Chapter 10: The Friend Who Betrayed Me
I stared at the name on the message.
For several seconds, my mind refused to accept it.
The letters were right there.
Clear.
Impossible to misunderstand.
Marcus.
My best friend.
The man who had stood beside me when Lily was born.
The man who had helped me paint her bedroom after her first surgery.
The man who had told me, "Daniel, that little girl is lucky to have you.""
My hands started shaking.
"No.""
The word came out quietly.
Nobody heard it except my mother.
She looked at me.
"Daniel?""
I looked up.
"Marcus.""
The room changed.
Marcus, who had been standing near the guests, looked confused.
"What?""
I held up the message.
His face changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
"Daniel, wait.""
I walked toward him.
"Tell me this isn't true.""
He looked at the phone.
Then at me.
"Where did you get that?""
That wasn't an answer.
My chest tightened.
"Why did you ask where I got it instead of saying it wasn't true?""
Marcus looked around.
Everyone was watching.
"This is not what you think.""
I almost laughed.
That sentence again.
Everyone who had betrayed me used the same words.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Daniel, please.""
I turned toward her.
"No.""
My voice was cold.
"You don't get to tell me to calm down anymore.""
Lily looked at me.
I immediately softened.
"Sweetheart, I'm okay.""
She nodded.
But I knew she wasn't.
Children always know when adults are pretending.
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Can we talk privately?""
"No.""
I looked at the guests.
"They all deserve to hear.""
Marcus shook his head.
"You don't understand.""
"Then explain.""
Silence.
I held up the phone.
"Explain why you were messaging Vanessa about my marriage.""
Marcus looked away.
That was the moment everything became real.
My best friend wasn't shocked.
He was caught.
My mother stepped closer.
"Marcus.""
He sighed.
"I made a mistake.""
The words felt like a punch.
"A mistake?""
I stared at him.
"You helped someone create a plan against me and my daughter.""
"I wasn't trying to hurt Lily.""
"Then why was she the first thing Vanessa tried to remove?""
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
"Because I thought...""
He stopped.
I waited.
"What did you think?""
He swallowed.
"I thought Daniel was drowning.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"You were exhausted. You were working nonstop. Taking Lily to appointments. Managing everything alone.""
I stared at him.
"So you decided to help Vanessa control my life?""
"No.""
"Then what?""
Marcus rubbed his face.
"I thought she could give you balance.""
I shook my head.
"Balance?""
My voice cracked.
"My daughter isn't a problem to balance.""
Marcus looked down.
"I know that now.""
"No.""
I stepped closer.
"You knew it before.""
He didn't answer.
Because he did.
The room stayed silent until Emily spoke.
"There is something you should see.""
She walked over with her camera.
"Before the ceremony, I took pictures of everyone arriving.""
She connected her camera to a small display.
The first images appeared.
Guests entering.
Family members greeting each other.
Then a photo appeared.
Marcus standing outside near the venue entrance.
Talking to Vanessa.
My stomach dropped.
"That was today?""
Emily nodded.
"Twenty minutes before the ceremony.""
I looked at Marcus.
"What were you discussing?""
He didn't answer.
Vanessa did.
"Daniel, it wasn't important.""
I turned.
"Then why hide it?""
Nobody spoke.
Emily changed the image.
A second photo.
Marcus handing Vanessa an envelope.
My heart sank.
"What was that?""
Marcus closed his eyes.
"Daniel...""
"What was in the envelope?""
He didn't respond.
I walked closer.
"Answer me.""
Finally, he whispered:
"Information.""
"What information?""
He looked at Lily.
Then at me.
"About your custody situation.""
The room went completely silent.
My voice became a whisper.
"You gave her information about my daughter?""
Marcus looked ashamed.
"I thought I was helping.""
I looked at him.
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You helped someone who wanted my daughter pushed out of my life.""
Marcus opened his mouth.
But before he could speak, my phone buzzed.
Another message.
This time from Claire.
One sentence.
"Daniel, don't confront Marcus yet. He wasn't the person who started this.""
I looked at the screen.
Then at Marcus.
May you like
If he wasn't the person who started this...
Then who was?
