Chapter 4: The Other Side Of The Lie

I stared at Daniel.

“Mark contacted you?””

Daniel nodded slowly.

“Yes.””

A cold feeling moved through my body.

That didn’t make sense.

Mark didn’t know about Daniel.

He didn’t know about Ethan’s suspicions.

He didn’t know anyone was watching.

At least, I thought he didn’t.

“What did he say?””

Daniel looked at his phone.

“He wants to meet.””

“Why?””

Daniel didn’t answer immediately.

That silence scared me.

“What?””

He locked his phone.

“He knows something happened.””

I stepped backward.

“No.””

“Claire—”

“No.””

I shook my head.

“You don’t understand.””

Daniel studied my reaction.

“Then explain.””

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Because suddenly, I wasn’t only afraid of Ethan finding out.

I was afraid of Mark.

For months, I had believed Mark was my escape.

The person who understood me.

The person who made me feel wanted.

But now, standing in my own kitchen with the truth collapsing around me, I started seeing things differently.

The late-night messages.

The secretive behavior.

The way he avoided serious conversations.

The way he always controlled when and where we met.

I remembered something he said three weeks earlier.

“Don’t complicate this.””

At the time, I thought he meant our relationship was difficult.

Now I wondered if he meant something else.

Daniel noticed my expression.

“You’re remembering something.””

I looked away.

“Maybe.””

“What?””

I hesitated.

Then I whispered:

“He always told me not to make things complicated.””

Daniel’s face became serious.

“Did he ever tell you why?””

I shook my head.

“No.””

“Did he ever talk about his personal life?””

“No.””

“His family?””

“No.””

“His future?””

Again, I shook my head.

Daniel leaned against the counter.

“So you knew everything about him?””

I frowned.

“What do you mean?””

“You trusted him enough to betray your marriage.””

The words were harsh.

But accurate.

“Yet you don’t even know basic things about his life.””

I felt embarrassed.

Because I realized he was right.

I knew the version of Mark he wanted me to know.

Nothing more.

Daniel’s phone buzzed again.

He checked the message.

Then he turned the screen toward me.

It was from Mark.

Three words.

*She knows now.*

My face went pale.

“How did he know?””

Daniel stared at the message.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.””

The room felt completely different.

A few minutes earlier, I thought my biggest problem was Ethan discovering my affair.

Now I wondered if I had been part of something bigger.

Daniel stepped outside and made a phone call.

I stayed in the kitchen.

Alone.

For the first time in months, there was no excitement.

No secret thrill.

No feeling of being chosen.

Only fear.

I looked at the family photo hanging near the hallway.

Ethan and me on our tenth anniversary.

We looked happy.

Maybe we were.

Maybe I destroyed something that could have been saved.

My phone suddenly rang.

I looked down.

Unknown number.

My hands shook.

I answered.

“Hello?””

Silence.

Then a familiar voice.

“Claire.””

My blood ran cold.

“Mark?””

“Yes.””

“Where are you?””

A small laugh came through the phone.

“You really thought Ethan was the only one watching?””

I froze.

“What are you talking about?””

“You need to listen carefully.””

His voice sounded completely different.

Not charming.

Not gentle.

Cold.

“You made one mistake.””

I gripped the phone.

“What mistake?””

“You trusted everyone except the person who was actually protecting you.””

I didn’t understand.

“What does that mean?””

Mark lowered his voice.

“Ethan hired that investigator because he thought you were cheating.””

A pause.

“But he never asked why.””

My heart pounded.

“What are you saying?””

Mark continued.

“The man you married has been hiding something too.””

The kitchen suddenly felt freezing.

“What?””

Mark’s voice became quieter.

“There’s a reason Ethan wanted proof.””

I couldn’t speak.

“Claire…”

He took a breath.

“You were never the only secret in that marriage.””

The call ended.

I stared at the phone.

Then slowly looked toward Daniel standing outside.

Because for the first time that day…

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I wondered if Ethan had only been searching for my betrayal.

Or if he had been hiding one of his own.