CHAPTER 4 — THE FRIEND WHO STOLE EVERYTHING

Elizabeth had always believed betrayal hurt more when it came from someone you loved.

She was wrong.

The worst betrayal came from someone you trusted completely.

Someone who knew exactly where your heart was weakest.

Someone who knew your dreams, your fears, your memories…

and used all of them as weapons.

Ashley Collins had been that person.

For ten years.

Elizabeth still remembered the day they met.

A university hallway.

Elizabeth had dropped a stack of papers.

Everyone walked past.

Except Ashley.

She stopped.

Helped her pick everything up.

Then smiled and said:

“Anyone who works this hard deserves someone in their corner.”

That sentence stayed with Elizabeth.

Because Ashley became that person.

Her corner.

Her safe place.

When Elizabeth’s father died, Ashley stayed beside her for three days.

When Elizabeth cried after bad relationships, Ashley listened.

When Dwight proposed, Ashley was the first person Elizabeth called.

And now Elizabeth knew.

Ashley had been acting.

Every hug.

Every promise.

Every “I’m happy for you.”

A performance.

Christopher placed the payment records on the table.

“Are you ready to see the rest?”

Elizabeth nodded.

The first document:

Payment received: Ashley Collins.

Amount:

$50,000.

The second:

Purpose: Marriage assistance.

Elizabeth stared.

“Marriage assistance.”

She repeated the words.

Like saying them enough times would make them less disgusting.

Amy looked furious.

“She sold you.”

Elizabeth didn’t answer.

Because that was exactly what happened.

Christopher continued.

“There is more.”

He opened another file.

Ashley had not met Dwight by accident.

They had known each other for almost a year before Elizabeth introduced them.

Elizabeth froze.

“What?”

Christopher nodded.

“She was already communicating with him.”

Amy looked at Elizabeth.

“You introduced your best friend to your boyfriend?”

Elizabeth closed her eyes.

Yes.

She had.

She remembered.

A dinner.

A casual meeting.

Dwight saying:

“She’s funny. I understand why you like her.”

She remembered Ashley laughing.

“You found a good one.”

The entire time…

they were already planning.

Elizabeth stood and walked to the window.

The city outside continued moving.

People laughing.

Cars passing.

Life continuing.

But her world had stopped.

“How long?”

Christopher looked at the records.

“Before your engagement.”

The answer was worse than she expected.

Ashley was not a woman who appeared after the marriage.

She was part of the plan from the beginning.

That evening, Elizabeth received a message.

From Ashley.

Can we talk? Please.

Elizabeth stared at the screen.

Amy immediately said:

“Don't.”

Elizabeth looked at her.

“I need to hear her lie.”

Amy understood.

Sometimes closure was not about forgiveness.

Sometimes it was about confirmation.

They met at a quiet café.

Ashley arrived wearing sunglasses.

No confidence.

No designer smile.

Just fear.

The moment she saw Elizabeth, she started crying.

“Elizabeth…”

“Sit down.”

Ashley sat.

“I know.”

The color disappeared from Ashley’s face.

“What?”

“I know about Dwight.”

Ashley’s lips parted.

“I know about the money.”

Silence.

“I know you were paid.”

Ashley looked down.

And that was the moment Elizabeth knew.

There would be no denial.

“You knew I would find out eventually?”

Ashley whispered.

Elizabeth laughed quietly.

“You’re asking me that?”

Ashley started crying.

“I didn’t want it to happen like this.”

Elizabeth stared at her.

“How did you want it to happen?”

No answer.

“After I lost my money?”

A pause.

“After I became your family's servant?”

Another pause.

“After you took my husband?”

Ashley wiped her tears.

“It wasn't supposed to hurt you.”

That sentence shocked Elizabeth.

“Excuse me?”

Ashley looked desperate.

“Dwight said you were going to leave him eventually.”

Elizabeth stared.

“He said you were cold.”

A bitter smile appeared on Elizabeth’s face.

“Cold?”

Ashley nodded.

“He said you cared more about money than love.”

For a moment, Elizabeth felt something.

Not anger.

Not sadness.

Disappointment.

Because Dwight had created a story where he was the victim.

And Ashley believed it.

“Did you ever ask me?”

Ashley looked away.

“Did you ever ask whether I was happy?”

Silence.

“Did you ever ask whether he treated me well?”

No answer.

“Did you ever wonder why a man who claimed to love his wife was meeting you secretly?”

Ashley’s face changed.

Because deep down…

she knew.

“I loved him.”

Elizabeth looked at her.

“No.”

Ashley froze.

“You loved the idea of being chosen.”

The words hit.

“You wanted what I had.”

Elizabeth continued.

“The ring.”

“The wedding.”

“The house.”

“The life.”

Ashley whispered:

“You don't understand.”

Elizabeth looked at her.

“You're right.”

A pause.

“I don't understand how someone who called me her best friend could help destroy my life.”

Ashley started crying harder.

Then she said something Elizabeth didn't expect.

“Dwight wasn't the one who planned it.”

Elizabeth became still.

“What?”

Ashley looked terrified.

“Jared was.”

The name landed heavily.

Elizabeth already suspected Jared was involved.

But hearing it from Ashley changed everything.

“How?”

Ashley looked around.

Then lowered her voice.

“Your father found out about them years ago.”

Elizabeth froze.

“Found out what?”

Ashley swallowed.

“The Whitmores have been doing this for a long time.”

The same thing Dwight mentioned.

Other wives.

Other women.

“They find women with money.”

Ashley continued.

“They make them believe they are loved.”

A pause.

“Then they take everything.”

Elizabeth felt sick.

“How many?”

Ashley looked down.

“I don't know.”

“Guess.”

Ashley whispered:

“Four.”

Four women.

Four marriages.

Four lives destroyed.

Elizabeth looked away.

“Why me?”

Ashley answered quietly:

“Because you were the biggest opportunity.”

The words were brutal.

“My father left you money.”

Ashley continued.

“Your company shares.”

“Your property.”

“Your inheritance.”

Elizabeth froze.

“My inheritance?”

Ashley nodded.

“Dwight knew.”

That was impossible.

Her inheritance had been private.

Only family knew.

“Who told him?”

Ashley looked at her.

And Elizabeth already knew.

“My mother?”

Ashley said nothing.

That silence answered.

Elizabeth returned home that night with a new understanding.

The Whitmores had not chosen her because she was easy.

They chose her because she was valuable.

But they made one mistake.

They thought value meant weakness.

The next morning, Christopher called.

His voice was serious.

“Elizabeth.”

“What happened?”

“We found the original documents from your father’s investigation.”

She sat down.

“And?”

“There is evidence connecting Jared Whitmore to every previous marriage.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes.

Finally.

“But there is something else.”

She opened them.

“What?”

Christopher hesitated.

“Your father didn't just investigate Jared.”

A pause.

“He was preparing to expose him.”

Elizabeth felt her heartbeat change.

“How?”

Christopher answered:

“With a witness.”

“Who?”

Silence.

Then:

“The first woman Jared Whitmore destroyed.”

Elizabeth whispered:

“Where is she?”

Christopher looked at the file.

“She has been missing for twelve years.”

A cold feeling moved through Elizabeth.

Because suddenly…

this was no longer only about divorce.

It was about uncovering a family secret buried for years.

And somewhere across the city…

Ashley Collins sat alone.

She looked at the message on her phone.

A message from Jared.

YOU TALKED TO HER.

Ashley trembled.

Another message appeared.

NOW YOU PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKE.

Ashley stared at the screen.

Because for the first time…

she understood something.

She had betrayed Elizabeth.

But the Whitmores had betrayed everyone.

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Including her.

END OF CHAPTER 4