Chapter 6: The Woman Who Started It All
My father stared at my phone.
The color had drained from his face.
“Dad?””
He didn’t answer.
“Who is Brandon’s mother?””
The silence told me everything.
My father sat slowly in the chair.
For the first time in my life, Richard Williams looked afraid.
Not angry.
Not powerful.
Afraid.
“Emily…”
“Please don’t protect me anymore.””
He looked at me.
“I thought I was.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“You let me marry a man whose entire life was built on secrets.””
He looked down.
“I didn’t know everything.””
“But you knew something.””
Another silence.
The attorney quietly stepped out of the room, giving us privacy.
My father finally spoke.
“Brandon’s mother was named Claire Carter.””
I waited.
“She worked with your grandfather.””
“How?””
“She was his business partner.””
I frowned.
“My grandfather had business partners?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t I know?””
“Because their partnership ended badly.””
“Why?””
My father looked toward the window.
“Because Claire discovered someone was stealing from the company.””
My heart raced.
“Who?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said:
“Your grandfather’s closest friend.””
I swallowed.
“And what happened to Claire?””
My father’s expression darkened.
“She disappeared.””
The word hung in the air.
“Disappeared?””
“Yes.””
“Did she die?””
“We never found out.””
I sat back.
This was bigger than Brandon.
Bigger than Vanessa.
Someone had been hiding this for decades.
“Why would Brandon care about this?””
My father looked at me.
“Because he believes your family destroyed his.””
I froze.
“But we didn’t.””
“No.””
He sighed.
“But someone convinced him we did.””
A memory flashed through my mind.
Something Brandon had said years ago.
A strange comment.
A joke I ignored.
He once told me:
“Funny how powerful families always get away with everything.””
I thought he was talking about business.
Maybe he wasn’t.
My phone buzzed again.
Another message.
This time from Brandon.
*Please. I need to talk to you. Alone.*
I showed my father.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“I need answers.””
“You won’t get them from him.””
“Maybe.””
I stood.
“But I need to hear what he says.””
My father looked worried.
“Emily, he has manipulated you for years.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
I looked at the message.
“Because if someone is trying to destroy my family…”
I paused.
“I need to know why.””
An hour later, I met Brandon at a quiet restaurant downtown.
He looked different.
Tired.
Broken.
Like the man from our wedding photos had disappeared.
When he saw me, he stood.
“Thank you for coming.””
I didn’t sit.
“Talk.””
He swallowed.
“I should have told you the truth.””
“Yes.””
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
He looked at his hands.
“Of losing everything.””
I almost laughed.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
“No, Brandon.””
I stared at him.
“You were afraid of losing your lifestyle.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“You’re right.””
The honesty surprised me.
“I was selfish.””
“Yes.””
“I thought I could fix everything.””
“You stole from me.””
“I know.””
“You betrayed me.””
“I know.””
“Then why did you marry me?””
He looked up.
And his answer was not what I expected.
“At first?””
He took a breath.
“Because of your family.””
My chest tightened.
“And later?””
His voice became quieter.
“Because I actually fell in love with you.””
I looked away.
A part of me wanted to believe him.
That was the cruelest part.
“Love doesn’t erase what you did.””
“I know.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
He looked nervous.
“About what?””
“About Daniel.””
His face changed.
“You know about him?””
“Yes.””
Brandon leaned back.
“Who told you?””
“Does it matter?””
He looked away.
Then whispered:
“Daniel is the reason I married you.””
The words made my blood run cold.
“What?””
“He told me the Williams family destroyed my mother.””
I stared at him.
“And you believed him?””
“I didn’t know what to believe.””
“So you used me to get close to my family?””
“Yes.””
The answer hurt.
Even though I expected it.
“But then something changed.””
“What?””
He looked directly at me.
“You.””
I said nothing.
“I started realizing Daniel wasn’t telling me everything.””
“Why?””
“Because I found documents.””
“What documents?””
His phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
“What?””
A voice on the other end said something.
Brandon stood up.
“No. That’s impossible.””
I watched him.
“What happened?””
He slowly lowered the phone.
His face was pale.
“Daniel knows we’re talking.””
“How?””
Brandon looked at me.
Then whispered:
“Because he’s been watching you.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Watching me?””
Brandon nodded.
“And Emily…”
“What?””
“He’s not trying to take your money.””
The restaurant suddenly felt too quiet.
“He’s trying to destroy the Williams family.””
May you like
He paused.
“And you’re the final piece of his plan.””
