Chapter 6 - The Truth Behind the Dare
The person behind the messages wanted me frightened.
They succeeded.
But fear has a strange way of turning into anger.
I began investigating.
The financial files revealed that Sophie had discovered millions being transferred through companies connected to Bennett Holdings.
But there was something else.
One company had been receiving payments from Daniel's business.
For three years.
I called Daniel.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Your company has been receiving money from one of the shell companies.”
He went silent.
“How much?”
“Enough to destroy you.”
He came over immediately.
We sat at my kitchen table.
He opened the files.
His expression changed.
“This account isn't mine.”
“It's your company's.”
“Yes, but I didn't authorize it.”
“Who did?”
He stared at the documents.
Then whispered:
“Marcus.”
I froze.
“Your best friend?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“Think.”
Daniel rubbed his face.
Marcus had been there when Daniel came home from Vegas.
Marcus had defended the dare.
Marcus had known about Chloe.
Marcus had known about Sophie.
And Marcus had been the one who told Daniel that I needed to “learn not to take him for granted.”
The pieces began connecting.
Daniel called Marcus.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then Chloe called.
“Emma.”
“What?”
“You need to get out of your apartment.”
“Why?”
“Someone broke into Daniel's office.”
My stomach tightened.
“What did they take?”
“The files.”
I looked at my laptop.
The flash drive was still there.
“What about the original?”
“Daniel has it.”
I stood.
“Where is he?”
“He went to find Marcus.”
I called Daniel.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message arrived.
If you want Daniel alive, come alone.
I stared at it.
Chloe called.
“What happened?”
I told her.
“No,” she said immediately. “Don't go.”
“I have to.”
“We'll call the police.”
“They might kill him.”
“Emma—”
“I know where he is.”
I grabbed my coat.
But Chloe stopped me.
“You're not going alone.”
She picked up her keys.
For the first time, I realized something.
Chloe wasn't my enemy.
She had made a terrible choice.
So had Daniel.
But someone else had been manipulating both of them.
We found Daniel at an abandoned warehouse.
Marcus was there.
And so was a man I had seen once before.
The gray-haired stranger from Sophie's apartment.
Daniel was on his knees.
Marcus stood behind him.
I stepped forward.
“Daniel.”
His head snapped up.
“Emma, why are you here?”
Marcus smiled.
“You came.”
I stared at him.
“You sent the messages.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Daniel needed to lose something.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You killed Sophie?”
Marcus laughed.
“No.”
The older man spoke.
“I did.”
Silence.
Daniel's face went white.
The man continued.
“Sophie discovered the money.”
“You worked for Bennett Holdings,” Daniel whispered.
“I worked for your father.”
I froze.
Daniel's father?
The man looked at me.
“Three years ago, Sophie found the records. Daniel tried to help her. But Marcus told your father where she was.”
Daniel turned toward Marcus.
“You…”
Marcus shrugged.
“You were always so noble.”
“You betrayed me.”
“You were going to expose everyone.”
“You killed her.”
Marcus shook his head.
“I didn't kill Sophie.”
The older man interrupted.
“I did.”
My stomach turned.
“Why?”
“Because she had evidence.”
“Where is Rachel?”
The man's face changed.
“Rachel escaped.”
“And Sophie?”
He looked at Daniel.
“She called him.”
Daniel whispered:
“I told her to drive.”
The man smiled.
“And I followed.”
The room became silent.
Daniel looked at me.
“I couldn't save her.”
“No,” I whispered.
“You couldn't.”
I walked toward him.
“And then you spent three years blaming yourself for something you didn't do.”
His eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“But you still lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“And you still married Chloe.”
His voice broke.
“Yes.”
I turned away.
The police sirens began outside.
Chloe had called them.
Marcus looked toward the door.
The older man tried to run.
He didn't get far.
As officers entered, Daniel stood.
He didn't come toward me.
He simply said:
“I know I don't deserve another chance.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
May you like
His face fell.
“But maybe,” I continued, “you deserve the chance to become someone who doesn't need one.”
