Chapter 7: The Game She Thought She Was Winning
I used to believe secrets became smaller when they were revealed.
I was wrong.
Sometimes every answer creates a bigger question.
I stared at the photo on my phone.
It was taken after I walked outside the restaurant.
My face was turned away.
Daniel was standing beside me.
Chloe was near the door.
Whoever sent it had been watching us.
Waiting.
Watching.
My first thought was Megan.
But then I noticed the timestamp.
The picture was taken after Megan left.
She couldn’t have taken it.
I called the number.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message appeared.
*You’re asking the wrong person. Ask Chloe.*
My stomach dropped.
Chloe?
The next morning, I drove to Chloe’s apartment.
She opened the door and immediately knew why I was there.
“You got the message.””
I stepped inside.
“You knew?””
She looked guilty.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t find out this way.””
My chest tightened.
“Find out what?””
Chloe sat down.
“I knew Megan was planning something.””
I stared at her.
“How long?””
She looked down.
“Before the dinner.””
The betrayal felt endless.
First Megan.
Then Daniel.
Now Chloe.
“You knew she was going to do something to me?””
“No.””
“Then what did you know?””
Chloe wiped her eyes.
“She told me she wanted to expose something about you.””
I laughed bitterly.
“About me?””
“Yes.””
“What?””
Chloe hesitated.
“She said you had been lying to everyone.””
My heart stopped.
“About what?””
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
“She never told me the whole thing.””
I stood there, trying to understand.
“Megan created a plan to destroy my marriage, but you knew she had something against me?””
Chloe shook her head.
“I didn’t believe her.””
“But you didn’t warn me.””
“I was scared.””
Everyone was scared.
Everyone had a reason.
But I was the person who had been hurt.
“What did she say exactly?””
Chloe looked away.
“She said, ‘Emma’s perfect little life is built on something nobody knows.’”
The words echoed in my head.
Built on something nobody knows.
“What does that mean?””
“I don’t know.””
I left Chloe’s apartment with more questions than answers.
When I got home, Daniel was waiting.
He could tell something happened.
“What now?””
I handed him my phone.
He read the message.
Then looked at me.
“Emma…”
“What?””
He was quiet.
“Maybe Megan found something from before we met.””
I frowned.
“Before we met?””
“Yes.””
I stared at him.
“What could she possibly know?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
That scared me.
“Daniel.””
He took a deep breath.
“There is something I never told you.””
I felt my heart sink.
“Another secret?””
“No.””
He looked devastated.
“Not like that.””
“Then what?””
He sat down.
“Before we met, I was engaged.””
I blinked.
“What?””
He nodded.
“Her name was Claire.””
I had never heard that name.
“Why didn’t I know this?””
“Because it ended years before you.””
“That doesn’t explain why you hid it.””
“I didn’t think it mattered.””
I stared at him.
“You were engaged.””
“I was twenty-five.””
“That’s not the point.””
He rubbed his face.
“I’m sorry.””
I looked away.
“How does Megan know?””
“I don’t know.””
But suddenly, I remembered something.
A conversation from years ago.
Megan had asked me:
“Do you ever wonder if people have versions of themselves they hide?””
I thought she was talking about relationships.
I thought she was being philosophical.
Now I wondered.
Was she talking about me?
That evening, Ryan called.
His voice sounded urgent.
“Emma, I found out who sent that message.””
“Who?””
A pause.
Then:
“Claire.””
My entire body went still.
“Daniel’s ex-fiancée?””
“Yes.””
“How does she have my number?””
Ryan sounded nervous.
“That’s the problem.””
“What problem?””
“She contacted Megan first.””
I felt cold.
“Megan and Claire know each other?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Ryan was silent.
Then he said:
“I think Megan has been planning this with someone else from the beginning.””
I looked at Daniel.
He was watching me.
Waiting.
“What did Claire tell you?””
Ryan answered:
“She said Megan didn’t want Daniel.””
My heart raced.
“Then what did she want?””
His voice dropped.
“She wanted to expose the reason you and Daniel got married.””
I couldn’t speak.
Because suddenly, I remembered Megan’s words.
*Emma’s perfect little life is built on something nobody knows.*
The next message arrived while I was still holding the phone.
From Claire.
May you like
Only four words.
*Ask Daniel about the accident.*
