Chapter 9 - I Turned Over My Empire to the Authorities to Save My Daughter, and the Man Who Ruined My Marriage Finally Made His MoveThe federal investigation lasted six hours.
By the end of it, I was no longer untouchable.
My accounts were frozen.
My companies were placed under investigation.
My security team was dismantled.
I gave testimony about every illegal operation connected to my family's empire.
Marcus told me I was risking everything.
“I know.”
“Your fortune.”
“I know.”
“Your freedom.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
I looked at him.
“Because I spent eight months losing the only thing money couldn't replace.”
He nodded.
“Then maybe you're finally ready to keep her.”
I didn't know what he meant.
Until Elena appeared.
She stood in the doorway.
“You really gave it all up?”
“Yes.”
“For Clara?”
“For both of you.”
She looked at me.
“What about the company?”
“It can go.”
“The mansion?”
“Gone.”
“The cars?”
“Gone.”
She smiled.
“You're going to hate being ordinary.”
“I think I might like it.”
She laughed.
It was small.
But it was ours.
Then the phone rang.
Malachi.
This time, I didn't answer.
He called again.
Then again.
Finally, he sent a message.
You think surrender makes you noble. It makes you weak.
I replied.
No. It makes me predictable.
I knew what he would do next.
He would take the child.
We prepared.
Not with weapons.
With surveillance.
Authorities tracked the transport nurse.
They found her alive.
She gave them an address.
An abandoned warehouse.
We moved in.
But Malachi wasn't there.
Richard was.
He sat at a table.
Hands folded.
Waiting.
I walked inside.
He looked older.
“Dominic.”
“You ruined my life.”
“I know.”
“You destroyed my marriage.”
“I know.”
“You lied about Elena.”
“I know.”
“You almost killed your own daughter.”
“I never wanted the baby harmed.”
I stared at him.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at me.
“Because I was a coward.”
The admission surprised me.
He continued.
“I thought I could control Malachi.”
“You couldn't.”
“No.”
“Then where is he?”
“Gone.”
“Where?”
“After the money.”
“What money?”
“The forty-two million.”
I looked at Marcus.
Richard smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“Explain.”
“The money isn't in an account.”
“Then where?”
“Your father converted it.”
“Into what?”
“Bonds.”
I felt cold.
“Where are they?”
Richard smiled.
“Inside your family.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your father hid them in something ordinary.”
I thought.
The old house.
The ledger.
The photograph.
Then it came to me.
My father's watch.
He had worn the same antique watch every day.
After his death, my mother kept it.
I called her.
“Mother, where is Dad's watch?”
She was silent.
“I don't know.”
“You have it.”
Another silence.
Then she whispered,
“I gave it to Richard.”
Richard smiled.
“Exactly.”
I turned.
“You have it.”
“No.”
He stood.
“Malachi does.”
My blood ran cold.
Richard continued.
“He knew the watch was valuable.”
“He knows about the bonds?”
“Yes.”
“So why hasn't he found them?”
“Because he doesn't know how to open it.”
I stared at him.
“You do.”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Richard looked at the ceiling.
“Where he always goes when he thinks he's won.”
“Where?”
“The Vance warehouse on the river.”
I turned toward the door.
Richard shouted,
“Dominic!”
I stopped.
“Your father didn't hide the bonds to make you rich.”
“What then?”
“He hid them to make you free.”
The warehouse was on fire when we arrived.
Smoke covered the river.
Firefighters surrounded the entrance.
My heart stopped.
“Elena?”
“She stayed at the safe house,” Jonas said.
“Clara?”
“With her.”
I exhaled.
Then I saw Malachi walking out.
He carried a metal case.
He smiled.
“You really came.”
I stepped forward.
“Give me the case.”
He laughed.
“You gave up everything for a woman who left you.”
“She didn't leave me.”
“She abandoned you.”
“She protected me.”
His smile vanished.
“That's what she told you?”
“Yes.”
“You're still weak.”
“No.”
I stared at him.
“I finally have something stronger than fear.”
He lifted the case.
“The bonds.”
I nodded.
“Keep them.”
He frowned.
“What?”
“I don't want them.”
His face changed.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“You want money.”
“I want control.”
“I don't.”
That was the first time Malachi Cross looked uncertain.
Then he raised his weapon.
Before he could fire, federal agents surrounded him.
He dropped the gun.
The case hit the floor.
For the first time in my life, I watched an enemy surrender without me having to destroy him.
He looked at me.
“You'll regret this.”
I shook my head.
“I already regretted everything that mattered.”
They took him away.
I stood beside the river.
The fire reflected in the dark water.
And for the first time, I felt free.
But freedom came with a final price.
My mother walked toward me.
She held my father's watch.
She handed it to me.
“I am sorry.”
I looked at her.
“I believe you.”
Her face crumpled.
“But I don't know if I can forgive you yet.”
She nodded.
“You shouldn't.”
Then she walked away.
I opened the watch.
Inside was a tiny compartment.
Inside that compartment was a photograph.
My father.
My mother.
And Elena.
All three together.
May you like
On the back:
The truth was always meant to bring them home.
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