Chapter 15 - I WAS THE TARGET FIRST
The investigation changed direction.
Victor Harrington had studied the Whitmore family for more than a decade.
Dominic was too guarded.
Nathaniel was too financially sophisticated.
Graham was too public.
I was different.
I avoided family business.
I used Alyssa Bennett, my mother’s surname, socially for several years.
I dated outside our circles.
Victor had marked me as the easiest access point.
Then Brandon appeared.
Young.
Ambitious.
Angry at Whitmore because of his father.
Perfect.
The question became unbearable.
“Did Victor arrange for us to meet?”
Dominic searched.
We met at a small charity auction seven years earlier.
I thought Brandon attended through a client.
The invitation sponsor was a shell foundation.
That foundation connected back to a Harrington donor network.
“Yes.”
Dominic’s voice was quiet.
“He probably put Brandon in the room.”
I felt sick.
My entire marriage suddenly looked designed.
Then we found Brandon’s old messages.
Victor had sent him my photograph before the auction.
One message said:
You wanted access to the family that destroyed Charles.
Start with her.
I stared at the screen.
Brandon had not randomly met me.
He had approached me deliberately.
Dominic cursed.
Nathaniel left the room.
Graham simply sat beside me.
I could not breathe properly.
Every first memory changed.
The first conversation.
The first coffee.
The first date.
I remembered telling Brandon I hated people who cared about family names.
He had smiled and said he did too.
I thought we connected.
Maybe he had simply learned which answer would keep me talking.
Then another message appeared.
Three months after we started dating.
Victor asked:
Is she useful?
Brandon replied:
Forget the plan.
I’m not using her.
My eyes stopped.
Four months later:
Victor:
You’re getting sentimental.
Brandon:
I love her.
Victor:
Then love her and remember why you went there.
I closed my eyes.
The relationship began as a trap.
Then became real for him.
Then he later returned to the trap when he learned who I truly was.
That almost hurt more than if everything had been fake.
Because we had possessed something real.
And he still destroyed it.
Graham took my hand.
“You don’t have to decide what the past means today.”
I looked at my brother.
“I know what it means.”
“What?”
“He had chances.”
“Every year.”
“Every morning.”
“Every time Sophie called him Daddy.”
“He could have told me.”
Graham nodded.
“Yes.”
That evening, I went home.
Sophie was sleeping with the paper necklace beside her pillow.
Brandon had returned it through his attorney.
One yellow star had torn.
I repaired it with tape.
Then Sophie woke.
“Mommy?”
“I’m here.”
“Is Daddy coming home?”
My throat tightened.
“No, sweetheart.”
“Why?”
“Because Daddy and I won’t be married anymore.”
She stared at me.
“Does he still love me?”
“Yes.”
I believed that.
Children deserved truth without adult poison.
She touched the paper necklace.
“Can I still give him things?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
Then fell asleep again.
I sat beside her until sunrise.
By morning, I had made my decision.
Victor wanted to use my identity as an access point.
I would use it now.
May you like
Not to destroy him.
To make sure every hidden contract came into daylight.
