The Breaking Point
"Liam, I want the truth," Becky demanded, her voice sharp and trembling as she stood in the dimly lit room. Her green eyes burned with determination, locking onto Liam's hesitant gaze. "No more evasions. No more riddles. If you know something about Ben...about us....then say it now."
Liam shifted uncomfortably, his jaw tightening as he glanced toward the window. The tension between them was palpable, an unspoken battle of loyalty and secrets weighing heavily on his shoulders.
"Becky," he said slowly, stepping closer, his voice barely above a whisper, "the truth isn't as simple as you think. Ben's past is... complicated. There are things he's hidden from you....things he's hidden from everyone."
She clenched her fists, her voice rising in frustration. "Do you think I don't know that already? I married a man who keeps secrets like they're treasures! But I'm done living in the dark, Liam. Whatever it is, I need to know."
Liam hesitated, his fingers brushing the edge of his pocket before he finally pulled out a folded piece of paper. His expression was grave as he handed it to her. "You want the truth? It starts here."
Becky took the paper with trembling hands, her heart pounding as her eyes scanned the unfamiliar handwriting. The message was brief, cryptic, and chilling.
"To Ben,
The sins of the father will always come back to haunt the son. Your empire is built on lies, and I'll be the one to bring it crashing down. Watch your back.
D"
Her breath caught in her throat as the letter slipped from her hands. "What... what is this?"
"It's from Daniel," Liam said, his tone heavy with unease. "The brother Ben never told you about."
Becky stumbled back, her mind spinning. "Daniel? Ben's twin brother? He... he's alive?"
Liam nodded, his expression unreadable. "Not just alive, he's been watching. Waiting. And now he's ready to make his move.
Becky sank onto the edge of the couch, her pulse racing. Every moment she'd spent with Ben, his evasiveness, his sudden mood swings, his insistence on keeping her at arm's length, all of it now made a haunting kind of sense.
"Why didn't Ben tell me?" she whispered, more to herself than to Liam.
"Because he's terrified of the truth," Liam replied, sitting across from her. "Daniel blames Ben for everything that went wrong in their family. The rivalry, the betrayals, it all boils down to the choices their father made, and Ben was caught in the middle."
Becky's throat tightened as she clutched the armrest of the couch. "But what does this have to do with me?"
Liam's expression softened, and for a brief moment, his usual stoic demeanor cracked. "Everything. Daniel doesn't just want revenge on Ben, he wants to destroy everything Ben cares about. That includes you... and the baby."
Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach, a wave of fear crashing over her. "Why? Why would he go that far?"
"Because he thinks it's the only way to hurt Ben," Liam said grimly. "And he's not wrong. Ben... he's not the man he pretends to be, Becky. He's made mistakes. Big ones. But I also know he'd do anything to protect you."
Becky wanted to scream, cry, do anything to release the suffocating weight in her chest. Instead, she pressed her trembling fingers against her lips, her thoughts spiraling. "Where is Daniel now?"
Liam's gaze darkened. "Closer than you think."
A sudden knock at the door shattered the tense silence. Becky and Liam exchanged a wary glance before he stood, moving cautiously toward the door.
"Who is it?" Liam called out, his hand hovering near the concealed weapon at his waist.
"It's me," came Ben's voice, rough and urgent.
Liam opened the door just enough to let him in, and Ben stepped inside, his sharp blue eyes immediately locking onto Becky.
"We need to talk," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Becky stood, crossing her arms defensively. "Now you want to talk? After everything, Ben? After I had to hear about your brother from Liam?"
Ben's jaw tightened as he glanced at Liam, his irritation evident. "I was trying to protect you."
"Protect me?" Becky snapped, her voice rising. "By keeping me in the dark? By making me feel like I'm losing my mind?"
Ben took a step closer, his expression softening. "Becky, I know I've made mistakes. But everything I've done has been to keep you and the baby safe."
"Safe from what, Ben? From Daniel? From the truth? Or from you?" Her voice cracked, the weight of her emotions finally spilling over.
Ben's silence was deafening, but before he could respond, Liam interjected. "She deserves to know everything, Ben. No more lies."
Ben's shoulders slumped, and for the first time, Becky saw a crack in his usually impenetrable armor.
"Daniel and I were close once," he began, his voice low. "But our father... he pitted us against each other from the start. He wanted us to compete, to prove who was more deserving of the family fortune. It tore us apart."
Becky's heart ached at the pain in his voice.
"Things spiraled out of control," Ben continued. "Our fights turned violent. And then one day, Daniel disappeared. Our father told me he was dead, but I never believed him."
Tears welled in Becky's eyes as she whispered, "Why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"Because I didn't want you to see the worst parts of me," Ben admitted. "The parts I'm not proud of. But Daniel, he's not the same person I knew. He's dangerous, Becky. And he'll do anything to hurt me."
A loud crash from outside made them all freeze. Becky's heart pounded as she instinctively moved closer to Ben.
"What was that?" she whispered.
Liam drew his weapon, his eyes scanning the room. "Stay here. I'll check it out."
He moved toward the door, his steps cautious and deliberate. Becky clutched Ben's arm, her breath shaky.
"Ben," she whispered, "if Daniel is coming for us..."
"I won't let him hurt you," he said firmly, his hand covering hers.
Before she could respond, the door burst open, slamming against the wall. A tall figure stepped inside, his face partially obscured by the shadows.
"Miss me, brother?"
Becky's blood ran cold as Daniel stepped into the light, his sharp features eerily similar to Ben's but with a darker, more menacing edge.
"Daniel," Ben said, his voice low and dangerous.
Daniel's lips curved into a cold smile. "You didn't think I'd let you have it all, did you? The money, the power... her?" His gaze shifted to Becky, and she felt an icy shiver run down her spine.
"Stay away from her," Ben warned, stepping in front of Becky.
Daniel chuckled darkly. "Oh, Ben. Always the hero. But this time, you're not the one holding all the cards."
He pulled a folded document from his pocket, holding it up for them to see. "This... changes everything."
The tension in the room was unbearable as Becky stared at the paper, her mind racing. What was Daniel holding?
Daniel's voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "By the time I'm done, you'll have nothing left."