Chapter 11: The Person Who Was Protecting Me
I barely slept.
The words from Rachel’s note stayed in my head.
“Camille needs to know the truth about who was protecting her.””
Not hurting her.
Protecting her.
That difference mattered.
I returned to the hotel room window and looked down at the city.
People walked below.
Living normal lives.
Buying coffee.
Laughing.
Going home.
Nobody knew my entire world had become a puzzle made of lies.
I opened Rachel’s file again.
The final document was password protected.
I stared at it.
A part of me wanted to stop.
To walk away.
To let the past stay buried.
But I couldn’t.
Not anymore.
I needed the truth.
I called Lauren.
She answered quickly.
“Did you open the last file?””
“How did you know there was one?””
“Because Rachel told me.””
I sat up.
“What did she tell you?””
“That it was the most important thing she found.””
“Can you open it?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Rachel gave me the password.””
I waited.
“What is it?””
Lauren was quiet.
“Your wedding date.””
I closed my eyes.
Even Rachel knew.
She knew the date of the wedding.
The wedding where Damon promised me honesty.
The wedding where he had already decided to hide the truth.
Lauren opened the file while we were on the phone.
Then she became silent.
“Lauren?””
“I’m reading.””
“What is it?””
Her voice changed.
“Camille…”
“What?””
“She knew.””
“Who?””
“Rachel knew who exposed Damon.””
My heartbeat increased.
“Tell me.””
A long pause.
Then Lauren said:
“It was not an accident.””
I felt cold.
“What do you mean?””
“Someone intentionally gave Damon false information.””
I looked at the documents.
“What kind of information?””
“That he was safe.””
My breath caught.
Someone convinced Damon there was nothing to worry about.
Someone made him believe he couldn’t hurt anyone.
“Who?””
Lauren continued reading.
“The person had access to his medical history.””
“Who has that kind of access?””
She stopped.
Then:
“Someone who worked in healthcare.””
My mind immediately went to one person.
Dr. Ellis.
“No.””
Lauren heard my reaction.
“You know someone?””
I stood.
“Dr. Ellis.””
“Camille, wait.””
“No.””
I grabbed my keys.
“I need answers.””
I drove straight to the clinic.
Dr. Ellis looked surprised when she saw me.
“Camille?””
“I need to ask you something.””
She stepped aside.
“Come in.””
I closed the door.
“Did you ever tell Damon he was safe?””
Her expression changed.
“Safe?””
“Did you ever tell him there was no risk?””
She looked confused.
“No.””
I watched her carefully.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
She sat down.
“Camille, what is happening?””
I placed Rachel’s file on the desk.
Dr. Ellis saw the papers.
And her face changed.
“You found Rachel’s records.””
“You knew her.””
“Yes.””
“You knew she was investigating Damon.””
Dr. Ellis looked down.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She was silent.
Finally, she said:
“Because Rachel asked me for help.””
I froze.
“You helped her?””
“I helped her understand what happened.””
“Then tell me.””
Dr. Ellis took a deep breath.
“Damon’s diagnosis was complicated.””
“How?””
“He received conflicting information.””
“What information?””
She looked at me.
“Someone told him his previous partner was negative.””
My stomach tightened.
“Who?””
“We never confirmed.””
“Why?””
“Because the records had been altered.””
The room went quiet.
“Altered?””
“Yes.””
“By who?””
Dr. Ellis shook her head.
“We didn’t know.””
I thought about Rachel’s note.
Someone who had access.
Someone protecting me.
Then I noticed something.
A file on Dr. Ellis’s desk.
A familiar name.
Maya Carter.
My heart stopped.
“What is that?””
Dr. Ellis looked.
Then quickly moved it.
Too quickly.
“Camille…”
“No.””
I stepped closer.
“Why is my sister’s name on your file?””
She hesitated.
And that hesitation told me everything.
“Maya asked me to keep something confidential.””
My voice lowered.
“What?””
Dr. Ellis looked at me.
“The truth about Damon’s diagnosis.””
I stared.
“My sister knew everything.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did she hide it?””
Dr. Ellis looked away.
“Because she believed she was protecting you.””
I laughed softly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.””
Dr. Ellis didn’t respond.
I picked up the file.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Maya’s handwriting.
One sentence.
“I know what Damon did. I know what Rachel discovered. But Camille cannot know until I know she is safe.””
I looked up.
“Safe from what?””
Dr. Ellis didn’t answer.
“Safe from what?””
Finally, she whispered:
“From Damon.””
My heart stopped.
Because until that moment, I had believed Damon’s biggest sin was lying.
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But now…
I wondered if the lies were hiding something much worse.