Chapter 5: The Enemy Inside
The person inside Harrington Dynamics had a name.
Daniel Harrington.
Ethan’s older brother.
The one person in the family who had not laughed when Victoria threw wine in my face.
At the time, I thought he was simply uncomfortable.
Now I wondered if he had known exactly what was happening.
I called Rachel.
“Find Daniel.””
“I already did.””
“And?””
“He requested a private meeting.””
I looked out the window.
“When?””
“Tonight.””
I almost refused.
Almost.
But something told me this wasn’t another trap.
Daniel had nothing to gain from protecting me.
Which meant he might have something to lose.
The meeting took place at a quiet café across town.
No executives.
No family members.
No cameras.
Just Daniel and me.
When he walked in, I immediately noticed the difference between him and Ethan.
They looked similar.
Same dark hair.
Same sharp features.
Same wealthy upbringing.
But their eyes were different.
Ethan’s eyes always searched for approval.
Daniel’s looked tired.
Like someone who had been carrying a secret too heavy for too long.
“Olivia Bennett.””
I nodded.
“Daniel Harrington.””
He sat.
“I owe you an apology.””
“For what?””
“For knowing.””
I stayed silent.
He looked down.
“I knew my mother was planning something at dinner.””
My expression hardened.
“And you let it happen?””
“No.””
His answer came quickly.
“I tried to stop her.””
“But you failed.””
“Yes.””
The honesty surprised me.
He didn’t make excuses.
He didn’t blame someone else.
He simply accepted it.
“I should have told you before that night.””
“Why didn’t you?””
Daniel looked around the café.
“Because I thought I could fix it.””
I almost smiled.
“That sounds familiar.””
He ignored the comment.
“Ethan made mistakes. Big ones.””
“That’s a gentle way to say he committed fraud.””
Daniel’s expression tightened.
“Yes.””
The word hung between us.
“He manipulated financial reports. He approved illegal transfers. He convinced investors everything was under control.””
“And Victoria covered for him.””
“Yes.””
I leaned forward.
“Why?””
“Because Ethan is her favorite.””
That answer was simple.
And cruel.
Daniel continued.
“She spent his entire life protecting him from consequences.””
“And you?””
“I was expected to clean up after him.””
I studied his face.
“You tried to expose him.””
“Yes.””
“What happened?””
Daniel laughed quietly.
“My mother removed me from the board.””
I understood.
The family image mattered more than the truth.
“What do you want from me?””
Daniel looked directly at me.
“The truth to come out.””
“That doesn’t answer my question.””
He paused.
“Because I believe you’re the only person powerful enough to stop them.””
I looked away.
“I’m not interested in revenge.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
“Because Harrington Dynamics employs thousands of people.””
That made me pause.
Not because I cared about the company.
Because I cared about the innocent people trapped inside it.
Daniel noticed.
“You’re not like them.””
I looked back.
“Don’t confuse having principles with forgiveness.””
“I won’t.””
A silence followed.
Then Daniel placed a folder on the table.
“What is that?””
“Proof.””
I opened it.
Inside were documents.
Emails.
Private messages.
Approval records.
Everything connecting Ethan and Victoria to the financial collapse.
But one document caught my attention.
A contract.
A merger agreement.
Between Harrington Dynamics and Bennett Technologies.
I read the first page.
Then the second.
Then the final signature.
My blood went cold.
Because the agreement was dated six months earlier.
Before Ethan proposed.
Before he told me he loved me.
Before I even knew his family.
I looked at Daniel.
“He planned this before we were engaged.””
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.””
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Rachel.
I answered.
“Olivia.””
Her voice was urgent.
“You need to see this immediately.””
“What happened?””
A pause.
Then:
“Ethan just announced a press conference.””
I frowned.
“For what?””
Rachel hesitated.
“He’s claiming Bennett Technologies sabotaged Harrington Dynamics.””
The room went silent.
Daniel looked at me.
And for the first time that night, I saw something close to fear in his expression.
“They’re not trying to save the company anymore.””
May you like
I stared at my phone.
“They’re trying to destroy you.””
