Chapter 5: The Name Behind The Phone Call
The name on Daniel’s phone stayed in my mind long after the screen went dark.
Marcus Hale.
I had never heard that name before.
But the reaction on Sophia’s face told me one thing.
She knew exactly who he was.
And that scared me more than anything Daniel had done so far.
“Who is Marcus Hale?”” I asked.
Daniel didn’t answer.
He looked toward the exit.
That was when I understood.
He wasn’t planning to explain.
He was planning to run.
I stepped in front of him.
“No.””
Daniel stopped.
The room watched silently.
Five years of marriage had taught me every expression on his face.
I knew when he was happy.
I knew when he was stressed.
I knew when he was hiding something.
And right now, he was terrified.
“Emily, please.””
“No.””
I looked directly into his eyes.
“You don’t get to decide when I know the truth anymore.””
Daniel looked down.
Sophia slowly walked closer.
“Marcus was Daniel’s business partner.””
I turned toward her.
“Was?””
She nodded.
“Two years ago, they started a company together.””
Daniel interrupted.
“Sophia.””
But she continued.
“The company failed.””
I looked at Daniel.
“You told me your company was growing.””
“I was trying to recover.””
“So you lied.””
He didn’t deny it.
Sophia took a shaky breath.
“Marcus blamed Daniel for everything.””
Daniel’s face tightened.
“Because he destroyed everything.””
The words came out before he could stop himself.
Everyone noticed.
I noticed.
“You mean there’s more.””
Daniel stayed quiet.
Sophia looked at me.
“Marcus disappeared after the company collapsed.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Why?””
Nobody answered.
Then Daniel’s mother, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke.
“Emily, you need to understand something.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She looked uncomfortable.
“Daniel has been under pressure.””
I stared at her.
“Did you know?””
Her silence was enough.
My chest tightened.
“You knew?””
She looked away.
“I wanted to protect my son.””
I felt something inside me break.
Not because she protected him.
Because everyone had been protecting him while I was living inside a lie.
I looked around the room.
My husband.
His mother.
My best friend.
All of them knew pieces of the truth.
Except me.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Emily, I made mistakes.””
I looked at him.
“Mistakes?””
My voice shook.
“You didn’t forget to tell me something. You built an entire fake life.””
He looked hurt.
But I couldn’t tell if he was hurt because he lost me…
Or because he lost control.
Then Sophia reached into her bag again.
She pulled out a small flash drive.
“I have something else.””
Daniel’s expression changed immediately.
“No.””
That one word confirmed everything.
I stared at the flash drive.
“What is that?””
Sophia looked at Daniel.
“The backup.””
Daniel’s face went pale.
“Where did you get that?””
“From your office.””
A wave of whispers moved through the guests.
I looked between them.
“You had access to his office?””
Sophia looked ashamed.
“I was trying to find proof.””
“Proof of what?””
She hesitated.
Then she said:
“That Daniel didn’t just hide debt.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did he do?””
Daniel suddenly moved forward.
“Sophia, stop.””
For the first time, he sounded angry.
Not afraid.
Angry.
Sophia stepped back.
And I realized something.
She wasn’t the only person who had betrayed me.
But she might be the only person who could finally tell me the truth.
I took the flash drive from her hand.
Daniel stared at me.
“Emily, don’t.””
I held it tightly.
“Why?””
He had no answer.
“Why shouldn’t I see what’s on here?””
Silence.
Then my phone rang again.
Unknown number.
Everyone looked at me.
I answered.
A man’s voice came through.
“Emily Carter?””
“Yes.””
“This is Marcus Hale.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
The room went silent.
Marcus continued.
“I’m sorry you had to find out this way.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What do you want?””
A pause.
Then his voice lowered.
“I want you to know your husband wasn’t protecting you.””
May you like
I looked at Daniel.
“He was protecting himself.””
