CHAPTER 13: The Lies Begin to Crack
The glass shattered against the wall.
Fragments scattered across the floor.
But Daniel didn't care.
His chest rose and fell sharply, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.
"She knows."
The words came out low.
Controlled.
But filled with rage.
"That's not possible."
Sophia stood across from him, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
But her voice—
It wasn't as confident as she wanted it to sound.
"You said she barely remembered anything," she added quickly. "You said she was confused!"
Daniel dragged a hand through his hair, pacing the room.
"She was," he snapped. "Something changed."
Sophia's heart began to race.
"Aiden," she whispered.
The name hung in the air like a curse.
Daniel stopped moving.
His eyes darkened instantly.
"That bastard," he muttered.
Sophia swallowed hard.
"You said he didn't know anything."
"I said he didn't have proof," Daniel corrected sharply.
A tense silence followed.
"She went back to him," Sophia said quietly.
The words felt bitter on her tongue.
Daniel let out a humorless laugh.
"Of course she did."
His tone wasn't surprised.
It was irritated.
Sophia's chest tightened.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel glanced at her briefly.
"She always had a weak spot for him."
The words hit harder than expected.
Sophia's fingers curled slightly.
"She chose you," she snapped. "Don't forget that."
Daniel didn't respond.
And that silence—
It stung.
"We have bigger problems," he said finally. "If she remembers everything…"
"She won't," Sophia cut in quickly. "The doctors said memory loss like that—"
"She already remembered enough," Daniel interrupted.
Sophia froze.
"What do you mean?"
Daniel's eyes hardened.
"She brought up that night."
Her breath caught.
"And us."
The room went completely still.
Sophia felt her pulse spike.
"She… she knows?" she whispered.
"Not everything," Daniel said. "But enough."
Her stomach dropped.
"No…" she shook her head. "No, that's not good. That's not good at all…"
Daniel exhaled sharply.
"It's manageable."
She looked at him.
"Manageable?" she repeated. "She knows we lied to her, Daniel. She knows we betrayed her. And if she finds out about the rest—"
"She won't."
His tone was firm.
Final.
Sophia stared at him.
"You sound very sure for someone who almost got caught once."
That struck a nerve.
Daniel's gaze snapped to hers.
"Watch your tone."
A tense silence stretched between them.
Thick.
Uncomfortable.
"What about the doctor?" Sophia asked suddenly.
Daniel's expression darkened again.
"He's gone."
Sophia narrowed her eyes.
"Gone… or dead?"
A pause.
Then—
"Gone," Daniel said.
But something in his tone—
Wasn't convincing.
Sophia turned away slightly, pacing now.
"This is getting out of control," she muttered. "We should've finished this when we had the chance."
Daniel didn't respond immediately.
But his silence—
Spoke volumes.
Sophia stopped walking.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You didn't," she said slowly. "You didn't hesitate, did you?"
Daniel looked at her.
Cold.
Unreadable.
"She was supposed to die," he said simply.
The words sent a chill down her spine.
"But she didn't."
Sophia swallowed hard.
"And now she's back."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
"Then we adapt."
Sophia shook her head.
"You're underestimating him."
She didn't need to say Aiden's name.
They both knew.
"He's already suspicious," she continued. "And now that she's with him again…"
Her voice dropped.
"…we're exposed."
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Not yet."
"She had proof," Sophia said suddenly.
Daniel stilled.
"And we never found it."
The tension in the room spiked instantly.
"If she remembers where she hid it—"
"She won't," Daniel cut in again.
But this time—
There was less certainty in his voice.
Sophia stepped closer.
"And if she does?"
A long silence followed.
Then—
Daniel smiled.
But it wasn't a pleasant one.
"Then we make sure she doesn't get the chance."
Sophia's breath caught.
"What are you saying?"
Daniel didn't answer right away.
He walked toward the table, picking up his phone.
His movements were calm.
Too calm.
"They made the first move," he said.
His voice was low.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Now it's our turn."
Sophia's heart began to race.
"Daniel… what are you planning?"
He glanced at her briefly.
And for the first time—
There was something in his eyes she had never seen before.
No hesitation.
No guilt.
No restraint.
"Something she won't recover from this time."
Silence crashed into the room.
Heavy.
Terrifying.
Sophia felt it then.
The shift.
The point of no return.
Because whatever Daniel was about to do—
It wouldn't just hurt Elara.
It would destroy her.