Chapter 5: The Daughter Who Was Used
The next morning, Olivia and I sat across from each other at the kitchen table.
The same table where she used to do homework.
The same table where I helped her practice her first job interview.
The same table where she once told me she wanted me to be the mother who walked her down the aisle.
Now there was a notebook between us.
A weapon disguised as paper.
“I didn’t know,” Olivia whispered.
I looked at her.
“That’s what everyone says.””
Her eyes filled.
“I swear.””
I didn’t respond.
Because forgiveness was a luxury I wasn’t ready to give.
She opened the notebook.
“My mother always said you were dangerous.””
I looked away.
“Why?””
“Because you were successful.””
I frowned.
“That’s it?””
“She hated that Dad respected you.””
The words surprised me.
“Your father respected me?””
Olivia nodded.
“She used to say you changed him.””
I remembered that.
Daniel used to be different before Vanessa came back into our lives.
Before the wedding.
Before the sudden arguments.
Before he started saying things like, “Maybe you’re overreacting.””
Olivia touched the notebook.
“She didn’t want your money.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“She wanted your position.””
The room went quiet.
“She wanted Dad to choose her again.””
A bitter smile crossed my face.
“So the money was just the excuse.””
Olivia nodded.
“She told me if I embarrassed you enough, you would leave.””
My chest tightened.
“Leave?””
“She said Dad would eventually realize he never needed you.””
I stared at her.
“Did you believe that?””
Olivia looked down.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt.
But it was better than another lie.
“I hated you,” she whispered.
I didn’t speak.
“I hated that my dad loved you.””
Her voice cracked.
“I thought loving you meant betraying my mom.””
For the first time, I saw what Vanessa had done.
She hadn’t only attacked me.
She had built a cage around her own daughter.
But understanding someone’s pain didn’t erase what they did.
“You still slapped me.””
Olivia closed her eyes.
“I know.””
“You humiliated me.””
“I know.””
“You let everyone believe I was nothing.””
Tears rolled down her face.
“I know.””
The silence between us lasted several seconds.
Then my phone rang.
Daniel.
I looked at the screen.
Olivia whispered:
“Don’t answer.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because he’s not calling to apologize.””
I answered anyway.
“Sarah.””
Daniel sounded desperate.
“Where are you?””
“Home.””
“Good. We need to talk.””
I looked at Olivia.
“We do.””
A pause.
“Alone.””
“No.””
His voice changed.
“What?””
“You don’t get to decide who hears the truth anymore.””
Daniel exhaled.
“Olivia is there?””
“Yes.””
Silence.
Then:
“Sarah, your daughter is confused.””
Olivia flinched.
I noticed.
“You still call her that?””
“What?””
“You use her when it benefits you.””
“Sarah, please.””
“No.””
My voice stayed calm.
“What was the agreement?””
Another silence.
That silence was everything.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“Who told you?””
“Answer me.””
“There was no agreement.””
“Then why did Vanessa have a plan with my name on it?””
Nothing.
I closed my eyes.
“You knew.””
Finally, Daniel spoke.
“I knew Vanessa wanted things fixed.””
“Fixed?””
“She believed the divorce ruined our family.””
“So you let her manipulate everyone?””
“No.””
“You let her manipulate me.””
His voice broke.
“Sarah, I loved you.””
I almost believed him.
That was the worst part.
“Then why?””
Daniel whispered:
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Losing Olivia.””
I looked at his daughter.
She was crying silently.
“You sacrificed me to keep your daughter?””
“No.””
“But you let her destroy me.””
Daniel didn’t answer.
I hung up.
An hour later, Robert arrived with more documents.
He placed them on the table.
“There’s something else.””
I looked at him.
“What now?””
He opened a file.
“This concerns your company.””
My heart sank.
“What about it?””
“Someone has been accessing your business accounts.””
“Who?””
Robert looked at Olivia.
Then at me.
“Someone with authorization.””
I frowned.
“That’s impossible.””
He handed me a paper.
A signature.
A name.
I stared.
Because the person who had accessed my accounts wasn’t Daniel.
It wasn’t Vanessa.
It wasn’t even Olivia.
It was someone I had trusted more than anyone.
Someone who had helped me build everything I owned.
My business partner.
Michael.
I looked at Robert.
“Why would Michael do this?””
Robert’s expression was grim.
“Because he wasn’t working alone.””
I felt my blood run cold.
“Who was he working with?””
Robert slowly placed one final document on the table.
A document showing every person involved.
May you like
And at the top of the page was a name.
Daniel Bennett.
