Chapter 9: The Last Lie
I stared at the photograph on my phone.
Claire standing beside her father.
Both of them outside a bank.
Both of them looking directly at the camera.
The date was yesterday.
The day before my wedding.
The day Claire told me she was overwhelmed.
The day she claimed she needed peace.
The day she disappeared from my mother’s life.
“You went to the bank.””
My voice was quiet.
Claire looked down.
“Yes.””
My father closed his eyes.
“What did you do?””
Claire didn’t answer.
I stepped closer.
“What did you do?””
She whispered:
“I tried to stop him.””
“Stop who?””
“My father.””
Nobody moved.
I wanted to believe her.
I really did.
Because somewhere inside me, there was still a part of Daniel who loved Claire.
The problem was that part was fighting against everything I had learned.
Michael looked at her.
“Why were you at the bank with him?””
Claire wiped her tears.
“Because he found out about the trust.””
My father’s face changed.
“How?””
She looked at him.
“Because you talked about it.””
“With who?””
Claire hesitated.
Then she said:
“With me.””
The room went silent.
My father looked devastated.
“I never told you.””
“You did.””
“When?””
Claire looked away.
“Your office.””
I remembered.
Months ago.
Claire had visited my father.
She said she wanted wedding advice.
I thought it was sweet.
She wanted to build a relationship with my family.
Now I wondered what she was really doing.
My father whispered:
“I trusted you.””
Claire started crying.
“I know.””
“No.””
His voice broke.
“You knew exactly what you were doing.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Why was your father there?””
Claire answered softly.
“He wanted me to sign something.””
“What?””
She looked at me.
“Authorization papers.””
My blood ran cold.
“To access the account.””
“Yes.””
“And you signed?””
She didn’t answer.
That was enough.
My father stood.
“You signed?””
“I didn’t complete it.””
“Why?””
Claire looked at me.
And for the first time, her answer sounded real.
“Because I couldn’t do it anymore.””
I stared at her.
“What changed?””
She cried.
“You.””
The word hurt.
“Me?””
“Yes.””
She stepped closer.
“When I met you, I thought you were just another wealthy man who could solve my problems.””
She looked down.
“But you weren’t.””
No one spoke.
“You cared about your parents. You cared about strangers. You remembered every small thing about people.””
Her voice cracked.
“And I realized I was becoming someone I hated.””
I wanted to feel relief.
But betrayal doesn’t disappear because someone regrets it.
“You should have told me.””
“I know.””
“You should have walked away.””
“I know.””
“But you didn’t.””
She closed her eyes.
“No.””
My father picked up the trust papers.
“Then why warn us now?””
Claire looked at him.
“Because my father is not trying to get the money anymore.””
A chill went through me.
“What is he trying to get?””
She looked terrified.
“Control.””
Michael frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Claire looked at the old documents.
“He knows about the condition.””
My father froze.
“He knows Daniel has to prove love?””
“Yes.””
“And?””
Claire swallowed.
“He found another way.””
My phone buzzed again.
Another message.
This time, there was no photo.
Only words.
“Your father protected me once. Now I will take everything he loves.””
I showed everyone.
My mother grabbed my arm.
“Daniel.””
Then the message continued.
“I already have someone inside your family.””
Everyone looked around.
Nobody spoke.
Claire suddenly stepped backward.
“No.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She stared at the message.
Her face lost all color.
“He can’t.””
“Who?””
Claire’s voice was barely audible.
“He can’t be working with her.””
My stomach tightened.
“With who?””
She looked at me.
Then toward my mother.
And whispered:
“Your mother’s best friend.””
The room went silent.
May you like
Because everyone knew who she meant.
And she was the one person nobody had suspected. :::
