The Bride Widow
Chapter 184 - 182: At last - Part 3

Chapter 184: 182: At last - Part 3

Daniel’s frustration simmered just below the surface as he paced his office, his mind clouded by the relentless rumors swirling around him.

No matter how many calls he made or contacts he reached out to, the trail always seemed to go cold. Each attempt to trace the source of the leak was met with dead ends or vague answers.

His anger boiled over, and he knew he needed to take more drastic measures.

In a dark corner of his mind, an idea began to form. Daniel decided it was time to dive into the shadows, into the world of those who operated outside the law.

He had heard of "cleaners," people who specialized in erasing problems—whether that meant removing evidence, silencing witnesses, or squashing rumors.

It was risky, but Daniel felt cornered, with no other options left.

He picked up his phone, scrolling through the encrypted contacts he hadn’t touched in years. His fingers hovered over a number before he pressed the call button, waiting for the line to connect. After a few rings, a gruff voice answered.

"Yeah?"

"I need a job done," Daniel said, his voice firm but tinged with desperation. "I need some rumors cleared out, and I need to know who’s behind them."

There was a pause on the other end. "That’s not our usual kind of work, but for the right price, we can make exceptions. Meet us at the usual spot tonight."

Daniel agreed, setting the time and place before hanging up.

He knew what he was getting into. The cleaners weren’t known for their gentle methods, but they were efficient. If anyone could uncover who was behind the rumors and put an end to them, it was these people.

That evening, Daniel found himself in a dimly lit bar on the outskirts of town, a place where whispers carried more weight than shouts.

The air was thick with smoke and tension, but Daniel walked in with purpose. He spotted his contact in a shadowed booth at the back and made his way over.

The man looked up as Daniel approached, his face partially obscured by a hood. "You’re the one with the rumor problem," he said, gesturing for Daniel to sit.

Daniel nodded, sliding into the booth. "I need it taken care of discreetly and quickly."

The man smirked, tapping his fingers on the table. "You’ve got a mess, and we clean messes. But it’s going to cost you."

"Name your price," Daniel said, reaching into his jacket for his wallet.

The man shook his head. "We’ll discuss that after we handle your problem. Tell us everything you know."

Daniel spent the next twenty minutes detailing the situation—the leaked story, the reporter, the judge, and the whispers that wouldn’t die down. The cleaner listened intently, nodding occasionally but saying little.

When Daniel finished, the man leaned back, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Consider it done," he said. "We’ll be in touch."

Daniel felt a flicker of hope for the first time in days as he left the bar. He didn’t realize, however, that the very people he had turned to for help were already under the influence of Noah.

Months ago, Noah had anticipated that Daniel might one day try to leverage the underworld to his advantage.

He had taken steps to ensure that any move Daniel made in the shadows would be monitored and manipulated.

As soon as Daniel left, the cleaner pulled out a phone and dialed a number. "He took the bait," he said. "What’s the next move?"

On the other end, Noah’s voice was calm and calculated. "Keep him running in circles. Feed him enough to make him think he’s getting somewhere, but not enough to uncover anything real. We’ll use his desperation to our advantage."

The cleaner nodded. "Understood. He’s in deep already. It won’t take much to push him further."

Noah hung up, a small smile on his face. Daniel was playing right into his hands. The more desperate he became, the easier it would be to steer him toward his downfall.

Every move Daniel made, every contact he thought he could trust, was part of Noah’s carefully laid trap.

Meanwhile, Daniel returned home, feeling a glimmer of hope that things might soon be resolved.

He poured himself a drink, trying to shake off the unease that clung to him like a shadow.

In the back of his mind, doubt lingered, but he pushed it aside, convinced that the cleaners would deliver the results he needed.

Over the next few days, Daniel waited anxiously for word from the cleaners. They sent him occasional updates, vague promises that progress was being made.

Each message strung him along, keeping his hopes alive but his anxiety at bay. He didn’t notice how they were carefully controlling the flow of information, ensuring he remained blind to the truth.

As time passed, Daniel’s desperation grew, and his trust in the cleaners solidified.

He felt like he was on the verge of uncovering the conspiracy against him, unaware that every step he took was carefully orchestrated by Noah.

The trap was tightening, and Daniel was walking right into it, oblivious to the danger that lay ahead.

Daniel’s days grew more restless as he clung to the cleaners’ cryptic updates, believing that any moment now, they would unveil the culprits behind the rumors.

Each passing hour felt like an eternity, his mind racing with thoughts of betrayal and revenge.

His once-sharp demeanor dulled, replaced by a jittery paranoia that even James noticed. The young boy, usually full of questions, kept his distance, wary of his father’s ever-shifting moods.

Daniel’s obsession with clearing his name consumed him.

He barely slept, pacing his office late into the night, eyes fixed on his phone, waiting for the call that would bring him salvation.

The cleaners fed him just enough information to keep him hooked, but not enough to satiate his hunger for answers. He believed he was edging closer to the truth, unaware that he was merely a puppet in Noah’s grand design.

One morning, Daniel received a message that seemed to be the breakthrough he had been waiting for. The cleaners claimed they had uncovered a critical lead but needed more resources to close the loop.

Desperate, Daniel didn’t hesitate. He wired the additional funds, confident that he was finally on the brink of reclaiming his reputation.

What Daniel didn’t know was that every move he made was being reported back to Noah, who observed the situation with a calculated calmness.

Noah understood that the key to dismantling Daniel wasn’t through direct confrontation but by allowing him to unravel himself. Each decision Daniel made, every ounce of his desperation, was another thread pulling him closer to his own ruin.

Noah and Clair sat together, discussing the progress of their plan. "He’s almost at the point of no return," Clair said, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "It won’t be long before he’s completely isolated."

Noah nodded, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "We’ve given him just enough rope to hang himself. Now, we just wait for him to make the final move."

As the days dragged on, Daniel’s paranoia deepened. He began to suspect everyone around him, even those closest to him.

The cleaners had suggested that the rumors might have originated from someone within his circle, fueling his distrust.

Daniel started to question his staff, his friends, even his own family. His interactions became curt, his behavior erratic.

James, noticing the strain on his father, grew more anxious. He wanted to help but didn’t know how. His once-strong father seemed to be crumbling, and it frightened him.

One evening, James mustered the courage to approach Daniel, hoping to offer comfort.

"Dad, are you okay?" James asked cautiously, peering into his father’s tired eyes.

Daniel looked at his son, the shadows under his eyes deepening. "I’m fine, James. Just dealing with... some things."

"But you’ve been acting different. You don’t talk to me like you used to."

Daniel sighed, rubbing his temples. "I’m sorry, son. There’s a lot going on right now. I promise, once this is over, things will get back to normal."

James nodded, though he wasn’t convinced. He felt helpless, watching his father drift further away, consumed by a battle he couldn’t see or understand.

Meanwhile, the cleaners continued their manipulation, feeding Daniel more fabricated leads, making him believe he was inching closer to the truth.

They suggested that the reporter he had initially approached might be the one spreading the rumors, planting seeds of doubt in Daniel’s mind.

Driven by this new lead, Daniel decided to confront the reporter again, determined to silence him once and for all.

The confrontation didn’t go as planned. Daniel, fueled by desperation and anger, cornered the reporter in a public place, demanding answers.

The reporter, taken aback by Daniel’s aggressive demeanor, denied any involvement. The exchange grew heated, drawing attention from passersby.

Noah had anticipated this escalation. He had positioned one of his own contacts nearby to capture the altercation.

The moment Daniel’s outburst began, discreet photos and videos were taken, ready to be leaked to the media at the right moment.

When Daniel realized the scene he had caused, he quickly retreated, but the damage was done.

The next day, the incident was all over the news. Headlines screamed of Daniel’s public meltdown, painting him as unstable and unhinged. The rumors he had tried so hard to squash now seemed trivial compared to the image of him losing control in public.

Daniel’s phone buzzed incessantly with calls from concerned colleagues, family, and friends, all seeking an explanation. The cleaners, however, were silent.

They had played their part, and now Daniel was left to face the fallout alone.