Chapter 7: The Woman Who Betrayed Her Friend
The press conference was chaos.
Cameras.
Questions.
Shouting.
The kind of noise that made it impossible to think.
Vincent stood behind the podium.
I stood beside him.
And for the first time in my life, I understood what it felt like to be surrounded by people who wanted a piece of your story.
A reporter raised her hand.
“Mr. Moretti, is it true your family hid financial crimes for decades?””
Another shouted:
“Was Emma Carter involved?””
My stomach turned.
Vincent leaned toward the microphone.
“Emma Carter was the person who protected my mother when everyone else looked away.””
The room quieted.
“She is not the criminal in this story.””
A reporter asked:
“Then who is?””
Vincent didn’t answer.
Not yet.
Because he needed proof.
Not anger.
Not revenge.
Proof.
After the conference ended, we returned to his office.
A message was waiting.
From Claire.
My hands went cold.
“She wants to meet.””
Vincent looked at me.
“Do you trust her?””
I thought about my friend.
The girl who had shared lunch with me.
The girl who had told me I was brave.
“I don’t know.””
We met Claire in a small coffee shop outside downtown.
She looked terrified.
The moment she saw me, tears filled her eyes.
“Emma.””
I didn’t sit.
“Why?””
Her face collapsed.
“I’m sorry.””
“That’s not an answer.””
She looked at Vincent.
Then back at me.
“Victoria threatened me.””
I crossed my arms.
“She threatened everyone.””
“No.””
Claire shook her head.
“You don’t understand.””
She pulled out her phone.
“My brother.””
The screen showed a hospital room.
A young man lying unconscious.
“My brother was injured last year. Victoria’s foundation paid for his treatment.””
I said nothing.
“She told me if I didn’t help her, she would stop paying.””
My anger weakened.
Not disappeared.
But changed.
“What did she make you do?””
Claire looked down.
“Access the security system.””
My chest tightened.
“The footage.””
She nodded.
“I copied the video.””
“Why frame me?””
“Because Victoria needed someone believable.””
Claire wiped her eyes.
“She said nobody would defend a waitress.””
The words hurt because I knew they were true.
Vincent asked:
“Did she ask you to steal Isabella Moretti’s files?””
Claire froze.
“No.””
That answer came too quickly.
Vincent noticed.
“What aren’t you telling us?””
Claire looked terrified.
“I wasn’t the only one helping her.””
The coffee shop suddenly felt too quiet.
“Who else?””
Claire looked at me.
And whispered:
“Your father.””
I closed my eyes.
Again.
My father.
Always my father.
But then Claire shook her head.
“Not because he wanted to.””
“What do you mean?””
“She threatened him too.””
“How?””
Claire hesitated.
“She told him she knew what your mother had done.””
My heart stopped.
“What my mother had done?””
Claire nodded.
“Victoria said your mother left behind something.””
“What?””
Claire looked toward the window.
“A ledger.””
A chill moved through me.
“A ledger of what?””
Before Claire could answer, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her face turned white.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
“What happened?””
She didn’t answer.
Then she handed me the phone.
A message.
One sentence.
*Stop talking, or Emma Carter learns what happened to her mother.*
My blood ran cold.
Vincent immediately stood.
“Where did this come from?””
Claire whispered:
“She knows we’re here.””
Everyone looked around.
The coffee shop suddenly felt dangerous.
Vincent’s security team moved in.
But before we left, Claire grabbed my hand.
“Emma.””
I looked at her.
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
She swallowed.
“Your mother didn’t hide the ledger.””
“Then who did?””
Claire looked terrified.
“She gave it to someone she trusted.””
I waited.
“Who?””
May you like
Claire whispered:
“Isabella Moretti.””
