Chapter 13 - THE FRIEND WHO SOLD ME OUT
I watched the screen again.
Daniel.
My best friend.
The man who stood beside me when I started my company.
The man who knew my dreams.
My fears.
My weaknesses.
The man I trusted more than anyone.
Marcus looked at me.
“Alexander…”
I raised my hand.
“I know.”
I wanted to deny it.
I wanted to believe there was another explanation.
But the truth had a way of destroying every excuse.
The next morning, I called Daniel.
“We need to talk.”
He arrived twenty minutes later.
He looked nervous.
Not angry.
Not confused.
Nervous.
That told me everything.
“You know.”
It wasn't a question.
I looked at him.
“How long?”
Daniel sat down slowly.
“Alexander…”
“How long?”
He looked away.
“Two years.”
The answer hurt.
More than I expected.
Two years.
Two years of handshakes.
Two years of meetings.
Two years of pretending.
“Why?”
He stayed silent.
Then finally said:
“Because I was tired of being your shadow.”
I stared at him.
“That’s your reason?”
“You had everything.”
His voice became bitter.
“The company. The money. The respect.”
“You had my trust.”
He looked down.
“And I wanted more.”
I nodded slowly.
That was the worst part.
Not the betrayal.
The honesty.
He wasn't forced.
He wasn't trapped.
He chose it.
“Did you know about the accident?”
His face changed.
A small reaction.
But enough.
“Yes.”
The room felt smaller.
“You knew?”
“I didn’t plan it.”
“But you knew.”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
I turned away.
Because if I looked at him longer...
I wasn't sure what I would do.
Then Daniel said:
“There’s something you don’t know.”
I looked back.
“What?”
“Vanessa wasn’t the leader.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Explain.”
He swallowed.
“She was working for someone else.”
“Who?”
Daniel looked terrified.
Then he whispered:
“The person who has been controlling everything…”
A pause.
“Is your mother’s brother.”
I froze.
“My uncle Martin?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“Another one.”
My heart stopped.
Because I never knew I had another uncle.
Then Daniel said the name.
A name that had disappeared from my family history.
May you like
“Victor Carter.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
