Daniel shrugged.
“I didn’t expect him to survive as long as he did.”
I felt sick.
“All these years…”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Give me the box.”
I held it tighter.
“No.”
“You don’t understand what you’re holding.”
“I understand enough.”
Daniel’s face changed.
Then Arthur stepped between us.
“You’re not touching her.”
Daniel laughed.
“You married her because you thought that would protect her?”
Arthur said nothing.
Daniel continued.
“You should have told her the second part.”
I looked at Arthur.
“What second part?”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“Daniel, don’t.”
“Tell her.”
I stared at Arthur.
“What?”
He finally looked at me.
“The inheritance.”
My heart sank.
“What about it?”
Arthur’s voice was barely audible.
“There was never an inheritance.”
I didn’t understand.
“What?”
“The marriage contract wasn’t designed to give you my money.”
I stepped backward.
“Then why?”
Arthur’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because if I died unmarried, everything would go to Daniel.”
Daniel smiled.
“But if Arthur had a wife, the estate would remain protected until the investigation into the company fraud was completed.”
I stared at Arthur.
“So you used me.”
“No.”
“You married me to stop him from getting your money.”
“Yes.”
“That is using me.”
Arthur looked down.
“Yes.”
For the first time, I felt something inside me break.
I thought about the wedding.
The dress.
The empty seat where my family should have been.
The guilt over Chloe.
The shame I’d carried because I had chosen money.
And now I realized the truth.
Arthur hadn’t chosen me because I was beautiful.
He hadn’t chosen me because he was lonely.
He had chosen me because he believed I was the only person who could help expose the truth.
I laughed bitterly.
“So we’re both selfish.”
Arthur looked at me.
“Perhaps.”
I wiped away my tears.
“But at least I’m honest about why I came here.”
Daniel suddenly lunged toward me.
Arthur grabbed him.
The two men struggled.
The black box fell from my hands.
It hit the floor.
The lid popped open.
Inside was a small recording device.
And a photograph.
I picked up the photograph.
My father’s face stared back at me.
But he wasn’t alone.
Standing beside him was a much younger Arthur.
And behind them was Chloe’s father.
I froze.
Chloe’s father.
The man who had welcomed me into his home when my own family wouldn’t.
The man who had always treated me kindly.
The man whose daughter had been my best friend.
I looked at Arthur.
“Chloe’s father knew?”
Arthur nodded slowly.
“He was the one who helped your father hide the evidence.”
My entire world shifted.
“Then why did Chloe hate me for marrying you?”
“Because she didn’t know the whole truth.”
I stared at him.
“Does she know now?”
Before Arthur could answer, my phone rang.
Chloe.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?”
Her voice was trembling.
“Where are you?”
“At Arthur’s.”
A pause.
“Listen to me carefully.”
“Chloe—”
“Don’t trust anyone there.”
My blood ran cold.
“What are you talking about?”
“I found something in my father’s old files.”
“What?”
“He left a letter.”
My hands began shaking.
“What did it say?”
Chloe started crying.
“It said your father didn’t disappear because of Arthur.”
I looked at Arthur.
“Then why?”
Chloe whispered:
“Because Arthur told him to disappear.”
I couldn’t move.
Arthur’s face went pale.
“That’s not true,” he whispered.
But Chloe was still speaking.
“Your father believed Arthur had betrayed him.”
The room became silent.
I looked at Arthur.
“Is that true?”
He didn’t answer.
“Arthur.”
Finally, he whispered:
“Yes.”
My heart shattered.
“Why?”
“Because I had no choice.”
“There is always a choice.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You lied to me.”
“I know.”
