Chapter 8: The Husband Who Stayed Silent
I don’t remember breathing.
I only remember looking at Daniel.
Because the one thing I had refused to believe suddenly became the only thing everyone was thinking.
His login.
His account.
His name.
Daniel stared at the screen.
“No.””
The word came out immediately.
“No, that’s not possible.””
The security expert looked at him.
“The access was verified through your credentials.””
“I didn’t do that.””
My father stepped forward.
“Then someone had access to your account.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Sarah, you know me.””
I wanted to say yes.
I wanted to defend him.
I wanted to believe him.
But my heart remembered something.
Standing in that room.
Watching him stay silent.
Watching him ask what was inside the pouch.
Not whether I was okay.
Not whether I needed help.
Just what was inside.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.””
The words hurt him.
I could see it.
But they hurt me more.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Sarah.””
I moved back.
A small movement.
But everyone noticed.
His face changed.
My father looked between us.
“Daniel, when did you last access your account?””
Daniel thought.
“Yesterday.””
“Where?””
“At work.””
“Who was with you?””
“My assistant.””
My father looked at the security expert.
“Find out.””
Daniel ran a hand through his hair.
“This is insane.””
“No,” I whispered.
“It’s organized.””
He looked at me.
“What are you saying?””
“I’m saying someone has been making us doubt each other.””
My voice shook.
“And it worked.””
Daniel went quiet.
Because he knew.
It had.
The security expert typed quickly.
“Wait.””
Everyone turned.
“What?””
“I found the access point.””
My father walked closer.
“Where?””
The man looked at Daniel.
“Your office.””
Daniel frowned.
“That makes no sense.””
The expert turned the screen.
“The login was used from your company network.””
Daniel stared.
Then slowly whispered:
“My office?””
I felt a strange kind of sadness.
Because I could see him realizing something.
Someone close to him had betrayed him too.
“Who has access?”” my father asked.
Daniel hesitated.
“My executive assistant.””
“Name?””
Daniel swallowed.
“Emily.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But the way Daniel said it made my stomach tighten.
“You trust her?””
“Yes.””
Then he paused.
“I trusted her.””
My father looked at him.
“Call her.””
Daniel pulled out his phone.
The first call went unanswered.
Second.
Nothing.
Third.
Straight to voicemail.
The room became colder.
“She’s avoiding you,” Linda whispered.
Everyone looked at her.
For once, she didn’t sound manipulative.
She sounded afraid.
Daniel looked at his mother.
“How long have you known about Richard?””
Linda looked down.
“Years.””
“And you never told me?””
“I was trying to keep you away from him.””
“No.””
Daniel’s voice cracked.
“You were trying to control everything.””
Linda looked hurt.
But she didn’t deny it.
Then Daniel’s phone buzzed.
Everyone froze.
A message.
From Emily.
He opened it.
His face changed instantly.
“What?””
I asked.
He didn’t answer.
He handed me the phone.
The message was short.
*You finally found out.*
My fingers went cold.
Another message appeared.
*Tell Sarah I’m sorry.*
Then another.
*But Richard said she was never supposed to survive this.*
My father immediately grabbed the phone.
“Who is Richard?””
Daniel looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
Then the phone rang.
Unknown number.
My father answered.
Nobody spoke.
Only silence.
Then a man’s voice came through.
“You should have left the past buried.””
My father’s face turned pale.
“Richard.””
The voice laughed softly.
“I see you still remember me.””
Daniel moved closer.
“Who is this?””
The voice ignored him.
It spoke directly to my father.
“You failed once.””
A pause.
“This time, I’m taking everything.””
My father’s grip tightened around the phone.
“You touched my daughter.””
The man laughed.
“No.””
Another pause.
“I touched your daughter’s life years ago.””
My blood ran cold.
“What does that mean?””
The voice continued.
“Ask your father why your wedding happened exactly when it did.””
I looked at my father.
He looked away.
And that terrified me.
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
Then Daniel whispered:
“Dad?””
My father slowly looked up.
May you like
And said:
“Your wedding was not a coincidence.””
