They were his anchor.
When Claire entered their lives, she appeared to be the answer to a prayer Daniel had never spoken. Poised, charming, perfectly composed. Friends praised her kindness and how well she seemed to fit into the family. Even the children had tried hard to like her.
Yet Daniel had never fully relaxed.
It was not what she said. It was what she didn’t do. The absence of warmth. The sharp looks when she thought no one noticed. The coldness beneath her polished tone.
That morning, Daniel made a choice that terrified him more than loneliness ever had. He told Claire he had to leave town for an urgent business meeting. He hugged the children, smiled through unease, and walked out the front door.
Then he returned quietly through the side entrance.
Now he listened.
Claire’s heels clicked against the marble floor as she entered the living room, each step sharp and deliberate. Daniel’s chest tightened.
The children sat where she had ordered them to stay. Ivy clutched a worn stuffed rabbit. Noah swung his legs, restless. Lucas sat straight, alert.
“Stay where you are,” Claire said flatly, the warmth gone from her voice. “I don’t want any problems today.”