Chapter 6 - When the King Chose His Wife
Vincent returned to the mansion just after midnight.
Every light in the house was on.
He expected an attack.
Instead, he found Vanessa sitting alone in the living room.
She looked exhausted.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you?”
Vanessa stood.
“Because I know something.”
Vincent stared.
“What?”
“Richard is planning to take control.”
Vincent did not react.
“I already suspected.”
“He has Joseph.”
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“Joseph is working with him.”
“I know.”
Vanessa looked shocked.
“You know?”
“Yes.”
She lowered her voice.
“They want Claire dead.”
Vincent's jaw tightened.
“And you?”
“I don't.”
He stared at her.
“You almost had her killed.”
“I didn't know my father changed the pills.”
Vincent studied her.
“For years I told myself you were the only person who understood me.”
Vanessa looked away.
“I did.”
“No.”
Vincent shook his head.
“You understood the version of me that wanted to be worshipped.”
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“I loved you.”
“I believe you.”
“Then why did you never choose me?”
Vincent's voice softened.
“Because choosing you would have made me someone Claire never deserved to suffer for.”
Vanessa flinched.
“Do you love her?”
Vincent answered immediately.
“Yes.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
That single word destroyed years of hope.
“Does she love you?”
“I don't know.”
“That scares you.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because for the first time, what she decides matters more than what I want.”
Vanessa wiped her tears.
“You really did change.”
“Too late.”
“Maybe not.”
Vincent looked at her.
Vanessa reached into her purse.
She placed a flash drive on the table.
“This contains my father's records.”
Vincent stared.
“Why?”
“Because I don't want to become him.”
She walked toward the door.
“Vanessa.”
She stopped.
“Thank you.”
She smiled sadly.
“Don't thank me yet.”
Then she left.
Vincent handed the drive to Marco.
Within hours, the files exposed a network of companies tied to Richard, Joseph, and several Moretti executives.
The final file contained a payment made twenty-seven years ago.
The recipient was listed only as E.B.
Claire's mother's initials.
Vincent stared.
“Why would Richard pay Eleanor?”
Marco shook his head.
“We need to decode it.”
They did not have time.
The next morning, an attempted attack targeted one of Vincent's warehouses.
The attackers were stopped.
One man was captured.
Under interrogation, he revealed a location.
An abandoned church.
Vincent went there personally.
Inside, he found evidence that Claire had been there.
A cup of coffee.
A blanket.
A copy of the ledger.
Then he heard footsteps.
He turned.
Claire stood in the doorway.
Vincent froze.
For three years, he had imagined what he would say if he saw her again.
None of those words came.
She looked thinner.
Tired.
But alive.
He took one step.
Claire raised a hand.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
Her voice shook.
“I came because I need your help.”
“You have it.”
“Without questions.”
“Yes.”
“You may have to choose against your family.”
“I already have.”
Claire looked at him.
“No.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“I mean it.”
She stared into his eyes.
“You said that before.”
“I know.”
“You said our marriage was a transaction.”
“I was cruel.”
“You said I had no place in your world.”
“I was blind.”
“You let another woman humiliate me.”
“I know.”
“You gave me pills without telling me what they were.”
Vincent looked at the floor.
“I know.”
Claire's voice broke.
“Then tell me why I should trust you now.”
He lifted his eyes.
“You shouldn't.”
That answer surprised her.
“I haven't earned your trust.”
He continued.
“But I can spend the rest of my life earning it.”
Silence filled the church.
Claire's eyes glistened.
Vincent slowly removed his wedding ring.
He placed it on a wooden bench.
“I found yours.”
Claire looked at the ring.
“I left it because I couldn't keep pretending.”
“I understand.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don't.”
Vincent nodded.
“Then teach me.”
Claire looked away.
For one long moment, neither moved.
Finally she picked up his ring.
She held it in her hand.
“I don't know whether I can forgive you.”
“I won't ask you to.”
“But I need to know whether you are willing to protect the truth even if it destroys everything.”
“Yes.”
“Even your family?”
“Yes.”
“Even your inheritance?”
“Yes.”
“Even me choosing to leave forever?”
Vincent swallowed.
“Yes.”
Claire looked at him.
That was the moment something inside her softened.
Not because he promised to keep her.
Because he finally accepted that she was free to go.
She handed him the ring.
“Then help me finish this.”
Together they spread the documents across the church table.
Claire explained the hidden structure.
Vincent listened.
No interruptions.
No arrogance.
No dismissing her.
For the first time, they worked as partners.
The evidence revealed that Richard and Joseph had been using Moretti assets to finance an illegal private network.
Eleanor discovered it.
Anthony tried to stop them.
Eleanor was killed.
Anthony concealed everything.
And Vincent's father had unknowingly inherited part of the corrupted structure.
But one piece remained unexplained.
Why had Richard paid Eleanor?
Claire found the answer.
The payment was not to Eleanor.
It was to someone using her initials.
A coded identity.
The real recipient was someone else.
Someone still alive.
Claire looked at Vincent.
“There's one more person.”
“Who?”
She turned the page.
May you like
Vincent's face went pale.
The account belonged to Daniel Russo.
