Chapter 13: The Betrayal Behind the Camera

I stared at the photograph until my eyes began to hurt.

Wes.

The same man who had tried to calm everyone down on Cole's birthday.

The same man who had deleted the Instagram Story showing Cole and Elise together.

The same man who had been standing outside Becca's apartment.

Cole noticed my expression.

"What is it?"

I handed him the phone.

"That's Wes."

Cole's face hardened.

"Are you sure?"

"I would recognize him anywhere."

He immediately called Wes.

The phone rang several times before going to voicemail.

Cole tried again.

This time, the number had been disconnected.

Becca came into the room carrying two cups of tea.

"What happened?"

I showed her the photograph.

Her face went pale.

"He was outside my building yesterday too."

I looked at her sharply.

"You saw him?"

"I thought he was waiting for someone. I didn't realize he was watching us."

Cole stood up.

"We need to leave."

"Where?"

"Somewhere he can't predict."

We drove to a small hotel outside the city.

On the way, Cole called the detective handling Elise's case and told him everything.

The detective asked us not to confront Wes.

By the time we arrived at the hotel, another message had appeared on my phone.

"You finally noticed."

I stared at the screen.

Then another message arrived.

"Wes was never working for Richard."

My pulse quickened.

"Then who was he working for?" I whispered.

The answer came immediately.

"Elise."

I looked at Cole.

He had read the message over my shoulder.

"That's impossible," he said.

But neither of us sounded convinced.

A third message appeared.

"She planned the entire breakup."

I felt my stomach twist.

Five months of humiliation suddenly looked different.

The fake breakup.

The birthday party.

The matching photographs.

The apartment.

The accusations.

Maybe Elise hadn't simply been protected by Cole.

Maybe she had been using him.

I called the unknown number.

For the first time, someone answered.

A woman's voice whispered, "Mara, don't trust Cole."

I froze.

"Who are you?"

"Someone who knows what Elise did."

"Where is Elise?"

The woman hesitated.

"She's alive."

My heart slammed against my ribs.

"Where?"

"I can't tell you over the phone."

"Then tell me why she's doing this."

The woman took a shaky breath.

"Because she knows Cole will always choose her."

I looked at Cole.

He was standing a few feet away, listening to every word.

"That's not true," he said.

The woman went silent.

Then she whispered one final sentence.

"Ask him what happened the night your engagement ring disappeared."

The call ended.

I slowly turned toward Cole.

"My engagement ring?"

His face had gone completely pale.

"Mara, I can explain."

I stepped backward.

"You already said that."

Cole closed his eyes.

"I should have told you sooner."

"Then tell me now."

He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small velvet box.

My breath caught.

It was the same box I had left behind when I moved out.

He opened it.

Inside was not the ring I remembered.

There was a folded piece of paper instead.

Cole handed it to me.

I unfolded it.

The handwriting was unmistakable.

It was Elise's.

"If Mara leaves you, everything we've planned will be ruined."

I looked at Cole in disbelief.

"What did you plan with her?"

He couldn't answer.

And for the first time, I realized that the betrayal I feared might be much deeper than an affair.