Chapter 13: The Betrayal Behind the Smile
The photograph slid across the table.
I didn’t want to touch it.
I already knew.
Some part of me knew before my fingers reached for it.
Because the face staring back at me wasn’t a stranger.
It was my brother.
Michael.
My older brother.
The person who stood beside me when I got married.
The person who gave a speech about how lucky I was to find a good man.
The person who hugged Devon and called him family.
My hand covered my mouth.
“No.””
Nobody spoke.
I looked at Laura.
“No.””
She nodded slowly.
“I understand this is difficult.””
I laughed quietly.
Difficult.
That word felt too small.
My entire life had been rewritten in one night.
“My brother?””
Laura nodded.
“Michael Carter was involved in the company before the collapse.””
I looked at Devon.
He looked devastated.
Not angry.
Not surprised.
Devastated.
“You knew?””
He swallowed.
“Yes.””
My heart sank.
“When?””
“Before we met.””
I stood.
“So everyone knew.””
“No,” Devon said quickly.
“I didn’t know he was your brother.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“I knew the person responsible was someone close to me. I didn’t know it was Michael.””
I looked back at the photograph.
My brother’s smile appeared in my mind.
The way he laughed at our wedding.
The way he told me Devon was a good man.
Was it all fake?
Laura opened the folder.
“Michael used Devon’s access to move funds from the company.””
“For what?””
“Personal debt.””
My stomach turned.
“How much?””
Laura named the amount.
I couldn’t process it.
That much money.
That much damage.
All because of one person.
“And Devon took the blame?””
Laura nodded.
“He discovered the transfers after they happened.””
I looked at Devon.
“Why didn’t you expose him?””
His answer came quietly.
“Because Michael begged me not to.””
I almost laughed.
“You protected him?””
“He said he had a family.””
I stared.
“And you didn’t?””
Devon looked down.
That answer hurt.
Because it was true.
He had protected my brother while destroying our marriage.
“I thought I could fix it,” he said.
“You always think you can fix things by hiding them.””
He nodded.
“Yes.””
The room became silent.
Then my phone rang.
I looked down.
Michael.
Everyone saw the name.
Nobody moved.
The phone kept ringing.
Finally, I answered.
“Hello?””
There was silence.
Then his voice.
“Alicia.””
I closed my eyes.
“How long?””
He didn’t pretend not to understand.
“I wanted to tell you.””
I almost smiled.
Everyone wanted to tell me.
Eventually.
After the damage.
After the lies.
After I discovered everything myself.
“When?””
His voice became softer.
“I don’t know.””
“Try.””
A long pause.
Then:
“After the company failed.””
I gripped the phone.
“You let me marry him knowing what happened?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
The same excuse.
The same words.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
“Alicia—”
“No.””
My voice hardened.
“You didn’t protect me. You made decisions for me.””
Silence.
Then Michael said something that made my blood run cold.
“Ask Devon why he really married you.””
The room froze.
I looked at Devon.
He looked terrified.
“What?””
Michael continued.
“Ask him why he came into your life.””
“Michael, stop.””
Devon’s voice was sharp.
I turned slowly.
“Why?””
Nobody answered.
My heart started beating faster.
Because once again, everyone knew something I didn’t.
Michael whispered:
May you like
“Because he needed access to your family.””
The call ended.
