Chapter 5 - The Wedding Invitation
Three days later, Victor received an invitation.
Richard Vale was hosting a charity gala.
Dora's presence was requested.
Victor laughed when he read it.
"They're trying to bait you."
Dora stared at the card.
"Why?"
"Because they don't know what you remember."
"They want to know how much I know."
"Yes."
Dora closed her eyes.
"Then I should go."
"No."
"I wasn't asking permission."
Victor looked at her.
She looked back.
He almost smiled.
"You're stubborn."
"You knew that."
"I did."
"Then stop trying to order me around."
Victor stepped closer.
"Fine."
Dora blinked.
"Fine?"
"You go."
"You aren't going to argue?"
"I'll be there."
"That's arguing."
"No. That's a promise."
The gala took place at Richard's mansion.
The guest list included senators, judges, CEOs and old families who had spent generations hiding their crimes behind charitable foundations.
Dora entered beside Victor.
The room went silent.
Jessica stood near the staircase.
She was wearing black instead of red.
When Dora's eyes met hers, Jessica nodded.
It was the smallest apology imaginable.
But Dora understood.
Across the room, Richard Vale watched.
He looked older than Dora remembered.
Yet his eyes were exactly the same.
Cold.
Calculating.
Richard approached.
"Victor."
"Uncle."
Richard's gaze moved to Dora.
For half a second, fear flashed across his face.
Then disappeared.
"Dora Hayes."
"Mr. Vale."
"I knew your mother."
Dora felt Victor tense beside her.
"My mother knew you."
Richard smiled.
"She was a complicated woman."
"What happened to her?"
"Tragedy."
Dora stepped closer.
"You told her you'd kill me."
Richard's smile vanished.
Victor looked at Dora.
"You're certain?"
She nodded.
Richard's guards shifted.
Victor noticed.
He moved slightly, placing himself between Dora and Richard.
Richard laughed softly.
"Still playing protector."
Victor's eyes were empty.
"Still hiding behind family."
The confrontation ended when police sirens suddenly screamed outside.
Everyone rushed toward the windows.
A fire had broken out in the charity archives.
Richard's face changed.
Victor saw it.
"Marcus."
Already gone.
Victor grabbed Dora's hand.
"Stay with me."
They ran.
Inside the archive room, flames climbed the walls.
A safe stood open.
Someone had removed documents.
Dora saw a small metal box beneath the desk.
She grabbed it.
Victor shouted, "Dora!"
She held it up.
A photograph slipped through the gap.
Her mother.
Elena.
Victor's father.
All standing together.
And behind them—
Richard.
A young Jessica's father.
And a fourth man.
The same man who had called Dora.
Victor stared.
"My father wasn't killed by Richard alone."
Dora looked at the photograph.
"Then who was the fourth man?"
Richard's voice came from the doorway.
"Someone you know."
Dora turned.
Richard smiled.
May you like
Then Jessica screamed from downstairs.
A gunshot followed.
