Chapter 12: The Test They Wanted Me to Fail
I couldn’t speak.
The restaurant suddenly felt too loud.
Forks hitting plates.
People laughing.
A child crying somewhere near the entrance.
Normal sounds.
A normal world.
Meanwhile, my entire life had turned into a carefully designed trap.
“The breakfast was a test?”” I repeated.
Grant nodded.
“My mother wanted to know what you would do.””
“What kind of wife I would be?””
“Yes.””
I laughed quietly.
“By letting your son hit me?””
His face tightened.
“She knew you wouldn’t tolerate it.””
I stared at him.
“Then why do it?””
“Because she needed proof.””
“Proof of what?””
“That you were independent.””
I frowned.
“That makes no sense.””
Grant looked at the flash drive.
“My mother knew a woman who obeyed everything would be useless.””
I felt cold.
“She didn’t want a weak wife.””
“No.””
He looked at me.
“She wanted someone strong enough to take responsibility when everything collapsed.””
The words landed like stones.
“They needed someone believable.””
“Yes.””
“And you knew.””
“Yes.””
I stood.
For a second, I thought I would leave.
Then I sat back down.
Because I needed the whole truth.
“What was supposed to happen after the wedding?””
Grant looked miserable.
“The company would announce internal restructuring.””
“And blame me.””
“Yes.””
“Because I had access.””
“Yes.””
“And because I sent the compliance report, they could say I acted alone.””
“Yes.””
I looked away.
My vision blurred.
“How close was I?””
Grant didn’t answer.
“Grant.””
He whispered:
“Very.””
The silence hurt.
“How close?””
“They had already prepared documents.””
“What documents?””
“Resignation letters.””
My heart sank.
“For me?””
“Yes.””
“And legal statements?””
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
They weren’t reacting to my email.
They were waiting for it.
The entire morning.
The breakfast.
The slap.
My leaving.
All of it.
A performance.
My phone suddenly buzzed.
A message from Claire.
*We have a problem.*
I opened it.
A photo appeared.
It showed my apartment building.
My front door.
And a man standing outside.
The caption:
*Someone is searching your place.*
I looked up.
Grant saw my expression.
“What happened?””
I showed him.
His face immediately changed.
“Who is that?””
I zoomed in.
Grant went pale.
“No.””
“What?””
“That’s not possible.””
“Who is he?””
Grant looked at me.
And for the first time, I saw real fear.
“That’s Daniel Reeves.””
My hands went cold.
“The man whose number called me?””
“Yes.””
“But Daniel is dead.””
Grant nodded slowly.
“That’s what my family wanted everyone to believe.””
A thousand questions hit me at once.
“Then where has he been?””
Grant looked toward the restaurant window.
“I don’t know.””
A pause.
Then he whispered:
“But if Daniel is alive…”
“What?””
Grant looked back at me.
“Then my father has been hiding something much bigger than the money.””
My phone buzzed again.
This time, it wasn’t Claire.
It wasn’t Daniel.
It was Meredith.
One sentence.
No explanation.
No threat.
May you like
Just four words.
*Ask Grant about the baby.*
