Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Sarah stood motionless.
“Who?””
Emily looked uncomfortable.
“I shouldn't have said anything.””
“You already said it.””
“I don't want trouble.””
Sarah stepped closer.
“I've already been slapped in front of strangers. I think I've had enough trouble for one day.””
Emily lowered her coffee cup.
“His name is Daniel.””
Sarah frowned.
“Daniel who?””
“Daniel Reed. He has been coming to see Ben.””
Sarah tried to remember the name.
Nothing came to mind.
“Is he a doctor?””
“No.””
“Family?””
Emily shook her head.
“Not exactly.””
Sarah stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Emily glanced toward the nurses' station.
“I've seen him here several times. He talks to Ben privately. Sometimes they argue. Sometimes Ben asks everyone to leave the room.””
Sarah felt another wave of confusion.
“Why would you assume I knew about him?””
“Because Daniel said you were aware of the situation.””
Sarah's eyes narrowed.
“What situation?””
Emily looked down.
“He said Ben's wife had already been informed.””
Sarah took a slow breath.
“That's a lie.””
Emily didn't respond.
Sarah continued.
“I have been living with Ben. I have eaten breakfast with him, waited for him to come home, and slept beside him. He never told me about a Daniel.””
Emily's expression shifted.
“I didn't know.””
“You didn't ask.””
The nurse looked at her.
Sarah's voice trembled.
“You saw me walk in with a cake. You saw me smiling. And you decided I was a terrible wife.””
Emily lowered her eyes.
“I thought—”
“You thought what?””
“That you didn't care.””
Sarah shook her head.
“That's what happens when people decide they know a story before hearing it.””
Emily had no answer.
Sarah looked toward Ben's room.
“Where can I find Daniel?””
“I don't know if he's here today.””
“Has he visited recently?””
Emily hesitated.
“About an hour ago.””
Sarah's heart skipped.
“Where did he go?””
“Downstairs, I think.””
Sarah turned toward the elevators.
Behind her, Emily called out.
“Sarah.””
She stopped.
“I am sorry about your face.””
Sarah turned around.
Emily's eyes were wet.
“I shouldn't have hit you.””
“No,” Sarah replied.
“You shouldn't have.””
She walked away.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime.
Sarah entered and pressed the ground-floor button.
As the doors closed, she looked down at her left hand.
Her cheek still burned.
But the pain wasn't what bothered her anymore.
It was the growing suspicion that people had been discussing her marriage without her knowledge.
When the elevator reached the lobby, Sarah stepped out.
She looked around.
A man in a dark jacket stood near the vending machines, speaking on his phone.
He was tall, with neatly combed hair and a leather folder tucked beneath his arm.
He looked up.
His eyes settled on Sarah.
Then his expression changed.
He ended the call.
“Sarah?””
She stopped.
“Are you Daniel?””
He nodded.
“Daniel Reed.””
Sarah approached him.
“I'm Ben's wife.””
“I know.””
The answer came too quickly.
Sarah folded her arms.
“Then you know why I'm here.””
Daniel glanced around.
“Not somewhere public.””
“I'm not interested in secrets anymore.””
He exhaled.
“Your husband asked me not to discuss certain things with you.””
Sarah stared at him.
“Another person telling me what my husband wants?””
“I'm trying to respect his wishes.””
“Then respect mine. Tell me why you've been visiting him.””
Daniel looked toward the corridor.
“Ben and I have been dealing with something for a while.””
“What?””
“I can't explain it here.””
“Can you explain why you told a nurse that I already knew?””
Daniel's face changed.
“I didn't say that.””
“Emily says you did.””
He looked genuinely surprised.
“Emily?””
Sarah watched him carefully.
“Are you saying she's lying?””
“No. I'm saying there may have been a misunderstanding.””
Sarah shook her head.
“Everyone has a misunderstanding when I ask a direct question.””
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“Listen. Ben is under considerable pressure. I don't want to make things worse.””
“Then stop making them worse.””
A silence followed.
Finally, Daniel opened his leather folder.
He removed a small document and held it without handing it over.
“Do you recognize this?””
Sarah looked at the page.
At the top was Ben's full name.
Below it were several dates and a series of handwritten notes.
She leaned closer.
“What is it?””
“Something Ben asked me to help organize.””
“Why?””
Daniel closed the folder.
“Because he didn't want you involved.””
Sarah's jaw tightened.
“I'm getting tired of hearing that.””
“I understand.””
“No, you don't.””
She looked directly into his eyes.
“You get to walk into a hospital, speak to my husband, exchange papers, and leave. I get to go home and wonder why the person I married won't look me in the eye.””
Daniel looked down.
“I'm sorry.””
“Stop apologizing. Start explaining.””
He was silent for a moment.
Then he said, “Have you noticed that Ben has been receiving calls from an unknown number?””
Sarah froze.
“Yes.””
“Has he ever answered them in front of you?””
“No.””
“Has he ever told you who was calling?””
“No.””
Daniel nodded.
“That may be important.””
Sarah felt her stomach tighten.
“Why?””
Before he could answer, a phone rang.
Daniel checked his screen.
His expression immediately hardened.
He rejected the call.
Sarah noticed the name displayed.
“Who is that?””
“It's not important.””
“Daniel.””
He slipped the phone into his pocket.
“Please, go back upstairs. Talk to Ben.””
“I just did.””
“Then talk to him again.””
Sarah stepped closer.
“Why are you so determined to keep me away from this?””
Daniel looked at her for several seconds.
Then he lowered his voice.
“Because Ben made me promise that you wouldn't find out about the arrangement until he was ready.””
Sarah felt her pulse quicken.
“What arrangement?””
Daniel looked toward the elevators.
He seemed to be deciding whether to continue.
Finally, he spoke.
“Sarah, there is something you need to know about the last few months.””
She waited.
“Ben hasn't been handling everything alone. Someone has been helping him.””
“Who?””
Daniel's eyes shifted back to her.
“Someone from your family.””
Sarah went cold.
“My family?””
He nodded.
“That's right.””
She tried to speak, but her mouth had gone dry.
“My parents?””
Daniel shook his head.
“Not your parents.””
“Then who?””
He took a breath.
“Your sister.””
Sarah stepped backward.
Her sister, Laura?
The same Laura who had called her every Sunday.
The same Laura who had hugged her at family dinners and asked how Ben was doing.
The same Laura who had told Sarah that marriage required patience.
Sarah's voice became a whisper.
“Why would Laura be involved in anything concerning my husband?””
Daniel closed his folder.
“That's a question you should ask her.””
Sarah pulled out her phone.
Her fingers shook as she searched for Laura's number.
But before she could press call, a message appeared on her screen.
It was from Ben.
Sarah, please don't speak to Laura about what happened today.
Sarah stared at the message.
A second message arrived.
She doesn't know everything.
Sarah slowly raised her eyes toward Daniel.
“What does that mean?””
May you like
Daniel didn't answer.
And Sarah suddenly realized that the secret surrounding her husband might be much bigger than she had imagined.
