Chapter 9: The Last Piece of the Puzzle
I almost hung up.
Not because I didn’t want answers.
Because suddenly there were too many.
Too many secrets.
Too many people who had known pieces of my life that I didn’t.
“Who is this?””
The woman hesitated.
“It’s Linda.””
Daniel’s mother.
I stood immediately.
“Why are you calling me?””
“I know what happened.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What happened?””
“The thing Megan has been using against Daniel.””
My heart started racing.
“You knew?””
“I knew something was wrong.””
I walked to the window.
“How long?””
“Since before your wedding.””
The words hit me like a wave.
Before my wedding.
Before everything.
“What are you talking about?””
Linda sighed.
“Megan was jealous of you from the beginning.””
I closed my eyes.
“That doesn’t surprise me anymore.””
“No, Maya. You don’t understand.””
Her voice became softer.
“She wasn’t jealous because you had Daniel.””
“Then why?””
“Because Daniel chose you.””
I didn’t speak.
Linda continued.
“Megan had feelings for him for years.””
“I know.””
“No.””
Her voice shook.
“You don’t.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“There was a night before your wedding.””
My chest tightened.
“What night?””
“The night Daniel almost called off the engagement.””
Everything stopped.
“What?””
Linda was silent.
Then:
“He never told you.””
I sat down.
“No.””
“Because he was ashamed.””
I swallowed.
“What happened?””
Linda took a breath.
“Megan kissed him.””
My heart dropped.
“When?””
“Three weeks before your wedding.””
I couldn’t move.
The room felt unreal.
“What did Daniel do?””
“He pushed her away.””
I stared ahead.
“But?””
Linda hesitated.
“But he didn’t tell you.””
Of course.
Another secret.
Another moment I never got to decide how I felt about.
“Why?””
“Because he was afraid.””
“Afraid of losing me?””
“Yes.””
I laughed softly.
“How ironic.””
The man who feared losing me had hidden the very things that made me question staying.
“Maya…”
“Did he love her?””
“No.””
The answer was immediate.
“No?””
“No. But he liked feeling wanted.””
I looked down.
That was the same truth Daniel had admitted.
A painful pattern.
Not love.
Not betrayal in the way I had imagined.
Something more complicated.
Weakness.
Pride.
A need for validation.
“Why call me now?””
Linda was quiet.
Then she said:
“Because Megan came to my house yesterday.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
“She wanted me to convince Daniel to leave you.””
I froze.
“She asked you to do that?””
“Yes.””
“What did you say?””
“I told her she was wrong.””
Linda paused.
“Then she threatened me.””
“Threatened you with what?””
“She said if Daniel didn’t choose her, she would tell you everything.””
I looked at the USB drive on the table.
“She wanted me to know.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Linda’s answer was simple.
“Because she believed the truth would destroy you.””
I thought about that.
The hospital.
The coffee.
The messages.
The dinner.
Everything.
Megan didn’t just want Daniel.
She wanted the satisfaction of watching me lose him.
But there was one thing she misunderstood.
She thought the truth was the thing that would destroy me.
She was wrong.
The truth was the only thing that could set me free.
That evening, Daniel came to my sister’s apartment.
I let him in.
But I didn’t offer him a seat.
“I talked to your mother.””
His face changed.
“What did she tell you?””
“About Megan.””
He looked down.
“Maya…”
“Did she kiss you before our wedding?””
Silence.
That was the answer.
I nodded slowly.
“How long were you planning to hide that?””
“I wasn’t.””
“But you did.””
“Yes.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because I was scared.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
I shook my head.
“Fear explains a mistake, Daniel. It doesn’t excuse years of silence.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
I studied him.
“Do you love me?””
His eyes filled.
“Yes.””
“Then why did you keep choosing secrets?””
That question broke him.
“I don’t know.””
And maybe that was the hardest answer.
Because sometimes people hurt the ones they love not because they don’t care.
Because they are too afraid to face what they’ve done.
Daniel stepped closer.
“I can’t undo it.””
“No.””
“But I can stop hiding.””
I looked at him.
“Then tell me everything.””
He nodded.
“I will.””
Before he could continue, my phone buzzed.
A message from Megan.
One final message.
*You finally know, don’t you?*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*Now ask Daniel what he did after I kissed him.*
My heart stopped.
Daniel saw my face.
“What did she say?””
I looked up.
For the first time, I didn’t feel afraid of the answer.
Because I was done protecting everyone except myself.
I handed him the phone.
And waited.
His expression changed as he read it.
Then he whispered:
“Maya…”
I stepped back.
“What?””
He looked at me.
And I knew.
Whatever came next was the final piece.
The one thing everyone had been afraid to tell me.
“The night she kissed me…”
He stopped.
May you like
His voice broke.
“I made a choice I’ve regretted ever since.””
