Chapter 14: The Last Betrayal
I stared at my father.
The silence was unbearable.
Because everyone was thinking the same thing.
Was it possible?
After everything?
Was my father the final secret?
He looked at me.
“Salvatore.””
I raised my hand.
“Don’t.””
The pain on his face was obvious.
But I couldn’t ignore the possibility.
Not anymore.
I had trusted people.
And every time, there was another hidden truth.
My mother stepped between us.
“No.””
Her voice was firm.
“Your father did not do this.””
I looked at her.
“You’re sure?””
“Yes.””
“Then who?””
Nobody answered.
Until Victor spoke.
“I know.””
Everyone turned.
Victor stepped forward.
His expression was different.
No more hiding.
“No more secrets.””
He reached into his jacket.
And pulled out a small device.
“I recorded every conversation after I realized what Nolan was doing.””
He placed it on the table.
My father looked at him.
“You had this?””
Victor nodded.
“I was waiting for the right moment.””
I almost laughed.
“The right moment?””
Victor looked ashamed.
“You’re right to be angry.””
He pressed play.
Nolan’s voice filled the room.
“I don’t care what happens to the old woman. I need the documents.””
My stomach tightened.
Then another voice answered.
A woman’s voice.
Hattie.
“You promised nobody would get hurt.””
Nolan laughed.
“She’s old. She’ll break.””
My hands curled into fists.
Then another voice appeared.
A voice I recognized.
Adrian.
“You have three days.””
The recording stopped.
Everyone looked at Adrian.
But he didn’t look surprised.
“I never ordered starvation.””
“No,” Victor said.
“You ordered pressure.””
Adrian smiled.
“And Nolan went too far.””
My father stepped closer.
“You used everyone.””
Adrian looked at him.
“I learned from you.””
That sentence hit harder than expected.
Because this was never only about money.
It was about years of resentment.
Years of people hurting each other.
Years of refusing to forgive.
Then Daniel suddenly appeared at the entrance.
Everyone turned.
He looked injured.
Not seriously.
But exhausted.
“Salvatore.””
I walked toward him.
“What happened?””
He looked at Adrian.
“He found out I had evidence.””
Adrian’s expression remained calm.
“What evidence?””
Daniel pulled out a folder.
“The original payment records.””
He handed them to me.
I opened them.
The final page made my blood run cold.
Because the person who authorized the first payment was not Adrian.
Not Nolan.
Not Hattie.
It was someone else.
Someone nobody had suspected.
I looked up.
“Victor.””
The room froze.
Victor closed his eyes.
My father looked shocked.
“No.””
Victor whispered:
“I can explain.””
The betrayal felt endless.
I stepped back.
“Explain.””
Victor looked at my father.
Then me.
“I was the one who moved the money.””
My father stared.
“Why?””
Victor’s voice broke.
“Because I was trying to protect your son.””
Nobody understood.
“How?””
Victor took a breath.
“Your uncle wasn’t the first person planning against this family.””
He looked at me.
“He was reacting to someone else.””
My heart sank.
“Who?””
Victor looked toward the hallway.
Then whispered:
“The person who started all of this is already inside this house.””
Everyone turned.
Slowly.
May you like
Toward the only person who had not spoken.
My mother.
