Chapter 7 - Claire Finally Saw Her Father Alive, and He Revealed the Secret Vincent Had Been Searching for His Entire Life
Daniel returned at dawn.
Claire ran into his arms.
“Dad.”
He cried.
“I thought I lost you.”
“You did.”
“I am sorry.”
They held each other.
Vincent stood nearby.
Daniel looked at him.
“Thank you.”
Vincent nodded.
“I didn't do enough.”
“You did more than I expected.”
Daniel handed him a folder.
“My father kept this.”
Inside was the original succession agreement.
The final piece.
It proved Marcus never legally owned anything.
Everything belonged to Vincent.
But the document also contained something else.
A clause.
If Vincent Rourke chooses to abandon the family enterprise, all illegal holdings become public and all assets transfer to victims.
Vincent stared.
His grandfather had predicted the possibility.
He could end everything.
Claire looked at him.
“Do it.”
He smiled.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
He signed.
Within days, the Rourke empire began dissolving.
Properties were sold.
Money went to victims.
Businesses became legitimate.
Employees received severance.
The criminal network died.
Vincent kept one building.
His grandfather's old office.
He converted it into a foundation.
Claire helped him.
They created programs for people harmed by organized crime.
They funded medical treatment.
Housing.
Education.
It became their life.
But Marcus wasn't finished.
From prison, he sent one final message.
I know who killed your father.
Vincent read it.
Then another:
It wasn't me.
The name that followed was shocking.
MARGARET ROURKE.
Vincent's heart stopped.
He confronted his mother.
“Did you kill Dad?”
Margaret cried.
“No.”
“Then why would Marcus say it?”
“Because your father asked me to.”
“What?”
“He asked me to make it look like I killed him.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
The truth was devastating.
Vincent's father had orchestrated his own disappearance.
He had known Marcus planned to murder him.
So he created a false death.
But the plan failed.
He survived.
Then disappeared.
Years later, he died of illness under another name.
Vincent had mourned a lie.
His father had been alive for years.
Claire's father had known.
Margaret had known.
Everyone had lied.
Vincent finally understood why.
His father had been trying to end the network.
And he had succeeded.
But the cost was enormous.
Vincent cried.
Claire held him.
“This wasn't your fault.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He nodded.
May you like
“For the first time.”
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