Chapter 9: The Woman From Lucas's Past
I stayed on the phone long after Rebecca stopped speaking.
Not because I didn't understand her.
Because I understood too much.
People like Lucas didn't suddenly become dishonest.
They practiced.
They tested.
They learned how far they could push.
And apparently, Elena wasn't the first person who trusted him.
"Where are you?"" I asked.
There was a pause.
"Why?""
"Because if you're telling me my daughter was targeted, I need more than a phone call.""
"I know.""
Her voice sounded tired.
Like someone who had carried this information alone for too long.
"I live two hours away.""
"Can you come here?""
Another pause.
"Yes.""
"Today.""
"Okay.""
Before she hung up, I asked:
"Who are you to Lucas?""
The silence was long.
Then:
"I was his wife.""
The call ended.
I stood there unable to move.
His wife.
Not girlfriend.
Not ex-fiancée.
Wife.
Another secret.
Another person who had believed him.
When I told Elena, she looked shocked.
"Lucas was married?""
"I don't know.""
Robert looked angry.
"Find out.""
Miriam looked at me.
"Daniel, are we sure we want to keep digging?""
I understood why she asked.
Because sometimes the truth didn't just hurt the person who lied.
It destroyed everything around them.
But we were already living in the aftermath.
There was no going back to ignorance.
Two hours later, Rebecca arrived.
She looked nothing like I expected.
I expected someone angry.
Bitter.
Seeking revenge.
Instead, she looked exhausted.
Like someone who had finally reached the end of a very long road.
Her eyes went straight to Elena.
"I'm sorry.""
Elena looked confused.
"For what?""
Rebecca swallowed.
"For not finding you sooner.""
Nobody spoke.
We moved into the church office.
Rebecca placed a folder on the table.
The same kind of folder that had started all of this.
"I met Lucas five years ago.""
She opened it.
"He was charming.""
Elena looked down.
"I know.""
Rebecca nodded.
"That's how he works.""
She showed us documents.
"He learns what people want.""
"What do you mean?"" Miriam asked.
"He doesn't just lie.""
She looked at Elena.
"He studies people.""
The room became colder.
"He found out I had inherited money from my parents.""
Rebecca turned a page.
"He told me he wanted to build a life with me.""
"And?""
"He convinced me to combine finances.""
I looked at Elena.
She closed her eyes.
Same pattern.
Different person.
"How much did he take?"" I asked.
Rebecca hesitated.
"Everything.""
Elena covered her mouth.
"He disappeared?""
Rebecca nodded.
"After he drained the accounts.""
"When?""
"Two years ago.""
I looked at the papers.
"Then how did he have money to appear successful?""
Rebecca gave a sad smile.
"He didn't.""
That answer explained everything.
The expensive clothes.
The confidence.
The sudden relationship with Elena.
Lucas wasn't successful.
He was performing success.
A man wearing a costume.
Rebecca looked at Elena.
"He chose you because you were vulnerable.""
Elena looked hurt.
"I wasn't.""
Rebecca shook her head.
"Everyone is vulnerable somewhere.""
The sentence stayed with me.
Because it was true.
"I thought he loved me," Elena whispered.
Rebecca's expression softened.
"I know.""
Then she said something that made everyone silent.
"That's the most dangerous part.""
The next morning, investigators confirmed what we feared.
Lucas had moved money through multiple accounts.
He had created fake investments.
He had borrowed against assets he didn't own.
And the wedding wasn't a celebration.
It was his final performance.
But there was one thing nobody understood.
Why Elena?
Why this wedding?
Why return now?
Then Rebecca found something.
A document hidden among Lucas's files.
A list.
Names.
Dates.
Amounts.
And at the top of the page was a note.
"Next target.""
Elena looked at it.
Her face turned pale.
Because underneath the words was a name.
Not hers.
May you like
Mine.
Daniel Carter.
