Chapter 20: The Confession of a Broken Man
Julian chose a hotel lobby for the meeting.
Public.
Crowded.
Safe.
The kind of place where secrets became harder to hide.
When I arrived, he was already there.
He looked worse than before.
The confidence was gone.
The perfect businessman image had collapsed.
He looked like someone who finally understood consequences.
I sat across from him.
"Talk.""
He nodded.
No excuses.
No small talk.
That surprised me.
"Richard found me three years ago.""
I listened.
"He knew about my company.""
"The fake one?""
His face tightened.
"Yes.""
"And you agreed.""
He looked down.
"Yes.""
The honesty almost bothered me more than a lie.
"Why?""
He swallowed.
"Because I was desperate.""
There it was.
The excuse.
But this time, he didn't hide behind it.
"My company was failing.""
He looked at me.
"I was drowning.""
"And Richard offered you money.""
"Yes.""
"In exchange for marrying me.""
His silence answered.
I looked away.
Even hearing it again hurt.
"He told me you were the solution.""
The word made me sick.
"Solution?""
"He said your father would invest. He said once I had access to the family network, everything would recover.""
I stared at him.
"And you believed him.""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
His eyes filled with shame.
"Because I wanted to believe I could fix everything.""
I almost laughed.
"You destroyed everything trying to fix your life.""
"I know.""
"No, Julian.""
I leaned forward.
"You don't know.""
He looked at me.
"You know what you lost.""
I pointed at him.
"You lost your company. Your reputation. Your money.""
I paused.
"But I lost my ability to trust my own memories.""
That hurt him.
Good.
Because that was the damage he caused.
Not just a marriage.
A person's ability to believe.
"What is Richard planning now?""
Julian looked around before answering.
"He has a backup plan.""
"What kind?""
"Escape.""
"With what?""
"Money.""
"How much?""
Julian hesitated.
"Enough to disappear forever.""
I frowned.
"Where?""
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"No.""
His voice became urgent.
"I swear.""
I watched him carefully.
For once, I believed him.
Because Julian was scared.
"What else?""
He looked at me.
"Your father.""
My stomach tightened.
"What about him?""
"Richard wants him to take responsibility.""
"For what?""
"Everything.""
I understood.
Richard wanted a final revenge.
Destroy my father.
Destroy me.
Destroy everyone who represented the people who stopped him years ago.
"Why involve me?""
Julian looked devastated.
"Because you were the easiest person to hurt.""
The words were painful.
But honest.
"Because everyone loves you.""
I stared.
"What?""
"Richard believes taking you away from everyone will break them.""
I felt cold.
Not money.
Not business.
Me.
I was the target.
Then Julian gave me something.
A small flash drive.
"What is this?""
"Everything I have.""
I looked at it.
"Why?""
"Because if I don't stop him, nobody will.""
I almost said something cruel.
Almost reminded him he was part of the reason we were here.
But I stopped.
Because I knew.
He already knew.
"You think this fixes what you did?""
"No.""
His answer was immediate.
"I don't.""
That surprised me.
"I know I ruined your life.""
He looked at me.
"I know I'm the reason you are here.""
A pause.
"But Richard is the reason it can get worse.""
I took the drive.
Not because I forgave him.
Because I needed the truth.
When I returned to Rachel, we analyzed the files immediately.
Within an hour, we found something.
A location.
An abandoned warehouse.
Connected to one of Richard's old companies.
Rachel looked at the screen.
"This could be where he is.""
"We need to tell authorities.""
"We will.""
But then Marcus called.
His voice was panicked.
"Clara.""
"What happened?""
"Your father is gone.""
My blood froze.
"What?""
"He left his house two hours ago.""
"Did anyone see him?""
"No.""
I looked at Rachel.
She already understood.
May you like
Richard wasn't waiting.
The game had moved.
