Chapter 10: The Voice Behind The Betrayal
The phone felt heavy in my hand.
The voice on the other end was calm.
Almost too calm.
“Olivia, are you alone?””
I looked around the ballroom.
My brothers were watching me.
Alexander’s expression had changed the moment he saw the caller’s name.
“No,” I answered.
A pause.
Then a quiet sigh.
“Of course you’re not.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Why are you calling me?””
Nobody spoke.
The entire room seemed to wait.
The voice lowered.
“Because you’re making a mistake.””
My heart sank.
I already knew what was coming.
Everyone who betrayed me had used the same words.
They never said, “I hurt you.””
They said, “You misunderstood.””
They said, “You’re overreacting.””
They said, “I’m trying to help.””
“Explain,” I said.
The person on the phone hesitated.
That hesitation told me everything.
“You need to leave with me before your brothers tell you the rest.””
I looked at Alexander.
He didn’t move.
But his eyes told me something.
He was afraid.
Not of the caller.
Of what I might discover.
“Tell me the rest now.””
Another pause.
“Olivia…”
“Now.””
My voice surprised even me.
The person on the phone finally spoke.
“Your mother didn’t trust Michael.””
I frowned.
“I know.””
“No.””
The voice became serious.
“She didn’t trust your brothers either.””
The words hit the room like a shockwave.
Ryan immediately stepped forward.
“Who is this?””
The caller ignored him.
“Olivia, listen carefully. Your brothers have always controlled your life.””
I looked at Alexander.
A thousand questions filled my mind.
Because part of me wanted to reject it.
But another part remembered something.
My mother had always told me to think for myself.
Never blindly follow anyone.
Not even family.
“Where are you?”” I asked.
The person hesitated.
“Come meet me.””
“No.””
“Olivia, please.””
I almost laughed.
Everyone wanted my trust tonight.
Everyone wanted me to believe them.
Michael.
Claire.
Now this.
“Send me proof.””
Silence.
Then:
“I have something your mother left behind.””
My breathing stopped.
“What?””
“A second letter.””
Alexander’s face changed.
“No.””
I turned toward him.
“You know about this?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
The caller continued.
“Your brothers never showed you everything.””
My grip tightened.
“Where?””
“An old Bennett property outside the city.””
Alexander stepped closer.
“Olivia, don’t go.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because we don’t know what this person wants.””
I nodded slowly.
“And you do?””
His silence hurt.
Because I needed him to say yes.
I needed him to have a simple answer.
But he didn’t.
For the first time in my life, I wondered how many secrets my family had kept from me.
The call ended.
I stared at the dark screen.
Ryan spoke first.
“Liv, whoever that was, they’re trying to divide us.””
“Maybe.””
His expression changed.
“Maybe?””
I looked at all three of my brothers.
“I spent years believing Michael was honest because I wanted to believe him.””
I swallowed.
“I won’t make that mistake again.””
Alexander looked hurt.
“Do you think we’re like him?””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“But I think everyone in my life has decided what I can handle.””
Nobody spoke.
Because they knew I was right.
James lowered his voice.
“Your mother wanted to protect you.””
“I know.””
“But she also knew you would eventually need the truth.””
I looked at him.
“What truth?””
Before he answered, the ballroom doors opened.
A security officer rushed in.
“Mr. Bennett.””
Alexander turned.
“What happened?””
The officer handed him a tablet.
“We found the source of the leaked documents.””
Alexander looked down.
His face changed.
“Impossible.””
I stepped closer.
“What?””
He slowly turned the screen toward me.
A security image appeared.
A person entering the Bennett family archive.
The person’s face was visible.
And I knew him.
Because he had been standing beside me earlier.
Because I had trusted him.
Because I had called him family.
I whispered his name.
May you like
And Alexander said the same thing at the exact moment.
“Your father.””
