Chapter 21: The Night I Stopped Running
The police arrived within the hour.
My father's disappearance became an official investigation.
But waiting felt impossible.
Every minute felt like Richard was getting farther away.
Or closer.
I didn't know which was worse.
Rachel tried to keep me focused.
"We need to think.""
"I am thinking.""
"No.""
She looked at me.
"You're reacting.""
I hated that she was right.
Because for so long, my life had been controlled by other people's decisions.
Julian chose.
Richard chose.
My father chose.
Everyone made choices.
And I lived with the consequences.
I was tired of being the person everyone protected after everything went wrong.
"I need to find him.""
"We will.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"I need to help.""
Rachel studied me.
Then nodded.
"Okay.""
That surprised me.
"You agree?""
"Yes.""
She closed the file.
"Because this is different.""
"How?""
"Before, you were trying to prove you weren't weak.""
She paused.
"Now you're trying to save someone.""
At midnight, we received a call.
Not from the police.
From my father's phone.
Rachel answered on speaker.
A man's voice appeared.
Not my father.
Richard.
"Clara.""
My entire body went cold.
"Where is he?""
Richard laughed softly.
"Still protecting him.""
"Where is my father?""
"Safe.""
"Let me talk to him.""
"No.""
My hands tightened.
"What do you want?""
A pause.
Then:
"I want you to understand.""
"Understand what?""
"That people like your father create monsters.""
I said nothing.
Richard continued.
"He thought destroying me would make him a hero.""
"My father exposed your crimes.""
"My crimes?""
His voice became sharper.
"Everyone has crimes.""
The arrogance.
The certainty.
The belief that everyone was just like him.
"You ruined people's lives.""
"So did he.""
"No.""
My voice was calm.
"You chose this.""
Silence.
For a moment, Richard had no response.
Then:
"You sound like him.""
"Like who?""
"Julian.""
The name surprised me.
"You think you're different.""
Richard continued.
"But you aren't.""
I looked at Rachel.
She was recording everything.
"Where are you?""
"I want to meet.""
"Why?""
"Because I want to see the woman who destroyed my plan.""
I almost laughed.
"Your plan failed because you underestimated people.""
"No.""
His voice became cold.
"My plan failed because I trusted the wrong people.""
I understood.
He meant Julian.
The man he used.
The man who betrayed him.
"What happens now?""
Richard answered:
"Now you come alone.""
"No.""
A pause.
"You don't get to negotiate.""
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Rachel immediately said:
"Absolutely not.""
I looked at her.
"He has my father.""
"We find another way.""
"He wants me.""
"That's exactly why it's dangerous.""
I knew.
I knew walking into Richard's trap was dangerous.
But I also knew something else.
For years, people had made decisions about my life.
Julian.
My father.
Richard.
Everyone.
This time, I would make the choice.
"I'll go.""
Rachel looked at me.
"Clara.""
I shook my head.
"No more running.""
Because that was the truth.
I had spent weeks discovering betrayal.
Weeks reacting to damage.
Weeks surviving someone else's war.
But now?
Now I was walking into the center of it.
Not because I was fearless.
Because I was done being afraid.
Richard Brooks thought he knew me.
He thought I was the innocent woman from the airport.
The woman who would cry.
The woman who would forgive.
The woman who would break.
But he was wrong.
The woman who walked into that airport believing in love was gone.
May you like
The woman walking into his trap knew exactly what monsters looked like.
And she was ready to face one.
