Chapter 8 - The Mother Who Had Been Lying for Seventeen Years
“Mom?”
Evelyn looked devastated.
“I didn't want it to end like this.”
Vincent stared at the gun.
“Then put it down.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because you still don't understand.”
She looked at Fay.
Then Michael.
Then Vincent.
“I betrayed your father.”
Vincent's face hardened.
“Why?”
“Because I was trying to save you.”
“You don't save someone by destroying their family.”
“I thought I was.”
She confessed.
Seventeen years ago, Evelyn discovered the trafficking network.
She discovered Anthony's betrayal.
She discovered Victor's plan.
She knew Michael was trying to expose everything.
But she also knew something else.
Vincent's father had become increasingly violent.
He planned to kill everyone he suspected.
Evelyn believed Vincent would become the next victim.
So she secretly worked with Michael.
She helped him disappear.
She helped protect Fay.
She helped hide the ledger.
But Victor discovered her involvement.
He threatened Vincent.
So she made a terrible deal.
She would help Victor destroy the old structure if he promised to leave Vincent alive.
He agreed.
He lied.
The chaos continued.
Evelyn's gun lowered.
“I thought I could control him.”
“You couldn't.”
“No.”
Vincent stepped toward her.
“Where is Victor?”
“Behind you.”
Vincent turned.
Victor raised a gun.
Michael moved first.
He shoved Fay aside.
A shot rang out.
Michael fell.
“Dad!”
Fay screamed.
Vincent fired.
Victor disappeared into the darkness.
Evelyn dropped beside Michael.
He was alive.
Barely.
Fay clutched his hand.
“Stay with me.”
He looked at her.
“I found you.”
“You're not leaving again.”
He smiled.
“I won't.”
Vincent called an ambulance.
But Victor escaped.
For the next week, they searched everywhere.
The syndicate fractured.
Some men fled.
Others surrendered.
Some turned against Victor.
The ledger exposed judges, police officials, businessmen, and politicians.
The investigation became national news.
Vincent had a choice.
Protect the empire.
Or destroy it.
He chose destruction.
He dismantled the entire operation.
Closed the criminal divisions.
Turned over financial records.
Testified.
And handed the ledger to federal investigators.
It cost him nearly everything.
His fortune.
His reputation.
His power.
But it saved lives.
Fay stayed.
She never understood why.
“Why didn't you leave?”
Vincent asked her one evening.
She smiled.
“Because I don't think you're the monster everyone says you are.”
He looked away.
“You should.”
She stepped closer.
“You locked a kitchen door because a maid was crying.”
“I was angry.”
“You were worried.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
She touched his hand.
“Not the same.”
He looked at her.
For the first time, Vincent's expression softened completely.
“I don't know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Care about someone without expecting them to disappear.”
Fay's eyes filled with tears.
“Then don't promise forever.”
“What should I promise?”
“Tomorrow.”
He smiled faintly.
“I can promise tomorrow.”
They rebuilt slowly.
Fay's mother recovered.
Michael survived.
Julian testified.
Evelyn accepted responsibility.
Anthony went to prison.
Donovan's network collapsed.
Victor remained missing.
Until one morning, Fay received an envelope.
No return address.
Inside was a photograph.
Victor.
Standing outside the Cross estate.
On the back:
You won the battle.
The war isn't over.
Vincent read it.
Then he smiled.
Not because he wasn't afraid.
May you like
Because he finally knew what he was willing to lose.
He would lose everything before he let them take Fay.
