Chapter 11: The Lawyer With Two Faces
I stared at the photograph until the screen went dark.
Mr. Hayes.
Standing beside Ethan Caldwell.
The man who had helped me fight for my daughter.
The man who had carried my evidence into court.
The man I trusted.
My first instinct was denial.
No.
Not him.
Anyone else.
But not him.
“Emma?””
Brandon’s voice pulled me back.
I looked up.
He saw my expression.
“What happened?””
I turned the phone toward him.
The moment he saw the picture, his face changed.
“You’re sure that’s Ethan?””
“Yes.””
Brandon looked sick.
“But why would he be with Hayes?””
That was the question burning inside me.
Why?
Mr. Hayes had been the one person who seemed to know exactly what to do.
He had protected me when everyone else attacked me.
He had found the evidence.
He had exposed Patricia.
And now someone was telling me he had his own secret.
When Mr. Hayes returned, I was waiting.
He immediately noticed.
“You know.””
It wasn’t a question.
I held up my phone.
“What is this?””
He looked at the image.
For a moment, he said nothing.
That moment was enough.
“Explain.””
He sighed.
“I was hoping we could avoid this conversation.””
My heart sank.
“Why?””
“Because the truth is complicated.””
I laughed softly.
“Everyone keeps saying that right before they betray me.””
Brandon stood beside me.
“What are you hiding?””
Mr. Hayes looked at him.
“Not what you think.””
“Then tell us.””
He was silent.
Finally, he spoke.
“Ethan Caldwell hired me.””
The words hit like a punch.
I stared.
“What?””
“Three weeks ago.””
Brandon stepped forward.
“You worked for him?””
“Yes.””
“While representing Emma?””
“Yes.””
I felt dizzy.
“Were you using me?””
Mr. Hayes looked at me.
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
I didn’t believe it.
“Then why?””
He looked at Lily.
Then back at me.
“Because Ethan asked me to investigate Patricia and Brandon.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“Because Ethan knew something was wrong inside Mitchell Innovations.””
Brandon frowned.
“He suspected fraud?””
Mr. Hayes nodded.
“Among other things.””
I looked between them.
“So Ethan sent you to help me?””
“Yes.””
“Without telling me?””
“Yes.””
Anger rose in my chest.
“You don’t get to decide what truths I can handle.””
“I know.””
“Do you?””
My voice shook.
“Because everyone keeps deciding things for me.””
Mr. Hayes lowered his eyes.
For the first time, he looked ashamed.
“I made a mistake.””
I looked away.
That sentence was becoming too familiar.
Then Brandon spoke.
“What exactly did Ethan find?””
Mr. Hayes hesitated.
“Financial manipulation.””
“What kind?””
“Someone inside the company had been moving money.””
Brandon’s face changed.
“How much?””
Mr. Hayes looked at him.
“Millions.””
The silence was immediate.
Brandon looked toward the ground.
“My company…”
“No,” Mr. Hayes said.
“Your company was already being stolen.””
I looked at Brandon.
“You didn’t know?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
For the first time, I believed him.
Not because I trusted him.
Because his reaction was real.
Mr. Hayes continued.
“Ethan believed Patricia was being used by someone else.””
I frowned.
“Used?””
“Yes.””
Brandon looked confused.
“By who?””
Mr. Hayes opened his briefcase.
He removed a file.
“I was going to show you this after the custody hearing.””
Inside were documents.
Bank transfers.
Corporate records.
A name appeared repeatedly.
My blood froze.
Because I knew that name.
Someone I had met.
Someone who smiled at me.
Someone who acted like my friend.
“Who is this?”” Brandon asked.
I whispered:
“Rachel.””
The school counselor.
The woman who had brought Lily’s statement to court.
The woman who claimed she wanted to protect my daughter.
Brandon looked shocked.
“No.””
Mr. Hayes nodded.
“She wasn’t just helping Patricia.””
My fingers trembled.
“What was she doing?””
Mr. Hayes looked at the documents.
“She was helping someone gain access to the company.””
Brandon stepped back.
“But why would a school counselor care about my company?””
Nobody answered.
Then my phone buzzed.
Another message.
This time from Rachel.
I opened it.
Only one sentence.
*You finally found the truth. Too bad you found it too late.*
Then another message appeared.
A picture.
Lily.
Standing outside our old house.
My heart stopped.
Because the timestamp was from five minutes ago.
May you like
And underneath it:
*I told you I would take away what you love most.*
