Chapter 7: The Betrayal Inside My Own Family
I stared at the photograph until the image became blurry.
Not because the picture was unclear.
Because my mind refused to accept what my eyes were seeing.
My father.
Standing beside Sienna.
Smiling.
Comfortable.
Like they weren't strangers.
Like they had known each other for years.
My first instinct was denial.
There had to be an explanation.
A business meeting.
A coincidence.
Anything.
Because the alternative was too painful.
Julian betraying me was devastating.
But my father?
The man who held my hand when I was little.
The man who told me I deserved someone who cherished me.
The man who cried when I walked down the aisle.
That was a different kind of wound.
I immediately called Marcus.
He answered on the first ring.
"Clara.""
His voice sounded nervous.
"Where did you get this?""
"I was hoping you wouldn't see it this way.""
"What way?""
Silence.
I closed my eyes.
"Marcus.""
"That photo was taken at a private meeting six months ago.""
Six months.
Again.
That number.
Everything started six months ago.
"Why was my father there?""
"I don't know everything.""
"But you know something.""
He sighed.
"Julian was looking for investors.""
"My father invested?""
"Yes.""
I stood up and started pacing.
"How much?""
"Clara...""
"How much?""
Marcus hesitated.
"Five million dollars.""
I stopped walking.
Five million.
My father had invested five million dollars into Julian's company.
The same company that apparently didn't exist the way Julian presented it.
My stomach twisted.
"Did my father know about Sienna?""
"I don't know.""
"Did he know about the apartment?""
Another pause.
That was all the answer I needed.
People who didn't know something usually denied it quickly.
People who were hiding something needed time.
I ended the call.
Olivia was watching me from across the room.
"What happened?""
I handed her the phone.
She looked at the photo.
Her expression changed instantly.
"No.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"Clara...""
"I know.""
She sat down slowly.
For once, Olivia had no immediate advice.
Because this wasn't just about a cheating husband anymore.
This was about betrayal from every direction.
I called my father.
He answered after three rings.
"Clara?""
His voice immediately softened.
"Sweetheart, are you okay?""
That question almost broke me.
Because it sounded genuine.
And I hated that.
I hated that a part of me still wanted to believe him.
"Dad, I need to ask you something.""
"Of course.""
"Do you know Sienna Brooks?""
Silence.
A small one.
But enough.
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Why did you pause?""
"I was surprised by the question.""
"No.""
My voice was quiet.
"You were surprised I found out.""
Another silence.
Then:
"Where did you hear that name?""
I laughed softly.
A painful laugh.
"That's what you're asking?""
"Clara, listen to me.""
"No, Dad. You listen.""
I walked toward the window.
"I found a picture of you with her.""
His breathing changed.
"What picture?""
"The one where you're standing beside my husband's assistant.""
"Clara...""
"Did you invest in Julian's company?""
He didn't answer.
That was enough.
"Five million dollars?""
The silence became heavier.
"Dad.""
Finally, he spoke.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why?""
"Because I believed in the company.""
"Or because you knew something?""
His voice became defensive.
"Don't do this.""
The words shocked me.
Not because they were angry.
Because they sounded exactly like Julian.
Don't do this.
Don't ask questions.
Don't challenge me.
Don't make me uncomfortable.
"Dad, did you know Julian was planning to leave me?""
"No.""
The answer came quickly.
Too quickly.
"Did you know about Sienna?""
"No.""
"Then why are you protecting him?""
"I'm not protecting him.""
"Then what are you doing?""
He was quiet.
Then he said:
"I'm protecting you.""
I almost laughed.
"By lying to me?""
"I didn't lie.""
"You hid the truth.""
"Because I thought I could fix it.""
That sentence stopped me.
"What?""
"I knew Julian was making mistakes.""
My heart sank.
Mistakes.
Another person who knew.
Another person who watched.
Another person who decided I couldn't handle the truth.
"You knew.""
My voice cracked.
"I knew he was struggling.""
"Struggling?""
I gripped the phone.
"He was building another life.""
"I didn't know that.""
"But you knew enough.""
My father didn't answer.
And that silence hurt more than any confession.
I ended the call.
For several minutes, I couldn't move.
Olivia came closer.
"Clara.""
I shook my head.
"I don't understand.""
"What?""
"How many people knew?""
That was the question haunting me.
How many people watched me walk toward the altar while knowing my marriage was already broken?
How many people smiled at me?
How many people said congratulations?
How many people knew I was walking into a trap?
That night, Rachel uncovered something else.
She called me at midnight.
"Clara, I found the connection.""
I sat up.
"What connection?""
"Between Sienna and your father.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What is it?""
"Your father wasn't just an investor.""
"What do you mean?""
"He was a previous business partner of Sienna's family.""
I frowned.
"Her family?""
"Yes. Her father owned a financial firm years ago.""
I searched my memory.
Nothing.
"I've never heard of them.""
"Because they disappeared from the public eye.""
"Why?""
Rachel hesitated.
"Because of a lawsuit.""
The room went quiet.
"What kind of lawsuit?""
"Fraud.""
I felt cold.
The pieces were moving.
"Rachel...""
"I'm not saying your father was involved.""
"But?""
"But someone connected to Sienna has a history of financial manipulation.""
I looked at the photograph again.
My father.
Sienna.
Julian.
Three people I trusted.
May you like
One secret.
And I was standing in the middle of it.
