Chapter 14: The Last Confession
Nobody in the ballroom heard the voice but me.
The phone pressed against my ear.
My entire body went still.
“Who is this?””
The voice on the other end laughed softly.
“You already know.””
I looked at Adrian.
Then Lena.
Then Simone.
Everyone was watching my face.
Everyone knew something was wrong.
“You’re dead.””
A pause.
Then:
“People believe what they’re told.””
The words sent chills through me.
“Where are you?””
“Does it matter?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Because you destroyed my family.””
Silence.
Then the voice changed.
Not angry.
Almost disappointed.
“Your father destroyed himself.””
My jaw tightened.
“You killed him.””
A long pause.
The kind of pause that was an answer.
I looked at the people around me.
My mother’s warnings.
The photograph.
The documents.
Everything connected.
“You paid Simone.””
“Yes.””
The room seemed to disappear.
I closed my eyes.
Finally.
A confession.
“Why?””
“Because your father forgot what mattered.””
“What?””
“Legacy.””
I almost laughed.
“Legacy?””
The anger rose.
“You ruined a child’s life for money?””
“No.””
His voice became sharper.
“I protected a family name.””
I looked at Ava.
My daughter.
The little girl who had walked barefoot into my wedding because adults had failed her.
“You don’t get to call that protection.””
He ignored me.
“Your father became weak.””
“My father tried to fix it.””
“He became emotional.””
I felt my blood boil.
“He loved his granddaughter.””
“He made a mistake.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“He made the first human decision he had made in years.””
Silence.
Then the voice said:
“You sound like him.””
I froze.
Because somehow…
That hurt.
The person who destroyed my family was comparing me to my father.
“You know what your problem is, Darius?””
I didn’t answer.
“You believe love fixes everything.””
I looked at Ava.
“No.””
I looked at Mia.
“Love doesn’t fix everything.””
I looked around the ballroom.
“But it tells you what’s worth fixing.””
The line was quiet.
For the first time, the caller didn’t respond.
Then:
“You have no idea what your father left behind.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“Ask Simone.””
I turned.
Simone looked terrified.
The caller continued:
“She knows.””
I moved the phone away.
“Simone?””
She looked at me.
“What?””
The voice laughed.
“You never told him.””
My stomach dropped.
“Told me what?””
Simone started crying.
“Darius…”
“No.””
I stepped back.
“Not again.””
The voice spoke.
“Ask her why she was really chosen.””
The call ended.
Nobody moved.
I stared at Simone.
“What does he mean?””
She couldn’t look at me.
“Darius…”
“What does he mean?””
She wiped her face.
“I need to tell you something.””
I waited.
“I didn’t meet your father by accident.””
The words felt like a knife.
“What?””
She looked broken.
“My father worked for your father.””
I frowned.
“Your father?””
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
“He was involved in your family business.””
I felt the pieces shifting.
“Then why did your father introduce you to mine?””
She swallowed.
“Because your uncle wanted someone close to you.””
My heart sank.
“You were sent to watch me.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“At first.””
The honesty hurt.
“What changed?””
She looked at Ava.
“You.””
I said nothing.
“I was supposed to learn about your life. Your habits. Your plans.””
She covered her face.
“But then I actually fell in love with you.””
I looked away.
Because part of me believed her.
And part of me was devastated.
“You still lied.””
“Yes.””
“You still hid my daughter.””
“Yes.””
“You still almost married me without telling me.””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
The truth was brutal.
But finally, it was complete.
Then Adrian’s phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What?””
Everyone looked at him.
He listened.
Then slowly lowered the phone.
“What happened?””
He looked at me.
“Your uncle was never alone.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“What are you saying?””
Adrian swallowed.
“He had someone inside your family.””
My mother’s warning echoed.
Someone close.
Someone trusted.
Then Adrian said the words nobody expected.
“The person who helped him hide Ava…”
He looked toward Simone.
Then Lena.
Then me.
May you like
“Was your mother.””
The room went silent.
