Daniel Carter had always carried a fire within him. Born in into dangerous and commanding world of the Carter from young age he was groomed to lead , learning to balance authority with intelligence and caution. But beneath the tough exterior was a heart that had once love and that love had been Mary.
10 yrs ago when Daniel was still young he has confessed his feelings to Mary. To him it's has been brave declarations the first stirrings of a deep connection. But Mary had gently rejected him . The age gap, the compli acted ties between her and his mother and her own sense of propriety made a relationship impossible at the time. Heart broken Daniel's mom after she discovered she decided to sent him abroad to keep the family honor intact and to sterr him away from a part she deemed inappropriate.
Despite the years and distance the memory of that moment had never left Daniel and for Mary though she had turn him down. there had always been quiet fondness and respect. A re recognition of the boy who had grown into a man she now had to navigate her complicated feelings around especially now with the secret of her pregnancy weighting heavy between them.
Mary sank onto her bed. the surf sheets doing little to calm the storm inside her she pressed her hands to her stomach feeling the reality of what she carned and a shiver ran through her. How could she face Daniel of he ever found out? She knew him to well.
Once he knew he would use the pregnancy to force her into his world and she wasn't ready to be trapped and Mrs Carter how could she ever explained this to her family and her anchor unbearable alone in the quiet room.
Mary closed her eyes wishing for a solution that didn't exist for a path that didn't exist for a path that didn't force to betrayed the people she care the most.
Mary sat on the edge of the bed her hands pressed against the blanket as if it could steal her breathing . The room was quiet to quiet leaving her alone with the weight of the secret she feared Daniel must never discover.
A soft knock broke the silence.
Before she could answer the door open Mrs Carter stepped inside.