Chapter 8: The Betrayal Behind the Betrayal
I couldn’t move.
The name repeated inside my head.
Andrew.
The man who claimed to be searching for me.
The man who said he wanted the truth.
The man who might have started everything.
“No,” I whispered.
Daniel’s voice came through the phone.
“I’m sorry.””
I ended the call.
I didn’t need more apologies.
I needed answers.
I found my father in his office.
He immediately knew something was wrong.
“What happened?””
I placed my phone on the desk.
“Daniel said Andrew contacted Chloe.””
My father went still.
That was enough.
“You knew.””
“No.””
“You knew something.””
He looked away.
I felt anger rising.
“Dad.””
He sighed.
“There were signs.””
“What signs?””
“That Andrew had been watching you.””
I stared at him.
“And you didn’t tell me?””
“I wanted proof.””
“You wanted control.””
The words hurt him.
Good.
Because I was tired of everyone protecting me by taking away my choices.
My father sat down.
“You’re right.””
I didn’t expect that.
He looked exhausted.
“I spent my life making decisions for you because I was afraid.””
I stayed silent.
“I lost your mother because I was too late.””
His voice lowered.
“I almost lost you because I was too controlling.””
The confession softened something.
But it didn’t erase the pain.
A knock interrupted us.
Clara entered.
She looked at my face.
“You know.””
I nodded.
“Andrew contacted Chloe.””
Clara closed her eyes.
“I was afraid of this.””
My father stood.
“You knew?””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“But I knew he was angry.””
“Angry?””
“He believed Richard stole his life.””
I crossed my arms.
“And he decided to punish me?””
Clara didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
The investigation into the wedding moved quickly.
My father’s team uncovered everything.
Messages.
Payments.
Anonymous accounts.
Andrew had not directly told Chloe to accuse me.
He had planted suspicion.
He had created the opportunity.
He wanted the Ashford family to destroy me.
But why?
That question haunted me.
Days later, I met Andrew at a private office.
My father wanted to come.
I refused.
I needed to hear it from him.
Andrew sat across from me.
He looked older now.
Less powerful.
More human.
“I know why you’re here.””
“Good.””
I placed the documents on the table.
“You used Chloe.””
He didn’t deny it.
“I wanted Richard to feel what I felt.””
I stared at him.
“So you destroyed my life.””
“I never wanted you hurt.””
I laughed.
“That’s the same excuse everyone uses.””
He looked down.
“I wanted him exposed.””
“You made me the weapon.””
His silence confirmed it.
I stood.
“You don’t love me.””
His eyes lifted.
“What?””
“You love the idea of me.””
I pointed at the documents.
“The daughter you lost.””
My voice shook.
“But I am a person.””
A tear appeared in his eyes.
“I know.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You don’t.””
I walked toward the door.
Then he said:
“Your mother left me because she discovered something.””
I stopped.
“What?””
Andrew looked serious.
“She discovered Richard wasn’t the only one hiding secrets.””
I turned slowly.
“What does that mean?””
Andrew pulled out an envelope.
“My mother’s final letter.””
I stared.
“My mother wrote this?””
“Yes.””
“Why do you have it?””
“Because she sent it to me before she died.””
My hands trembled as I opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
My mother.
The first line made my breath disappear.
“Eve, if you are reading this, then both men who claimed to protect you have failed.””
I kept reading.
And with every sentence, my world changed.
Because my mother had known.
She had known about the lies.
She had known about the danger.
And she had left one final instruction.
At the bottom of the page was a name.
A name I had never heard.
A name that made Andrew’s face turn pale.
“Who is that?”” I whispered.
May you like
He answered:
“Your real enemy.””