Chapter 7: The Man Who Knew Everything
I held the phone against my ear, but I couldn’t answer.
David Collins’ voice echoed through the room.
“Claire?””
I looked at my father.
He looked back at me with a fear I had never seen before.
Not anger.
Not guilt.
Fear.
That scared me more than anything.
“Why are you calling me?”” I finally asked.
A quiet sigh came through the speaker.
“Because you’re about to make the same mistake everyone else made.””
My jaw tightened.
“You mean trusting people?””
There was silence.
Then David said,
“Yes.””
My father stepped closer.
“Claire, don’t listen to him.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
That single word stopped him.
Because he didn’t have an answer.
David continued.
“Your father wants you to believe I’m the villain. That’s easier than admitting the truth.””
I walked away from my father.
“Then tell me the truth.””
“Meet me.””
“No.””
“Claire, if you don’t hear this from me, you’ll only hear the version your father prepared.””
My hand tightened around the phone.
“You have ten minutes.””
My father immediately shook his head.
“Claire, this is a mistake.””
I looked at him.
“Is it?””
His silence followed me as I walked toward the private office at the venue.
David was already there when I arrived.
He stood near the window.
No expensive suit.
No confident smile.
Just a tired man who looked like he hadn’t slept.
“Claire.””
I stayed near the door.
“Talk.””
David nodded.
“I deserve that.””
“You deserve much worse.””
He accepted that.
“I won’t pretend I’m innocent.””
That surprised me.
Most people lied when they were caught.
David admitted it.
“I made bad decisions.””
“Did you help plan my marriage?””
His eyes lowered.
“Yes.””
The honesty made my stomach twist.
“Why?””
“Because Richard came to me first.””
I frowned.
“My uncle?””
“Yes.””
David walked toward the table and placed a folder down.
“Richard wanted control of Bennett Properties. He knew he couldn’t take it from your father directly.””
“So he used Marcus.””
David nodded.
“And Diane.””
I stared at him.
“Then why are you telling me now?””
He looked at the folder.
“Because I found out Richard planned something bigger.””
I didn’t move.
“What bigger?””
“He wasn’t trying to steal your inheritance.””
David opened the folder.
“He was trying to destroy your father.””
Inside were documents.
Bank transfers.
Emails.
Contracts.
I scanned the pages.
My father’s company name appeared repeatedly.
“He wanted the company to fail?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
David looked at me.
“Because your father refused to sell.””
I looked up.
“Sell to who?””
David hesitated.
Then answered.
“A private investment group.””
The room went silent.
“Who owns it?””
David looked at me.
“Your mother’s brother.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Richard?””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“Someone you haven’t met.””
That made no sense.
“How can someone in my family be connected to this and I don’t know?””
David looked uncomfortable.
“Because your family has been protecting you from the truth for years.””
I hated that sentence.
Because everyone kept saying it.
Protecting me.
As if hiding my own life from me was kindness.
I closed the folder.
“What does this have to do with Marcus?””
David looked at me.
“Marcus was never supposed to marry you.””
My heartbeat changed.
“What?””
“He was supposed to get close to you, collect information, and leave.””
“Then why propose?””
David’s expression darkened.
“Because someone changed the plan.””
“Who?””
Before he could answer, the office door opened.
My father walked in.
His face was pale.
“Claire.””
I turned.
“You knew David was involved.””
My father didn’t deny it.
“I knew he was desperate.””
David looked at him.
“And you knew Richard was dangerous.””
My father’s jaw tightened.
“I was handling it.””
“No,” I said.
“You were hiding it.””
The room became silent.
My father looked at me.
“I thought I could fix everything before you got hurt.””
I shook my head.
“You didn’t protect me.””
I held up the folder.
“You left me standing at an altar surrounded by people who were lying to me.””
My father had no response.
Then David’s phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His face changed instantly.
“What?””
I looked at him.
“What happened?””
He slowly turned the phone toward us.
A message.
Only four words.
“Phase two has started.””
David looked at me.
“Claire…”
“What?””
He swallowed.
“Your wedding wasn’t the plan.””
May you like
My blood went cold.
“It was the distraction.””
