Chapter 12: The Enemy I Never Saw
Victor Hayes looked older than I imagined.
Seven years of hiding had changed him.
His hair was gray.
His face was thinner.
But his eyes were exactly the same.
Cold.
Confident.
The eyes of a man who believed he was always smarter than everyone else.
Sienna stood beside him.
No designer dress.
No fake smile.
Just a calm expression.
The woman from the airport was gone.
This was the real Sienna.
“You.””
My voice shook.
Victor smiled.
“Hello, Clara.””
I stepped forward.
“You destroyed my family.””
He tilted his head.
“That’s what your father told you?””
“My father told me the truth.””
Victor laughed.
“Your father told you a story.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Leave her out of this.””
Victor looked at him.
“You should have stayed missing.””
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“I should have exposed you years ago.””
Victor smiled.
“And yet here we are.””
I looked at Sienna.
“Why?””
She avoided my eyes.
“Why did you come after me?””
Her silence angered me more than an insult.
“You ruined my marriage.””
She finally looked at me.
“I didn’t ruin it.””
I laughed.
“You brought yourself on my honeymoon.””
“Yes.””
“Because you wanted Julian.””
“No.””
That answer surprised me.
Sienna looked at Victor.
“I wanted the money.””
The room became silent.
Victor didn’t react.
Because he already knew.
I stared at her.
“At least you’re honest.””
She gave a bitter smile.
“Honesty doesn’t change anything.””
“No.””
I looked at Julian.
“But lies do.””
Julian looked away.
Victor walked toward the desk.
“You have no idea what your father did.””
I stepped in front of the documents.
“You mean what you did.””
His smile disappeared.
“You’re exactly like him.””
“Like my father?””
“Yes.””
“Then I’ll take that as a compliment.””
For the first time, Victor looked angry.
“Your father thought he could beat me.””
“And he did.””
Victor laughed.
“No.””
He pointed toward Julian.
“Look at your husband.””
I didn’t move.
Victor continued.
“Your father trusted the wrong people.””
Julian’s face changed.
“Stop.””
Victor ignored him.
“He thought Julian could be saved.””
I looked at Julian.
“What is he talking about?””
Julian said nothing.
Victor smiled.
“There’s the truth you haven’t heard.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“What truth?””
Victor leaned closer.
“Julian wasn’t just investigating your family.””
A pause.
“He was there the night your father died.””
I already knew that.
But then Victor said something I didn’t expect.
“He was the reason your father stopped fighting.””
Julian’s face went pale.
“Victor, don’t.””
I turned toward him.
“What does that mean?””
Victor smiled.
“Ask your husband what Thomas Bennett said before he died.””
The room went silent.
I looked at Julian.
His eyes filled with regret.
“Julian?””
He whispered:
“He knew I was being used.””
My heart tightened.
“What else?””
Julian closed his eyes.
“He knew I had a choice.””
A terrible silence followed.
“And I made the wrong one.””
Before I could speak, the lights suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
Someone moved.
A struggle.
A crash.
Then a single sound.
A gunshot.
When the lights returned, Victor was gone.
And Julian was lying on the floor.
Bleeding.
Beside him was my father’s missing investigation file.
May you like
And written across the cover were three words:
*YOUR MOTHER KNEW.*
