Chapter 8: The Man Who Knew Too Much
Nobody spoke after seeing Marcus’s name.
The man who had helped expose Chloe.
The man who appeared to be protecting me.
The man who now looked suspicious.
I turned toward him.
“You sent that?””
Marcus didn’t answer immediately.
That hesitation was enough.
Daniel stepped forward.
“You need to explain.””
Marcus remained calm.
“I can explain.””
“Then explain.””
Marcus looked at the screen.
“That message wasn’t sent by me.””
The officer frowned.
“Then why does it show your name?””
Marcus sighed.
“Because someone used my account.””
My mind spun.
Another stolen identity.
Another hidden truth.
How many people were involved?
I looked at Marcus.
“Why would anyone use your account?””
He looked at the ruined dress.
“Because I was investigating something.””
“What?””
He opened his folder.
“I suspected the damage wasn’t the only incident.””
He removed several documents.
“The Valentina Maison gown was scheduled to be displayed in a major fashion publication after your wedding.””
I frowned.
“What does that have to do with me?””
Marcus looked at Chloe.
“Someone wanted the gown destroyed before photographs were taken.””
Chloe shook her head.
“I didn’t know anything about that.””
Marcus continued.
“The person who damaged the dress wasn’t just attacking you.””
He looked around the room.
“They were attacking the designer.””
A strange silence followed.
I had spent the entire morning believing the dress was ruined because Chloe hated me.
But maybe there was something bigger.
Something I couldn’t see.
“Why would someone want to destroy a dress?”” I asked.
Marcus hesitated.
“Because the gown contained something valuable.””
Everyone looked at him.
“What?””
He opened another document.
“The design pattern.””
I stared.
“I don’t understand.””
“The dress was a prototype. A one-of-a-kind sample.””
He tapped the page.
“Only three people outside the design team knew the complete construction details.””
“Who?””
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“One of them was Natalie.””
Daniel’s expression changed.
“What?””
Marcus nodded.
“She worked with the designer during the original collection planning.””
Natalie crossed her arms.
“So now I’m the villain because I knew how a dress was made?””
“No,” Marcus replied.
“You’re suspicious because you knew exactly how much damage would be caused.””
Natalie’s face hardened.
“You have no proof.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Actually, I do.””
He opened his laptop.
A video appeared.
Not the dressing room camera.
Something else.
A security recording from the boutique.
The video showed Natalie entering the store.
Talking to an employee.
Then receiving a file.
My stomach tightened.
Daniel watched silently.
“What is that?””
Marcus answered.
“Design information.””
Natalie looked away.
Daniel turned toward her.
“You had access to the collection.””
“Yes.””
“And you gave that information to someone?””
“No.””
But her voice lacked confidence.
The officer stepped closer.
“Ms. Natalie, you may want to be careful with your answers.””
Natalie glared.
“This is ridiculous.””
“No,” I said quietly.
Everyone looked at me.
“This is exactly what you wanted.””
Natalie looked surprised.
“What?””
“You wanted me confused.””
I stood.
“You wanted me looking at Daniel. Looking at Chloe. Looking at everyone except you.””
For the first time, Natalie looked nervous.
I continued.
“You didn’t come here to warn me.””
Silence.
“You came here because you needed to control the story.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Emma…”
But I kept going.
“Chloe was angry enough to destroy my dress.””
I looked at my sister.
“She was easy to manipulate.””
Chloe looked down.
“But someone else planned everything.””
My eyes returned to Natalie.
“The cancellation.””
“The documents.””
“The timing.””
I stepped closer.
“You knew exactly what would hurt me.””
Natalie’s face changed.
A cold smile replaced her nervousness.
“You’re smarter than I expected.””
The room went quiet.
Daniel stared at her.
“You admit it?””
Natalie shrugged.
“I admit nothing.””
“But you just—”
“I said she was smarter than I expected.””
Her smile disappeared.
“That doesn’t mean she understands.””
I felt a chill.
“What does that mean?””
Natalie looked at Daniel.
“Ask him.””
Daniel frowned.
“Ask me what?””
Natalie took a step back.
“Ask him why I wasn’t the only person from his past who disappeared.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
Daniel looked confused.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.””
Natalie laughed softly.
“Yes, you do.””
“No.””
“Yes.””
She looked directly at me.
“Emma, there’s something Daniel never told you.””
Daniel’s face changed.
“Stop.””
Natalie ignored him.
“Your fiancé didn’t just lose one business partner.””
My breath caught.
“He lost two.””
Daniel looked furious.
“That’s not true.””
Natalie smiled.
“Then why don’t you tell her about Sarah?””
The name meant nothing to me.
But Daniel reacted instantly.
And that reaction told me everything.
“Who is Sarah?”” I whispered.
Daniel didn’t answer.
I felt my heart sink.
Because I had spent my entire relationship believing Daniel’s secrets belonged to the past.
But maybe the past was still alive.
Maybe it had been waiting.
Waiting for my wedding day.
Natalie walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she turned back.
“Ask him what happened the night Sarah vanished.””
The door closed.
And Daniel stood frozen.
I looked at him.
“Daniel.””
He didn’t respond.
“Who is Sarah?””
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Finally, he whispered:
“She was my sister.””
