Chapter 3: The Secret Behind The Assistant
The man in the photograph was Daniel Cross.
Nathan’s former business partner.
And the person Nathan told me had ruined his career.
Three years ago, Daniel left Bennett & Co. after a massive disagreement.
Nathan came home one night furious.
“He betrayed me,” he said.
I remembered those exact words.
He threw his keys on the counter.
He poured himself a drink.
“He tried to take everything I built.””
I held him while he shook with anger.
I believed him.
Now I was looking at a photograph of Daniel standing beside Olivia on the exact day she joined Nathan’s company.
The pieces didn’t fit.
Unless Nathan had lied.
Again.
I spent the next two days watching.
Not spying.
Preparing.
There is a difference.
I checked our financial accounts.
I reviewed documents.
I searched through the old files Nathan had always told me were “too complicated.””
And then I found something.
A payment.
Small.
Almost invisible.
A monthly transfer from a company account to another account under a name I didn’t recognize.
I printed the statement.
Then I took it to a lawyer.
Her name was Rebecca Hart.
She studied the document silently.
“Clara, are you aware of any business arrangement involving this company?””
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
Rebecca looked at me.
“Then you need to be careful.””
“Why?””
“Because this doesn’t look like an affair.””
I frowned.
“What?””
She turned the paper toward me.
“This looks like someone moving money.””
My heart started beating faster.
“Nathan wouldn’t.””
Rebecca didn’t answer.
That was worse.
When I got home, Nathan was waiting.
“You went to a lawyer?””
I froze.
“How did you know?””
He smiled sadly.
“Your car was outside the building.””
Of course.
Nathan always noticed details.
Just never the ones involving me.
“I’m trying to understand what happened.””
“No,” he said quietly.
“You’re trying to destroy me.””
I stared at him.
The man standing in front of me looked familiar.
But somehow, he felt like a stranger.
“Did you sleep with Olivia?””
Nathan looked away.
That was enough.
But I wanted him to say it.
I needed to hear the truth from his mouth.
“Answer me.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“It’s complicated.””
A bitter laugh escaped me.
“No. It’s actually very simple.””
“Clara—”
“Were you having an affair with her?””
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.””
The word landed harder than I expected.
Not because I didn’t know.
Because hearing it made it real.
“How long?””
Nathan didn’t answer immediately.
That hesitation hurt more than anything.
“How long, Nathan?””
“A few months.””
I closed my eyes.
A few months.
Not one mistake.
Not one bad night.
A choice.
Repeated.
“I’m sorry.””
I opened my eyes.
“No, you’re not.””
His face tightened.
“You don’t know that.””
“I do.””
“Why?””
“Because if you were sorry, you would have told me before I found you.””
Nathan looked down.
For the first time, he looked ashamed.
But then he said something that changed everything.
“I was going to fix it.””
I stared at him.
“Fix it?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
Nathan hesitated.
And that hesitation told me there was another secret.
“What were you planning?””
He didn’t answer.
“Nathan.””
Finally, he whispered:
“I was going to ask for a divorce.””
The room went silent.
I felt strangely empty.
Not broken.
Empty.
“You were leaving me?””
“I didn’t want to hurt you.””
“You were going to disappear from my life and call that kindness?””
“I thought you deserved honesty.””
I looked at him.
“You were going to tell me after you already made plans.””
He said nothing.
I walked toward the hallway.
Then I stopped.
“Who else knows?””
Nathan looked confused.
“What?””
“About the divorce.””
“No one.””
I nodded.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman’s voice spoke.
“Clara Bennett?””
“Yes?””
“My name is Olivia Lane.””
I looked at Nathan.
His face changed instantly.
Fear.
Real fear.
Olivia continued:
“I think you need to know the truth about your husband.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“What truth?””
There was a pause.
Then she said:
“Nathan didn’t choose me.””
My breath stopped.
May you like
“What do you mean?””
“He chose your money.””
