Chapter 11: The Last Lie Daniel Told
The entire room waited.
Daniel looked more confident than he had minutes earlier.
That scared me.
Because I knew Daniel.
When he felt trapped, he didn’t surrender.
He searched for another way out.
The company lawyer placed the folder on the table.
“Before anyone makes decisions based on incomplete information, this needs to be reviewed.””
Michael immediately reached for it.
But Daniel stopped him.
“No.””
He looked at the board.
“Everyone deserves to know the truth.””
I stared at him.
“What truth?””
He smiled.
“The truth that Rebecca’s control over this company is not as simple as she thinks.””
My stomach tightened.
The lawyer opened the folder.
“There is a secondary clause in Evelyn Hart’s agreement.””
The chairman looked confused.
“What clause?””
The lawyer read carefully.
“Control of the company can only transfer if the beneficiary demonstrates independent judgment and protection of company interests.””
Daniel looked at me.
“And I believe Rebecca has failed that requirement.””
The room went silent.
I almost couldn’t believe it.
He was trying again.
Another story.
Another version where I was the problem.
“Why?””
I asked.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Because she has emotional instability.””
A few people looked uncomfortable.
He continued.
“She gave birth less than a week ago. She’s under extreme stress. She’s making decisions based on anger.””
I stared at him.
This was his plan.
He wanted to make me look fragile.
Weak.
Unstable.
The same way he had prepared his custody argument.
Michael stood.
“That claim is unsupported.””
Daniel smiled.
“Is it?””
He looked toward the lawyer.
The man pulled out another document.
My heart sank.
“What is that?””
The lawyer placed it on the table.
“A medical statement.””
I froze.
Daniel watched my reaction.
“I told you.””
I looked at Michael.
His expression was serious.
“This was not in the documents we reviewed.””
Daniel smiled.
“Because I kept it private.””
I looked at the paper.
Then I saw the signature.
My old doctor.
My pregnancy doctor.
But something felt wrong.
I had never seen this document before.
I looked at Daniel.
“You forged this.””
The room went quiet.
His smile disappeared.
“Careful.””
“No.””
My voice became stronger.
“You used my pregnancy. My childbirth. My daughter. You are trying to turn the hardest moment of my life into evidence against me.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Allison walked into the room.
Daniel’s face changed.
“What are you doing here?””
Allison held a folder.
“I’m done being afraid of you.””
Daniel stared at her.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””
She placed the folder beside Michael.
“I understand exactly.””
Michael opened it.
His expression changed.
“What is this?””
Allison looked at me.
“Proof.””
Inside were emails.
Messages.
Records.
Everything.
Michael scanned the pages.
Then looked at the board.
“This document was created using company resources.””
The chairman frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“It means Daniel used company employees to create false evidence for his personal legal battle.””
Daniel’s face went pale.
“That’s a lie.””
Allison shook her head.
“I was there.””
The room changed.
For the first time, Daniel wasn’t controlling the conversation.
He wasn’t directing the story.
He was being exposed.
The chairman looked at him.
“Daniel, do you deny these communications?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
That silence said everything.
But then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
And suddenly all confidence disappeared.
He answered quietly.
“What?””
A pause.
Then his face went completely blank.
“No.””
Everyone watched him.
“What do you mean the account was discovered?””
My heart started beating faster.
Daniel slowly lowered the phone.
The chairman asked:
“Is there another issue?””
Daniel looked at me.
And for the first time, I saw something I had never seen before.
Fear.
Not anger.
Not arrogance.
Fear.
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Because whatever he had just learned…
It was worse than losing the company.
