Chapter 8: The Secret Behind The Promotion
I walked outside slowly.
Daniel was still sitting in the car.
Waiting.
Like he had been waiting for ten years.
But now I saw him differently.
Not as my husband.
Not as the man I loved.
As a stranger wearing a familiar face.
He rolled down the window.
“What happened?””
I stared at him.
“Did my father know you stole from him?””
Daniel went completely still.
That was my answer.
“Emily…”
“Did he?””
He looked down.
“Yes.””
The word was almost silent.
I stepped back.
“How long have you known?””
“Since before we married.””
My chest tightened.
“You married me knowing my father hated what you did?””
“No.””
“You lied to me.””
“Yes.””
The honesty was unbearable.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because I loved you.””
I shook my head.
“Don’t.””
“Emily—”
“Don’t use love as an excuse anymore.””
He looked broken.
But I couldn’t tell if it was guilt or fear.
“Your father wanted to expose me,” Daniel said.
“Did you stop him?””
Silence.
I waited.
“Daniel.””
“I didn’t kill him.””
I froze.
Because I hadn’t asked that.
Not yet.
“You didn’t answer my question.””
He looked away.
That was when I knew.
There was something worse.
I returned home that night and searched through every document I had.
Every old photo.
Every memory.
Until I found something strange.
A picture from my wedding.
Everyone was smiling.
My father.
Daniel.
Claire.
Richard.
But in the background…
Someone else.
A woman.
I zoomed in.
I recognized her.
Vanessa.
The woman whose name Daniel deleted from his phone.
The woman who called me.
Why was she at my wedding?
The next morning, I met Vanessa at a quiet café.
She looked nervous.
“You finally came.””
I sat across from her.
“Tell me everything.””
She took a deep breath.
“I worked for Daniel.””
“Doing what?””
“Managing his accounts.””
My stomach dropped.
She continued.
“At first, I thought he was just ambitious.””
“And then?””
“Then I discovered what he was doing.””
I waited.
“He wasn’t gambling because he was addicted.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“He was using gambling as a cover.””
A cold feeling spread through me.
“For what?””
Vanessa looked directly at me.
“Money laundering.””
I stared.
“Daniel was moving stolen company funds through fake gambling losses.””
My hands tightened around my coffee cup.
“And Claire?””
Vanessa looked away.
“She helped him.””
The pain returned.
But this time, it didn’t surprise me.
“What about the promotion?””
Vanessa pulled out a file.
“This.””
Inside were emails.
Daniel had manipulated financial reports.
Created fake achievements.
Made himself look like the perfect employee.
“But Richard knew.””
“Yes.””
“Then why promote him?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Because Richard wanted him close.””
I remembered Richard’s words.
He was trying to expose him.
But Vanessa added:
“There’s something Richard didn’t tell you.””
“What?””
She looked nervous.
“He wasn’t just investigating Daniel.””
My heart slowed.
“What else?””
“He was investigating your father’s death.””
I stared.
“Why?””
“Because Richard believes Daniel wasn’t alone.””
The café suddenly felt too quiet.
“Who else?””
Vanessa looked toward the window.
Then whispered:
“Someone in your family.””
My phone rang.
Richard.
I answered.
“Emily.””
His voice sounded urgent.
“Where are you?””
“Why?””
“Because I found something.””
“What?””
A pause.
Then:
“The person who killed your father is trying to destroy the evidence.””
My blood ran cold.
“What evidence?””
Richard’s voice dropped.
“The original will.””
I froze.
“What about it?””
“It names the person your father believed would betray you.””
I stood.
“Who?””
Richard didn’t answer.
Instead, I heard a crash on his end.
“Richard?””
Silence.
Then the call ended.
I grabbed my bag.
Because I knew something.
May you like
The truth was finally coming.
But someone was desperate enough to kill for it.