Chapter 14: The Final Betrayal
The room became silent.
Everyone waited.
My father stared at Richard.
“Say the name.””
Richard looked away.
“You already know.””
“No.””
My father stepped closer.
“I want to hear you say it.””
Richard’s expression changed.
“Your wife.””
My stomach dropped.
“No.””
The word came from me before I could stop it.
Richard looked at me.
“I know what you think.””
“You’re lying.””
“Am I?””
My father immediately turned.
“Enough.””
Richard looked at him.
“You still defend her.””
“She’s dead.””
“And that means she was innocent?””
Nobody answered.
I hated this.
I hated that every person I trusted had a hidden story.
My mother.
My grandmother.
My uncle.
Everyone.
Except my father.
At least, I wanted to believe that.
“Richard,” my father said.
His voice was controlled.
“Tell me what you know.””
Richard took a breath.
“Your wife discovered what Damian and my daughter were planning.””
My father frowned.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“She knew?””
“She knew enough.””
I looked at him.
“So my mother tried to stop them?””
Richard nodded.
“But she was too late.””
My father looked confused.
“Then why blame her?””
“Because she went to confront them alone.””
Richard looked down.
“She never came back.””
The room went quiet.
My father’s face changed.
“What are you saying?””
Richard swallowed.
“Your wife didn’t die in an accident.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
My father whispered.
“No.””
Richard looked at him.
“She was murdered.””
Everything shattered.
My father took a step back.
For years.
Years.
He believed he had lost his wife because of fate.
Because of an accident.
Because life was cruel.
But someone had taken her.
“Who?””
Richard looked at him.
“The same person who planned your daughter’s accident.””
My father’s eyes turned toward Marco.
Marco lowered his head.
Because he already knew.
“Damian.””
Richard nodded.
“Yes.””
My father’s hands shook.
“But why?””
Richard looked at me.
“Because your mother found out Damian was using your family.””
I didn’t understand.
“Using us for what?””
Richard answered:
“Control.””
He looked at my father.
“Damian didn’t want your company.””
My father stared.
“He wanted your empire.””
A phone buzzed.
Marco looked at the screen.
Then his face went pale.
“What?””
My father noticed.
“What happened?””
Marco handed him the phone.
My father read the message.
Then his expression changed.
“What is it?””
He looked at me.
“Your uncle escaped.””
My heart dropped.
“How?””
Marco answered quietly.
“Someone helped him.””
My father looked at him.
“Who?””
Marco hesitated.
Then showed him the security footage.
A person entering the holding facility.
A person opening Damian’s cell.
A person turning toward the camera.
My father stared.
“No.””
I looked at the screen.
And my blood ran cold.
Because the person helping Damian escape was someone I knew.
Someone who had been protecting me.
Someone who had been there since the beginning.
My father’s oldest security guard.
The man who had saved me.
The man who found the evidence.
Marco.
My father slowly turned toward him.
“Why?””
Marco didn’t deny it.
He just looked tired.
“I was trying to fix what I started.””
My father’s voice broke.
“You betrayed me.””
“Yes.””
“After everything?””
Marco looked at me.
“I protected her because I owed her mother.””
I froze.
“My mother?””
Marco nodded.
“She saved my life.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Marco continued.
“The night of the accident, your mother discovered Damian’s plan.””
My father stared.
“She sent me away with your daughter.””
“What?””
Marco looked at me.
“She told me to run.””
My breathing stopped.
“What happened to her?””
Marco looked down.
“She went back.””
“For what?””
“To stop Damian.””
A tear fell from his eye.
“She never came out.””
My father closed his eyes.
And for the first time, I saw him completely broken.
Then Marco said the words that changed everything.
“Adrian…”
My father looked up.
“She didn’t die that night.””
Silence.
“What?””
May you like
Marco swallowed.
“Your wife survived.””
