Chapter 16: The Betrayal Inside My Family
I stared at the name on the document.
For several seconds, my brain refused to process it.
Because some betrayals hurt differently.
A stranger can hurt you.
A stranger can lie to you.
But someone who shares your blood?
Someone who sat at your dinner table?
Someone who hugged your daughter and called her family?
That kind of betrayal feels like the ground disappearing beneath your feet.
“Say it again,” I whispered.
James looked at me carefully.
“Your cousin, Eric Carter.””
I felt a strange emptiness.
Eric.
My father’s brother’s son.
The person who had helped me after Emily died.
The person who brought food to my house when I couldn’t remember to eat.
The person who told me, “You and Nia are all that matter now.””
My hands tightened around the document.
“No.””
James sighed.
“I wish I was wrong.””
I looked at the evidence.
Emails.
Payments.
Communication records.
Eric had been advising Vanessa for months.
Not just about the guardianship.
About my finances.
About my company.
About my weaknesses.
He knew everything.
Because I trusted him.
“What was his role?””
James pointed to the documents.
“He helped her understand your assets. He reviewed possible legal strategies. He even suggested using Nia’s emotional attachment to you as an argument.””
I felt sick.
Using my daughter.
Again.
Everyone kept looking at her like she was a weakness.
Nobody understood she was the reason I was still standing.
“Where is he?””
James looked away.
“He’s waiting outside.””
Of course he was.
Not hiding.
Not running.
Waiting.
Like he believed he could explain this.
I walked outside.
Eric stood near the courthouse steps.
His hands were in his coat pockets.
He looked older than I remembered.
But not sorry.
That was the part that hurt.
“You knew.””
Eric looked down.
“Daniel—”
“No.””
My voice was calm.
Almost too calm.
“You knew everything Vanessa was planning.””
He took a breath.
“I knew some things.””
“Some things?””
I stepped closer.
“You knew she wanted to take Nia away.””
His silence answered.
“You knew she was trying to control my company.””
Another pause.
“And you helped her.””
Eric finally looked at me.
“I was trying to protect the family.””
I almost laughed.
“The family?””
“Yes.””
He looked frustrated.
“You think I wanted this?””
“You participated.””
“I was trying to fix it.””
“By helping her?””
Eric rubbed his face.
“You don’t understand the situation.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“I understand perfectly.””
He looked at me.
“You changed after Emily died.””
The sentence surprised me.
“What?””
“You became obsessed with protecting Nia.””
My jaw tightened.
“She lost her mother.””
“I know.””
“Do you?””
Eric looked away.
“She became your entire world.””
“Yes.””
The answer came instantly.
Because there was no shame in it.
“She’s my daughter.””
“But you forgot yourself.””
I stared at him.
“And Vanessa promised to fix that?””
Eric didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“You thought she would make me normal again.””
“I thought you needed someone.””
“I did.””
I looked at him.
“But I needed someone who loved my daughter too.””
Eric’s face softened.
For a second, I saw the cousin I knew.
Then it disappeared.
“I didn’t know she would go this far.””
“That’s the excuse everyone uses.””
I stepped back.
“I didn’t know.””
The words felt empty.
Because everyone knew enough.
Enough to stop.
Enough to ask questions.
Enough to protect a child.
Eric looked toward the courthouse.
“Daniel, please.””
“No.””
He looked hurt.
“We’re family.””
I nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
A painful silence.
“That’s why this hurts.””
I walked away.
But before I reached the car, Eric called out.
“Daniel!””
I stopped.
“She’s going to fight back.””
I turned.
“Who?””
“Vanessa.””
His face became serious.
“You think she’s finished because you found the truth.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What do you mean?””
Eric swallowed.
“You don’t know what she kept hidden.””
I stared at him.
“What else is there?””
Eric looked away.
“I can’t tell you.””
My anger returned.
“Can’t?””
“Daniel…”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You helped destroy my family. The least you can do is tell me why.””
His phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Then his face changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A few seconds passed.
Then he whispered:
“She knows.””
I looked at him.
“Who?””
Eric slowly lowered the phone.
May you like
And the answer made my blood run cold.
“Vanessa knows we found the last file.””
