Chapter 5: The Woman Who Disappeared
The photograph shook between my fingers.
A young woman stood beside Daniel, smiling at the camera like she trusted him completely.
Like I had trusted him.
On the back, written in black ink, were four words.
*She found out too.*
I looked at Daniel.
"Who is she?""
He didn't answer.
Victoria sighed.
"Claire, this is exactly why we wanted to avoid unnecessary drama.""
I turned toward her.
"Drama?""
My voice came out sharper than I expected.
"You have files on women. You monitored me. You kept records about Emily. And you're calling this drama?""
Richard stepped forward.
"You need to watch your tone.""
I stared at him.
"No. I think I've been watching my tone for too long.""
Emily looked at me.
For the first time that night, she looked like she believed I might actually fight back.
Daniel moved closer.
"Claire, please.""
I stepped away.
"Don't.""
The word hurt him.
Good.
Because I was hurting too.
"Who is she, Daniel?""
His eyes dropped to the photograph.
"Her name was Natalie.""
"Was?""
A heavy silence filled the room.
Emily answered.
"She disappeared.""
The air changed.
"What do you mean disappeared?""
Emily looked at her parents.
Then at Daniel.
"Natalie was Daniel's fiancée.""
My stomach twisted.
"What?""
Daniel looked away.
Victoria immediately spoke.
"That relationship ended years ago.""
Emily shook her head.
"No, it didn't.""
"Emily," Richard warned.
But she continued.
"Natalie found the room.""
I looked at the files surrounding us.
"She found out about this?""
Emily nodded.
"She discovered my parents were keeping information on people. She wanted to leave. She threatened to tell everyone.""
Victoria's expression hardened.
"She was unstable.""
The same words.
Again.
I looked at Emily.
"They said that about you too.""
Emily didn't respond.
She didn't need to.
The truth was sitting right there.
A pattern.
A system.
A family that erased anyone who threatened them.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"I didn't know everything.""
I laughed.
"You expect me to believe that?""
"It's true.""
"Then what did you know?""
He hesitated.
That hesitation was everything.
"You knew enough.""
His jaw tightened.
"I knew my parents were controlling. I knew they had problems. I didn't know about the files.""
Emily looked at him.
"You knew Natalie was scared.""
Daniel's face changed.
"Emily.""
"You knew she wanted to leave.""
"Stop.""
"You knew something happened to her.""
Daniel's voice rose.
"Stop talking about things you don't understand.""
The room went silent.
Because that wasn't a denial.
I looked at him.
"You never answered.""
Daniel looked at me.
"What?""
"Where is Natalie?""
Nobody spoke.
Then Victoria calmly said:
"She left.""
Emily whispered:
"That's what they told everyone.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Do you believe that?""
His eyes filled with something I couldn't identify.
Regret.
Fear.
Maybe both.
"I don't know.""
That answer broke something inside me.
Because if he truly didn't know, he should have wanted the truth.
Instead, he looked terrified of finding it.
A noise suddenly came from downstairs.
Everyone froze.
Victoria's face changed.
Not anger.
Concern.
"Who else is here?""
Richard walked toward the hallway.
"I'll check.""
Emily grabbed my arm.
"No.""
Her voice was barely audible.
"There's another exit.""
"What?""
She pulled me toward the window.
"Claire, you have to trust me.""
I looked back at Daniel.
He was standing between me and his family.
The man I planned to marry.
The man I thought would protect me.
He didn't move.
"Daniel?""
His eyes met mine.
For a second, I saw the person I loved.
Then I saw him glance toward his mother.
And that was enough.
Emily opened the window.
Cold air rushed into the room.
"We need to go.""
I climbed out after her.
Before leaving, I turned around one last time.
Daniel was still standing there.
Watching me leave.
But he didn't follow.
Outside, Emily and I ran through the darkness toward the trees.
We didn't stop until the house disappeared behind us.
Only then did she let go of my hand.
"Claire.""
I turned.
"What?""
She looked terrified.
"I need to tell you something else.""
I waited.
"The files weren't only about women Daniel dated.""
My heart sank.
"What else?""
Emily swallowed.
"They were about anyone who got close to this family.""
A cold feeling spread through me.
"Why?""
She reached into her pocket and pulled out another document.
One she had hidden earlier.
"My brother wasn't the first person they used.""
I stared at the paper.
May you like
Then she said:
"Claire, Daniel has been doing this for years.""
