Chapter 6 - Claire Learned the Truth About the Man Mason Had BecomeThe next morning, Claire woke in a safe house.
Mason was sitting beside her bed.
She looked at him.
“You stayed?”
“Yes.”
“You didn't sleep.”
“No.”
“You look terrible.”
“I feel terrible.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
He almost laughed.
“I deserve that.”
She studied him.
“Tell me everything.”
Mason hesitated.
Then he told her.
About his father.
About Tobias.
About the criminal network.
About Victor.
About Vanessa.
About the ledger.
And finally:
“I never knew my father ordered Daniel's death.”
Claire listened.
“My father wasn't killed.”
“No.”
“He disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“And my mother helped him.”
“Yes.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“So much of my childhood was a lie.”
Mason took her hand.
“You don't have to carry it alone.”
She looked at him.
“You say that now.”
“I know.”
“You still love me?”
“Yes.”
“Even after everything?”
“Especially after everything.”
She squeezed his fingers.
“I need time.”
“You have it.”
“And no more secrets.”
“None.”
She looked at him.
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Three weeks later, Daniel Hayes was found.
Alive.
Older.
Broken.
But alive.
Claire saw him at a private clinic.
He cried when he saw her.
“My little girl.”
She couldn't move.
Then she ran to him.
For hours, father and daughter talked.
Mason stayed outside.
Daniel finally called him in.
“You're the Vale boy.”
Mason nodded.
“You look like your father.”
“I hope not.”
Daniel smiled sadly.
“Good answer.”
He told them the last piece.
Victor had manipulated both families.
Tobias had discovered it.
Mason's father had been compromised.
Daniel had hidden the ledger.
Claire's mother had protected it.
The ledger contained enough evidence to destroy the entire network.
Victor wanted it.
Mason wanted it.
The government wanted it.
Daniel handed it to Claire.
She stared.
“Why me?”
“Because your mother knew you'd choose the right thing.”
Claire looked at Mason.
“And what is the right thing?”
Daniel answered:
“Burn the empire.”
Mason went silent.
For years he had believed the empire was his inheritance.
Now he realized it was his prison.
Claire took his hand.
“What do you want?”
He looked at her.
“You.”
She smiled.
May you like
“Then choose.”
He did.
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