Chapter 5: The Friend Behind The Mask
I stared at the document in my hand.
The name printed across the page felt impossible.
My fingers tightened around the paper.
Daniel noticed my expression.
And for the first time that night, he smiled.
Not because he was winning.
Because he thought he had found a way to hurt me.
“Now you understand,” he said.
I looked at him.
“Understand what?””
“That everyone betrays you eventually.””
The words should have hurt.
Months ago, they would have.
But Daniel didn’t realize something.
I had already survived the worst betrayal.
I had survived loving him.
Arthur stepped closer.
“Emma, there’s more.””
I looked at the document again.
The financial transfers.
The signatures.
The approval codes.
Every illegal payment connected to Daniel’s hidden accounts had been authorized by someone using a name I knew.
Someone who had comforted me when I cried.
Someone who had told me I deserved better.
My best friend, Claire.
The ballroom noise disappeared.
For a moment, I couldn’t hear anything except my own heartbeat.
“No,” I whispered.
Daniel watched me carefully.
“You trusted her, didn’t you?””
I didn’t answer.
Because the worst part was…
he was right.
Claire had been the person I called after every fight.
The person who helped cover my bruises.
The person who encouraged me to leave.
Or at least, that was what I believed.
The agent looked at the documents.
“Who is Claire Bennett?””
I swallowed.
“My closest friend.””
Daniel laughed quietly.
“Your closest friend knew everything.””
The room erupted again.
Guests whispered.
Cameras turned.
I closed my eyes.
Trying to separate memories from reality.
Claire sitting beside me at the hospital.
Claire holding my hand after Daniel’s first public apology.
Claire telling me:
“Emma, you need to be careful. Men like Daniel don’t lose. They destroy.””
Had she been warning me?
Or had she been studying me?
Arthur’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“The documents show Claire transferred information to Daniel about your plans.””
My stomach dropped.
“What plans?””
“The recordings. The evidence collection. Your attempt to leave.””
I looked up.
“She knew?””
Arthur nodded.
“She knew everything.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
Daniel stepped closer.
“She was the reason I was always one step ahead.””
The agent immediately stopped him.
“Stay where you are.””
Daniel ignored him.
“She told me when you were meeting lawyers.””
I stared at him.
“When?””
He smiled.
“Every time.””
The memories came back.
The failed appointments.
The documents that mysteriously disappeared.
The moments when Daniel somehow knew what I was planning before I acted.
I thought I was unlucky.
I wasn’t.
I was being watched.
Victoria crossed her arms.
“Do you still think you’re the victim?””
I looked at her.
Even now, she was trying to twist the story.
But something inside me had changed.
I no longer needed everyone to believe me.
I had proof.
The agent took the documents.
“We’ll be contacting Ms. Bennett.””
Daniel smiled again.
“You won’t find her.””
Everyone looked at him.
The smile disappeared from my face.
“What did you say?””
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
“She wouldn’t stay after knowing the truth was coming out.””
My heart sank.
Because Daniel wasn’t guessing.
He knew.
The agent immediately reached for his phone.
“Does anyone know where she is?””
Silence.
Then my phone vibrated.
One message.
Unknown number.
I looked down.
And every bit of confidence I had rebuilt disappeared.
The message contained only one sentence.
*Emma, if you want to know why Claire betrayed you, come alone.*
Below it was an address.
And a photo.
May you like
A photo of Claire standing beside Daniel…
taken yesterday.
