Chapter 5 - The Woman Behind Dominic’s Greatest LieDominic Vance had always believed he understood people.
That was his greatest illusion.
He believed money controlled loyalty.
He believed titles created respect.
He believed fear was the same thing as power.
And for a long time,
it worked.
Employees obeyed him.
Executives followed him.
People smiled when he entered a room.
But Dominic never understood one simple truth.
People can pretend to respect a person they fear.
But they will never love them.
And once the fear disappears,
the truth finally appears.
Three days after Audrey’s investigation became public,
Dominic sat alone in his apartment.
The same apartment he once called his achievement.
The same apartment where he celebrated promotions.
The same apartment where he brought Natalie after telling Audrey he had a late business meeting.
Now,
every corner reminded him of what he had lost.
The silence.
The empty rooms.
The absence of people trying to impress him.
It was unbearable.
His phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Victoria Vance.
His mother.
He answered.
“What?”
Her voice was cold.
“You sound angry.”
“I’m dealing with Audrey.”
A pause.
Then Victoria laughed.
“No.”
Dominic frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re dealing with yourself.”
He stood.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Victoria sighed.
“For years, I warned you.”
“About what?”
“About underestimating her.”
Dominic froze.
“You knew?”
“I knew Audrey was never weak.”
He said nothing.
Victoria continued.
“You made the same mistake your father made.”
“What mistake?”
“Thinking a quiet person is powerless.”
Dominic looked away.
His mother’s words irritated him because they sounded too close to the truth.
“She ruined everything.”
“No.”
Victoria replied.
“She revealed everything.”
The difference was painful.
Because deep down,
Dominic knew she was right.
That evening,
Natalie arrived at his apartment.
But she did not look like the woman who stood beside him outside the courthouse.
The confidence was gone.
The designer smile disappeared.
She looked nervous.
Dominic noticed immediately.
“What happened?”
Natalie placed her bag down.
“People are talking.”
“About what?”
She avoided his eyes.
“About us.”
Dominic became quiet.
“What about us?”
Natalie hesitated.
“They think I knew.”
His expression changed.
“Knew what?”
“That the company money paid for my apartment.”
Silence.
Dominic stared.
“They’re lying.”
Natalie looked at him.
“Are they?”
That question hurt.
Because it was not an accusation.
It was doubt.
And doubt was dangerous.
“You think I did something wrong?”
Natalie crossed her arms.
“I think you promised me a future.”
“I did.”
“You promised me power.”
“I gave you everything.”
She laughed quietly.
“No, Dominic.”
“You gave me things that belonged to someone else.”
The room became silent.
Those words destroyed something inside him.
Because they were exactly what Audrey had said.
You picked through what I chose to throw away.
Dominic looked at Natalie.
And for the first time,
he wondered if she had ever loved him.
Or if she had only loved the image of him.
The following morning,
Audrey received an unexpected visitor.
Dominic’s younger cousin,
Ethan Vance.
He entered the office looking exhausted.
“I need to talk.”
Audrey looked up.
“I’m listening.”
He sat down.
“I want to cooperate.”
Audrey studied him.
“Why?”
He looked embarrassed.
“Because I know what happened.”
“Explain.”
Ethan took a deep breath.
“Dominic told everyone the company was changing.”
“He said your family was outdated.”
“He said he was bringing a new generation.”
Audrey remained silent.
“But he wasn’t building anything.”
Ethan continued.
“He was creating a system where everyone depended on him.”
“Why tell me now?”
Ethan looked down.
“Because I realized something.”
“What?”
“We weren’t part of his success.”
“We were part of his cover.”
Audrey leaned back.
That sentence mattered.
Because betrayal was rarely created by one person.
It was usually protected by many.
She opened a file.
“Tell me everything.”
And Ethan did.
For the next six hours,
Audrey listened.
Names.
Dates.
Meetings.
Hidden accounts.
Secret agreements.
Every piece created a bigger picture.
At the end,
Ethan looked at her.
“Are you going to destroy him?”
Audrey closed the folder.
“No.”
He looked surprised.
“Then what?”
“I’m going to let him face what he created.”
That night,
Dominic received another message.
A court notification.
Then another.
Then another.
Every mistake.
Every hidden transaction.
Every lie.
Coming back.
Like a storm he could no longer escape.
He threw his phone across the room.
“No.”
He screamed.
“No!”
But the walls did not answer.
The company did not answer.
The people he controlled did not answer.
May you like
Because for the first time in his life,
Dominic Vance was completely powerless.
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