Chapter 4: The Person Behind The Betrayal
Marcus read the message three times.
Like his mind refused to accept the words.
I watched his fingers tighten around the phone.
“Marcus?””
He didn’t answer.
“Marcus, what does it say?””
He looked at Brielle.
Then at me.
Then back at the phone.
“Your mother.””
The room went silent.
My breath caught.
“My mother?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“The hospital records show your mother requested information about your pregnancy.””
I felt like the ground disappeared.
“That’s impossible.””
My mother had always been difficult.
Controlling.
Critical.
But she was still my mother.
“She wouldn’t…”
My voice faded.
Marcus looked at Brielle.
“What do you know?””
Brielle looked broken.
“I tried to stop it.””
Marcus stared.
“You knew?””
She cried.
“I found out after it happened.””
I felt anger rising.
“You knew someone hurt me and you said nothing?””
Brielle covered her face.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
She looked at me.
“Of losing my brother.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“You thought protecting a lie was worth destroying my wife?””
Brielle had no answer.
The wedding guests slowly began leaving.
The beautiful decorations suddenly looked ridiculous.
The flowers.
The lights.
The perfect image.
Everything was fake.
Marcus took my hand.
“We’re leaving.””
I nodded.
But before we reached the door, Brielle spoke.
“Emma.””
I stopped.
I didn’t turn around.
“I’m sorry.””
The words were quiet.
But they came too late.
I looked back.
“Do you know what hurt the most?””
Brielle stared at me.
“Not the dress.””
Her face fell.
“Not even the lies.””
I touched my belly.
“It was knowing that when I was broken, you stood beside me pretending to care.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“I really did care.””
I shook my head.
“Maybe you did.””
I looked at the torn blue fabric lying on the marble floor.
“But you cared more about your secret.””
Marcus and I walked out.
The night air hit my face.
For the first time in hours, I could breathe.
But the truth wasn’t finished.
Not even close.
Two days later, Marcus and I sat in our attorney’s office.
The hospital file was spread across the desk.
New evidence had been found.
The lawyer adjusted his glasses.
“Emma, there’s something you need to see.””
He slid a document toward me.
I looked down.
My blood turned cold.
It was a payment record.
Someone had paid for the medication.
Someone had paid for access to my medical information.
Someone had arranged everything.
And the name on the transaction wasn’t my mother.
It wasn’t Brielle.
It wasn’t anyone I expected.
Marcus saw my face.
“What is it?””
I couldn’t speak.
I just handed him the paper.
His expression changed.
Because the person who had paid to destroy our family…
Was someone sitting beside us the entire time.
Someone who had comforted me.
Someone who had told me they loved me.
Someone who had watched me cry.
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The name at the bottom of the page was:
*Marcus Carter.*
