Chapter 8 - The Secret Buried Beneath The Estate
The message led to an old Castile property outside Chicago.
The estate had been abandoned for years.
Khloe and Dominic entered together.
Beneath the library was a hidden tunnel.
At the end stood a steel vault.
The key was inside Khloe's pendant.
She opened it.
Inside was a letter from Ethan.
My daughter,
If you find this, then they failed to erase the truth.
I knew Adrian was building something dangerous.
I knew Roberto wanted to stop him.
I knew Catherine would become a target.
But I made one mistake.
I trusted the wrong person.
The letter named someone.
Judge Andrew Mercer.
A respected Chicago judge.
Dominic stared.
"He handled my father's case."
"And Adrian's."
"He protected the network."
Khloe found another document.
Mercer had received millions.
And one final transfer had been made to a company owned by...
Vincent Moretti.
Even after his death.
Dominic frowned.
"Vincent wasn't working alone."
"No."
Khloe pointed.
"C-17 wasn't your father."
Dominic looked at her.
"It was Mercer."
Everything changed.
Mercer had orchestrated Vincent's murder.
He had manipulated Adrian.
He had used Elena.
He had manipulated the police.
The goal had always been control of the Castile empire.
The same man had arranged Khloe's mother's disappearance.
He had arranged the fake hotel key.
He had planted evidence.
And he had used Dominic as the scapegoat.
They went to the federal authorities.
The investigation began immediately.
Mercer fled.
For the first time, Dominic did not chase him.
He waited.
Because this time, the law had enough evidence.
Months later, Mercer was arrested.
Adrian's network collapsed.
The legitimate Castile companies were cleared.
Dominic stepped down from all businesses connected to the old organization.
He created a new foundation with Khloe.
They funded hospitals.
Schools.
Women's shelters.
Scholarships.
Catherine returned to Chicago.
She and Khloe rebuilt their relationship slowly.
Ethan's name was restored.
His story became public.
Khloe's family stopped being a secret.
One evening, she stood on the balcony of their new home.
Dominic joined her.
"Do you regret it?"
"What?"
"Getting the wrong room key."
She laughed.
"Every single day."
He smiled.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because I'd do it all over again."
She looked at him.
"You wouldn't have to."
May you like
He kissed her.
"I know."
