Chapter 9 - The Last Revenge
Vincent's trial lasted eight months.
He was convicted on multiple charges.
Fraud.
Financial crimes.
Conspiracy.
Murder.
And witness intimidation.
But even from prison, he tried one final attack.
He released documents claiming I was mentally unstable.
The old diagnosis.
The fake medical records.
The same lie he had used for years.
The media exploded.
People questioned my ability to lead the Vale empire.
For a moment, I felt seventeen again.
Small.
Afraid.
Broken.
Then Isabella took my hand.
“You know what I see?”
“What?”
“A man who survived the person who tried to define him.”
She kissed my forehead.
“Go show them who you are.”
I did.
I released every original medical record.
Every financial transfer.
Every payment to the seven women.
Every recording.
The truth became undeniable.
Public opinion changed.
The board unanimously supported me.
And then something happened I never expected.
The seven women testified publicly.
They explained how Vincent had manipulated them.
One by one, they told the truth.
The story became national news.
The headlines were everywhere.
BILLIONAIRE WHO THOUGHT HE WAS UNABLE TO LOVE WAS TARGET OF DECADES-LONG CONSPIRACY
But the headline that mattered most to me came from a small local paper.
He Wasn't Broken. Someone Wanted Him to Believe He Was.
That night, I came home.
Isabella was sitting on the balcony.
She looked at me.
“Successful day?”
“I think so.”
She smiled.
Then she stood.
“I have something for you.”
She handed me an envelope.
I opened it.
An ultrasound photograph fell out.
I stared at it.
My heart stopped.
“Isabella?”
She laughed through tears.
“We're going to have a baby.”
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I dropped the envelope and pulled her into my arms.
She laughed.
“You're shaking.”
“I know.”
“Are you scared?”
“Terrified.”
She smiled.
“So am I.”
I looked at her.
“But this time…”
May you like
She placed my hand over her stomach.
“…we're terrified together.”
