Chapter 3: The Person Behind The Lies
I read the message five times.
Then ten.
The words stayed the same.
*You think Brianna is the problem? You have no idea what your brother helped hide.*
My fingers tightened around my phone.
Ryan noticed immediately.
"What is it?""
I didn’t answer.
"Emily.""
I looked at him.
For the first time that day, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at.
Was it my brother?
Or was it someone I had spent years misunderstanding?
I turned the phone toward him.
His face changed as he read the message.
The panic that had been there before became something else.
Recognition.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
"You know who this is," I said.
Ryan looked away.
"No.""
The answer came too quickly.
I stared at him.
"Ryan.""
"I said no.""
But his voice was different.
Weak.
Uncertain.
I took the phone back.
"Someone is accusing you of hiding something.""
"They could be lying.""
"Could they?""
His silence was louder than words.
I walked toward the kitchen table and placed my phone beside the folder.
"Start talking.""
Ryan remained standing.
"Emily, this isn't simple.""
"Nothing ever is with you.""
His eyes lifted.
"What does that mean?""
"It means every time something happens, there’s always a reason. There’s always an explanation. There’s always something I don't understand.""
I pointed at the documents.
"First it was the money.""
Then my phone.
"Now it’s this.""
I looked directly at him.
"So explain.""
Ryan sat down slowly.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered, "Her brother.""
I frowned.
"What about him?""
Ryan rubbed his hands together.
"Brianna’s brother was involved.""
"In the business?""
He nodded.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What does that mean?""
Ryan looked toward the window.
"His name is Derek.""
I waited.
Ryan continued.
"When Brianna started the company, Derek helped with the paperwork.""
I looked at the documents.
"The paperwork that says Brianna owns everything.""
Ryan nodded.
"Yes.""
"And?""
He hesitated.
"And some of the contracts weren't what they looked like.""
I stared at him.
"Explain.""
Ryan swallowed.
"There were investors.""
I frowned.
"You told me it was just you and Brianna.""
"I thought it was.""
"Ryan.""
He closed his eyes.
"I swear, Emily, I didn't know at first.""
The anger inside me shifted.
Because there was something in his voice.
Something I recognized.
Fear.
Real fear.
"What did Derek do?""
Ryan looked at me.
"He created accounts.""
"What kind of accounts?""
"Accounts connected to the company.""
"That doesn't explain anything.""
He looked down.
"Accounts that moved money.""
A cold feeling spread through my body.
"How much?""
Ryan didn't answer.
"How much?""
"I don't know.""
"You're telling me you don't know how much money disappeared?""
His face tightened.
"I know some of it.""
"How much?""
Ryan looked at the floor.
"Almost two hundred thousand dollars.""
The number hit harder than I expected.
Not because of the amount.
Because of what it meant.
While I was working extra shifts.
While I was cutting expenses.
While I was telling myself that helping my family was the right thing to do...
They were playing a completely different game.
"Does Mom know?""
"No.""
"Does anyone know?""
Ryan shook his head.
"No.""
I laughed quietly.
"So everyone thinks Brianna is successful.""
"Yes.""
"They think you built something together.""
"Yes.""
"They think I’m the unstable one who causes problems.""
Ryan looked at me.
"Emily—"
"No.""
My voice cracked.
"But I was the only person asking questions.""
He looked away.
A knock suddenly came from the front door.
Both of us froze.
Ryan stood.
"Are you expecting someone?""
I shook my head.
The knock came again.
Three slow taps.
Not a neighbor.
Not someone in a hurry.
Someone who wanted us to know they were there.
Ryan moved toward the door.
I grabbed his arm.
"Wait.""
He looked at me.
"Why?""
"Because whoever sent that message might be standing on the other side.""
We stood silently.
The knock came again.
Then a voice.
"Emily?""
My heart stopped.
I knew that voice.
I hadn't heard it in years.
Ryan looked confused.
"Who is that?""
I didn’t answer.
The voice came again.
"Emily, I know you're inside.""
I slowly walked toward the door.
My hand hovered over the handle.
Then I opened it.
A man stood there.
Older than I remembered.
Tired.
Carrying a worn leather folder.
"Daniel," I whispered.
He looked past me.
Straight at Ryan.
And his expression changed.
"You’re here too.""
Ryan stepped forward.
"How do you know my sister?""
Daniel gave a humorless smile.
"Because unlike you, Ryan, your sister actually listened.""
The words hit hard.
Ryan’s face darkened.
"What is that supposed to mean?""
Daniel ignored him.
He looked at me.
"I hoped I wouldn’t have to involve you.""
My eyebrows pulled together.
"Involve me in what?""
Daniel held up the leather folder.
"This.""
He opened it slightly.
Inside were copies of documents.
More documents.
More evidence.
"I found your name in the records.""
My heart raced.
"What records?""
Daniel looked at Ryan.
Then back at me.
"The ones showing your brother signed agreements he claims he never saw.""
Ryan stepped back.
"No.""
Daniel’s expression didn't change.
"Yes.""
"I never signed anything.""
"You did.""
Ryan shook his head.
"I would remember.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Would you?""
The room went silent.
Because that question carried something heavier than an accusation.
It carried history.
"Who are you?"" I asked.
Daniel looked at me.
"My name is Daniel Carter.""
He placed the folder on the table.
"I used to work with Brianna's company.""
"Used to?""
He nodded.
"Until I realized what she was actually doing.""
Ryan crossed his arms.
"So you’re the one sending messages?""
Daniel didn't deny it.
"I needed Emily to know before it was too late.""
I stared at him.
"Too late for what?""
Daniel looked at the folder.
"Before Brianna disappears completely.""
Ryan frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Daniel slowly opened the folder.
Inside was a photograph.
A photograph of Brianna.
Standing beside someone I had never seen before.
But Ryan recognized him instantly.
His face turned pale.
"That's impossible.""
I looked between them.
"Who is that?""
Ryan didn’t answer.
Daniel did.
"That is the man Brianna has been working with from the beginning.""
I looked at the picture again.
The man was smiling.
Standing beside Brianna.
Holding a glass of champagne.
And on the back of the photograph was a handwritten date.
The date was from six months before Ryan and Brianna even met.
My breathing stopped.
Because that meant one terrifying possibility.
Brianna hadn’t married my brother because she loved him.
She had married him because he was useful.
Ryan stared at the photograph.
"No.""
Daniel leaned closer.
"There’s more.""
He pulled out another document.
Then placed it on the table.
Ryan picked it up.
His eyes moved across the page.
And then he whispered something that made my entire body go cold.
"Emily...""
I looked at him.
"What?""
He turned the paper toward me.
At the bottom of the contract was a signature.
My signature.
Except I had never signed it.
Ryan’s voice shook.
"This says you agreed to transfer ownership.""
I stared at the page.
The ink.
The signature.
The date.
Everything looked real.
But it wasn't.
Because I had never seen this document before.
Someone had forged my name.
And they had done it for a reason.
Daniel watched my reaction carefully.
Then he said the words that changed everything.
"Emily, Brianna wasn't stealing your money.""
May you like
He paused.
"She was trying to take your entire life.""
