Chapter 4: The Person Behind the Betrayal
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
The rain had stopped, but the air around the mansion felt heavier than before.
Vanessa stood near the driveway, holding her phone with shaking hands.
Brandon stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Her lips trembled.
“I’m saying I didn’t just appear in your life by accident.””
My father’s attorneys exchanged a glance.
“Show us the message,” one of them said.
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she unlocked her phone and handed it over.
The screen displayed a conversation.
Unknown number.
Multiple payments.
Multiple instructions.
My stomach twisted as I read the words.
*Keep him distracted. Make him believe he needs you. Do not let Emily discover the truth.*
Below it was a bank transfer confirmation.
A payment of $500,000.
My father’s face hardened.
“Who sent this?””
Vanessa looked down.
“I don’t know.””
Brandon grabbed the phone.
“You expect me to believe this?””
She pulled it back.
“Why would I lie?””
“Because you’re trying to save yourself.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to survive.””
I stared at her.
That sentence bothered me.
Not because I felt sorry for her.
Because it meant there was more.
“You knew someone wanted to destroy my marriage,” I said.
Vanessa looked at me.
“Yes.””
The answer shocked everyone.
My father stepped forward.
“And you still continued?””
She swallowed.
“I didn’t know how far it would go.””
“That’s not an answer,” I said.
She looked away.
“When I first met Brandon, I thought he was just a wealthy businessman.””
Brandon laughed bitterly.
“So now you’re saying you didn’t care about my money?””
She looked at him.
“I cared about what I thought you could give me.””
The honesty made him silent.
“But then I found out someone else was controlling everything.””
My father’s attorney took the phone.
“Do you have any idea who sent these messages?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Think carefully.””
She closed her eyes.
“There was one thing.””
“What?””
“She always referred to Emily as ‘the obstacle.’”
My heart stopped.
“Always?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She said you were the only thing standing between Brandon and everything he deserved.””
Brandon looked confused.
“Everything I deserved?””
My father looked at him.
“You really have no idea, do you?””
Brandon turned.
“What?””
My father’s expression was cold.
“The person behind this knows more about your company than you do.””
The attorney scrolled through the messages.
“There are references to internal financial information.””
She looked at Brandon.
“Someone had access to your business records.””
Brandon’s face changed.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“No one could.””
My father raised an eyebrow.
“Your employees?””
“No.””
“Your partners?””
“No.””
“Your family?””
Brandon froze.
Only for a second.
But everyone saw it.
My father noticed.
“Who?””
Brandon looked away.
“No one.””
I stepped forward.
“Brandon.””
He didn’t look at me.
“Who are you protecting?””
Silence.
Then Vanessa whispered:
“His brother.””
Brandon’s head snapped toward her.
“Don’t.””
She looked at him.
“I’m done protecting you.””
My father’s eyes narrowed.
“Brother?””
Brandon’s jaw tightened.
“He doesn’t have anything to do with this.””
“Who is your brother?”” I asked.
Brandon remained silent.
The attorney looked at her documents.
“Mr. Carter, your company records show another person with access to executive accounts.””
She turned the page.
“A person named Daniel Carter.””
My blood ran cold.
Another Carter.
Another secret.
My father looked at Brandon.
“Your brother helped finance this?””
Brandon shook his head.
“No.””
But his voice lacked confidence.
I watched him carefully.
For three years, I thought I knew every part of his life.
His favorite food.
His childhood stories.
His dreams.
Apparently, I knew nothing.
My father placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Emily, we need to leave.””
I nodded.
But before I stepped into the SUV, Brandon called my name.
“Emily.””
I stopped.
He looked broken.
Not angry.
Not arrogant.
Broken.
“I never wanted to hurt you.””
I looked at him.
“You wanted my family’s money.””
His face tightened.
“I wanted you.””
“Then why did you choose her?””
He had no answer.
The silence was the only truth he had left.
I turned away.
As the SUV door closed, I saw Brandon standing beside the mansion.
The mansion he thought he owned.
The life he thought he controlled.
But as we drove away, my father received a phone call.
He answered.
“Richard Williams.””
His expression changed within seconds.
“What do you mean?””
I watched him carefully.
“Are you certain?””
A pause.
Then he looked at me.
Not with anger.
With concern.
“What happened?”” I asked.
My father slowly lowered the phone.
“The person who hired Vanessa wasn’t trying to take Brandon from you.””
I frowned.
“Then what were they trying to do?””
May you like
He looked toward the mansion disappearing behind us.
“They were trying to make sure you never found out who your husband really was.””
