Chapter 5 - The Wedding Photograph That Changed Everything
Jason had taken one box.
Catherine knew exactly which one.
The box containing her mother’s final ledger.
The problem was that only 4 people knew it existed.
Catherine.
Luca.
Daniel.
Jason.
That narrowed the possibilities.
Except Catherine had forgotten someone.
Allison.
When Catherine called her, Allison answered immediately.
“I know where Jason is.”
“How?”
“He called me.”
“Why?”
“He wants me to meet him.”
“Don't.”
“I already agreed.”
Catherine closed her eyes.
“Send me the address.”
Allison hesitated.
“Catherine…”
“Please.”
The address was a private club in Manhattan.
Catherine arrived with Luca.
Allison was waiting outside.
“He thinks I'm still on his side.”
“Good.”
Allison looked at Luca.
“I never understood why people are afraid of him.”
Luca raised an eyebrow.
“Most people understand.”
She smiled nervously.
“I'm learning.”
Inside the club, Jason met them.
His face was hard.
“You.”
Catherine walked closer.
“You took my mother’s ledger.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“You always were bad at lying.”
Jason glanced at Luca.
“You think he can save you?”
“No.”
Catherine's answer surprised him.
“I think I can save myself.”
Jason laughed.
“You don't know what’s coming.”
“Tell me.”
“You inherited something.”
“I know.”
“You inherited a problem.”
“From you?”
“From your mother.”
Jason’s voice lowered.
“She thought she could expose people more powerful than us.”
“Us?”
Jason stopped.
Catherine heard the word.
“You knew.”
He stared.
“I found out after we married.”
“And you stayed.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed your trust.”
She felt the betrayal physically.
“The whole marriage?”
He looked away.
“Yes.”
Allison covered her mouth.
Jason continued.
“The affair wasn't the beginning. It was a strategy.”
Catherine stared.
“You never loved me.”
“I cared about you.”
“No.”
“You were useful.”
Luca moved.
Catherine stopped him.
“Let him talk.”
Jason laughed.
“You see? That's what I always hated about you.”
“What?”
“You kept surviving.”
He pulled out a photograph.
It showed Catherine's mother beside a man.
Catherine recognized him.
Her father.
Alive.
The photograph was dated one month after she'd been told he died.
Her world cracked.
“He lived.”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Jason smiled.
“Gone.”
Catherine swallowed.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“You let me believe my father abandoned us.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because your mother needed to stop asking questions.”
Catherine's voice became very quiet.
“What happened to my mother?”
Jason looked at Luca.
Then back at Catherine.
“Ask him.”
Catherine turned.
Luca looked stunned.
Jason smiled.
“Your precious mafia boss knows more than he tells you.”
Catherine's gaze moved between them.
“Luca?”
He said nothing.
“Luca.”
“I knew your mother.”
“You knew she was alive?”
“No.”
“Did you know what she was investigating?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wasn't certain.”
Jason laughed.
“She died protecting him.”
Catherine froze.
Luca's expression broke.
“My father ordered the operation,” he said.
Catherine stepped backward.
“You knew?”
“I knew the attack involved my family.”
“You knew my mother died because of your family.”
“Yes.”
“You let me fall in love with you.”
“I didn't plan that.”
“But you knew.”
“Yes.”
Tears filled her eyes.
Jason watched her with satisfaction.
“Now you understand.”
Catherine turned toward him.
“No.”
Jason frowned.
“I understand that you wanted to break me.”
She looked at Luca.
“I understand that he kept the truth because he thought it would protect me.”
Then she looked back at Jason.
“And I understand you married me for money.”
Jason's smile faded.
“That's right.”
Catherine took a breath.
“You made me feel worthless for years.”
“Yes.”
“You humiliated me in public.”
“Yes.”
“You cheated on me.”
“Yes.”
“You stole from me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about my family.”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“Then thank you.”
Jason blinked.
“What?”
“Because now there is nothing left for you to use against me.”
The smile disappeared completely.
Security entered.
Luca had recorded the entire conversation.
Daniel's legal team had also received copies.
Jason was arrested that evening.
But there was still Helena.
May you like
She was the one behind the larger scheme.
And she had Daniel.
