Chapter 16: The Lawyer’s Hidden Deal
I stopped walking the moment I saw him.
My lawyer.
Daniel Brooks.
The person I hired three days earlier after realizing I needed protection.
The person who looked me in the eyes and promised:
“I’ll make sure nobody takes advantage of you.””
Now he was standing beside Cole.
My husband.
The man who had spent months building a case against me.
For a second, I couldn’t feel my hands.
Cole noticed my expression.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Not a happy smile.
A victorious one.
“Emily.””
I looked at Daniel.
“What is this?””
Daniel’s face changed immediately.
“Emily, let me explain.””
I laughed.
That sentence again.
Everyone always wanted to explain.
Nobody wanted to tell the truth first.
“You’re working with him?””
Daniel shook his head.
“No.””
Cole looked amused.
“Really?””
Daniel glared at him.
“Don’t.””
I looked between them.
“Then why are you here?””
Daniel hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
I stepped back.
“Oh my God.””
Cole folded his arms.
“Now you understand.””
“Understand what?””
“That you don’t know who’s actually helping you.””
My stomach tightened.
“You’re trying to confuse me.””
“No.””
He smiled.
“I’m trying to show you that everyone around you has secrets.””
The worst part?
He was right.
Everyone did.
But I wasn’t the same woman who walked into the pantry weeks ago.
I had stopped believing words.
Now I watched actions.
“Daniel.””
He looked at me.
“Tell me the truth.””
He swallowed.
“I represented Cole before.””
The world went quiet.
“You what?””
“Years ago.””
“Before you represented me?””
“Yes.””
I stared.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“I didn’t think it was relevant.””
I almost laughed.
“Not relevant?””
My voice rose.
“My husband is trying to take my daughter, and you forgot to mention you worked with him?””
Daniel looked ashamed.
“I was not involved in the custody matter.””
Cole interrupted.
“But he knows me.””
I turned toward him.
“Why did you bring him here?””
Cole smiled.
“Because I knew you would trust him.””
The answer hit me.
Not because it surprised me.
Because it proved everything.
Cole studied people.
He collected weaknesses.
He found the easiest path to control.
And I had been the easiest person to fool because I believed love meant safety.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Emily, I made mistakes.””
I held up my hand.
“No.””
He stopped.
“I don’t need another apology.””
Cole looked at me.
“You’re angry.””
“Yes.””
“But you’re also scared.””
I stared at him.
“No.””
“You should be.””
My jaw tightened.
“Is that supposed to scare me?””
“It’s supposed to make you listen.””
He walked closer.
“You think you have the full story.””
“I do.””
“No.””
His voice lowered.
“You know what everyone wants you to know.””
I felt a chill.
“What are you talking about?””
Cole looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“Ask Daniel who paid him to take your case.””
I turned.
Daniel’s face changed.
My heart sank.
“Daniel?””
He looked away.
And that was the answer.
“Who?””
Silence.
“Who paid you?””
Daniel finally spoke.
“Your mother.””
I felt like the ground disappeared.
Darla.
Again.
“No.””
“She contacted me.””
“Why?””
Daniel looked miserable.
“She wanted me to protect you.””
I stared.
That didn’t make sense.
“She hired you?””
“Yes.””
“Then why are you standing with him?””
Cole answered.
“Because she changed her mind.””
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“There’s something you need to see.””
He showed me a message.
From Darla.
*If Emily finds out everything, we lose everything. Make sure Cole is protected.*
My hands went cold.
My mother.
The same woman who cried when she betrayed me.
The same woman who said she loved me.
She was still trying to control the outcome.
I looked at Daniel.
“Why show me this?””
His eyes filled with regret.
“Because I finally realized I wasn’t protecting a client.””
A pause.
“I was helping people manipulate her.””
For once, someone admitted it.
Cole’s expression hardened.
“You’re making a mistake.””
Daniel looked at him.
“No.””
He shook his head.
“I made one already.””
Cole stepped forward.
“This isn’t over.””
I looked at him.
“You’re right.””
I held his gaze.
“It isn’t.””
As I turned to leave, my phone rang.
A message from my doctor.
Urgent.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?””
Her voice sounded nervous.
“Emily, we need to talk about your pregnancy records.””
My heart stopped.
“What happened?””
A pause.
Then:
“Someone accessed them again.””
“Who?””
The doctor lowered her voice.
“We don’t know.””
I looked back at Cole.
Because I suddenly realized something.
May you like
The person trying to control my future wasn’t finished.
They were still watching.
