Chapter 8: The Trap She Built
I drove home with one thought repeating in my mind.
Megan knew.
She always knew.
For twelve years, I had mistaken her ability to predict people for friendship.
But maybe it was something else.
Maybe she had been studying us the entire time.
When I arrived home, Daniel was waiting by the door.
“You’re okay?””
I nodded.
“Michael told me everything.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I was afraid he would.””
I stopped.
“You knew?””
“Not everything.””
That answer made me angry.
“Daniel.””
“I knew Megan had tried to interfere before our wedding.””
“Did you know about the notebook?””
His face changed.
“No.””
I watched him carefully.
“What did you know?””
He sat down.
“After we got married, Megan started asking questions.””
“What kind of questions?””
“About us.””
“Specific?””
“Yes.””
He rubbed his face.
“She asked what bothered you. What made you upset. What your fears were.””
My stomach turned.
“Why?””
“I thought she was trying to understand you.””
I stared at him.
“She was trying to understand me so she could imitate me.””
Daniel looked down.
“I know.””
That sentence hurt.
Because it was true.
Megan didn’t want to be my friend.
She wanted to replace me.
My phone rang.
Claire.
I answered.
“Hello?””
Her voice was rushed.
“Emily, where are you?””
“Home.””
“Good. Don’t go anywhere alone.””
My stomach tightened.
“Why?””
“I found something.””
“What?””
A pause.
“Your wedding photos.””
I frowned.
“What about them?””
“I was looking through old files.””
“And?””
“There’s something in the background.””
My heartbeat increased.
“What?””
“I don’t want to tell you over the phone.””
“Claire.””
She exhaled.
“There’s a picture from your rehearsal dinner.””
I sat up.
“What picture?””
“Megan and Daniel.””
My blood ran cold.
“I already know they talked.””
“No.””
Her voice became quieter.
“This is different.””
“What do you mean?””
“She wasn’t just talking to him.””
The room went silent.
Daniel looked at me.
“What is it?””
I put Claire on speaker.
“Tell us.””
Claire hesitated.
Then:
“Megan was giving Daniel something.””
“What?””
“I zoomed in.””
Her voice shook.
“It was a letter.””
Daniel stood up.
“A letter?””
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“Did you receive a letter from Megan?””
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
Claire continued.
“She must have taken it back.””
I felt confused.
“Why?””
“Because maybe she realized he wouldn’t accept it.””
Daniel walked around the room.
“What did the letter say?””
“I don’t know.””
“Can you read it?””
“I’m trying.””
A few seconds passed.
Then Claire said:
“Oh my God.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“She wrote that she loved him.””
Daniel went completely still.
“What?””
Claire’s voice trembled.
“There’s more.””
“Read it.””
“I don’t think you want to hear this.””
“Claire.””
She took a breath.
“She wrote that Emily would eventually disappoint him.””
My hands shook.
“What else?””
“She wrote that when the right moment came, Daniel would understand who truly cared about him.””
The room felt frozen.
Then Daniel whispered:
“The right moment.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He picked up his phone.
“I remember something.””
“What?””
“Two months ago.””
He opened his messages.
“Megan texted me.””
I stared.
“What did she say?””
He showed me.
The message was simple.
*How long do you think someone can pretend everything is perfect?*
I felt sick.
“She was waiting for us to have problems.””
Daniel nodded.
“She knew.””
“Knew what?””
“That every marriage has difficult moments.””
He looked at me.
“And she planned to use ours.””
My phone buzzed.
A new message.
From Megan.
*You’re finally seeing the truth.*
I stared.
Then another appeared.
*But you’re still blaming the wrong person.*
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel looked worried.
Before I could respond, a third message arrived.
*Ask Daniel about the night he almost left you.*
I looked up slowly.
Daniel’s face changed.
“Emily…”
My chest tightened.
“What is she talking about?””
He didn’t answer.
And that silence hurt more than any confession.
“Daniel.””
He looked away.
“There was one night.””
“When?””
“Last year.””
I waited.
“The night we had that huge fight.””
I remembered.
The worst argument of our marriage.
The one after which he slept in the guest room.
“The night Megan called you?””
His eyes widened.
“How did you know that?””
Because suddenly, everything connected.
Megan didn’t create moments.
She waited for them.
Then she stepped in.
“What did she say to you that night?””
Daniel looked devastated.
“She told me I deserved someone who appreciated me.””
I closed my eyes.
“And?””
“She asked me to meet her.””
My heart stopped.
“Did you?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
I whispered:
“Did you meet Megan that night?””
The silence was unbearable.
May you like
Then he said:
“Yes.””
