Chapter 6 - The Father Who Destroyed His Own SonRaphael's father had known everything.
He had financed Victor.
Used Riverline.
Manipulated his own wife.
And hidden Matteo's survival.
But he had also committed one unforgivable act.
He had ordered the fire that separated the families.
Raphael confronted him in prison.
“Why?”
His father looked old.
For the first time, Raphael saw weakness.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“You destroyed me.”
“I was afraid.”
“You made me believe my mother was dead.”
“I know.”
“You made me hate the wrong people.”
“I know.”
“You stole my life.”
His father lowered his head.
“Yes.”
Raphael walked away.
Dela waited outside.
He looked at her.
“I don't know what to feel.”
“You don't have to.”
“I thought I wanted revenge.”
“And now?”
“I want peace.”
She took his hand.
“Then let's choose peace.”
The trial became one of the largest financial corruption cases in Chicago history.
Gideon cooperated.
Ethan testified.
Camille disappeared before she could be arrested.
Dela became the central witness.
She sat before investigators for hours.
French documents.
Italian contracts.
Russian correspondence.
English bank records.
Her linguistic abilities exposed contradictions no translator had noticed.
One detective stared at her.
“How did you know?”
“My father taught me.”
Raphael watched from behind the glass.
He had never been more proud of anyone.
After the hearing, Dela came to him.
“I'm exhausted.”
“You survived.”
“Barely.”
He smiled.
“That's still surviving.”
She looked at him.
“What happens now?”
“Your trust becomes yours.”
“And Riverline?”
“You decide.”
She looked at him.
“Should I destroy it?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because your parents built it to help people.”
She smiled.
“Then that's what we'll make it do.”
They restructured the company.
Illegal holdings were sold.
Money went into legal aid.
Hospital funds.
Housing.
Small-business grants.
The trust became a public foundation.
Dela became its chairwoman.
Raphael became its chief executive officer.
Together, they transformed the empire.
Months later, they returned to the restaurant where everything began.
The table was still there.
The same chandeliers.
The same place.
Dela sat where she had been insulted.
Raphael sat beside her.
A waiter approached.
“Champagne?”
Dela smiled.
“No.”
“Wine?”
“No.”
“Coffee?”
“Black.”
Raphael laughed.
“Of course.”
She looked at him.
“You know what I remember most?”
“What?”
“When Camille insulted me.”
“I remember.”
“I thought that was the worst moment of my life.”
“It wasn't.”
“No.”
She smiled.
“It was the moment before everything changed.”
He reached across the table.
“You wrote the right words.”
She laughed.
“I corrected her grammar.”
“You destroyed her.”
“Politely.”
He smiled.
“That's what I love about you.”
The restaurant doors opened.
Anna entered.
Toby ran behind her.
“Dela!”
She stood.
Their family gathered.
It was messy.
Complicated.
But alive.
That night, Raphael walked Dela home.
He stopped outside her building.
“I have a question.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“Do you remember what you said at the gala?”
“In French?”
“Yes.”
“What did I say?”
“Too much.”
She laughed.
He took a breath.
“I want to ask you something.”
Her heart beat faster.
“Okay.”
He knelt.
Dela stared.
“Raphael.”
“I know.”
“You're doing this here?”
“I don't own a ballroom.”
She laughed through tears.
He held out a ring.
“Dela Delaor, will you marry me?”
She looked at him.
Then at the ring.
Then at the apartment window where Toby watched them with Mrs. Kowalski.
She smiled.
“Yes.”
He stood.
She kissed him.
For one perfect second, there were no criminals.
No trusts.
No secrets.
Only them.
Then her phone rang.
Julian.
“What happened?”
“We found Camille.”
Dela froze.
“Where?”
“On a plane.”
“To where?”
“St. Petersburg.”
Dela looked at Raphael.
He nodded.
“Send us the information.”
Julian hesitated.
“There's more.”
“What?”
“She isn't running alone.”
“Who is with her?”
May you like
Julian answered:
“Your father.”
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