CHAPTER 7 — THE WOMAN WHO PLAYED BOTH SIDES
Andrew arrived at Brenda’s apartment before sunrise.
For the first time since he met her, he didn’t feel excitement when he saw her.
He felt nothing.
No attraction.
No trust.
Only disappointment.
The woman standing behind the door was not the person he thought she was.
Brenda opened it wearing a silk robe, clearly surprised.
"Andrew?"
She smiled.
"I wasn’t expecting you."
He walked inside without returning the smile.
"We need to talk."
Something in his voice made her expression change.
"What happened?"
Andrew placed the folder on the table.
"Open it."
Brenda looked at the folder.
Then at him.
Slowly, she picked it up.
The moment she saw the first document, the confidence on her face disappeared.
"What is this?"
"You tell me."
Her fingers tightened around the papers.
"Where did you get these?"
Andrew stared at her.
"So it’s true."
Silence.
"Isn’t it?"
Brenda said nothing.
That was the answer.
Andrew laughed quietly.
A painful laugh.
"I can’t believe this."
"Andrew..."
"No."
He raised his hand.
"Don’t."
For years, he had defended her.
He had chosen her over his wife.
He had destroyed his marriage because he believed Brenda was honest.
Now he realized he had never known her at all.
"You knew about the company."
Brenda looked away.
"Everyone knew the company was struggling."
"But you knew more."
She remained silent.
"You knew Mariana was keeping everything alive."
A pause.
Then Brenda finally spoke.
"Yes."
The admission hit him harder than he expected.
"Why?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
She laughed softly.
"Because I saw what she had."
Andrew frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"Everything."
Brenda walked toward the window.
"The money."
"The influence."
"The respect."
"People listened to her without her even trying."
She turned back.
"Do you know how frustrating that was?"
Andrew stared at her.
"You were jealous."
"No."
Her voice became colder.
"I was realistic."
She stepped closer.
"Mariana had everything I wanted."
Andrew shook his head.
"You didn’t want me."
Her expression froze.
"You wanted my life."
The silence that followed confirmed it.
Brenda looked away.
"You think she’s innocent?"
Andrew frowned.
"What?"
"She hid everything from you."
"Because she wanted to know who you really were."
Brenda smiled bitterly.
"And look what she found."
Those words stayed with him.
Because they were true.
Mariana had not lied.
She had simply stopped protecting him from the truth.
Andrew picked up the folder.
"Did you ever love me?"
Brenda didn’t answer immediately.
That hesitation destroyed the last piece of trust he had left.
Finally, she said:
"I loved what you represented."
Andrew closed his eyes.
There it was.
The same mistake he had made.
He had loved what Mariana provided.
And Brenda had loved what he appeared to be.
Not who he was.
Andrew walked toward the door.
"Where are you going?"
He stopped.
"To fix what I can."
Brenda laughed.
"You think Mariana will take you back?"
He didn’t turn around.
"No."
"Then why?"
His voice was quiet.
"Because she deserves the truth."
After leaving, Andrew drove directly to Escalante Tower.
But this time, he didn’t arrive as a businessman.
He arrived as a man who finally understood his mistakes.
Mariana was in a meeting when her assistant informed her.
"Mr. Whitmore is here."
Everyone in the room became silent.
Mariana looked at the clock.
Then nodded.
"Let him in."
Andrew entered.
He looked different.
Not because of his clothes.
Because the arrogance was gone.
"I found out about Brenda."
Mariana said nothing.
"I know what she did."
Still nothing.
"I know she manipulated me."
Mariana looked at him.
"And?"
Andrew took a breath.
"And I know that doesn’t excuse what I did."
That answer surprised her.
Because for the first time...
He wasn’t trying to defend himself.
"I blamed you."
He continued.
"I made you feel like you were lucky to be with me."
His voice became heavier.
"But the truth is..."
"I was lucky."
Mariana looked away.
"I should have protected you."
"I should have trusted you."
"I should have seen your value."
A long silence followed.
Then Mariana asked:
"Why are you telling me this?"
Andrew looked at her.
"Because you deserve to know."
"Not because I want something."
"Not because I want my life back."
"Because I was wrong."
For a moment, Mariana saw the man she once loved.
Not completely.
Not the same.
But a small part of him.
The part that existed before pride destroyed everything.
"I appreciate the honesty."
Andrew nodded.
"But?"
Mariana looked directly at him.
"But honesty does not erase damage."
He lowered his eyes.
"I know."
"You broke something that took years to build."
"I know."
"And I cannot pretend it never happened."
"I know."
Three times.
Three answers.
No excuses.
No arguments.
That mattered.
But forgiveness was not automatic.
Mariana stood.
"Andrew."
He looked up.
"You need to understand something."
"What?"
"The old version of me would have forgiven you immediately."
Her voice softened.
"But she disappeared the night you hit her."
Andrew felt the pain of those words.
Because they were true.
Mariana walked toward the window.
"I don’t know what happens next."
Andrew nodded.
"Neither do I."
"But for the first time..."
She looked back.
"You’re finally facing the truth."
Andrew left the office quietly.
Outside, the city continued moving.
His old life was gone.
His marriage was broken.
His empire had fallen.
But somewhere beneath all that loss...
A different person was beginning to emerge.
A person who was finally learning that love was not something you owned.
May you like
It was something you protected.
And Andrew Whitmore had learned that lesson too late.
