Chapter 5: Natalie’s Dangerous Offer
Nobody spoke.
Natalie stepped into the dressing room like she belonged there.
Like this wasn’t my wedding day.
Like she hadn’t just walked into the middle of a disaster she helped create.
Daniel immediately moved in front of me.
“What are you doing here?””
Natalie smiled.
“That’s not a very warm greeting.””
“You shouldn’t be here.””
She looked around.
“At least now I understand why Chloe was so confident.””
Chloe’s face changed.
“Don’t bring me into this.””
Natalie laughed quietly.
“Oh, Chloe. You’re already in it.””
I looked between them.
The way they spoke told me everything.
This wasn’t a casual meeting.
This was an arrangement.
A plan.
“How long have you two been working together?”” I asked.
Neither answered.
That was enough.
My chest tightened.
Chloe looked at me.
“Emma, it’s not what you think.””
I stared at her.
“Everyone always says that right before it is exactly what I think.””
Natalie walked closer.
“Your sister and I had the same concern.””
I looked at her.
“What concern?””
“That Daniel isn’t the man you think he is.””
Daniel laughed once.
A cold, humorless sound.
“You still haven’t changed.””
Natalie ignored him.
She opened the folder.
“I have evidence.””
Daniel’s expression shifted.
“What evidence?””
She pulled out several papers.
“Financial records.””
My eyes moved between them.
I didn’t understand the numbers.
But Daniel did.
And the moment he saw them, his face became serious.
“Where did you get these?””
Natalie smiled.
“You should ask yourself why I had access.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Those records are confidential.””
“Were.””
The room felt smaller.
I looked at Daniel.
“Explain.””
He took a breath.
“Emma—”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“Not another secret.””
His eyes softened.
“I’m not hiding.””
“Then explain.””
Daniel looked at the documents.
“Those are from my old company.””
Natalie nodded.
“The company he nearly destroyed.””
Daniel’s voice became sharper.
“That’s a lie.””
“Is it?””
She turned to me.
“Emma, before you marry him, you deserve to know that his previous business partner lost everything after trusting him.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Is that true?””
“No.””
His answer was immediate.
“I didn’t steal anything.””
Natalie smiled.
“Of course you would say that.””
Daniel’s hands tightened.
“You framed me.””
The room went silent.
Natalie’s expression flickered.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
A crack.
“You never could accept losing,” she said.
“Neither could you.””
Chloe stepped between them.
“Enough.””
I looked at her.
“You don’t get to say enough.””
She looked hurt.
But I didn’t care anymore.
Not after everything.
“Tell me the truth, Chloe.””
She stayed quiet.
“Did you know about Natalie before today?””
A long pause.
“Yes.””
The answer felt like a slap.
I closed my eyes.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“And you still came here pretending you were worried about me?””
“I was worried.””
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You were waiting.””
Chloe looked away.
Because she knew I was right.
Natalie walked toward the mirror.
She touched the stained wedding dress.
“Such a shame.””
I stepped forward.
“Don’t touch it.””
She smiled.
“Still protective.””
“It’s my dress.””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“It was never just a dress.””
Her words made me uncomfortable.
Because she was right.
The dress had become a symbol.
A symbol of the life I was about to start.
And everyone in this room had tried to destroy it.
Natalie closed the folder.
“I didn’t come here to fight.””
Daniel laughed.
“You came to my fiancée’s wedding with stolen documents.””
“I came with a warning.””
She looked at me.
“Leave him.””
My stomach turned.
“What?””
“You heard me.””
She stepped closer.
“Walk away before you become the next person he destroys.””
Daniel’s face hardened.
“Get out.””
But I stopped him.
Because despite everything, I needed answers.
“Natalie.””
She looked at me.
“What?””
“Why do you care what happens to me?””
For the first time, she hesitated.
Then she said something I never expected.
“Because I know what it feels like to believe Daniel’s promises.””
My heart sank.
She turned to leave.
But before she reached the door, Chloe spoke.
“Natalie.””
Everyone looked at her.
Chloe’s voice was nervous.
“What about the other part?””
Natalie stopped.
“What other part?””
Chloe swallowed.
“The money.””
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“What money?””
Nobody answered.
And suddenly I realized something.
The wedding dress wasn’t the beginning of this.
It was only the part that got caught on camera.
Daniel looked at Natalie.
Then Chloe.
“What did you two do?””
Natalie smiled faintly.
A smile that made my skin crawl.
Then she said:
“You should ask your sister why she transferred money from your company account three weeks ago.””
The room exploded into silence.
I turned toward Chloe.
My sister looked terrified.
May you like
And that was when I knew.
The ruined dress was only the first layer of the betrayal.
