Chapter 8: The Price of Her Betrayal
Daniel arrived at Richard's office carrying a thick folder.
He placed it on the desk.
“This was sent to me yesterday.””
Richard opened it.
The first page contained Daniel's company information.
The second contained a transfer agreement.
The third listed a proposed change in ownership.
Daniel pointed to the signature at the bottom.
“That's supposed to be mine.””
Richard studied it.
“Is it?””
“No.””
Vanessa stood near the window.
She had barely spoken since Daniel entered.
“Daniel…”
He didn't look at her.
“Not yet.””
Richard examined the document.
“Marcus was attempting to acquire a controlling interest in your company.””
Daniel nodded.
“Using money from the Collins investment.””
Richard looked toward Vanessa.
“And using documents obtained through your access.””
Vanessa lowered her head.
Daniel finally turned toward her.
“Did you know?””
“No.””
“You gave him my business documents.””
“I thought he needed them for a property proposal.””
“You gave him access to our shared files.””
“I didn't understand what he was doing!””
Daniel placed both hands on the desk.
“Do you understand what that could have cost me?””
Vanessa began crying.
“I know I made a mistake.””
“You keep calling it a mistake.””
He pulled out a chair and sat down.
“You watched him manipulate you. You watched him use your name. You defended him when Lily was crying. And now I'm discovering that my business was part of his plan.””
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
“I never wanted this.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Then why did you keep choosing him?””
She had no answer.
Richard stepped between them.
“Let's focus on Marcus.””
Daniel nodded.
“Agreed.””
Richard opened his laptop and called Peter.
The former employee appeared on the screen.
He looked nervous.
“Mr. Collins, I sent you everything I found.””
“Did Marcus create these documents?””
“Yes.””
“Did anyone help him?””
Peter hesitated.
“I don't know about the transfer. But I know he was collecting personal information about Daniel for months.””
Daniel leaned closer.
“What information?””
“Bank records. Property details. Old contracts. Anything he could find.””
“Why?””
Peter swallowed.
“Because Marcus wanted leverage.””
Richard looked at him.
“Leverage for what?””
Peter lowered his voice.
“He wanted Daniel to sign over his remaining shares.””
Daniel felt his jaw tighten.
“And Vanessa?””
Peter glanced away.
“Marcus told me she was useful because she trusted him.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
The words hurt more than any accusation.
She had thought their relationship was built on affection.
Now she was hearing that, to Marcus, she might have been nothing more than a convenient doorway into someone else's life.
Richard continued.
“Do you have evidence?””
“Yes. I kept copies of several emails.””
“Send them to our legal team.””
Peter nodded.
But before the call ended, he added something.
“There is one more thing.””
Richard leaned forward.
“What?””
“Marcus has been contacting Daniel's former business partner.””
Daniel frowned.
“Who?””
Peter gave him the name.
“Steven Miller.””
Daniel immediately recognized it.
Steven had been his business partner before they separated professionally two years earlier.
They had disagreed over a major investment and ended their partnership on bad terms.
Daniel stood.
“Why would Marcus contact Steven?””
Peter hesitated.
“He wanted Steven to testify that you had authorized the original transfer.””
Daniel stared at the screen.
“That is a lie.””
“I know.””
“Then why would Steven agree?””
Peter lowered his eyes.
“Because Marcus promised him a share of the company.””
The video call ended.
Richard immediately picked up his phone.
“I'll have my legal team contact Steven.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Not yet.””
Richard looked at him.
“What do you mean?””
“I want to know whether Steven is involved or whether Marcus is using his name.””
Vanessa finally spoke.
“Daniel, please. Let me help.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“With what?””
“I can contact Marcus. He still thinks I trust him.””
Richard immediately objected.
“Absolutely not.””
Vanessa looked at her father.
“He might tell me something.””
“He might manipulate you again.””
“I can handle it.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You couldn't handle telling him no when our daughter was standing in front of you.””
Vanessa flinched.
Richard looked at Daniel.
“That's enough.””
But Daniel shook his head.
“No. She needs to understand that this isn't about getting Marcus to confess so she can feel better.””
He looked at Vanessa.
“This is about the damage he caused. And the damage you helped him create.””
Vanessa's tears fell silently.
She took out her phone.
“Then I'll show you.””
She opened her message history with Marcus.
There were hundreds of conversations.
She scrolled through them.
At first, they were affectionate.
Photographs of dinners.
Messages about missing each other.
Plans for weekends.
Then the conversations became different.
Marcus repeatedly asked for documents.
He asked about Daniel's business.
He asked when Daniel would be away.
He asked whether Vanessa knew the password to the shared office computer.
Daniel watched without speaking.
Then Vanessa stopped scrolling.
A message dated three weeks earlier appeared.
*Marcus:* Does Daniel still keep the original property documents in the study?
*Vanessa:* I think so. Why?
*Marcus:* I need to check something.
*Vanessa:* I can get them tomorrow.
*Marcus:* Good. Don't tell him. It'll be easier this way.
Daniel looked at her.
“You did that?””
Vanessa nodded, crying.
“I thought it was just paperwork.””
Daniel stood.
“That's enough.””
He walked toward the window.
Richard continued examining the messages.
Then he found something else.
A conversation from the previous week.
*Marcus:* When the deal closes, we won't have to hide anymore.
*Vanessa:* What deal?
*Marcus:* The one that will finally give us a future.
Richard stared at the screen.
“Vanessa, did you ever ask him what he meant?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
Richard scrolled further.
Another message appeared.
*Marcus:* Once Daniel signs, I'll have everything I need.
Vanessa looked sick.
Richard turned the laptop toward Daniel.
Daniel read the message.
Then he quietly said, “He was never planning to build a future with you.””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
For several seconds, the room was silent.
Then her phone vibrated.
A new message from Marcus.
*Marcus:* I know you're with your father and Daniel.
Vanessa stared at it.
Another message appeared.
*Marcus:* Tell them to stop digging. They don't know what they're dealing with.
Richard took the phone and read the next notification.
*Marcus:* If Daniel wants the truth about the original transfer, he needs to meet me tonight.
Daniel looked at Richard.
“Where?””
Vanessa opened the message.
An address appeared.
The old warehouse.
Richard immediately called his lawyer.
But Daniel had already recognized something.
It was the same location where his former business partner had stored the original property records.
And suddenly, the recording, the transfer, and the ownership agreement began to fit together.
Marcus hadn't simply wanted money.
He wanted control.
Daniel turned toward Vanessa.
“Don't contact him again.””
She nodded.
“I won't.””
But then another message arrived.
This time, it included a photograph.
Lily was sitting outside her school with a teacher.
Vanessa gasped.
Daniel snatched the phone.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
*Marcus:* You should both be careful about who you trust with your daughter.
Daniel's expression changed instantly.
He called the school.
“Hello, this is Lily's father. I need to speak with the headteacher immediately.””
Richard was already reaching for his coat.
Vanessa stood frozen.
May you like
And for the first time since the affair began, she wasn't worried about losing Daniel.
She was terrified that Marcus had brought their daughter into his dangerous game.
