Chapter 11: The Lie I Never Told
The photo stayed on Nathan’s screen.
My mother outside the clinic.
A place that had nothing to do with Isabella.
Nothing to do with our wedding.
Nothing to do with this.
Yet somehow, Isabella had found it.
“How did she get that?”” Nathan asked.
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
I didn’t answer.
Because suddenly, I understood.
Isabella wasn’t trying to destroy my wedding anymore.
She was trying to destroy the trust between us.
“Nathan…”
He looked at me.
“What?””
I hesitated.
That was enough.
His expression changed.
“You know something.””
I looked away.
“Not what you think.””
“Then tell me.””
I hated that moment.
Because I knew he deserved the truth.
But I also knew why I had kept it.
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want this to become part of our wedding.””
“What?””
I took a breath.
“My mother’s condition got worse before the wedding.””
Nathan’s face softened immediately.
“I know she was sick.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You knew she was fighting cancer. You didn’t know she stopped treatment for a while.””
His eyes widened.
“Why?””
I looked down.
“Because she couldn’t afford the medication.””
The room went silent.
Nathan stared at me.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because you were already dealing with your mother.””
“That doesn’t matter.””
“It did to me.””
My voice cracked.
“I didn’t want you to think I was bringing problems into your life.””
Nathan looked hurt.
“You thought I would see your mother as a problem?””
“No.””
I swallowed.
“I thought your family would.””
That sentence hurt him.
Because he knew.
He knew exactly why I had been afraid.
Robert looked away.
Claire sat silently.
Nobody defended Isabella.
Nobody could.
Nathan took my hands.
“You should have told me.””
“I know.””
“I would have helped.””
“I know.””
“Then why carry it alone?””
Because I had spent months watching him struggle between his wife and his mother.
Because I didn’t want to become another person demanding something from him.
But before I could answer, Nathan’s phone rang.
The number was unknown.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice came through.
“This is Dr. Miller’s office.””
I froze.
My mother’s doctor.
Nathan looked at me.
“Why are they calling?””
The woman continued.
“Is this Nathan?””
“Yes.””
“I’m calling because we received a request for medical records authorization.””
My stomach dropped.
“What request?”” Nathan asked.
The woman hesitated.
“Someone attempted to access information regarding your mother-in-law’s treatment.””
My hands went cold.
“Who?”” Nathan asked.
The woman lowered her voice.
“The request came from a family member.””
Nathan looked at me.
“Who?””
The woman answered.
“Isabella.””
The room exploded into silence.
I felt sick.
Nathan ended the call slowly.
“She tried to access your mother’s medical records.””
I couldn’t speak.
Why?
Why would she do that?
Then Claire whispered something.
“She was looking for something.””
We all turned toward her.
“What?”” Nathan asked.
Claire looked terrified.
“Before the wedding, your mother kept saying she needed proof.””
“Proof of what?””
Claire looked at me.
“That your wife was hiding something.””
I shook my head.
“I wasn’t hiding anything.””
Claire nodded.
“I know.””
Nathan stood.
“What exactly was she looking for?””
Claire hesitated.
Then said:
“She thought your wife’s family had financial problems.””
My heart sank.
Nathan’s expression turned cold.
“She wanted to use my mother-in-law’s illness against her.””
Claire looked down.
“Yes.””
The cruelty of it made me speechless.
My mother had fought for her life.
And Isabella had treated that fight like a weapon.
Nathan walked away from the table.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then he stopped.
“I’m done.””
Everyone looked at him.
“I’m done protecting people who hurt the person I love.””
His phone buzzed.
Another message.
From Isabella.
Nathan opened it.
This time, it wasn’t a threat.
It was an apology.
Or something pretending to be one.
*Come alone. I’ll explain everything.*
Nathan stared at it.
Then he said:
“She wants me to choose.””
I looked at him.
“What are you going to do?””
May you like
He looked at me.
“I’m going to make sure she understands I already did.””
