Beneath His Smile : Psychological Romantic Thriller

Chapter 81: The Question That Changes Everything

81.1. The Silence That Feels Like a Death Sentence

The bar was too silent.

Daniel was still there.

Still looking at her.

Like he understood what she was thinking.

Like he was waiting for her to say something.

Her chest hurt bitterly.

Because she was hesitating once more.

And hesitation was a sign of weakness.

She had already lost once tonight.

She wasn't going to lose again.

Her fingers curled into fists.

"You said I was fighting the wrong war."

Daniel's eyes did not leave hers.

"I did."

Her breath trembled.

"Then tell me—who the devil am I supposed to be fighting?"

Daniel breathed slowly.

And then—

He finally spoke the truth.

81.2. The Truth That Isn’t Any Easier

"Julian isn't the issue, Clara."

Her stomach churned sickly.

"Are you crazy?"

Daniel's tone was too even.

"No. But I think you may be."

Her heart pounded furiously.

Daniel leaned in a little.

Lowered his voice.

"You think Mercer has been stringing you along."

A silence.

"You never stopped to think that someone was playing him."

Her breath hitched.

Because that—

That had been the first thing that had made sense.

And that had frightened her more than anything.

81.3. The Name She Never Considered

Damien let out a sharp breath.

"Alright."

He stretched his arms above his head, nonchalant as ever.

"Now this is getting good."

Clara's fingers tightened at her sides.

"What are you trying to say?"

Daniel's jaw hardened.

"I'm saying you've been focusing on the wrong enemy the whole time."

Her stomach churned wrenchingly.

"Who?"

Silence.

Then—

"Westhaven is no longer Julian's operation."

Her breath caught.

"What?"

Daniel sighed.

"Julian is not in charge. Not really. He simply doesn't know it yet."

Her vision blurred.

Because that meant—

That meant someone else was controlling things.

And Julian—

Julian was as blind as she was.

81.4. The Trap That Hasn’t Sprung Yet

Clara's hands shook.

"You want me to believe that?"

Daniel sighed.

"I don't care what you think."

His blue eyes blazed into hers.

"But you have to begin asking yourself the right questions, Clara."

Her chest hurt savagely.

"Like what?"

Daniel sat back.

His tone was too even.

"Like why Mercer sent you here in the first place."

Her gut plummeted.

Because that—

That had been too simple, hadn't it?

Julian had more or less pushed her into this fight.

Like he wanted her to notice Daniel here.

Like he wanted her to think Daniel had betrayed her.

And she had swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.

Her fingers creased her palms.

"What are you saying?"

Daniel exhaled.

"I'm saying Mercer's afraid of me, Clara."

A silence.

"And maybe you should be wondering why."

Her lungs froze up.

Because that meant—

Daniel wasn't simply colluding with Julian's foes.

He was one of them.

81.5. The War That’s Already Started

Damien laughed.

"Damn."

He glanced at Clara.

"Guess you were wrong about him after all, sweetheart."

Her gut knotted up.

Because she wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.

Daniel looked at her intently.

"I never lied to you."

Her breathing trembled.

"Then tell me why you're actually collaborating with them."

Daniel took a breath.

"Because I want the same as you."

Silence.

"To destroy Julian Mercer's whole business to ashes."

Her heart lashed wildly.

"Then why didn't you say anything?"

Daniel spoke in a gentle voice.

"Because I didn't know if you wanted to destroy him—"

A hesitation.

"—or run back to him."

Her eyes fogged.

Because that meant—

Daniel didn't trust her either.

And perhaps—

Perhaps she had given him a reason not to.

81.6. The Second Before She Breaks Again

The bar seemed too cramped.

Too raucous.

Too perilous.

Clara trembled in her hands.

Daniel had been setting this up the entire time.

And she—

She had been too wrapped up in Julian's manipulations to notice.

Her exhalation was strained.

"I don't know who the hell I'm supposed to trust anymore."

Daniel took a breath.

"Then trust yourself."

Her stomach twisted with a sick, vicious motion.

"I don't know how."

Silence.

Then—

"Then I guess we have the same problem."

Her chest hurt with a savage, burning pain.

Because that meant—

Daniel wasn't the villain she had constructed him to be.

But that didn't mean he was on her side either.

81.7. The Choice That Shouldn’t Be This Hard

Damien groaned.

"Alright, lovebirds. Time to wrap this up."

Clara spun around.

"Why?"

Damien grinned.

"Because Mercer just walked in."

Her stomach plummeted.

She turned—

And saw him.

Julian.

Standing at the door.

Staring at her.

Like he'd been waiting all this while.

Her pulse thundered in her ears.

Because that meant—

This was no longer a game.

This was the actual war.

And now—

She had to choose whose side she was actually on.

(To be continued…)