Chapter 6: The Enemy Inside the House
The photograph on my phone changed everything.
Not because someone had searched my room.
I had already suspected that.
Not because someone knew about the black folder.
I had expected Derek to eventually discover I was not as powerless as he believed.
What terrified me was the angle.
The person who took the photo wasn’t standing outside my bedroom.
They were inside.
Close enough to see my bag.
Close enough to know what I was hiding.
Close enough to touch the evidence that could destroy Derek.
I locked my phone and slipped it into my pocket.
Then I looked around the room.
Twenty-two relatives.
Brenda.
Derek.
Natalie.
Richard.
Every person here had a reason to lie.
Every person here had something to protect.
The house suddenly felt like a chessboard.
And I had no idea which pieces were pretending to be on my side.
“Chloe.””
Derek’s voice pulled me back.
“The police are here because someone stole files from my father’s company.””
I stared at him.
“Your father’s company?””
He nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why would they think someone here did it?””
His jaw tightened.
“They found evidence.””
“Evidence of what?””
He hesitated.
That hesitation lasted only a second.
But it told me there was more.
“I don’t know yet.””
I looked at Richard.
He was watching Derek carefully.
“You knew about this?””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
Derek laughed bitterly.
“Of course you didn’t.””
Richard ignored him.
“Chloe, stay near me.””
That was the first time anyone had said something that sounded like genuine concern.
But after everything I had learned, even kindness felt suspicious.
“Why?””
Richard lowered his voice.
“Because whoever is behind this is trying to create confusion.””
I glanced at the staircase.
“And you think I’m in danger?””
His expression answered before his words did.
“Yes.””
A cold silence fell.
Then the front door opened.
Two officers walked in.
Behind them stood a man in a dark jacket holding a folder.
The entire room changed.
The relatives who had been whispering suddenly became quiet.
The confident family became nervous.
The man looked around.
“Derek Walker?””
Derek stepped forward.
“Yes.””
“I’m Detective Harris.””
He showed his badge.
“We need to ask you some questions regarding missing financial documents from Walker Holdings.””
Brenda immediately stepped forward.
“My son has nothing to do with this.””
The detective looked at her.
“I didn’t say he did.””
Her mouth closed.
I noticed that.
Brenda was used to controlling conversations.
She was not used to people refusing to follow her script.
The detective looked around.
“Who is everyone here?””
Nobody answered immediately.
That was interesting.
People who had nothing to hide usually introduced themselves.
People with secrets looked for the safest answer.
Richard stepped forward.
“I’m Richard Hale. Legal counsel for Chloe Morgan.””
The detective nodded.
“And you?””
His eyes moved toward me.
“I’m Chloe Morgan.””
A strange expression crossed his face.
Recognition.
Only for a moment.
“You’re the one mentioned in the report.””
My stomach tightened.
“What report?””
Before he could answer, Derek interrupted.
“She doesn’t know anything about this.””
The detective looked at him.
“You seem very certain.””
Derek smiled.
“I know my wife.””
I almost laughed.
The words felt absurd.
Because he didn’t know me at all.
The detective opened his folder.
“Mr. Walker, the missing files include confidential financial records, employee information, and internal transaction reports.””
Derek nodded.
“And?””
“And those files were accessed using credentials assigned to you.””
The room went silent.
Brenda gasped.
“That’s impossible.””
The detective continued.
“The access happened at 2:13 this morning.””
My mind froze.
2:13.
The wedding reception had still been happening.
Derek had been with me.
At least most of the night.
“I was at my wedding,” Derek said quickly.
The detective looked at him.
“We know.””
“Then you know I didn’t do it.””
“We know you attended your wedding.””
The distinction mattered.
I saw Derek notice it too.
“You’re accusing me?””
“No.””
The detective closed the folder.
“I’m saying someone used your credentials.””
That was different.
Someone had used Derek.
Or someone wanted it to look that way.
My eyes moved around the room.
Who had access?
Who knew his passwords?
Who could enter the company system?
Then I remembered something.
Something small.
Something I had ignored.
A few weeks earlier, Derek had asked me for help organizing his passwords.
“I’m terrible at remembering them,” he had joked.
I had laughed.
I had trusted him.
He had handed me his laptop.
I had typed nothing.
I had simply watched him log in.
And now I wondered.
Was that the moment he wanted?
The moment he wanted me close enough to know his information?
“Chloe?””
I looked up.
The detective was watching me.
“Yes?””
“You seem like you remembered something.””
My heartbeat increased.
Derek noticed.
“Chloe, don’t.””
I turned toward him.
“Don’t what?””
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
Fear.
“Don’t make assumptions.””
I smiled faintly.
“That’s interesting advice from you.””
The detective looked between us.
“What is going on here?””
Nobody answered.
Because how do you explain a marriage collapsing in real time?
How do you summarize betrayal?
How do you tell a stranger:
The man standing beside me is my husband, but I discovered today that he might have married me for money, hidden another marriage, forged my signature, and humiliated me in front of his family?
You don’t.
You let the truth unfold.
The detective turned back to Derek.
“Who else has access to your company credentials?””
Derek looked uncomfortable.
“Several people.””
“Names?””
He hesitated.
Then:
“My mother.””
Everyone looked at Brenda.
Her face changed.
“Derek.””
“You asked.””
“I’m your mother.””
“And?””
The room became still.
Because for the first time, Derek wasn’t protecting her.
He was protecting himself.
Brenda stared at him.
“You would blame me?””
Derek looked away.
That was answer enough.
Natalie whispered:
“Same as always.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
She watched Derek carefully.
“He sacrifices whoever is closest when he’s cornered.””
Derek heard her.
“Shut up.””
Natalie smiled sadly.
“There he is.””
The detective looked at Natalie.
“Who are you?””
She stepped forward.
“Natalie Brooks.””
The detective checked his notes.
His expression changed.
“You’re connected to a previous investigation.””
Derek went pale.
I noticed.
“Previous investigation?””
Nobody spoke.
The detective looked at Natalie.
“You filed a complaint against Mr. Walker three years ago.””
My eyes moved to Derek.
He looked trapped.
“I was cleared,” he said quickly.
The detective nodded.
“Legally, yes.””
But he didn’t sound convinced.
He turned back to me.
“Mrs. Walker—”
I interrupted.
“Not for much longer.””
Everyone looked at me.
Including Derek.
The detective paused.
“You’re leaving?””
I looked at my husband.
At the ring I no longer wore.
At the family who thought they owned me.
“Yes.””
Derek stepped forward.
“No.””
The word came out automatically.
Everyone heard it.
The detective noticed.
“Mr. Walker.””
Derek corrected himself.
“I mean… we need to talk.””
“No.””
I picked up my bag.
“You need to talk.””
His expression changed.
“What does that mean?””
“It means I’m done listening.””
I started walking toward the door.
Then Brenda spoke.
“You can’t leave.””
I stopped.
Slowly turned.
“Excuse me?””
Her face was no longer sweet.
No longer polite.
“You’re part of this family now.””
I looked at her.
“No.””
I glanced at Derek.
“I was part of a plan.””
That hit harder.
Her silence proved it.
I reached for the door handle.
Then my phone buzzed again.
I looked down.
Another message.
This time from the unknown number.
*Don’t go outside.*
My heart stopped.
A second message appeared.
*The person who searched your room is waiting for you at the front gate.*
I looked through the glass.
Outside, beyond the driveway lights, a figure stood near the gate.
Watching the house.
Watching me.
Then the figure lifted a phone.
My screen lit up.
Incoming call.
Unknown number.
Everyone stared as my phone continued ringing.
And then Derek whispered something that made my blood run cold.
“Chloe…”
I looked at him.
“How do you know that number?”” I asked.
His face went completely pale.
May you like
Because he knew.
And this time, he couldn’t pretend he didn’t.
