the wedding showdown," Nolan assured him.
"Good," Jack muttered in relief. "Before he gets back, is there a way you can hack a computer at Voulez and control what goes to print?"
"Um, yeah, easily," Nolan confirmed with barely a nod. "Only – who's did you have in mind?"
"Margaux LeMarchal," Jack answered. "She's getting ready to publish a story that Conrad apparently fed her – clearing himself from any involvement with Amanda's attempted murder."
Nolan shrank back in surprise. "Conrad hijacked Amanda's expose?" He digested, rolling his eyes a moment later. "I don't know why that kind of thing surprises me anymore. Still – does Emily know about this?"
"No, but by the time she finds out it shouldn't matter," Jack intended angrily. "I don't want his lies ever hitting the page—"
"Trust me, they won't," Nolan promised, already queuing up his screen to flex his skills. "But I still think she should know – Daniel was supposed to be running that article, they have the whole takedown planned around it?"
"Well, Conrad must have found his way around him. But regardless, nothing should have to change," Jack reasoned. "If we get to the article now, by tomorrow night the focus will be on Victoria going after Emily and then the Graysons will be on trial for going after both her and Amanda." He shook his head adamantly. "Either way, Conrad doesn't deserve even a second of airtime to defend himself."
"Well, I'm with you there," Nolan agreed, clacking away on his keyboard. "It's just a bit more complicated than that. I'm going to need Margaux's—"
"IP address?" Jack finished. "I got it." He handed Nolan a business card he used to discreetly swipe it the day before, surprising him with his proficiency.
"Huh," Nolan exhaled. "I don't know whether to be impressed or terrified?"
SCENE
"So were you able to get the article?" Emily probed Nolan via the phone in her kitchen, after he brought her up to speed on Jack's visit the hour before.
"Yes and no," he answered, still stationed by the pool while busying away on the computer. "The soft copy is officially digital smithereens but Jack said there was still a hard copy at the office… maybe Daniel can get his hands on it?"
Emily thought carefully. "Daniel is stopping by Voulez to meet with Patrick today, but I don't think that'll be necessary," she reasoned. "Losing an online file is one thing but I don't want Margaux suspecting Jack destroyed the physical copy. Besides, as long as everything goes to plan tomorrow, she'll see for herself it was trash and it'll only make Conrad look guiltier – trying to cover his trail before the truth came out."
"Good point," Nolan concurred, wrinkling his nose in interest. "But uh—back up a sec, did you just say Daniel is meeting with Patrick today?"
Emily leaned on the counter, facing her patio doors. "That's right," she sighed. "Patrick showed up at the Manor last night – fortunately his return should work in our favor. I overheard him confront Victoria about Conrad – he thinks Amanda is back in town to take him down and is using my wedding to do it."
"Wow," Nolan reacted. "If only he knew how close to the truth he really was?"
"Luckily, he supports the idea," Emily agreed with a hint of caution. "This means we can count on him to help Victoria roll on Conrad after she gets arrested for my murder… But right now, Patrick's so focused on Amanda he'll never see it coming."
Nolan pursed his lips, impressed. "You have to admit, having Amanda around as a decoy does have its benefits," he commented.
"Some," Emily acknowledged defensively. "But I won't have anyone thinking she had something to do with what goes down." Despite finding use for her, Emily still cared about Amanda's wellbeing and couldn't imagine jeopardizing the prized life she was just beginning to get back. "I'm doing this for her benefit, too," she reinforced. "Which is why I'm going to give her the heads up on the plan ahead of time, to keep her protected."
"Mm, while you're in the confessional mood," Nolan poked intently, finding it to be a perfect segue way. "When do you plan to tell Danny about Baby Grayson?"
Emily sucked in a breath, expecting Nolan would prod her on the secret up until the very last minute. "I don't know if I can…" she finally admitted, and began staring towards the window to ponder the decision she had reached. Yet her thoughts soon trailed off as she caught sight of Charlotte, followed by Amanda and what appeared to be a handful of other attendants coming up the porch. "Uh, Nolan I have to call you back—" she ended quickly as they came through the sheer curtains.
"Ladies, meet Emily Thorne," Charlotte ushered the company in with a big smile, adding. "Soon-to-be, Emily Grayson. You can set up everything right through there," she directed them to the open living room.
"Charlotte?" Emily greeted in surprise, hugging her gingerly around her belly and Amanda next, more tightly. "Amanda?" She watched as the uniformed ladies brought in their cases and began setting up. "What is all this?"
"It's the day before your wedding!" Charlotte exclaimed proudly. "This is your pampering session – slash – bridal shower do-over-"
"Slash—bachelorette party," Amanda finished with a wink, handing Emily a gift bag. "A little something to add to your trousseaux," she hinted devilishly.
Emily blushed at the lace garter peeking out of the top and then looked up to find Charlotte crowning her with a veil as guest of honor. "We both wanted to do something special for you since your bridal luncheon was somewhat overshadowed," Charlotte extended sincerely, with a nod from Amanda in agreement.
"Oh, not at all," Emily humbly deflected, merely shaking her head at their generous outpouring. "I'm just… so grateful to have you both here with me," she emphasized genuinely, feeling herself beginning to well up. She turned to look at the set-up, hoping to break up her emotions. "I love it."
"Hey we're sisters! It's the least we can do," Charlotte beamed, clapping her hands together happily and including Amanda in the reference. Little to her knowledge, the moment held significant meaning to all three of them, but especially to Emily who truly saw them both as sisters – both in truth and in differing impacts to her life. "By the way, I hope you don't mind it being all-natural mani-pedi's?" Charlotte clamored on, tapping her stomach affectionately. "Doctor said I shouldn't do any chemical fumes with DJ coming so soon."
"Please, its fine," Emily assured her, relieved in fact since she too, needed the same precaution. She glanced back and forth between the two women. "Really, both of you – this is amazing."
"I'm so glad," Charlotte replied, suddenly excusing herself. "Speaking of the little guy, he's pressing on my bladder – I'll be right back."
With her gone Emily and Amanda faced each other, both conveying depths of appreciation and indebtedness– aspects of their relationship that had been there from the start. "She's right, you know," Amanda reminded her with a soft look. "We are sisters – no matter what."
Emily gathered the strength to reply. "Which makes this even harder to do," she answered bravely, rehearsing how to explain the events that were soon to come. "Amanda – there's something I need to tell you."
SCENE
"The South Fork, please," Margaux instructed her driver as she slipped into the backseat and sped away from the office. She inspected her phone to answer emails on her way, when a call interrupted. "Allo?" she answered.
"Margaux," Victoria's still voice reverberated on the line.
"I have very little to say to you, Victoria," Margaux recognized, anticipating the reason she was calling.
"Yes, as I'm sure you're on your way to meet my husband as we speak," Victoria intimated directly, grasping Margaux's attention.
"Ah, I assure you," she chuckled at the insinuation. "This is business, not pleasure."
Victoria sneered at Margaux's apparent naiveté, studying her own reflection in the vanity mirror. "You'll find that to be a fine line with Conrad," she hinted. "But I'm calling because I have something of value. I believe my soon-to-be daughter-in-law has been deceiving my son, much like she deceived you into that investment deal with Ashley Grobet."
"I've since moved past that," Margaux deflected. "Ashley's moved on to work for my father, and I support her endeavors. In fact, her departure has opened the way for your son to take her place, should he chose to. I'm confident Voulez will have just as more success, if not more, with Daniel's contribution."
"Mm, just as I'm confident you have Daniel's best interests at heart," Victoria led in skillfully. "This is why I trust you to alert him that Emily has been keeping something from him; if my instincts are correct – she's pregnant."
Margaux grew silent, processing the weight of the statement Victoria had just made. "And why would she keep something like that from Daniel?"
"Obviously because the child isn't his," Victoria asserted directly. "A fact she's hoping to conceal from both him and the public by rushing down the aisle."
Again, Margaux remained quiet, digesting the implication. In her short exposure to Victoria and Emily, she had seen deceptive sides to both of them – even when they appeared to be working in tandem. "I'm not certain I can trust your instincts," she alleged pensively. "What kind of woman would sink that low?"
"Well, you're a journalist Ms. LeMarchal," Victoria prompted her in conclusion, ending the call. "I would think that's your job to find out?"
With Victoria's final words, Margaux stared at her phone in thought, wondering if it was worth it to pursue. As much as her better judgment urged her to let it go, the business drive in her couldn't resist the opportunity, and she knew there was only one way to test if the story was true. She quickly returned the phone to her ear for another call. "It's Margaux – yes, get me Voulez social media department."
SCENE
"Hey Paige, can you send over the write-up for next month's issue? I want to take a look."
The new-hire assistant at Voulez looked up immediately, surprised to see the request had come from Daniel Grayson. "Mr. Grayson?" she ignored his ask. "I thought you weren't coming in today?"
Daniel had already backed away from her desk by the time he replied. "I had to stop in for something – can you just send it, please? It should be on Margaux's shared drive."
Paige jumped up to verify one more thing before he disappeared into his office. "Under the bridal shoot?" she called out.
"Should be under bridal shower," he clarified from his office doorway. "This is the Amanda Clarke issue, remember?"
"Oh, right!" she chattered absentmindedly, prompting Daniel to roll his eyes before finally securing his door shut, and turning to face Patrick who was waiting for him.
"Is this a bad time?" Patrick began to beg off.
"No, please it's fine," Daniel insisted, gesturing for him to take a seat. "Sorry, we have a new assistant and she's still learning – but I wanted you to get a look at next month's article like I promised you."
"Right," Patrick recalled. "Why is that again?"
Daniel leaned back in his seat, following the course of action Emily had suggested. "Come on; let's not pretend like we don't both know why you decided to come back? I've known for some time that my mother had you go into hiding after that whole business with my dad and Father Paul," he acknowledged openly. "And obviously, when Amanda Clarke turned up alive last week, you took advantage of the opportunity to use his past sins to clear you from your own."
"I guess it's no surprise that she told you," Patrick spoke of their mother, narrowing his eyes at Daniel in concern. "You sound pretty confident, though. Has Conrad admitted his guilt to you?"
Daniel bobbed his head in partial agreement. "You could say that," he hinted, bringing his chair forward. "But even if he hadn't, there's been plenty of speculation about his involvement. Either way, I wanted you to know that I'm overseeing the story that Voulez plans to release – and I promise, it's going to tell the truth."
With a sigh of relief, Patrick finally relaxed. "So you do support our mother in this?"
Hesitant to go that far, Daniel leaned back in his seat again. "Well, I certainly don't support my father…" he offered, checking an email pop-up before placating Patrick again. "But then again, we aren't half-siblings by him, are we?"
"I really do appreciate you reaching out, Daniel," Patrick acknowledged on that admission. "I've wanted to clear the air between us for some time. And I hope one day you'll see our mother for the person she really is – she's been so good to me. She already took care of my tux for tomorrow and made arrangements for me to stay locally."
Throughout his praises, Daniel remained distracted as he clicked on the document Paige had sent over, which appeared to be just a cover with the story missing. "Yeah, she's quite the saint," Daniel mumbled in reply, refreshing his screen. Again, Daniel realized that not only was the story missing but the artwork was for the wrong issue. "Uh, can you excuse me for just one second?"
Patrick obliged calmly and Daniel swiftly returned to the assistant's desk. "Paige – what's going on with the article I asked you for?"
"I was just about to ask you," she stammered nervously. "I—I don't know, this morning it was there and now it's – it's gone! The only thing in the file is the cover page?"
"Yeah, well that needs to be fixed too," Daniel alerted her. "You've got a photo of Emily from yesterday's wedding shoot with next month's tagline. It should be the photo of Amanda Clarke from the bridal luncheon."
"You're right, I'm so sorry," Paige apologized continuously, shaking her head. "I don't know how that happened?" She continued fumbling at her desk and tried to print out the file for him to examine, when her printer jammed. Daniel began growing impatient and quickly decided to forget the whole thing.
"You know what, never mind—" he started to tell her, just as a coworker came by and clapped him on the back.
"Hey, congratulations boss!" the fellow employee yelled out, holding his phone in hand. "Wedding and a baby on the way? Big day, tomorrow!"
Daniel looked back at him incredulously, wondering what he could be talking about, just as a few other employees echoed the same cheers around him. "What are they talking about?" he posed to Paige, who was checking her phone now too.
"Oh, I forgot – congratulations!" she quickly wished him. "You're bundle of joy is already trending on social media." Sensing his countenance growing more and more alarmed, she showed him her screen. "I'm sorry – didn't you want everyone to know?"
Torn between shock and disillusion, Daniel resisted the urge to celebrate and quickly gathered the facts, reading the source of the online tip. "Wait a minute, Voulez announced this?" he verified.
"Just a few minutes ago," Paige confirmed, fiddling with the printer again.
Daniel scanned around, and a quick look told him Margaux's office was empty, while Patrick had just come out of his to see what was going on. "Where's Margaux?" Daniel whispered to Paige.
"She's… at the South Fork with a client, I believe," Paige hesitated, worried by his tone. "Is everything alright?"
Before she could find out, Daniel had already stormed off with barely a word to Patrick as he brushed past him in a fury. Patrick curiously looked to Paige for explanation, who merely shrugged at his unexplained exit. "Do you know if he's coming back?" she asked.
"Doesn't look like it," Patrick guessed, not noticing that Paige had begun to fawn slightly at his handsome appearance. When he finally turned to face her, she was gaping up at him with starry eyes.
"You're his brother, right?" she continued, to which he nodded pleasantly. Paige smiled back and then snatched the page that had finally come out of her printer. "Could you do me a favor," she asked sweetly, extending it in hand. "Can you give this to him? He ran out of here without it, and I know he leaves for his honeymoon tomorrow."
"Ah, sure," Patrick accepted, feeling her eyes still on him while he walked away. He sped up a little, occupying himself with the page in his hand and suddenly realized it was the cover to the article Daniel was telling him about. But what grasped his attention more was the mix-up that appeared to have occurred. On the cover was a gorgeous full page photo of Emily reclining in a wedding gown on a swing, yet above it read the curious title of the following month's issue: Amanda Clarke Lives!
SCENE
"I was beginning to think you had stood me up?" Conrad welcomed Margaux when she finally arrived to their private table at the South Fork. He gestured to a glass at her setting. "I took the liberty of ordering you a magnificent Cabernet."
"Merci," Margaux thanked him, pressing her lips into a secretive grin. "I had some work things to fix. And I also had an interesting conversation with your wife on the way here," she admitted upon taking her seat.
"Oh?" Conrad looked up in interest, and immediately began to hypothesize. After planting a wry thought in Victoria's head, he couldn't blame her for pursuing it. But he decided to take a stab at another possibility. "Let me guess, she's still on a rampage to stop the wedding tomorrow?"
"How did you know?" Margaux praised him with an affirmative look.
"Because every man knows his wife's obsession and Victoria is the queen of them all," he elaborated in thought. "At one time, it was the prospect of being my wife… later, inheriting the Grayson fortune… and regretfully, years after that, it was David Clarke." Margaux listened while he went into detail, taken with each one. "And now," he concluded. "It seems Daniel's charming fiancé, who I might add, I wholeheartedly approve of, is all that fills her thoughts."
Margaux smirked while he drained his glass, raising hers with the next question. "Yes, it would seem that way. She also claimed that your intentions with me… are less than pure?" On that word, Conrad's sip rather caught in his throat, and he lowered the glass to prevent from choking. Margaux pressed him anyway, ignoring it. "Is that true?"
"Ah, may I assure you," Conrad went on to insist, dabbing his mouth with a dinner napkin. "While my wife may be notorious for flaunting her jealousy it is merely speculative. My intent is only to focus on our business partnership." He stared intently to further impress his sincerity, while Margaux kept a poker face, quietly reading his expression.
"Mm, what a shame," she finally responded, surprising him with her forwardness. "I was hoping there was another reason for this additional rendezvous?"
Conrad broke into a devilish grin as he took her meaning, edging into unchartered territory. "Well, I certainly find you captivating Ms. LeMarchal," he digressed, feigning modesty. "But I'm clearly old enough to be your father."
"That's not quite what I meant," Margaux countered boldly, recently being made aware that his story had somehow disappeared from her hard drive. "Perhaps you'd like the chance to tell me about your own obsession?"
"Pray tell, what you think that is?" Conrad asked innocently.
Margaux sneered seductively. "The truth – what really happened to Amanda Clarke?"
SCENE
It was early evening when Victoria heard the sound of someone treading briskly up the stairs, and she stood in expectation, hoping Patrick had returned so she could explain the plan she hatched. As much as he wanted to let the wedding go on without interruption, she could not bear the thought of allowing Daniel to marry Emily just so that Amanda could have a forum to take Conrad down. Whatever scheme Amanda had planned could happen without Victoria having to sacrifice one son's happiness for another's.
But to her surprise, it was Daniel that rushed into her room, instead of Patrick. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" he bellowed angrily, barging right in. "I know it was you that spun that lie about Emily being pregnant!"
"Then you confirmed it isn't true?" she retorted defensively.
"I didn't have to!" he barked, mere inches from her face. "Margaux told me how you fed her the information," he emphasized caustically. "Right before I had her issue a retraction. Fortunately she had the sense to publish it as a rumor that we were expecting; I can only imagine if she actually ran with your psychotic theories!"
"Daniel, you shouldn't have, it's obvious Emily's hiding something—" Victoria begged, but he ignored her pleas.
"Emily and I don't have secrets," Daniel insisted proudly. "And why would she hide something like that from me – from the child's father?"
"Have you not considered it may not even be yours?" she nearly shouted, and Daniel had to restrain his instinct to lash out.
"You're sick! You know that?" he balked in repulsion.
Realizing she had dealt him a serious blow, Victoria reached out to him in apology but he batted her away. "Son, I know how much it pains you to hear, but you must think about the possibility! Perhaps this is the reason she's been rushing you into marrying her?" Victoria solved with ease. Daniel rolled his eyes, finding it laughable as memories of all the proposals Emily had either postponed or delayed came to mind.
"Oh, you mean like you did with Dad?" he snapped. "To cover up all your bastard children?" Visibly stung, Victoria slapped him bitterly in response and Daniel had to clench his jaw to calm down, shaking his head in disgust. "You've completely lost your mind, you know that?" he continued. "No matter what you think about her, Emily is nothing like you!"
"Daniel, open your eyes-!" Victoria attempted again, but he forced her to stop with final resolution.
"No, Mother—you open your eyes! This isn't a shotgun wedding, alright? She is going to be my wife, whether you like it or not!" he asserted firmly, boring his eyes into her. "You know why? Because, I love her!"
At the echo of those three words, Victoria finally retracted in defeat, believing it to be true with every conviction of her son's body. And though there was still a lingering sadness behind his eyes, she realized it was coming from disappointment in her for failing to support him. She turned away, giving Daniel just the distraction he needed to edge out of the room, swiping past the open jewelry box atop her vanity on his way out.
He paused at the doorway and steadied his breath, offering one last reminder to her turned back. "This time tomorrow, Emily and I will be married," he reiterated, ending with what he'd been waiting to say for a long time. "You lost. Okay? It's over.
SCENE
"You're late," Aiden calmly scolded Emily when she showed up at the gun range later that evening. He watched as she flung her duffel bag into the shooting bracket beside him and began assembling her weapon without a word, her head down the entire time. "So is Daniel," he added, keeping an eye on her.
"Charlotte and Amanda came by the house to surprise me this afternoon," Emily addressed his first observation, somewhat sorely. "And I don't know where Daniel is," she responded to the other. "I'm guessing he'll be here soon."
Aiden skillfully centered on her first reply, noting it had to be the source of her uneasiness. "Charlotte and Amanda, you said?" he repeated innocently. "For what, a girl's-night-out sort of thing?"
"Something like that," Emily replied solemnly, slipping on her protective earphones to take a few practice shots. The distraction only confirmed the tender moments had been hard for her part with, something Aiden had learned to discern from her demeanor. He waited until she finished letting off a round, and then prompted her to finish. "I told Amanda about the plan," she said. "She's fully up to speed now."
"How did she seem?" he pursued curiously.
Emily shrugged. "Happy," she replied, and then looked over when she realized how that could possibly sound to someone who was still in love with her. "To finish the job, that is," she clarified.
Aiden was surprised at her sympathetic gesture, but his focus soon moved to Daniel, who arrived at Emily's side a moment later with his phone in his right hand. "Here," he offered grimly, reaching with his left into a pocket to hand her the bracelet from his mother's bureau. "Sorry I'm late. I got what you needed."
"Is everything alright?" she asked, detecting his irritation immediately.
"Just more than I can handle and it keeps getting worse," he answered abruptly, looking over to Aiden. "Mathis, I hate to do this to you last minute but uh, would you mind standing in as my Best Man?"
Aiden shifted in surprise, followed by Emily's similar reaction a second later. "You're serious?" he asked.
Daniel leaned his head back in exasperation, tapping his phone in explanation. "My buddy from college just called to say he can't make it, and I'm not standing up there with just Patrick," he stressed. "Can you do it?"
"Of course," Aiden shrugged, making light of the odd request. "That'll make it easier to slip on the boat tomorrow night. And I suppose we are more 'best mates' now than 'enemies'," he joked. "I'd be honored."
"Thanks," Daniel only managed a half-hearted smile in return, and had to admit he agreed. Their friendship had its troubles but at the end of the day, it had still become a friendship. With a newfound respect for him, he begged one more favor. "Can I speak to Emily privately?"
Aiden obliged without complaint, leaving Emily alone to be impressed and still yet intrigued by what was going on with Daniel. "That was nice of you to ask him," she commented.
He acknowledged it with barely a nod, more engrossed with what lay on his mind. "Look I know this is going to be hard for us tomorrow, but I just want you to know I'm more determined now than ever to take down my family."
Emily peered closely into his eyes. "Something happened…?" she detected, arriving at her answer when she sensed lingering traces of anger. "Victoria," she realized. "What did she do?"
"What she always does," Daniel confirmed right away. "She spun a lie, desperately trying to break us apart again. I'm just glad I got to it before it got to you." When Emily stared back at rapt attention, he explained. "She called Margaux and had her leek a rumor from Voulez social media, that you were pregnant."
Emily felt the hair rise on the back of her neck and she jolted upward, immediately shaken. "What?" she barely whispered. Her mind raced at her adversary's keen perception.
"Yeah, unbelievable right?" Daniel went on, merely taking her reaction to be from indignation. "When I called her on it, she even went so far as to say the only reason you hid it from me is because it's someone else's and you didn't want me to find out before the wedding."
"Well that's insane," Emily was able to comment objectively.
"Only my mother," Daniel agreed, looking away sheepishly.
Though guilt had already begun to fill her at Daniel still being innocently unaware of their pregnancy, Emily realized Victoria's false accusation of infidelity only incensed her more. Sensing the need to be delicate, she continued probing him carefully. "What did you do?"
Daniel faced her. "First, I had Margaux retract the rumor," he shook his head. "I'm still not sure why she ran with it in the first place." Emily tightened her jaw, reserving her own thoughts about Margaux to herself. "And then I told my mother that she needed to give up – it's over. She lost." Emily's heart pounded at the conviction in his voice, recognizing just how unflinching his faith in her was. As he squeezed her hand, her guilt only intensified and she couldn't bring herself to tell him his mother had been half right.
"She hasn't lost yet," Aiden interrupted over Daniel's shoulder, and Emily looked up from her momentary trance. "I apologize for intruding," he prefaced, glancing at the bracelet that was sitting on Emily's bag. "But if we want to finish this once and for all, you need to make sure that bauble is covered in gunpowder."
Emily acknowledged he was right and returned to her stance, slipping it onto her wrist before raising the prepared murder weapon. Still haunted by her thoughts, she couldn't help giving a final look at Daniel, who nodded anxiously to indicate he was still all in. On her other side, Aiden tipped his head forward in agreement, confirming the same. With nothing else to do but plunge forward, Emily returned her eyes to the target and fired.
SCENE
"Well, this is it - last chance to skip this silly tradition?"
Emily smiled warmly at Daniel coming down the stairwell of her beach house with his overnight bag in hand. He set it down at the bottom and came over to pull her into his arms. "Don't tempt me," she teased, holding onto him tightly. "The more I think about it, it is rather silly."
"Ah, it's probably better this way," Daniel reasoned, nuzzling her with his nose. "I've gotta get used to being away from you for a while, right?" A sore look met him in return, and he thought he sensed regret in her countenance. "Although I do have to say, it's not fair we don't get to have our wedding night," he hinted, grazing her with a sweet kiss.
"You're right," Emily realized, leaning in to kiss him back. "Let's call the whole thing off."
He chuckled at her joke and ran a finger up and down her upper arm, unaware that a part of her was literally grappling with the idea. "You said you had something for me to sign, before I left?" he reminded her.
"Right," Emily remembered, allowing it to break her drifting thoughts. She moved aside to reveal the papers spread out on the kitchen island and handed him a pen. "Here, it's a copy of the deed to the house."
Daniel began signing. "Explain to me again what adding me to this does?"
"Just to make sure you get full ownership without amending my living will," she answered. "If the authorities found out I updated my will just before I supposedly died at sea, it would look suspicious. It could even make you look like you had a hand in it," she anticipated cleverly. "Instead, this way it just looks like a formality – adding my husband to our house."
"Husband," Daniel repeated, dropping the pen as he finished signing. He cuddled her in his grasp again, smiling down at her big brown eyes. "I like the sound of that," he savored, looking away suddenly. "Though I guess I should get used to the sound of widow."
Again Emily felt a sinking feeling in her heart, and she had to look down to contain it. Her stomach was beginning to knot and while she suspected it might be another wave of nausea, her instincts told her it was something different. Letting him go was killing her, let alone keeping from him something she knew would fill him with joy… and yet, pain.
Daniel finally noticed her downcast look. "Are you sure you'll be alright here tonight?" he asked. "Because I can stay…" he glanced at his watch. "We still have about 20 hours before we say goodbye?"
Emily stared at him with yearning in her eyes and felt herself giving in in surrender, even going so far as to open her mouth. "Daniel, there's some—"
Her revelation was interrupted by Nolan entering through the back door with a case in his hand, stopping as he slipped through the sheers. "Sorry, I… guess I'm a little early," he apologized, fading back.
Daniel chuckled; assuring him it was alright with a wave. "What was I thinking, you'll be fine here," he gestured to Nolan in reference. "You've got your sidekick with you."
"He's just dropping off the last few details," Emily explained with an obligatory sigh.
"Of course," Daniel nodded, squinting again. "So what were you about to say?"
Emily stared at him in earnest, having lost her nerve in the moment that had passed. "I um, I was just going to say there's… there's so many things I want to tell you," her voice cracked from the emotion.
She shook her head to avoid tears and Daniel sympathized, brushing one from the corner of her eye. "Em," he whispered but she trudged on, fearfully.
"But basically, it all comes down to this," she continued. "This day means more to me than anything I could have ever hoped for, and even though it comes with sacrifice, I promise… we are going tobe together, Daniel." She paused, fervently searching for a way to intimate the words – but alas, she could not say them. Instead she settled on a sweet sentiment that still rang true. "And once we are, I'm going to give you everything you always wanted. Because you're the only one I want."
Daniel was stilled into silence at the sincerest, most open expression he had ever heard from her, and did not even think of matching it in depth. Instead he simply pledged the same. "You're the only one I want, too," he affirmed, squeezing her hand to his lips. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here."
Emily nodded her head forward at his promise, allowing him to plant a kiss on her forehead in farewell and before she knew it, he was gone. Nolan was steadfast by her side in the minutes that followed, sensing she would need a friend.
"Everything's in place," he assured her gingerly, holding up a few items from his case. "Here's your new identity for when you disappear, complete with passport, little extra cash… red sharpie in case you get bored…" he mumbled in jest. He placed the items on the table and enumerated the rest on each finger of his hand. "Ah, evidence is ready, Conrad's story is erased, and Amanda is on standby to distract Victoria once you get on the boat. I think we're all set. Oh," he added, scanning the room. "Just need the rings?"
"Daniel gave them to Aiden," she answered quietly, collecting herself to face him. "But thank you for everything. We couldn't have done it without you."
"I know," he shrugged proudly, letting his grin fall a slight. "I guess I'll be busy keeping Daniel company the next few months while you're gone," he hinted, testing her out. "Anything I should avoid mentioning…?"
"I couldn't tell him, Nolan," she sighed, already expecting his disappointment. "I almost did, but… after what Victoria did to him today… I just couldn't."
Nolan absorbed her decision, respecting it was hers to make. "Victoria must have really done a number on him," he guessed, unsure of what she was referring to. Before Emily could elaborate, he caught sight of something in the distance. "And apparently – she's still not finished?"
Emily followed his gaze to her back door, where Victoria was standing clear as day. With an agitated look at Nolan, she left the kitchen to answer it, doing her best to repress loathing at the sight of her sworn enemy. "Victoria," she answered, stepping out onto the porch. "To what do I owe this visit?" Her presence incited déjà vu of the first time she left the Hamptons; ironically the night she had ended the engagement. "Another empty gift box?"
"Oh, the time has run out for such frivolity," Victoria sneered at Emily's sarcasm. "Your wedding is tomorrow, and the game is over. I've washed my hands of it. Instead, I've found a place at the main table for Nolan Ross," she asserted, handing over a copy of the response card to the wedding invitation.
Emily's face darkened as she accepted it. Under Victoria's name she had marked the line noted, Respectfully Decline. "I don't understand," she replied, holding her composure. "I thought with Patrick being there—?"
"He's welcome to my spot as well," Victoria cut her off, firm in her decision. "Feel free to adjust as you see fit, but I won't be in attendance." With that she allowed her choice to resonate, seemingly pleasured by the concern that read all over Emily's face.
"Congratulations, Emily."
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: Ok, guys are you ready for "Exodus"? Whew, it feels like it's been a long time coming but I have to say I am really excited! First of all, I have to thank you ALL for your support – it was such a huge treat to reach 200 reviews after posting the last chapter, and to the new folks who starting following, your kind words are genuinely appreciated! I read all of your comments and feedback and they mean so much to me. I do hope you enjoyed this latest installment and it has succeeded in setting the tone for the climactic next chapter. Will Victoria's decision ruin the plan? Will Jack and Amanda find their way back to each other? Will Emily continue to keep the truth from Daniel? And finally… who is the shooter? ALL will be answered very soon, please stay tuned! I hope to update ASAP. Again, many thanks to all of your earnest support and I would love to hear your reviews again. Much, much love and appreciation, yours truly ~MothToANewFlame~
