Chapter 10: The Man Who Held the Contract
Victor Hale chose a restaurant where every table had enough distance for private conversations.
That told me everything I needed to know about him.
People who had nothing to hide didn’t need rooms designed around secrecy.
He sat across from me wearing a dark suit, his hands folded calmly on the table.
He didn’t look like the monster Linda had described.
That almost made him more dangerous.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Victor said.
I didn’t touch my coffee.
“I doubt that.””
“You expected someone worse.””
I looked at him.
“Should I?””
A small smile appeared on his face.
“Your mother-in-law probably described me as a criminal.””
“She described you as someone who ruins families.””
Victor leaned back.
“Interesting.””
“What’s interesting?””
“That she still thinks she’s the victim.””
I studied him.
“Why did you call me?””
“Because I want my name removed from a situation I didn’t create.””
“That sounds convenient.””
“It is.””
He opened a folder and placed several documents on the table.
“I loaned Linda money.””
“I know.””
“No, you know the story she told.””
I looked at the papers.
“What’s the difference?””
“The difference is that she didn’t borrow money to save her house.””
I looked up.
“Then why?””
Victor tapped the folder.
“Because she wanted control.””
My stomach tightened.
“Control over what?””
“Your company.””
The answer didn’t surprise me anymore.
It just confirmed what I already feared.
“How did she know about my company?””
Victor looked at me.
“Through Daniel.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“He gave her information?””
“No.””
Victor paused.
“He gave her access.””
I stared at him.
“Explain.””
“Years ago, Daniel signed documents allowing limited business representation.””
“Limited.””
“Yes.””
Victor pushed one document toward me.
“But Linda altered the purpose.””
I scanned the page.
My eyes stopped at a paragraph.
“She changed the agreement.””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Your husband’s signature was real.””
My heart sank.
“But the information surrounding it was manipulated.””
I looked away.
That was somehow worse.
Because it meant Daniel had made a mistake.
A terrible one.
But a mistake.
Not a betrayal.
“Why didn’t you expose her?””
Victor was quiet.
Then he answered:
“Because I wanted my money back.””
I looked at him.
“And now?””
“Now she is trying to make me responsible for something illegal.””
He leaned forward.
“She created a false trail.””
“To make it look like you forced her?””
“Yes.””
“And me?””
Victor looked down.
“She needed a person everyone would believe was responsible.””
My hands tightened.
“Me.””
“Yes.””
I hated how calmly he said it.
Like my entire life had become a strategy game between people who saw humans as pieces.
“What do you want from me?””
“Your cooperation.””
“With what?””
“Stopping Linda.””
I almost laughed.
“You think I want to help you?””
“No.””
Victor looked directly at me.
“I think you want the truth.””
That was the problem.
I did.
Even if the truth hurt.
Even if it destroyed everything I thought I knew.
When I returned home, Daniel was waiting.
“You met him.””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
I placed the documents on the table.
“He said your mother planned everything.””
Daniel looked at the papers.
His face changed.
“She forged them?””
“Yes.””
He sat down slowly.
For a moment, he looked like a child hearing something impossible about the person who raised him.
“She always said she was protecting me.””
I sat across from him.
“She was protecting herself.””
The words hurt him.
But he nodded.
“I know.””
The next morning, my lawyer filed the first legal notice.
Linda received it at 8:30 a.m.
At 8:45, my phone rang.
Her name appeared.
I almost didn’t answer.
Then I did.
“What do you want?””
Her voice was different.
No anger.
No confidence.
Fear.
“You’re making a mistake.””
“No.””
I looked at the documents on my desk.
“I’m correcting one.””
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””
“I understand perfectly.””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“You think Daniel will stay with you after this?””
I frowned.
“What?””
“You think exposing me saves your marriage?””
I stayed silent.
Linda continued.
“He will leave.””
“Why?””
Her voice lowered.
“Because he never told you the biggest secret.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“What secret?””
She laughed softly.
Not happily.
Almost sadly.
“The reason Daniel married you.””
The call ended.
And for the first time in days, I felt something I thought I had lost.
Fear.
May you like
Because there was still one unanswered question.
Why me?
