Chapter 9: The Second Betrayal
Marcus read the message again.
Then he looked toward the windows.
The same windows where Daniel had stood moments earlier, watching everything fall apart.
“Who sent this?””
I shook my head.
“I don’t know.””
Marcus typed something on his phone.
Then stopped.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“The number is blocked.””
Daniel laughed softly from across the room.
Everyone turned.
He was standing near the fireplace.
“You still don’t understand.””
I stared at him.
“Understand what?””
“That you were never investigating just me.””
His words made my stomach tighten.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Enough.””
But Daniel ignored him.
“You think I was the only one who benefited from your father’s death?””
I felt a chill.
“What are you saying?””
Daniel looked at the people around him.
His family.
The people who spent years defending him.
Then he looked back at me.
“Ask Marcus.””
The attorney froze.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
And my heart sank.
I turned slowly.
“Marcus?””
He looked away.
That was the second betrayal.
Not Daniel.
Not his family.
Marcus.
The one person I believed was protecting me.
“Tell me.””
Marcus remained silent.
“Tell me the truth.””
Finally, he sighed.
“Your father asked me to investigate everyone close to him.””
“Everyone?””
“Yes.””
“Including you?””
His eyes met mine.
“Yes.””
The answer hurt.
Even though I knew he had a reason.
Even though I knew he was not Daniel.
It still hurt.
“You suspected me?””
“No.””
He stepped closer.
“Your father suspected everyone. He had discovered someone inside his own circle was leaking information.””
“Who?””
Marcus looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“We never found out.””
Daniel smiled.
“Because the person was closer than anyone expected.””
My eyes moved between them.
“What are you talking about?””
Daniel walked toward the desk.
“The truth is, Emily, your father wasn’t fighting me.””
He picked up the recording device.
“He was fighting a much bigger problem.””
Marcus’s face hardened.
“Stop.””
Daniel smiled.
“You’re afraid she’ll know.””
“Know what?””
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel looked at me.
“Your father changed the trust agreement three days before he died.””
I frowned.
“He already said that.””
“No.””
Daniel shook his head.
“He changed it again.””
The room became silent.
“He removed everyone.””
My heart raced.
“Everyone?””
Daniel nodded.
“Except one person.””
I looked at him.
“Who?””
He smiled.
“You.””
I stared.
“That doesn’t make sense.””
“It does.””
He placed the document on the desk.
“Your father realized he couldn’t trust anyone.””
I looked at Marcus.
Then at Daniel.
“Why are you telling me this?””
Daniel’s expression changed.
For a moment, he looked almost human.
Almost hurt.
“Because someone else is coming for you.””
Nobody spoke.
The rain outside suddenly stopped.
And in that silence, I heard something.
A car door closing outside.
Marcus turned toward the window.
His face changed.
“What is it?””
He didn’t answer.
He walked closer to the glass.
Then whispered:
“We need to leave.””
I looked outside.
A black SUV was parked near the entrance.
The lights were off.
The engine was still running.
And standing beside the vehicle was a person I recognized.
Someone who should not have been there.
Someone who had attended my father’s funeral.
Someone who had comforted me when I lost everything.
My breath caught.
Because the person waiting outside was the last person I expected.
My own aunt.
May you like
The woman who had raised me after my father died.
And she was not alone.
