Part 2

By six the next morning, I was already cooking.

The entire house smelled like roasted duck, garlic butter, honey-glazed carrots, fresh bread, cinnamon apples, and expensive coffee—the exact brand Daniel preferred. Silver utensils gleamed across the twelve-seat dining table while crystal glasses reflected the pale morning sunlight.

Evelyn came downstairs first, wrapped in pearls and superiority.

Her eyes widened before her mouth curled with satisfaction.

“Well,” she said smoothly. “Pain really can teach valuable lessons.”

I set a porcelain bowl onto the table. “Good morning, Evelyn.”

She blinked when I used her name instead of calling her Mother.

Ten minutes later, Daniel appeared wearing a navy robe, damp hair, and the smug expression of a man convinced he owned the world. He paused in the doorway, staring at the feast like a king returning to tribute.

His eyes slid from my bruised cheek to the table.

Then he smiled.

“It’s good that you’ve finally come to your senses!”

Evelyn laughed softly. “See? She understands her place now.”

I poured coffee into Daniel’s cup.

He sat at the head of the table exactly where I wanted him. “You should’ve behaved like this years ago. Marriage would’ve been much easier.”

“For who?” I asked calmly.

His smile tightened. “Watch yourself.”

Before he could continue, the doorbell rang.

Daniel frowned. “Were you expecting someone?”

“Yes.”

Evelyn stiffened. “At breakfast?”