28
The safe house hummed with tension as Leo’s team secured Nathaniel and Jessica in separate rooms. I sat in Leo’s study, the weight of everything pressing down on me. The adrenaline crash left me shaking, one hand still protectively curved over my stomach.
“Here.” Sofia handed me a cup of tea, her eyes soft with concern. “The evidence is everywhere now. Every major news outlet is running the story. Nathaniel’s empire is crumbling by the minute.”
I nodded, watching the steam rise from my cup. “And Dr. Chen?”
“Stable.” She checked her tablet. “Security’s in place at the hospital. No one gets near him without our approval.”
Leo entered, his presence filling the room. He’d removed his jacket, and I could see the tension in his shoulders. “Jessica’s talking. Seems the prospect of federal prison has loosened her tongue.”
“What’s she saying?” I asked, though part of me didn’t want to know.
“Everything.” He sat beside me, taking my free hand in his. “How they planned it all–your
mother’s treatment, your father’s death, the evidence they fabricated against you. She’s our
cut a deal.”
“Let her.” My voice was harder than I expected. “As long as the truth comes out.”
trying to
“Victoria.” Leo’s thumb traced circles on my palm. “You said there was more to the story. About your father’s death.”
I set down my tea, my hands surprisingly steady now. “The night Dad died, when Nathaniel showed that video of me being there? He didn’t show all of it.”
Sofia moved closer, her recorder ready. We needed every detail documented now.
“Dad knew what Nathaniel was.” I closed my eyes, remembering. “He’d been gathering
evidence for months not just about Nathaniel’s criminal activities, but about Mom’s treatment too. He discovered the connection between Nathaniel and the Swiss clinic.”
“Why didn’t he come forward?” Sofia asked.
“Because of me.” The old guilt surfaced. “Nathaniel had evidence of my embezzlement. But it wasn’t just about the money I took for Mom’s treatment. There was more.”
Leo’s hand tightened on mine. “What kind of evidence?”
“Financial records showing I’d been moving money for years. Except…” I met his eyes. “I hadn’t. Nathaniel had forged everything, made it look like I’d been stealing from the company since I was eighteen. The amounts were huge millions. Dad knew I couldn’t have done it, but the paper trail was perfect.”
–
“Blackmail,” Leo said softly. “To control both of you.”
I nodded. “That night, Dad called me to his study. He’d found proof that Nathaniel had
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I nodded. “That night, Dad called me to his study. He’d found proof that Nathaniel had fabricated everything. He was going to expose it all – the fake records, the medical fraud, everything. But first…”
My voice caught. Leo pulled me closer, his strength anchoring me.
“First, he gave me something. A key to a safety deposit box containing all the real evidence. He made me memorize the location, made me swear not to tell anyone.” Tears slid down my cheeks. “Then Nathaniel arrived. The argument started. Dad clutched his chest…”
“The heart attack wasn’t natural,” Sofia said, pieces clicking into place.
“No. Nathaniel had been poisoning him slowly, just like Mom. When Dad confronted him, he’d already taken the final dose. He knew he was dying.” My voice broke. “His last words to
me weren’t caught on that security footage. He whispered them while Nathaniel was calling his
men.”
“What did he say?” Leo asked gently.
“The truth stays buried until you’re ready. Promise me.” I wiped understand then. But now…”
my eyes. “Id
Sofia’s phone buzzed. Her eyes widened as she read the message. “Boss, we’ve got trouble.
Nathaniel’s people just hit three of our warehouses. They’re going after everything.”
“Let them.” Leo’s voice was cold. “It’s all insured, and the real assets are protected.”
“It’s not just that.” She handed him her phone. “They found Thompson.”
Leo’s curse was vicious. “Where?”
“Floating in the harbor. But before they killed him, he talked. They know about the meeting
tomorrow.”
I looked between them. “What meeting?”
“The commission.” Leo ran a hand through his hair. “All the family heads, gathering to
discuss territory after Nathaniel’s fall. If his people hit that meeting…”
“It’ll be war,” Sofia finished.
“Then we end this tonight.” I stood, surprising them both. “The safety deposit box my
mentioned? I know where it is. And I know what’s inside.”
father
“Victoria, no.” Leo rose too. “You’re not going anywhere near-”
“Listen to me.” I gripped his arms. “What’s in that box isn’t just evidence against Nathaniel. It’s proof of corruption throughout the entire city – judges, politicians, business leaders. Everyone who’s ever worked with him. Dad didn’t just gather evidence about Mom’s death or the company fraud. He documented everything.”
Understanding dawned in Leo’s eyes. “Enough to destroy not just Nathaniel, but everyone protecting him.”
“Exactly.” I smiled grimly. “While his people are hitting your warehouses, thinking they’re
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