Chapter 14: The Last Betrayal
The drive back to Seattle was silent.
Too silent.
Lucas stared out the window.
The file remained on his laptop.
The accusation against his grandfather sat there like a weapon.
Richard Everhart.
The man who had raised him.
The man who had protected him.
The man who had apologized.
The man who had claimed to regret everything.
A traitor.
Or a victim.
Lucas didn't know anymore.
Claire watched him.
"You don't believe it.""
Lucas looked at her.
"I don't know what I believe.""
That was the hardest truth.
Before Claire entered his life, Lucas had always trusted his ability to judge people.
He could read investors.
Employees.
Competitors.
But his own family?
He had been blind.
When they arrived at the hospital, Richard was awake.
He looked at them.
And immediately knew something had happened.
"What did you find?""
Lucas didn't answer.
He placed the laptop on the table.
Opened the file.
Richard watched the screen.
The moment he saw Victoria's message, his expression changed.
Not surprise.
Fear.
Claire noticed.
"You knew.""
Richard looked at her.
"No.""
"You're lying.""
Lucas stared at him.
"Did you know she created this?""
Richard looked down.
"I knew Victoria kept records.""
"Records of what?""
"Everything.""
Silence.
Lucas stepped closer.
"The video says you were involved.""
Richard closed his eyes.
There it was.
The reaction.
The one Lucas had been searching for.
Not anger.
Not confusion.
Pain.
"Tell me.""
Richard looked at him.
"I can't.""
Lucas laughed.
"Again?""
A pause.
"You can't.""
Richard looked exhausted.
"Because I made a promise.""
"To who?""
Richard didn't answer.
Claire stepped forward.
"Victoria?""
Richard remained silent.
And that was enough.
Lucas felt betrayed all over again.
"You protected her.""
"No.""
"Then explain.""
Richard looked at him.
"I protected you.""
Lucas shook his head.
"Everyone says that.""
Richard's voice became stronger.
"Because it is true.""
"Then why hide the truth?""
"Because Victoria had a backup plan.""
"What plan?""
Richard looked at Claire.
Then Lucas.
"If she ever believed the truth would come out...""
A pause.
"...she would destroy everything.""
Claire frowned.
"How?""
Richard pointed toward the laptop.
"That file isn't evidence.""
Lucas stared.
"What?""
"It's a trigger.""
The room became cold.
"What does that mean?""
Richard looked terrified.
"It means someone has already started the final protocol.""
The lights in the hospital flickered.
Everyone froze.
Then every screen in the room turned black.
A message appeared.
*HELLO, LUCAS.*
Lucas stepped back.
The message continued.
*YOU FINALLY FOUND THE TRUTH.*
Claire moved closer.
"Who is this?""
A new line appeared.
*THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY.*
Richard whispered:
"No.""
The screen changed.
A live video appeared.
A woman sat in a dark room.
Older.
Elegant.
Impossible.
Lucas stared.
"Victoria.""
The woman smiled.
"My grandson.""
Nobody breathed.
Because Victoria Everhart was supposed to be dead.
"I know this is confusing.""
Her voice was calm.
"But you have always been surrounded by confusion.""
Lucas stepped toward the screen.
"You're alive.""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Victoria smiled.
"Because dead people are easier to control.""
Claire looked disgusted.
"You manipulated everyone.""
Victoria ignored her.
"I saved this family.""
Lucas laughed.
"By destroying everyone else's lives?""
"By ensuring survival.""
The screen shifted.
Documents appeared.
Photos.
Records.
"Your biological parents were brilliant.""
Victoria continued.
"But they were naive.""
Lucas stared.
"You killed them.""
"No.""
A pause.
"I allowed events to happen.""
The distinction was horrifying.
Claire clenched her fists.
"And Eleanor?""
Victoria's expression changed slightly.
"She was stubborn.""
"She was your friend.""
"Friendship is a weakness.""
The answer was cold.
Richard stepped forward.
"Victoria.""
She looked at him.
"You disappointed me.""
Richard looked devastated.
"You used me.""
"No.""
Victoria smiled.
"I trusted you to make the difficult choices.""
Lucas looked at Richard.
The truth finally surfaced.
His grandfather wasn't the mastermind.
But he wasn't innocent.
"You helped her.""
Richard couldn't deny it.
"I did.""
Lucas felt broken.
"Why?""
Richard looked at him.
"Because I thought I could control the damage.""
"And could you?""
"No.""
The answer was immediate.
"I failed.""
The screen returned to Victoria.
"Lucas, you have a choice.""
He looked up.
"What choice?""
"Continue protecting the truth.""
A pause.
"Or protect the people you love.""
Claire frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Victoria smiled.
"You'll find out soon.""
The screen went black.
Seconds later, alarms started throughout the hospital.
A security officer rushed inside.
"Everyone needs to leave immediately.""
Lucas looked at Richard.
"What did she do?""
Richard's face turned pale.
"She activated the protocol.""
"What protocol?""
May you like
Richard whispered:
"The one designed to erase Everhart Industries forever.""
