Chapter 4 — The Phone Call That Changed The Game
Daniel stared at his phone.
Nobody in the ballroom spoke.
Not even the guests who had been whispering moments earlier.
Because everyone could feel it.
Something bigger was coming.
The screen illuminated his face.
One name.
Marcus Bell.
Daniel knew that name.
Marcus was the chief financial officer of Hayes Industries.
The man who had worked beside his father for fifteen years.
The man who had helped build the company into a billion-dollar empire.
The man who rarely called unless something was seriously wrong.
Daniel answered.
"Marcus?"
The voice on the other end sounded exhausted.
"Daniel... where are you?"
"I'm at my wedding."
There was a long pause.
Then Marcus said:
"Then you need to leave immediately."
Daniel frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"I just found unauthorized transfers from company accounts."
The color drained from Daniel's face.
"What transfers?"
"Over twelve million dollars."
The ballroom gasped.
Even though nobody could hear the conversation, they could see Daniel's expression.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Daniel looked toward Victoria.
And for the first time that night...
he didn't see his future wife.
He saw a stranger.
"Who authorized them?"
Marcus hesitated.
Then answered.
"Your future wife."
The room became completely silent.
Victoria shook her head immediately.
"No."
Her voice was soft.
Almost innocent.
"Daniel, he's lying."
But nobody believed her anymore.
Because everyone had already seen the video.
Everyone had already heard her voice.
Emily stood near the edge of the ballroom, watching everything unfold.
She should have felt satisfied.
She had exposed the truth.
She had stopped Victoria.
But instead, she felt something else.
Fear.
Because Victoria's final words kept repeating in her mind.
"You should have checked who hired you."
Emily didn't understand.
Until Daniel ended the call.
And looked at her.
Not with anger.
Not with suspicion.
With confusion.
"Emily..."
She swallowed.
"Yes?"
"How long have you worked here?"
The question felt strange.
"Three months."
Daniel looked at Victoria.
Then back at Emily.
"Who hired you?"
Emily frowned.
"The catering company."
Victoria suddenly laughed.
A quiet laugh.
Everyone looked at her.
"You still don't understand, do you?"
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"Understand what?"
Victoria walked slowly toward Emily.
The fear was gone.
The confident woman had returned.
"The waitress didn't just happen to hear our conversation."
Emily froze.
"What?"
Victoria smiled.
"Tell them."
Nobody moved.
"Tell them why you were really here."
Emily felt her heart racing.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Victoria looked at Daniel.
"She wasn't hired by the catering company."
Daniel stared.
"What?"
Victoria pulled out her phone.
"I have proof."
Emily felt cold.
Because Victoria looked too confident.
Too prepared.
The bride pressed a button.
A document appeared.
A contract.
With Emily's name.
Daniel looked at the screen.
Then his expression changed.
Because the document showed one thing.
Emily Carter wasn't just a waitress.
She was connected to someone from Daniel's past.
Someone who hated his family.
Someone who wanted revenge.
Victoria looked at Emily.
May you like
And whispered:
"Now tell them the truth."
