Chapter 7: The Enemy Who Knew My Every Move
For several seconds after Victoria Hale’s words, nobody spoke.
Not Mark.
Not Claire.
Not Diane.
Not even Aaron.
The only sound inside the mansion was the faint hum of the chandelier above us.
“The person who planned your husband’s betrayal has been living under your roof for years.””
Victoria’s voice echoed in my mind.
Under your roof.
Years.
I looked around the foyer.
The place where I had celebrated holidays.
The place where I had hosted business dinners.
The place where I had believed I was safe.
Suddenly, every memory felt different.
Every smile.
Every conversation.
Every moment I thought was ordinary.
“What are you talking about?”” I asked.
Victoria didn’t answer immediately.
Like she was deciding how much damage the truth would cause.
“Emma, I know this is difficult.””
I almost laughed.
Difficult.
That was one word for it.
“My husband tried to steal my house. My business partner helped him. And now you’re telling me someone else has been planning this?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Silence.
Then:
“You need to look at the people closest to you.””
My eyes moved across the room.
Mark.
Claire.
Diane.
Everyone I had trusted.
Everyone who had benefited from my kindness.
“Victoria, if you called me to speak in riddles—”
“I called because I made a mistake.””
That stopped me.
A mistake?
“What mistake?””
“I underestimated how far they were willing to go.””
I narrowed my eyes.
“Who is they?””
Victoria lowered her voice.
“Mark was never trying to take your property because he wanted a house.””
I looked at the documents scattered across the table.
“He wanted my company.””
“Yes.””
My stomach tightened.
“And you know this because?””
“Because I was the person they originally approached.””
The room went silent.
Even Mark looked shocked.
“What?””
Victoria continued.
“Six months ago, Mark contacted someone from my company.””
I stared at him.
“You contacted her?””
Mark looked away.
“I didn’t know it was connected.””
Connected.
Everything was always connected.
“What did you offer her?””
Victoria answered before he could.
“Information.””
My fingers went cold.
“What kind of information?””
“Your company’s internal structure. Expansion plans. Financial projections.””
I looked at Claire.
Because only a few people had access to that.
Claire looked away.
“Claire.””
She didn’t respond.
“Claire.””
Her eyes slowly met mine.
And I saw it.
The shame.
“You gave him my information.””
She whispered:
“Yes.””
The admission was quiet.
But it destroyed something louder than anger could.
My friendship.
My trust.
The belief that loyalty meant anything.
“You gave my husband confidential company information?””
“I thought—”
“No.””
My voice was sharper.
“Don’t explain yet.””
Claire looked down.
I turned back to the phone.
“Victoria, why didn’t you tell me earlier?””
“Because I didn’t have enough proof.””
“And now you do?””
“Yes.””
“What proof?””
Another pause.
Then:
“An account.””
Aaron immediately looked at me.
“What account?””
Victoria continued.
“An offshore account created under a name connected to Mark’s family.””
Diane’s face changed.
“What?””
Everyone looked at her.
She looked genuinely confused.
Victoria said:
“The account received payments from someone who wanted access to Emma’s company.””
Aaron stepped closer.
“Do you know the account holder?””
“Yes.””
“Who?””
Victoria didn’t answer.
Instead, she said:
“Emma, I think you already know.””
My heart sank.
“No.””
I didn’t want to guess.
Because the only people left were people I didn’t want the answer to be.
Victoria continued.
“The account belongs to someone who has been handling your personal affairs.””
My eyes moved to Aaron.
Then away.
Not Aaron.
No.
I trusted Aaron.
He had been the one who came to help me.
The one who exposed the truth.
But there was someone else.
Someone who knew my schedule.
Someone who knew my finances.
Someone who knew where my documents were stored.
My assistant.
I whispered her name.
“Lena.””
Claire looked up.
Diane frowned.
“Your assistant?””
I didn’t answer.
Because suddenly, memories were rushing back.
Lena organizing my meetings.
Lena preparing my documents.
Lena reminding me about signatures.
Lena telling me which papers needed my attention.
How many times had she placed something in front of me?
How many times had she said:
“Just sign here.””
My blood ran cold.
Aaron noticed.
“Emma?””
I looked at him.
“Check Lena’s access.””
He immediately understood.
“I’ll do it.””
Mark suddenly spoke.
“Wait.””
Everyone looked at him.
His face was pale.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“I didn’t know about Lena.””
The room went still.
Because for the first time that night, Mark sounded honest.
“You’re saying she was involved without telling you?””
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“And I’m supposed to believe you?””
His expression tightened.
“I know how it sounds.””
“You’re right.””
I stepped closer.
“It sounds exactly like another lie.””
He looked hurt.
And I hated that a small part of me still noticed.
Still cared.
That was the worst part.
Not losing him.
Realizing I had loved someone who had been capable of this.
Aaron returned his attention to the phone.
“Victoria, do you know where Lena is now?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because after the documents were filed, she disappeared.””
My stomach dropped.
Disappeared.
People didn’t disappear when everything was fine.
They disappeared when they were running.
I ended the call.
Nobody spoke.
Then Mark’s phone buzzed.
Again.
He looked at it.
This time, he didn’t hide it.
A message.
From Lena.
*You were supposed to get the property tonight. Why did you fail?*
I stared at the screen.
Mark looked terrified.
Because he knew.
The person controlling everything was no longer hiding.
“She was using you,” I said.
Mark shook his head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“She said she was helping me.””
I looked at him.
“Helping you do what?””
He didn’t answer.
“Say it.””
His eyes filled with regret.
“She said she could make me powerful.””
There it was.
The truth.
Not love.
Not security.
Power.
I looked around the mansion.
The expensive furniture.
The perfect decorations.
The life everyone wanted to own.
And I realized something.
They had all been chasing the same thing.
A life they didn’t build.
A success they didn’t earn.
A power they didn’t deserve.
Aaron walked toward the window.
“Emma.””
I looked at him.
“There’s something outside.””
“What?””
He pointed.
A car was parked across the street.
The engine was running.
The person inside wasn’t trying to hide.
They wanted us to see.
I stepped closer to the window.
The driver’s door opened.
A woman stepped out.
She looked familiar.
Too familiar.
Not because I knew her personally.
Because I had seen her name everywhere.
On magazines.
On business articles.
On television interviews.
Victoria Hale.
But she wasn’t supposed to be here.
She was supposed to be on the phone.
She walked toward the mansion slowly.
Mark looked at her.
Then whispered:
“She’s not the one who called.””
I turned.
“What?””
His face had lost all color.
“Emma…”
“What?””
He stared at Victoria approaching the front door.
Then said:
“The person you were talking to wasn’t Victoria Hale.””
My heart stopped.
“Then who was it?””
Mark looked at the woman outside.
And whispered:
“Someone who works for her.””
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Aaron moved toward the entrance.
But before he opened it, my phone received a new message.
Unknown number.
One sentence.
*Do not let Victoria Hale enter. She is the reason your life was destroyed.*
I looked at the message.
Then at the woman standing outside.
May you like
The woman everyone thought was my enemy.
And suddenly I didn’t know who I could trust anymore.
