Chapter 7: The Real Target
For several seconds, I couldn't say anything.
The words stayed in the air between us.
"They wanted your company.""
I gripped the phone tighter.
"What did you just say?""
Julian's breathing was shaky.
"I should have told you earlier.""
"Earlier?""
My voice rose.
"Julian, you helped them try to remove my name from a contract. You let them humiliate me in front of our family. And now you're telling me they were after my company?""
"I didn't know how far they would go.""
I closed my eyes.
There it was again.
An excuse.
Not a denial.
Not a defense.
An excuse.
"Start from the beginning.""
There was a long silence.
Then Julian finally spoke.
"Chloe's father, Richard Whitmore, asked about your company months ago.""
I sat down slowly.
"What does that mean?""
"He knew you were planning an expansion.""
My heart sank.
My company had been preparing a major acquisition.
Only a small group of executives knew the details.
"How did he know?""
Julian didn't answer immediately.
That hesitation told me enough.
"Julian.""
"He asked me questions.""
"What questions?""
"About your investors. Your leadership team. Your plans.""
I felt something inside me turn cold.
"And you answered?""
"I didn't give him everything.""
"But you gave him something.""
Silence.
That was my answer.
I looked around my office.
The place I had built from years of sleepless nights.
The company I started with one laptop and a borrowed desk.
The company my family thought was just a source of money.
"Why?""
Julian's voice became quieter.
"Because he promised to help me.""
"Help you with what?""
"The wedding. My debts.""
I laughed softly.
Not because anything was funny.
Because the truth was almost impossible to believe.
"My own brother traded information about me for a wedding.""
"I know.""
"No, Julian.""
My voice became calm.
"You're just realizing it.""
He didn't respond.
After we ended the call, I immediately contacted Daniel Reeves, my supervisor.
He answered quickly.
"Claire?""
"We need to talk about the acquisition information.""
There was a pause.
"Why?""
"Because I think someone outside the company may have accessed details they shouldn't have.""
His tone changed instantly.
"Are you sure?""
"No.""
I looked at the documents on my desk.
"But I think we need to find out.""
Within hours, our legal and security teams started reviewing access records.
I stayed at my office late into the night.
For the first time, the wedding wasn't the biggest problem.
The wedding was just the beginning.
The next morning, Victoria arrived with an update.
"Claire.""
I looked up.
"What did you find?""
She placed a folder on my desk.
"We traced communication between Julian and Richard Whitmore.""
I opened the folder.
Emails.
Messages.
Meeting records.
My stomach tightened.
"They were planning this?""
Victoria nodded.
"Not everything. But enough to show a pattern.""
I read the messages carefully.
Richard had been asking Julian about my company.
About my schedule.
About my investors.
About who had influence over major decisions.
Then I saw a message that made my hands go cold.
*Once the wedding is done, Claire will be easier to approach. Family pressure will make her cooperate.*
I stared at the sentence.
They didn't see me as a person.
They saw me as a door.
A door they believed they could open whenever they wanted.
Victoria watched my face.
"Are you okay?""
I closed the folder.
"No.""
I looked at her.
"But I will be.""
That afternoon, Julian showed up again.
This time, he looked completely different.
No expensive suit.
No confidence.
Just a tired man who finally understood the damage he had caused.
"I know you don't want to see me.""
I stood behind my desk.
"You're right.""
He swallowed.
"I need to tell you everything.""
I didn't answer.
He continued.
"Richard told me if I helped him get closer to your company, he would erase my debts.""
"And you agreed.""
"I was stupid.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You were selfish.""
He looked down.
The word hurt him because it was true.
"I thought I could fix it later.""
"Later?""
I stared at him.
"You thought after betraying me, you could apologize and everything would disappear?""
"No.""
His voice cracked.
"I thought you would forgive me.""
That sentence was the most honest thing he had said.
Because he still believed forgiveness was automatic.
Like my love was a service he could always access.
"Julian.""
He looked up.
"Do you know what your biggest mistake was?""
His eyes filled with regret.
"You underestimated me.""
He didn't argue.
Because he knew.
Before leaving, he stopped at the door.
"Claire.""
I waited.
"There is one more thing.""
"What?""
He hesitated.
"Richard isn't the only person involved.""
My expression changed.
"What do you mean?""
Julian looked terrified.
"Someone from inside your company has been helping him.""
The room went silent.
And suddenly, the betrayal became much bigger than my family.
Someone close to me.
May you like
Someone I trusted.
Someone inside my own company.
