Chapter 6: The Man Behind the Mask
I stared at Daniel’s name glowing on my phone.
For years, I had answered that call without hesitation.
Business problems.
Personal advice.
Late-night conversations.
Daniel had been there through everything.
And now I wondered if he had only been standing beside me because he was waiting for the right moment to take everything.
The phone kept ringing.
Maya watched me.
“Are you going to answer?””
I didn’t know.
Part of me wanted to ignore it.
Another part needed answers.
I pressed accept.
“Daniel.””
His voice came immediately.
“Ethan.””
Calm.
Friendly.
Like nothing had happened.
“Where are you?””
I looked at Maya.
“Why?””
A pause.
Then Daniel sighed.
“Because we need to talk.””
“About what?””
“About your wife.””
My grip tightened.
“What about her?””
Another pause.
Then he said:
“She’s dangerous.””
I froze.
Maya’s eyes widened.
Daniel continued.
“You need to listen to me carefully.””
I almost laughed.
After everything I had discovered, he still thought he could control the conversation.
“Why should I listen to you?””
“Because I know what she’s planning.””
The irony was almost unbearable.
“You mean the woman you’ve been working with?””
Silence.
A long silence.
Then Daniel said quietly:
“So you found out.””
I felt my anger explode.
“You lied to me.””
“Yes.””
The honesty shocked me.
“I did.””
“Why?””
His answer was immediate.
“Because Vivian was going to destroy you.””
I stared at the phone.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I don’t care what you believe right now.””
His voice became serious.
“You need to get your children out of that house.””
My heart stopped.
“Why?””
“Because she knows you’re investigating.””
I looked at Maya.
“How?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
And that silence told me enough.
“She has someone inside your house,” he said.
My blood went cold.
“Who?””
“I don’t know.””
“You’re lying.””
“I’m not.””
Then Daniel lowered his voice.
“But I know one thing.””
“What?””
“She already made her next move.””
I stood.
“What move?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then:
“She filed emergency custody papers this morning.””
My chest tightened.
“Impossible.””
“It’s already done.””
I looked at Maya.
She looked just as shocked.
Daniel continued.
“She’s claiming you are emotionally unstable because of your workload. She’s claiming you are paranoid and accusing innocent people.””
I laughed bitterly.
“She’s using my own investigation against me.””
“Yes.””
“And you helped her.””
Silence.
Then Daniel said:
“I did.””
The honesty hurt.
“Why?””
His voice cracked slightly.
“Because I thought I could control her.””
I said nothing.
“I was wrong.””
I met Daniel that evening.
Not because I trusted him.
Because I needed information.
We sat in a private room at a restaurant where nobody knew us.
Daniel looked older than I remembered.
Tired.
Broken.
“You hate me,” he said.
“Yes.””
He nodded.
“I understand.””
“Then start talking.””
He looked down.
“Vivian approached me two years ago.””
“Why?””
“She knew I had access to your company’s financial systems.””
My jaw tightened.
“She used you.””
“Yes.””
“And you let her.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.””
For a moment, I saw something unexpected.
Regret.
Real regret.
“She promised she would leave you after taking control.””
I stared.
“What?””
Daniel looked up.
“She told me she was trapped in your marriage.””
I almost smiled.
“My marriage?””
“She said you ignored her. That you cared more about your hospitals than your family.””
I felt anger rise.
“She used that story to manipulate you.””
“I know.””
“Then why continue?””
Daniel looked away.
“Because I was jealous.””
The answer surprised me.
“Jealous?””
“You had everything.””
I said nothing.
“A successful company. A beautiful family. Respect.””
His voice became bitter.
“And I felt like I deserved part of it.””
I looked at him.
For the first time, I didn’t see my friend.
I saw a man who had allowed resentment to turn him into a weapon.
Then Daniel reached into his coat.
He placed a small envelope on the table.
“What is this?””
“The final piece.””
I opened it.
Inside were printed documents.
Court papers.
Medical reports.
And one name.
The person who had signed a statement claiming I was mentally unstable.
I read the signature.
My hands went numb.
Because the person who betrayed me wasn’t Daniel.
It wasn’t Vivian.
It wasn’t even someone I had suspected.
It was the one person who had spent the last twenty-four hours pretending to protect me.
May you like
The signature belonged to my brother.
Lucas.
