Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Mask
Daniel waited until we were alone near the ceremony entrance.
The music continued playing in the background.
A soft piano melody.
The kind that was supposed to introduce a bride walking toward her future.
Instead, it sounded like a funeral song.
“You look upset,” Daniel said.
I stared at him.
“Do I?””
His smile faded slightly.
“Emma.””
I almost admired how quickly he adjusted.
How easily he changed his expression.
Concerned fiancé.
Confused man.
Victim.
Anything except guilty.
“What happened?”” he asked.
I looked at the black envelope in his hand.
“What’s that?””
He glanced down.
Then back at me.
“Nothing.””
“Interesting.””
“What?””
“I’m holding an envelope from an anonymous person telling me to stop searching for the truth.””
His face remained calm.
Too calm.
“And you’re holding the same envelope.””
A pause.
Barely noticeable.
But enough.
“Emma, you’re stressed.””
I laughed.
“Of course.””
“What?””
“You always do that.””
“Do what?””
“You make me question myself.””
His eyes narrowed.
“I’m trying to help you.””
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“You’re trying to control the story.””
For the first time, his mask slipped.
“What did Chloe tell you?””
There it was.
Not concern.
Not confusion.
Fear.
I noticed.
“You’re not asking if I’m okay.””
Silence.
“You’re asking what I know.””
Daniel looked away.
“Emma…”
“No.””
My voice became stronger.
“Answer me.””
He sighed.
“She’s manipulating you.””
I almost smiled.
“Funny.””
“What?””
“You said the exact same thing she said about you.””
His jaw tightened.
“She’s dangerous.””
“Is she?””
“Yes.””
“Then why were you with her last night?””
Daniel froze.
Only for a second.
But it happened.
And I saw it.
“You know about that?””
“Yes.””
His face changed.
“Emma, listen—”
“No.””
I held up my hand.
“I listened for years.””
People started noticing us.
Guests nearby whispered.
The wedding planner watched nervously.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Not here.””
“Why?””
“Because this is private.””
I looked around.
At the guests.
At the decorations.
At the aisle I was supposed to walk down.
“You mean because this is embarrassing?””
His expression hardened.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then explain.””
He stepped closer.
“I made mistakes.””
The word was almost insulting.
Mistakes.
Like cheating was forgetting an appointment.
Like betrayal was a typo.
“How long?””
He didn’t answer.
“How long, Daniel?””
His silence was enough.
I felt something inside me finally break.
Not my heart.
The last piece of hope.
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“After the wedding.””
I stared at him.
“You were going to marry me first?””
“No.””
“Yes.””
He looked desperate now.
“I was confused.””
“Confused?””
“Yes.””
“About whether you wanted me or my sister?””
His face tightened.
“That’s not fair.””
I laughed.
“Fair?””
The word echoed.
Before he could respond, Chloe walked closer.
“You’re still lying.””
Daniel turned.
His expression changed instantly.
“You.””
Chloe flinched.
Not because of anger.
Because of fear.
“You used me.””
Daniel shook his head.
“I never promised you anything.””
Megan stepped forward.
“You told all of us different versions of the same story.””
Daniel looked at her.
“You need to leave.””
She smiled sadly.
“There he is.””
“What?””
“The real you.””
Daniel’s eyes moved between us.
Three women.
One man.
One ruined wedding.
Then he smiled.
And that smile scared me more than his anger.
Because it was calm.
Controlled.
“I think you all misunderstood something.””
Nobody spoke.
Daniel reached into his pocket.
Pulled out the black envelope.
And opened it.
Inside was a printed photo.
He handed it to me.
I looked down.
My blood turned cold.
It was a picture of Chloe and me.
From years ago.
Before the jealousy.
Before the betrayal.
Before Daniel.
The two of us were teenagers, laughing together.
On the back of the photo was a handwritten sentence.
*You both forgot who the real enemy was.*
I looked up.
“What is this?””
Daniel’s face had gone pale.
“I don’t know.””
For once, I believed him.
Because he looked genuinely afraid.
Then my phone buzzed.
A new message.
Not from the unknown sender.
From my mother.
One sentence.
*Emma, come home now. I found something in Chloe’s old room.*
My stomach dropped.
Because underneath the message was a photo.
A photograph of a box.
Inside the box were dozens of letters.
All addressed to me.
But none of them had ever reached me.
May you like
And the name on the first envelope made my entire body freeze.
*Daniel.*