Chapter 12 - When the King Gave Up His Empire for a FamilyThe trial lasted months.
Matteo was charged with murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, medical fraud, and terrorism.
Marcus Vale testified.
Victor disappeared.
My mother testified.
Gabriel testified.
And Sebastian did something nobody expected.
He turned over the entire Lombardi financial network.
Every company.
Every hidden account.
Every illegal operation.
He gave it all to the government.
Chicago was stunned.
The man who had spent years controlling the city was voluntarily surrendering the throne.
People called him weak.
Others called him insane.
Sebastian didn't care.
He moved into a smaller home.
No guards at the front gate.
No armored cars.
No private helicopters.
Just a kitchen he barely knew how to use and a living room where Oliver left toys everywhere.
He was terrible at pancakes.
Oliver called them weapons.
I laughed every morning.
Sebastian started physical therapy again.
His walking became stronger.
His right foot responded.
His balance improved.
But there were setbacks.
One night he collapsed.
I caught him.
He looked frustrated.
“I thought I was past this.”
“You don't have to heal on a schedule.”
“I've spent twenty years being patient.”
“You've spent twenty years being angry.”
“That too.”
He looked up at me.
“Does it bother you?”
“What?”
“That I might never be completely normal.”
I stared at him.
“You don't need to be normal.”
“I might need a cane.”
“Then I'll steal you the best one.”
“You'd steal?”
“For you?”
He smiled.
“Dangerous woman.”
I kissed his forehead.
“You knew that.”
One evening, Oliver asked Sebastian a strange question.
“Why do you love my mom?”
Sebastian nearly choked on his coffee.
I laughed.
He looked at Oliver seriously.
“Because she made me want tomorrow.”
Oliver considered that.
“That's a good answer.”
“Thank you.”
“You can stay.”
Sebastian laughed.
“Was I planning to leave?”
Oliver shrugged.
“You're rich.”
“I was.”
“You're not anymore?”
Sebastian looked at me.
“Not really.”
Oliver smiled.
“Good.”
I asked:
“Why good?”
“Because rich people don't understand regular people.”
Sebastian looked offended.
“You're eight.”
“I know things.”
I laughed.
Then my phone rang.
My mother.
She sounded frightened.
“Claire.”
“What happened?”
“There is a problem.”
“What kind?”
“Victor.”
My blood froze.
“He's alive.”
“Where?”
“He escaped custody.”
“And?”
“He took something.”
“What?”
“A sample from the original treatment.”
I looked at Sebastian.
“What does he want?”
My mother whispered:
“He wants to finish what Matteo started.”
We drove to the old laboratory.
Victor was there.
But he wasn't alone.
Doctors surrounded him.
Machines were running.
And on the screen was Sebastian's medical data.
Victor looked at us.
“You thought surrendering the empire ended this?”
Sebastian stepped forward.
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“It only made you easier to reach.”
He held up a vial.
“Your blood.”
I stared.
“How?”
“The treatment is in him.”
Sebastian's face changed.
Victor continued.
“You are the first successful long-term subject.”
I looked at Sebastian.
“What does that mean?”
Victor smiled.
May you like
“It means he isn't the patient anymore.”
“He's the cure.”
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