Chapter 5 - The Fire That Wasn't an AccidentSadie's mother had not died in the fire.
She had disappeared.
Her father had died.
Her mother had survived.
For twenty years, everyone had believed she was dead.
Then they found her.
Living under another name in Wisconsin.
Sadie stared at her.
“Mom?”
The woman began crying.
“I am so sorry.”
Sadie couldn't move.
“You let me believe you were dead.”
“I was protecting you.”
“You left me.”
“I had no choice.”
“Everybody says that.”
Her mother explained.
Sadie's father had discovered Victor Hale's organization.
He had tried to expose it.
Victor ordered the fire.
Her mother escaped.
She watched from across the street as the house burned.
She thought Sadie was dead.
Later, she learned Sadie had been rescued.
But Victor threatened her again.
So she disappeared.
Sadie was devastated.
Roman remained beside her.
Her mother revealed the final truth.
Sadie's grandfather had hidden the ledger because he knew Victor would return.
The ledger wasn't financial.
It contained names.
Every corrupt official.
Every paid officer.
Every businessman.
And one final name.
Trevor Harlan.
Sadie stared.
“What?”
“He was recruited before he met you.”
Trevor had been watching her.
Not for love.
For information.
He had entered her life because he believed her grandfather had hidden the ledger in the family.
Trevor's cruelty had not begun with ambition.
It had begun with manipulation.
But he had eventually chosen it.
Sadie realized the man she loved had never loved her.
Trevor's betrayal became easier to understand.
Not easier to forgive.
Trevor came to her.
“I was wrong.”
She looked at him.
“You were paid to date me.”
He cried.
“Yes.”
“You left me because Victor ordered you to?”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“That part was me.”
She stared.
“I wanted money.”
He looked ashamed.
“I convinced myself I deserved better.”
Sadie nodded.
“At least that's honest.”
Trevor asked:
“Can you forgive me?”
“No.”
He looked down.
“But I hope someday I can forgive myself.”
Sadie walked away.
Roman found her outside.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
He wrapped his arms around her.
She leaned against him.
“I hate that so many people lied.”
“I know.”
“I don't want secrets anymore.”
“You won't have them.”
She looked up.
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Roman kept the promise.
He revealed everything.
His father's criminal empire.
His own involvement.
The deals.
The people he had protected.
The people he had turned against.
The investigation continued.
Roman voluntarily surrendered information.
The public reacted.
Some hated him.
Some respected him.
But Sadie stayed.
One night, they stood on the balcony.
“You could leave,” Roman said.
“I know.”
“Why don't you?”
She looked at him.
“Because when I was broke, you didn't look at me like I was worthless.”
He touched her face.
“When I was terrified, you didn't leave.”
She smiled.
“Neither did you.”
Then she kissed him.
They had survived the worst.
Or so they thought.
Because Victor Hale had one final weapon.
The ledger.
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And he had hidden it somewhere no one expected.
Inside June Bennett's old wedding dress.
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