Chapter 2 — The Best Friend Who Waited to Strike
On the fourth afternoon, Grace’s younger sister brought her a USB drive.
“You need to see this,” she said. “I got it from the restaurant hallway camera from that night. Before Maya walked into the dining room, she spoke with Daniel.”
Grace plugged the USB into her computer.
At first, the video had no sound. Maya stood near the dining room door, Daniel facing her. Maya handed him an envelope. Daniel shook his head, looking angry. Maya leaned closer and said something.
Daniel’s face turned pale.
Then the audio returned at the end.
Maya’s voice rang out clearly:
“If you don’t announce your divorce from Grace tonight and come back to me, I’ll tell everyone the truth. Don’t forget, if this comes out, your merger contract tomorrow will be destroyed too.”
Daniel replied:
“You don’t love me. You only want the shares.”
Maya laughed.
“And did you marry Grace because of love? No, Daniel. You married her because she made you look like a decent man.”
Grace sat frozen.
Not because Maya was right.
But because Daniel had known in advance that everything might explode that night.
He had the chance to pull Grace aside.
He had the chance to tell her privately.
He had the chance to stand in front of everyone and confess.
But he chose silence until Maya tore Grace apart with her own hands.
The next evening, Grace received a message from Maya.
“Meet me. You need to hear the truth from me.”
Grace looked at the message, then replied:
“Tomorrow. Ten in the morning. The old café.”
The old café was where Grace and Maya had spent countless hours during college. They had shared cakes, talked about dreams, and once promised that no matter what happened in the future, they would never betray each other.
Maya arrived on time.
She was still beautiful, still composed, still carrying the air of someone who had never lost.
Grace was already sitting by the window, an untouched cup of tea in front of her.
Maya pulled out a chair and sat down.
“You’re calmer than I expected,” Maya said.
Grace looked at her.
“I’ve cried enough. Now I want to hear what else you plan to lie about.”
Maya paused slightly, then laughed.
“You’ve changed.”
“No,” Grace replied. “I’ve just woken up.”
Maya leaned back in her chair.
“Fine. Then I’ll tell you the truth. Daniel married me for money. I married him for assets. We were never truly husband and wife. But on paper, I am his wife. And you…”
She paused, her eyes filled with fake pity.
“You were just the woman who came after me.”
Grace tightened her hand under the table.
Maya continued:
“Do you know the funniest part? The day you introduced Daniel to me as if I had never met him before, I almost laughed. You were so happy that you didn’t notice how terrified he looked.”
Grace remembered that day.
She had held Daniel’s hand and pulled him in front of Maya, happily saying:
“Maya, this is Daniel, the man I’m dating.”
Maya had smiled gently.
“Nice to meet you.”
And Daniel had only paused for a second.
Grace had thought he was shy.
It turned out that was the moment two liars realized their performance had gained an innocent audience.
“Then why didn’t you tell me from the beginning?” Grace asked.
Maya looked out the window.
“Because at that time, I thought everything was still under control. Daniel loved you, but he owed me. I thought that whenever I wanted, I could pull him back.”
“And now?”
Maya turned back to Grace.
“Now Daniel’s company is about to merge. His shares will multiply in value. If I divorce him before that, I get too little. If I appear at the right time, I can get everything.”
Grace looked at the woman in front of her.
She had once called Maya her best friend.
She had once trusted Maya more than a sister.
She had once told Maya about every argument with Daniel, every plan to have children, every fear she had in her marriage.
And Maya had listened to all of it — not to comfort her, but to wait for the right moment to stab the deepest.
Grace asked:
“Did you ever feel guilty toward me?”
Maya was silent.
After a while, she said:
“Yes. But guilt didn’t help me live better.”
Grace nodded.
“Thank you for being honest for the first time.”
Maya frowned.
Grace took her phone from her pocket and placed it on the table.
The screen was still lit.
The recording had lasted twenty-six minutes.
Maya’s face changed.
“You recorded me?”
Grace stood up.
“You taught me a lesson, Maya. Never sit at the same table with a traitor without being prepared.”
Maya jumped up and reached for the phone, but Grace picked it up first.
“What do you want?” Maya hissed.
May you like
Grace looked at her calmly.
“I want the truth to be put where it belongs.”
