Chapter 7: The Betrayal Inside The Family
The sentence stayed in my mind long after Linda said it.
Someone inside this family has been helping him.
I looked at Daniel.
Then at Linda.
Then back at my father.
My entire body felt numb.
“No,” Daniel said immediately.
His voice was sharp.
“No. That’s impossible.””
Linda looked at him.
“Is it?””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don’t start accusing people without proof.””
My father’s eyes remained fixed on Linda.
“You knew.””
She looked away.
“That’s why you set this up tonight.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
My father turned to me.
“Linda wasn’t trying to steal a ring.””
He looked at the torn dress on the floor.
“She was trying to create a public accusation.””
I swallowed.
“To make me look guilty.””
“Yes.””
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Why?””
Linda’s expression changed.
For a moment, she looked tired.
Not cruel.
Not powerful.
Just tired.
“Because I was scared.””
Nobody expected that answer.
I stared at her.
“Scared of what?””
She sat down slowly.
“Years ago, Richard Vale contacted me.””
Daniel froze.
“What?””
Linda closed her eyes.
“He knew about your father’s investigation. He knew Sarah was his weakness.””
My father’s hands curled into fists.
“You helped him.””
Linda looked at him.
“I made one mistake.””
“One?””
My father’s voice was quiet.
Dangerously quiet.
“You gave him information about my daughter.””
“I didn’t know what he wanted.””
“You knew enough.””
Linda looked down.
“I thought he wanted business information.””
“And when you found out?””
She didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
Daniel stepped back.
His face had gone pale.
“Mom.””
Linda looked at him.
“I was trying to fix it.””
“You framed my wife.””
“I was trying to scare her away.””
My mouth fell open.
“You wanted me to leave Daniel?””
Linda looked at me.
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked me.
“Why?””
Her eyes filled with anger and fear.
“Because every person who gets close to Richard becomes a target.””
I laughed bitterly.
“So you decided to destroy me first?””
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“I thought if Daniel hated you, you would leave before Richard could reach you.””
The room went silent.
Daniel stared at his mother.
“You humiliated her to protect her?””
Linda didn’t respond.
Because even she knew how insane it sounded.
My father shook his head.
“You’re lying.””
Everyone looked at him.
“There is more.””
Linda’s face changed.
My father continued.
“You didn’t just plant the ring.””
The security expert looked up from his laptop.
“I found something else.””
He turned the screen.
A bank transfer appeared.
My heart dropped.
“Payment?””
The expert nodded.
“Three days ago.””
My father looked at Linda.
“From an offshore account.””
Daniel whispered:
“Mom…”
Linda stood quickly.
“I can explain.””
“No,” Daniel said.
His voice was different.
Broken.
“You knew.””
She reached toward him.
“Daniel.””
“You knew someone was after my wife.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You let me stand there.””
He pointed toward the torn dress.
“You let me think she was guilty.””
Linda’s eyes filled.
“I didn’t expect it to go that far.””
I looked at her.
“That’s the problem.””
My voice was quiet.
“You never expected me to be hurt.””
I touched my stomach.
“You only expected me to disappear.””
No one spoke.
Then my father’s phone rang.
Everyone froze.
Because the ringtone was not normal.
It was a private emergency line.
He answered.
“Hello?””
His expression changed.
“What?””
A pause.
Then his face became completely serious.
“Are you sure?””
He listened.
Then slowly looked at me.
My heart started racing.
“What happened?””
My father ended the call.
“The hospital.””
My blood went cold.
“What about the hospital?””
He looked at Daniel.
“Your wife’s medical records were accessed.””
Daniel frowned.
“By who?””
My father looked at the screen the security expert had pulled up.
A new alert appeared.
Someone had opened my prenatal file.
Someone had searched my pregnancy information.
Someone had been watching my baby.
My hands immediately covered my stomach.
“Dad…”
His expression softened.
“I’m sorry.””
The fear I had been fighting all night finally broke through.
This was bigger than a ring.
Bigger than Linda.
Someone had been planning this.
Someone who knew exactly how to hurt me.
Then the security expert spoke.
“There’s one more thing.””
Nobody moved.
“What?””
He looked at the computer.
“The person who accessed the medical records…”
He hesitated.
May you like
Then said:
“They used Daniel’s login.””
