Chapter 8 - The Ex Who Finally Chose the Right Side
Mason disappeared for six months.
When he returned, he looked older.
He had completed his testimony.
He had lost his father's company.
And he had started working construction under another name.
One afternoon, I saw him outside the hospital.
He smiled.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“You look happy.”
“I am.”
He nodded.
“I wanted to apologize one last time.”
I listened.
“I don't expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
He laughed.
“Still honest.”
“Yes.”
He looked toward Dominic.
“You chose well.”
“I know.”
Mason nodded.
Then he said something unexpected.
“I never thought I'd say this.”
“What?”
“I was wrong about him.”
Dominic approached.
Mason met his eyes.
“I don't expect you to forgive me either.”
Dominic's voice was calm.
“I don't.”
Mason nodded.
“But I respect what you've done.”
Dominic studied him.
Then extended his hand.
Mason shook it.
Nothing more.
No friendship.
No miracle.
Just closure.
Later that evening, I found Dominic in the garden.
“You forgave him.”
“No.”
“You shook his hand.”
“That's not forgiveness.”
“What is it?”
“Moving on.”
I smiled.
“You've changed.”
“So have you.”
He touched my stomach.
I had forgotten to tell him.
I watched his eyes widen.
“What?”
I laughed.
“You're going to be a father.”
He froze.
“No.”
“Yes.”
He sat down.
Then stood.
Then sat again.
“I don't know what to say.”
“That's a first.”
He laughed.
Then his eyes filled with tears.
“You're serious?”
“Yes.”
He hugged me.
Too tightly.
I laughed.
“Careful.”
He immediately loosened his arms.
“Sorry.”
I touched his face.
“You're going to be wonderful.”
He looked terrified.
“I don't know anything about babies.”
“You didn't know anything about cooking.”
“That was different.”
“It was pasta.”
“I nearly lost the kitchen.”
I laughed.
For the first time, the future felt bigger than the past.
But one final threat remained.
Adrian Vale's lawyer delivered a message.
There was a hidden beneficiary in the account.
Someone who had inherited Adrian's last fortune.
Someone who had never been arrested.
A woman.
Clara.
Dominic's aunt.
The woman who had helped us.
She had betrayed everyone.
The last betrayal broke Dominic.
Clara had been working with Adrian for years.
She had fed him information.
She knew about me.
She knew about the baby.
She planned to take everything Adrian had left.
Including the hidden account.
She kidnapped my mother.
Then she sent us the final message.
Come alone.
No police.
No Dominic.
Bring the locket.
I stared at the screen.
Dominic refused.
“I'll handle it.”
“No.”
“You're pregnant.”
“I know.”
“She wants you.”
“Exactly.”
I looked at him.
“She thinks I'm weak.”
He understood.
“And you want her to keep thinking that.”
“Yes.”
We created a plan.
I went to the meeting.
Dominic followed from a distance.
Clara expected fear.
Instead, she got me.
I handed her the locket.
She smiled.
Then she opened it.
Nothing.
She looked up.
“You changed it.”
“Yes.”
The locket had been emptied.
The real evidence was safe.
Clara raised her gun.
“Where is it?”
I smiled.
“With the FBI.”
Her face collapsed.
Then Dominic stepped from the shadows.
Clara turned.
She had lost.
The final chapter of the Costa war ended with an arrest.
No gunfight.
No blood.
Just truth.
And afterward, Dominic held me in his arms.
“You're insane.”
“Yes.”
“You scared ten years off my life.”
“Sorry.”
“No, you're not.”
“No.”
He laughed.
Then kissed my forehead.
“We're done.”
“What?”
“The war.”
May you like
I smiled.
“Finally.”
