I Texted My Dad One Word The World Burned novel Chapter 25

Chapter 5

My fingers trembled uncontrollably as I stared at the marriage certificate.

In the “spouse” column beside Daniel’s name was written Emily.

And the date? The date was the day after they had “reunited.”

Every loose end I had ignored, every inconsistency I had tried to excuse–suddenly all the pieces connected.

Why had Daniel insisted on hiring Emily into the company?

Why had every threat to fire her ended in nothing?

Why did he always shield her, no matter how foolish or destructive her mistakes were?

Because I had been nothing more than a fool for an entire year, completely deceived and manipulated by the two of them.

I stumbled out of the office, numb, only to run right into Emily in the hallway.

She held a thermos tightly in her hands, steam curling from the lid. Her eyes widened at the sight of me, panic flashing briefly before she forced a nervous smile.

I took a step closer, voice cold as winter ice.

“Being married to Daniel for the past year must have been exhausting for you, keeping up the act, hasn’t it?”

I advanced slowly, my tone sharp enough to cut.

“From waitress to director, you played your part well. The two of you bled me dry while performing a little drama. Bravo.”

Emily’s expression shifted from panic to something darker. Her lips curled, the mask slipping.

“So you finally figured it out?”

Her voice dripped with mockery.

“Too bad, isn’t it? You were the official girlfriend, yet you never even saw your man’s marriage certificate.”

“Why?” I asked, my voice shaking despite my effort to stay steady. “Why go this far?”

Her smile twisted into something ugly.

“If you didn’t still have some value left, why would I have bothered pretending? Let me be honest–once we sign this contract with Summit Capital today, Daniel is done with you. He’ll kick you to the curb for good”

Before I could react, she suddenly flipped the lid off the thermos.

“I was going to water the lucky plant with this, but you’ll do just fine.”

Scalding water arced through the air.

Instinct made me throw my arms up, but the searing pain ripped through my skin like thousands of needles stabbing at once.

The agony exploded across my face and arms, blinding me. A scream tore itself from my throat.

Through the haze of pain, I swung my fist wildly, landing a blow against Emily.

But then the world spun. My head slammed against the wall, stars bursting in my vision.

And when my sight cleared, Daniel was there not at my side, but kneeling protectively beside Emily, lifting her as if she were the

victim.

He looked at me, collapsed on the floor, with a chilling calmness.

“You slapped Emily once. Now we’re even.”

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Even? I gaped at him, words strangled by pain.

This was the man I had loved for five years. Watching me writhe in agony, possibly disfigured, and all he had to say was that we were

“even.”

He averted his gaze, almost impatient.

“It’s just a little hot water. Do you have to overreact like this?”

Emily suddenly clutched her stomach, groaning dramatically.

“Daniel… my stomach hurts…”

Daniel swept her up in his arms, eyes filled with worry.

“Charlotte, stop making a scene. We’ll talk when I get her home.”

And then they were gone, their figures disappearing down the corridor together.

The burning in my skin blurred my vision. With what little strength I had left, I dialed my father.

“Dad… they tried to ruin my face.”

The next time I opened my eyes, I was in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Doctors hovered nearby, speaking in hushed tones to my father.

“Ms. Green has suffered second–degree burns to her face, along with a mild concussion. The biggest concern is her emotional state. She cried nonstop during the surgery…‘

My mother sat beside me, her face gaunt, her eyes swollen red. She brushed her hand gently over mine, bandaged thickly in gauze.

“My poor daughter… you’ve suffered so much. I should never have let you move to Baymont alone.”

Across from her, my father’s face was stone. His rosary beads clicked furiously between his fingers.

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