Chapter 8: The Brother Who Stole My Life
Detective Morales waited for my answer.
Everyone did.
Marcus.
Victoria.
The security officers outside the door.
But I couldn’t speak.
Not yet.
Because the message on my phone changed everything.
Someone else was involved.
Someone who had access to documents even I didn’t know existed.
“Claire?””
Marcus’s voice pulled me back.
I locked my phone.
“I need a moment.””
Detective Morales studied me.
“A moment for what?””
“To understand what’s happening.””
He nodded slowly.
“I’ll give you five minutes.””
He stepped outside.
Victoria immediately turned to me.
“Who sent that?””
“I don’t know.””
“What did it say?””
I hesitated.
Marcus noticed.
“Claire.””
I showed them the phone.
Victoria read it.
Her face went pale.
“They’re threatening you.””
“Yes.””
Marcus looked toward the door.
“This changes things.””
“How?””
“Because someone wants you afraid.””
I looked at him.
“Daniel already did.””
Victoria shook her head.
“No.””
She looked at the wedding decorations downstairs.
“No, this is bigger.””
She took a shaky breath.
“I thought Daniel lied because he was ashamed.””
“And now?””
“Now I think he was planning for something.””
I looked at the folder.
The fake documents.
The fake transfers.
The fake death.
Every lie connected.
Daniel hadn’t just wanted a better image.
He wanted control.
Naomi called again.
This time, I answered on speaker.
“Anything?””
“Yes.””
Her voice was serious.
“I traced the fake documents.””
“And?””
“They weren’t created recently.””
My eyebrows tightened.
“What do you mean?””
“Some of these files were altered almost a year ago.””
A year.
Before the wedding.
Before Victoria found the contracts.
Before Daniel knew I would attend.
“Why would he prepare this a year ago?””
Nobody answered.
Then Victoria whispered:
“Because he was planning to leave.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She wiped her eyes.
“Daniel has been obsessed with my family’s money since we started dating.””
Marcus’s expression hardened.
“Victoria.””
“It’s true.””
She looked ashamed.
“He asked about inheritance. Business ownership. Property.””
Marcus looked away.
“He always said he wanted to build something.””
I stared at the documents.
“He wasn’t building something.””
“No,” Victoria said.
“He was taking something.””
The detective returned.
“We need to move forward.””
I looked at him.
“Detective, I need to explain something.””
“Please.””
“My brother created a false identity for me.””
He waited.
“He told people I was dead.””
The detective’s expression changed slightly.
“Why?””
“Because I knew something about his past.””
“Which was?””
I looked at Rebecca’s letter still inside my bag.
“My brother was adopted through an illegal arrangement.””
Detective Morales wrote something down.
“That’s a serious allegation.””
“I have documents.””
“Where?””
“With me.””
I handed him the copies.
He read silently.
Then looked up.
“Where is Daniel now?””
Nobody knew.
That was the terrifying part.
A man who had spent his life controlling every room had disappeared the moment he lost control.
An hour later, I returned to my office.
The building was empty.
Quiet.
I walked to my desk.
The place where I had built everything.
The place where I had cried after my family abandoned me.
The place where I had decided to stop begging for their approval.
Naomi stood by the door.
“Are you okay?””
“No.””
She nodded.
“Good answer.””
I smiled slightly.
“I thought you’d say something inspiring.””
“I’m not a motivational speaker.””
“Unfortunately.””
She walked closer.
“Claire.””
“Yeah?””
“Why do you think he chose you?””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“Daniel.””
I said nothing.
“He could have framed anyone.””
“But he chose me.””
“Why?””
I looked around my office.
The awards.
The contracts.
The company logo on the wall.
Then I understood.
Because everything I built was proof.
Proof that he was wrong.
Proof that the sister he erased had become more successful than the brother everyone celebrated.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
Again.
This time I answered.
“Hello?””
A man spoke.
Not Daniel.
Someone older.
“You need to stop looking for your brother.””
My grip tightened.
“Who is this?””
“You don’t remember me.””
“Should I?””
A quiet laugh.
“You were five years old when I last saw you.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who are you?””
The man paused.
Then said:
“I’m the lawyer who made Daniel Bennett’s adoption disappear.””
I stood frozen.
“Why are you calling me?””
His voice lowered.
“Because your father wasn’t the only one who lied.””
The line crackled.
“And because your brother isn’t the person you should be afraid of.””
I stared at the dark window in front of me.
“Then who should I be afraid of?””
May you like
The answer came instantly.
“Your mother.””
