HE LEFT HER AT THE ALTAR FOR HER SISTER—UNAWARE SHE WAS THE DON’S ONLY BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER
Chapter 8
Thomas stepped backward.
“Elena, don’t.”
Victor raised his weapon.
“Drop yours.”
Thomas looked at him.
“You don’t understand.”
“Drop it.”
Thomas slowly placed his gun on the floor.
Elena held the diary.
“My mother wrote about you.”
Thomas shook his head.
“She wrote about everyone.”
“She said not to trust her protector.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I wasn’t the only one protecting her.”
Victor stared.
“What did you do?”
Thomas finally confessed.
He had worked for Victor.
He had also worked for Isabella.
When Isabella discovered Robert’s plan, she asked Thomas to help her escape.
Thomas arranged transportation.
But Robert discovered it.
He intercepted them.
Isabella escaped with Elena.
Thomas stayed behind.
Robert threatened him.
He was forced to give information about Victor’s movements.
For years, Thomas lived with guilt.
Then, when Victor discovered Elena might still be alive, Thomas volunteered to find her.
He wasn’t betraying Victor.
He was trying to protect Elena from Robert.
Elena lowered the diary.
“Then why hide this?”
Thomas looked at Victor.
“Because your mother didn’t want Victor to know.”
“Why?”
“She believed Victor would come after Robert.”
Victor’s expression darkened.
“He was right.”
Thomas nodded.
“But she feared a war.”
Elena looked at the diary again.
There was another page.
A name.
A name none of them expected.
Richard Blake.
The lawyer.
Elena’s lawyer.
The man who had delivered her mother’s letter.
Victor immediately called him.
No answer.
They returned to the city.
Richard’s office was empty.
Files had been removed.
His computer was destroyed.
But Elena found one thing.
A photograph.
Richard standing beside Robert.
The betrayal went deeper than they realized.
Richard had been working with Robert for decades.
He had manipulated Isabella’s legal documents.
He had altered Elena’s birth records.
He had hidden the truth about Victor.
He had even arranged the wedding documents.
Elena felt sick.
Everyone she had trusted had been connected to the conspiracy.
Except perhaps Daniel.
She found him sitting in Victor’s study.
“You knew.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Not everything.”
“Did you know Robert was behind the wedding?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because he threatened to kill you.”
Elena stared.
“You could have trusted me.”
“I was afraid.”
“You humiliated me.”
“I know.”
“You broke my heart.”
Daniel lowered his head.
“I know.”
Elena walked away.
She wasn’t ready to forgive him.
But she finally understood.
He had made a terrible choice.
Not a cruel one.
A cowardly one.
Victor entered.
“Richard has disappeared.”
Elena looked at him.
“Where would he go?”
Victor shook his head.
“Somewhere he knows we won’t search.”
Thomas answered:
“Your mother’s grave.”
They drove there.
The cemetery was empty.
Richard stood beside Isabella’s grave.
He held a small box.
Victor raised his weapon.
“Richard.”
The lawyer turned.
“Victor.”
Elena stepped forward.
“What is in the box?”
Richard smiled sadly.
“Your mother’s final evidence.”
“Give it to me.”
Richard shook his head.
“You don’t understand what it will do.”
“What?”
“It will destroy your father.”
Victor stepped forward.
“I’ve survived worse.”
Richard looked at Elena.
“Your mother discovered that Victor had secretly built a network designed to expose corrupt politicians.”
Elena frowned.
“That doesn’t sound like a crime.”
“It became one.”
Richard opened the box.
Inside were documents proving Victor had ordered several illegal operations.
Elena looked at her father.
“Is this true?”
Victor didn’t deny it.
“Yes.”
Elena’s eyes filled with disappointment.
Richard smiled.
“Now you understand.”
But Elena noticed something.
One document had been forged.
The date was wrong.
She looked closer.
“Richard.”
He froze.
“This document was created after my mother died.”
Victor looked.
Thomas stepped closer.
Richard realized his mistake.
He turned to run.
A gunshot struck the ground beside him.
Victor’s men surrounded him.
Richard dropped the box.
Elena picked it up.
Inside was one final letter.
Her mother’s words.
My daughter, if you ever discover the truth, don’t choose your father because he is powerful. Don’t choose him because he is innocent. Choose him only if he is willing to change.
Elena looked at Victor.
For the first time, he looked ashamed.
