Chapter 10: The Friend Who Built the Lie
For a moment, Daniel could not move.
The name sounded impossible.
Not because he did not recognize it.
Because he did.
Victor.
The man standing in front of him was not a stranger from the shadows.
He was the person who had stood beside him during the darkest moments of his life.
The person who had held his shoulder at his wife's funeral.
The person who had told him, "You have to be strong for Sofia.""
The person who had helped him survive the grief.
And now he was standing in an abandoned warehouse with the same calm expression he wore in every business meeting.
Like nothing had happened.
Like Daniel's entire world had not just collapsed.
"Victor..."" Daniel whispered.
The man smiled slightly.
"That look on your face.""
He shook his head.
"I always wondered when you would finally see me clearly.""
Daniel's hands tightened into fists.
"You were there.""
Victor tilted his head.
"Where?""
"My wife's accident.""
A strange silence followed.
Victor did not deny it.
That was the answer.
Daniel felt a wave of anger rise through him.
"You knew.""
Victor sighed.
"Daniel.""
The way he said his name made it worse.
Like he was disappointed.
Like Daniel was a child who had misunderstood something simple.
"You always had a problem.""
Daniel stared.
"What?""
"You wanted the world to be fair.""
Victor stepped farther into the warehouse.
"You believed if you worked hard, loved your family, and treated people well, everything would somehow make sense.""
His smile disappeared.
"But that's not how the world works.""
Marcus moved closer.
"You don't need to explain yourself.""
Victor looked at him.
"And you don't need to pretend you're innocent.""
The words struck Marcus.
Daniel noticed.
"What is he talking about?""
Nobody answered.
Victor looked amused.
"Still trying to put all the pieces together.""
He glanced at Sofia.
"Your daughter was always the smart one.""
Daniel immediately stepped in front of her.
"Do not look at her.""
Victor raised his hands.
"Relax.""
"Don't tell me to relax.""
For the first time, Daniel's voice shook.
"You destroyed my family.""
Victor's expression became colder.
"No.""
He looked around the warehouse.
"Your family was already falling apart.""
Daniel stared at him.
"My wife trusted you.""
"Your wife was brilliant.""
Victor smiled faintly.
"That was her problem.""
The sentence made Dolores gasp.
Daniel felt something inside him break.
"She knew.""
Victor nodded.
"She found the accounts.""
"The stolen money.""
"Yes.""
"From my company.""
"Yes.""
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"How long?""
Victor didn't answer.
"How long were you stealing from me?""
"Years.""
The honesty was almost worse.
Daniel looked away.
Because suddenly he remembered every meeting.
Every celebration.
Every time Victor had congratulated him.
Every time he had called him family.
"You were my best friend.""
Victor looked at him.
"No.""
A pause.
"I was your most useful friend.""
The cruelty of the sentence was almost unbelievable.
Sofia buried her face against Daniel.
He held her tighter.
"Why?""
Victor walked closer.
"Because you built something valuable.""
"My company?""
"Everything.""
Victor's eyes moved toward Sofia.
"The company. The reputation. The family name.""
Daniel immediately noticed.
"You wanted all of it.""
Victor smiled.
"Not all.""
A pause.
"Just what mattered.""
The warehouse felt colder.
Daniel looked at Renata.
"You helped him.""
Her eyes filled.
"I didn't know everything.""
"You knew enough.""
She lowered her head.
And Daniel realized something painful.
Renata had not been the person controlling everything.
She had been afraid too.
But that didn't excuse what she had done.
"You threatened my daughter.""
Renata whispered:
"I was scared.""
Daniel looked at her.
"So was she.""
The words destroyed her.
Because she knew.
For the first time, she understood the damage she had caused.
Victor laughed quietly.
"This is touching.""
Everyone looked at him.
"You all pretending you are different.""
He shook his head.
"Renata betrayed you because she wanted power.""
He looked at Marcus.
"Marcus betrayed you because he wanted money.""
Then he looked at Daniel.
"And you betrayed yourself because you refused to see what was right in front of you.""
Daniel said nothing.
Because the accusation hurt.
Not because it was completely true.
Because part of him feared it was.
Victor continued.
"Your wife was the only person who understood.""
Daniel looked up.
"What?""
"She knew people were lying.""
Victor's face hardened.
"She knew me.""
"And you killed her for it.""
The words hung between them.
Victor's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Daniel saw it.
A crack.
A moment of discomfort.
"You don't know what happened.""
"I know enough.""
"No.""
Victor stepped closer.
"You know what people told you.""
He looked at Sofia.
"But you don't know what your wife was planning.""
Daniel froze.
"What does that mean?""
Victor smiled.
"Ask her.""
Nobody moved.
Daniel looked confused.
"Ask who?""
Victor looked toward Renata.
"Your wife didn't trust you with everything.""
Renata's face went pale.
Daniel turned.
"What is he talking about?""
She said nothing.
"Renata.""
Her lips trembled.
"I...""
Victor smiled.
"Tell him.""
The silence was unbearable.
May you like
Then Renata whispered:
"Your wife had another secret.""
