Chapter 6: The Deal Behind the Wedding
The woman’s words changed the entire room.
Chloe.
Eleanor.
Daniel’s company.
Three things I thought were separate suddenly connected.
My father took the photograph from my hand.
“Start from the beginning.””
The woman looked nervous.
“My name is Rebecca Hall. I worked as an accountant for Daniel’s family company.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“You worked for us?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t I know?””
Rebecca looked at him sadly.
“Because your father fired me before you could find out what happened.””
Daniel froze.
“What happened?””
She looked at the folder on the table.
“Your family didn’t lose the company because of Marcus.””
Nobody moved.
Rebecca continued.
“They blamed him because it was convenient.””
My father’s eyes narrowed.
“Explain.””
Rebecca opened her purse and removed a flash drive.
“I found financial records showing money was moved from company accounts into private accounts.””
Daniel stared.
“Whose accounts?””
Rebecca looked at him.
“Your mother’s.””
The room exploded into silence.
“No.””
Daniel shook his head.
“My mother would never.””
Rebecca’s expression was painful.
“I thought the same thing.””
I watched Daniel.
The confidence he always carried was disappearing.
Because this wasn’t a stranger attacking his family.
This was proof.
“Why bring this to me now?”” I asked.
Rebecca looked at my torn dress.
“Because I saw what happened at the wedding.””
She lowered her voice.
“And I realized they were willing to destroy anyone who got in their way.””
My father took the flash drive.
“Why was Marcus involved?””
Rebecca looked at Daniel.
“Because Marcus found out first.””
Daniel swallowed.
“He knew?””
“Yes.””
Rebecca nodded.
“He tried to expose them.””
“And they framed him?””
“Yes.””
The pieces started falling into place.
Marcus wasn’t the villain in Daniel’s story.
He was the person who knew too much.
My phone buzzed.
A news alert appeared.
I opened it.
My stomach dropped.
*Major Investor Jonathan Carter Arrives After Family Scandal at Wedding Reception.*
The article already had photos.
Including me.
Including my torn dress.
Including Chloe pointing at me.
My father saw it.
“They moved quickly.””
Daniel looked horrified.
“They leaked this?””
“Yes.””
My father’s voice was cold.
“They wanted the public to see you as the problem before the truth came out.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Your family planned to destroy my reputation.””
He looked broken.
“I didn’t know.””
I believed he didn’t know.
But somehow, that didn’t make the pain disappear.
Because he still stood beside them.
He still let them hurt me.
Rebecca suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Emma.””
I looked at her.
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
She glanced at Daniel.
“Your husband wasn’t the only one hiding something.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“What does that mean?””
Rebecca hesitated.
Then she reached into her purse.
She pulled out a document.
“I found this two weeks ago.””
She handed it to me.
The title made my blood run cold.
*Divorce Agreement Draft.*
My hands shook.
I looked at Daniel.
He immediately stepped forward.
“Emma, wait.””
I stared at the pages.
His name.
My name.
A separation agreement.
Prepared before the wedding.
Before tonight.
Before the accusation.
“You were planning to leave me?””
Daniel looked devastated.
“No.””
“Then why does this exist?””
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
My father looked at him.
“Answer my daughter.””
Daniel finally whispered:
“Because my family forced me to choose.””
I felt numb.
“Choose what?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“You.””
A pause.
“Or them.””
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
“You chose them.””
Daniel looked down.
And that was the answer.
Then Rebecca’s phone suddenly rang.
She answered.
Her face changed instantly.
“What?””
Everyone watched her.
She slowly lowered the phone.
“She found out.””
My father stood.
“Who?””
Rebecca looked at me.
“Eleanor.””
A chill ran through me.
“What did she do?””
Rebecca’s voice trembled.
“She’s coming here.””
My father looked toward the door.
And smiled.
A calm, dangerous smile.
“Good.””
The headlights appeared outside.
One car.
Then another.
Eleanor had arrived.
And this time…
May you like
She wasn’t walking into a wedding.
She was walking into a war.
