Chapter 6: The Betrayal Nobody Expected
Adrian didn’t move for several seconds.
The phone remained pressed against his ear.
But he looked like he wasn’t hearing anything anymore.
“Say that again.””
His voice was barely audible.
I watched the shock spread across his face.
The same face that had looked at me with anger.
The same face that had believed every lie Vanessa told.
Now that face was finally seeing her clearly.
His assistant continued speaking.
I couldn’t hear the details.
Only Adrian’s reactions.
“No.””
A pause.
“That’s impossible.””
Another pause.
“She worked with us.””
Then his expression changed.
“She had access?””
My stomach tightened.
I already knew the answer.
Vanessa had not just entered our lives.
She had entered his company.
And she had been collecting pieces.
When Adrian ended the call, he looked completely defeated.
“What happened?””
He sat down slowly.
“Vanessa reported financial misconduct inside Mercer Dynamics.””
I frowned.
“But you said she helped you investigate the leak.””
“She did.””
“Then why would she report you?””
He looked at the floor.
“Because if the company collapses, she benefits.””
The realization hit him all at once.
“She wasn’t trying to save Mercer Dynamics.””
His voice became bitter.
“She was trying to take control of it.””
I remained silent.
Because there was something painful about watching him understand.
Not because I felt sorry for him.
But because I knew that feeling.
The feeling of realizing someone you trusted had never been who they claimed.
The difference was…
I had discovered it from the outside.
Adrian had invited it into his home.
A knock came at the door.
Adrian looked up.
“Who is that?””
Neither of us answered.
A moment later, the security system announced a visitor.
Olivia appeared at the entrance.
“Claire.””
She looked concerned.
“There’s someone here to see you.””
“Who?””
Olivia hesitated.
Then stepped aside.
My father walked in.
Robert Ellison.
He wasn’t the kind of billionaire people imagined.
He didn’t enter rooms loudly.
He didn’t need to.
His presence changed the room before he even spoke.
Adrian immediately stood.
“Mr. Ellison.””
My father looked at him.
Not angrily.
That would have been easier.
He looked disappointed.
And somehow, that was worse.
“Adrian.””
The two men stared at each other.
My father glanced at the documents on the table.
“Is this the agreement?””
Adrian didn’t answer.
My father already knew.
He looked at me.
“Claire.””
I nodded.
“I know.””
His expression softened slightly.
“I’m sorry.””
Those two words almost broke me.
Because my father had spent years respecting my choices.
He never told me Adrian was wrong.
He never interfered.
He let me live my own life.
And now he was standing in my home because the person I chose had hurt me.
Adrian looked between us.
“You knew?””
My father looked at him.
“I suspected.””
“And you let me marry her?””
My father’s expression hardened.
“No.””
The answer was immediate.
“I let my daughter make her own decision.””
The room became quiet.
Then Adrian said something I never expected.
“I did love her.””
My father looked at him.
“Then why did you create a contract?””
Adrian had no answer.
My father stepped closer.
“Love does not require hidden agreements.””
The words landed.
Because they were true.
Then my father placed a folder on the table.
“This is everything we found.””
Adrian looked at it.
“What is it?””
“Evidence.””
“Against Vanessa?””
My father nodded.
“And against anyone who helped her.””
Adrian opened the folder.
His expression changed as he read.
I watched him carefully.
“What?””
He looked up.
“She planned this from the beginning.””
My father nodded.
“She studied your company before she met you.””
A chill went through me.
“She didn’t meet Adrian by accident.””
“No.””
My father looked at me.
“She chose him.””
Adrian closed the folder.
“And Claire?””
My father was silent.
That silence scared me.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“There’s one more thing.””
“What?””
My father reached into the folder and pulled out a photograph.
He placed it on the table.
I picked it up.
And my heart stopped.
It was Vanessa.
Years earlier.
Standing beside someone I recognized.
Someone from Adrian’s past.
Someone who had disappeared after causing a major scandal at Mercer Dynamics.
I looked at my father.
“Who is that?””
My father’s voice was quiet.
“That is the person who taught Vanessa everything she knows.””
I stared at the photograph.
Then at Adrian.
Because the truth was becoming darker.
Vanessa had not simply destroyed our marriage.
She had planned an entire operation.
And Adrian Mercer was never the target.
He was just the first piece.
My father looked at me.
“Claire, there is something you need to know about why Vanessa chose Adrian.””
“What?””
He paused.
“She didn’t choose him because of his company.””
My stomach tightened.
“Then why?””
May you like
My father looked directly into my eyes.
“Because she was trying to get close to you.””
