Chapter 13: The Friend Who Held the Knife
I stared at the document until the letters stopped looking real.
*Rachel Morgan.*
My closest friend.
My business partner.
The person who had sat beside me while I discovered my daughter was being hurt.
The person who had helped me uncover every secret.
The person who now appeared on a document connecting her to Daniel Whitmore.
“No.””
The word came out quietly.
Helen watched me.
“Marcus.””
“No.””
I pushed the paper away.
“Rachel wouldn’t do this.””
Helen didn’t argue.
She didn’t need to.
Because doubt had already entered the room.
I thought about every conversation.
Every file she brought me.
Every piece of information she somehow found at exactly the right moment.
I thought about the night she told me someone had accessed my company server.
I thought about how quickly she knew what was happening.
Too quickly.
My phone rang.
Speaking of her.
Rachel.
I looked at the screen.
For a moment, I couldn’t answer.
Then I did.
“Marcus?””
Her voice sounded normal.
Too normal.
“Where are you?””
A pause.
“Office.””
“Come to the estate.””
Silence.
“Why?””
I looked at the document.
“Because we need to talk.””
Another pause.
Then:
“I’ll be there.””
The call ended.
Helen looked at me.
“Are you sure?””
“No.””
I looked toward the stairs.
“But I need the truth.””
Twenty minutes later, Rachel walked into the house.
She immediately noticed the atmosphere.
“What happened?””
I placed the agreement on the table.
She looked down.
And froze.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
That was enough.
“Explain.””
Rachel didn’t speak.
“Rachel.””
She slowly sat down.
“I knew this day would come.””
My heart sank.
“You knew?””
She looked at me.
“Yes.””
The room felt smaller.
“How long?””
“Eight years.””
I felt something inside me break.
“You knew about Emma?””
Rachel looked away.
“Yes.””
“From the beginning?””
She nodded.
I stood.
“You watched me raise her while knowing?””
Her eyes filled.
“Marcus, it wasn’t like that.””
“Then what was it?””
She swallowed.
“Protection.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps using that word.””
She looked at me.
“Because it’s true.””
“No.””
I pointed at the document.
“You worked with Daniel.””
“I worked against him.””
The answer stopped me.
Rachel opened her bag.
She pulled out a folder.
“I was investigating him before you ever met Emma.””
I stared.
“Why?””
“Because my father was one of the people who helped cover up his research.””
I went silent.
Rachel continued.
“I found out years later. I spent my life trying to undo what my family helped create.””
Helen looked surprised.
“Your father?””
Rachel nodded.
“Yes.””
I looked between them.
“Then why is your name on this agreement?””
Rachel’s expression changed.
“Because Daniel forced me.””
“Forced you?””
“He threatened my family.””
She opened the folder.
Inside were photos.
Documents.
Threats.
“You think I would choose him?””
I didn’t answer.
Because I didn’t know anymore.
Rachel looked at me.
“He knew about Emma before you did.””
My jaw tightened.
“What?””
“He knew Sarah was looking for a safe person to raise Emma.””
I looked at Helen.
Then Rachel.
“He chose me.””
“Why?””
“Because he knew I cared about you.””
The room became silent.
Rachel’s voice broke.
“He knew if something happened, I would protect her.””
I looked at the documents.
“But you hid the truth.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She wiped her eyes.
“Because Sarah begged me.””
I froze.
“Sarah?””
“She believed if you knew everything too soon, Daniel would come after Emma.””
I looked away.
All this time.
All these secrets.
Everyone had been making decisions about my daughter.
Even people who loved her.
A notification appeared on Rachel’s phone.
She looked at it.
Then her face changed.
“What?””
She turned the screen toward us.
A live news alert.
*Daniel Whitmore Releases Statement Claiming Marcus Cross Concealed Medical Information About Adopted Daughter.*
My blood ran cold.
“What is he doing?””
Rachel read the article.
“He’s turning the story around.””
I grabbed the phone.
The statement accused me of hiding Emma’s medical history.
Using wealth to avoid oversight.
Manipulating the school.
Daniel wasn’t defending himself.
He was creating a new story.
A story where I was the villain.
Then another message appeared.
From Daniel.
To Rachel.
*You know what happens if you choose him over me.*
Rachel stared at it.
And whispered:
“He’s going after everyone now.””
I looked at Emma’s photo on the wall.
The little girl who had no idea how many people were fighting over her future.
I knew what I had to do.
“No more hiding.””
Rachel looked at me.
“Marcus?””
May you like
I picked up the phone.
“We tell the truth.””
