Chapter 7: The Confrontation
607 Words
Emma barely slept that night.
Liam’s words kept haunting her.
> "Daniel isn’t who you think he is."
"You don’t know what he’s capable of."
Was it true?
Had Daniel really stolen those letters? Had he lied to her?
She needed answers.
And there was only one way to get them.
---
Confronting Daniel
The next morning, Emma walked into the bakery, her heart pounding.
Daniel was already there, arranging fresh croissants on the display.
“Morning, Em—”
SLAM.
Emma dropped Liam’s letter onto the counter.
Daniel’s smile vanished.
He looked at the paper, then at her. “What’s this?”
Emma folded her arms. “Read it.”
Daniel hesitated before picking up the letter. As his eyes scanned the words, his expression changed.
First confusion.
Then… something else.
Something like fear.
He placed the letter down too carefully.
When he finally met her eyes, his voice was quiet.
“Where did you get this?”
Emma’s stomach twisted. “So it’s true.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t say that.”
Emma clenched her fists. “Then tell me the truth.”
---
Daniel’s Side of the Story
Daniel exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
“Emma… I never meant to lie to you.”
Her heart ached. “But you did.”
He hesitated. “Yes.”
Emma swallowed the lump in her throat. “Why?”
Daniel leaned against the counter, looking exhausted.
“Because I found the letters.”
Emma’s breath caught.
Daniel continued, his voice rough. “One night, I saw Liam leaving something under the bench. I got curious… so I took it.”
Emma’s hands trembled. “And?”
Daniel sighed.
“I read it. And I saw your reply the next day.”
Emma’s pulse pounded. “So you knew from the start.”
Daniel nodded. “Yes.”
Her throat felt tight. “And you still let me believe they were from you?”
Daniel’s eyes darkened. “Because I didn’t trust him.”
Emma froze.
---
Daniel’s Warning
Emma stared at him. “What do you mean?”
Daniel’s jaw clenched. “Liam isn’t who he pretends to be.”
Emma’s body went rigid. “That’s exactly what he said about you.”
Daniel let out a bitter laugh. “Of course, he did.”
Emma crossed her arms. “Then tell me the truth.”
Daniel hesitated. Then, finally—
“I knew Liam in college.”
Emma’s stomach dropped.
She never knew that.
Daniel’s voice was quieter now. “He wasn’t always this… calm. Back then, he was obsessed with a girl named Sophie.”
Emma’s pulse quickened.
Daniel’s eyes darkened. “He wrote letters to her too. Just like he did with you.”
Emma felt dizzy.
Daniel continued, his voice tight.
“She ignored him at first. But when she finally gave him a chance… she realized something was wrong.”
Emma whispered, “What happened?”
Daniel’s jaw clenched. “She tried to leave him.”
Emma’s breath caught.
“She disappeared two weeks later.”
Emma froze.
---
A Horrifying Possibility
Silence filled the room.
Emma’s skin went cold.
“She… disappeared?” she repeated.
Daniel nodded grimly. “No one knows what happened to her. Liam said she moved away. But…” He exhaled. “Some people don’t believe him.”
Emma’s stomach twisted.
She suddenly remembered how Liam grabbed her wrist last night.
How his voice was calm—but his grip was too strong.
Was Daniel telling the truth?
Or was Liam?
Who was lying?
And more importantly—
Was Emma in danger?
- Writer
