Chapter 6: The Person He Could Not Control
The name on the card belonged to Marcus’s former business partner.
Daniel Hayes.
I knew him.
Not well.
But enough.
Daniel had been at our wedding.
He had given a speech about Marcus being “the most determined man he had ever met.””
At the time, I thought it was a compliment.
Now I wondered if it was a warning.
“Why does Daniel know?”” I asked.
Rachel stood up.
“Because he was there when Marcus started changing.””
I grabbed my coat.
“I need to talk to him.””
Rachel looked surprised.
“Tonight?””
“Yes.””
She studied my face.
Maybe she expected me to cry.
Maybe she expected me to fall apart.
But something inside me had shifted.
I spent years trusting Marcus’s version of reality.
Now I needed my own.
Daniel agreed to meet at a small coffee shop across town.
When he walked in, his expression changed the moment he saw me.
“Nia.””
He stopped.
Then he looked at Rachel.
“She told you.””
I nodded.
“Apparently everyone knew something except me.””
Daniel sighed.
“That’s not fair.””
I looked at him.
“Isn’t it?””
He didn’t answer.
We sat down.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Daniel said, “Marcus is very good at making people believe he is the victim.””
I almost smiled.
“That seems to be everyone’s favorite description of him.””
Daniel looked serious.
“Because it’s true.””
I leaned forward.
“Tell me what happened.””
Daniel rubbed his hands together.
“Years ago, Marcus and I started our company together.””
“I know.””
“But what you don’t know is why I left.””
I waited.
“He was using company resources for personal expenses.””
My eyebrows lifted.
“What?””
“He always had an explanation. Always.””
Daniel shook his head.
“He would say it was temporary. That he would fix it. That nobody understood the pressure he was under.””
A familiar pattern.
“He convinced me to stay quiet.””
“How?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“He made me feel guilty.””
That answer hurt because it was exactly what Marcus did.
Daniel continued.
“He said if I exposed him, hundreds of employees would lose their jobs. He made himself the hero.””
I looked down.
“He always does.””
Daniel nodded.
“After I left, I found out about Claire.””
“And Olivia?””
His face changed.
“You know about Olivia?””
“Yes.””
Daniel exhaled.
“Then he hasn’t changed.””
I felt my hands tighten.
“How many women?””
Daniel was quiet.
Too quiet.
“Daniel.””
He looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
That answer scared me more than a number.
Because it meant there could be more.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?””
Daniel looked at the table.
“Because Marcus made sure everyone who could expose him looked unreliable.””
I thought about Rachel.
About Claire.
About everyone who had tried to warn me.
He had built a wall around himself.
And I had been standing inside it.
Daniel reached into his bag.
“I have something.””
He placed a folder on the table.
I immediately looked at him.
“What is that?””
“Something I should have given you years ago.””
I didn’t touch it.
“What’s inside?””
“Proof that Marcus was preparing for a life without you.””
My heart sank.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel looked at me.
“I mean Marcus wasn’t accidentally living two lives.””
A silence filled the coffee shop.
“He was planning one.””
My fingers slowly moved toward the folder.
But before I opened it, my phone rang.
Marcus.
Again.
I ignored it.
Then a second call came.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman’s voice spoke immediately.
“Nia?””
I froze.
“Who is this?””
There was a pause.
Then she whispered something that made my blood run cold.
“I’m sorry you found out this way.””
I stood up.
“Who are you?””
Her voice trembled.
“I’m someone Marcus thought he had already erased from his life.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What does that mean?””
The woman took a shaky breath.
“It means you’re not the second woman.””
I felt the entire room disappear.
“What?””
May you like
Her next words changed everything.
“Nia… you’re the third.””
