HEART BOUND

THE MASTERMIND

(Season 1)

CHAPTER 41

Liora stepped closer, a pained look on her face. It breaks her heart to see Mrs brown in such a helpless state. She saw Mrs brown as her mother and was ready to do anything to gain her love, even after she found out that Mrs brown wasn't her mother, she still did not mind. She was ready to forget everything, all the years of suffering. But she threw her love away and chose her wealth. It's pathetic how every thing was crumbling after years of scheming.

"Are you shocked to see me mother?" Liora's voice was low but it carried a heavy load that rested on Mrs Brown.

"This... This can't be... You are dead. I.... I didn't even see you leave, so... so how come..." Mrs brown was trembling with all the questions piling up in her head. Liora's gaze was like a laser, pinning Mrs. Brown to the spot.

"what happened mother, aren't you happy to see me? ," she said, her tone dripping with irony. "Here I am, your ticket to richness

"You thought you'd covered your tracks, Dorothy. But you underestimated us." Ruben's laughter was low and menacing.

"I... I think I'll... uh... wait outside..."The lawyer looked like he'd fallen into a nightmare. Liora's voice stopped him.

"No, stay. You might want to witness this."Mrs. Brown's eyes darted wildly between Liora, Kalen, and Ruben looking for an escape route.

"I..... I haven't done anything.... I was asked to?" she stammered...... Ruben stepped forward wrapping his hand round Mrs brown's kneck.....

"You where asked and.... You chose to betray my family" he yelled angrily. Everyone was shocked by his sudden action, the lawyer and Alex rushed to him trying to pull him off her before he killed her. Mrs brown clawed at his arm, her eyes bulging, a choke escaped her lips.

"christ!!!! Mr brown... Let her g6, you will kill her!" the lawyer yelled as, he and Alex surged forward together, grabbing at Ruben's shoulder and arms trying to pry him off.

Ruben stop... Dammit!! "Alex yelled.

Through all that, Kalen did not move. He just stood by the door leaning casually against the frame, arm crossed. His expression was unreadable as he took in Mrs brown's purpling face, Ruben's rage and everyone's panic state.

" get off her, dad!!" Liora finally yelled. With a roar, Alex and the lawyer wrenched Ruben backwards. He stumbled back, breathing hard. His eyes were still on Dorothy as she collapse to the floor, coughing and retching, her hands at her throat. The room silent, expect the ragged gasp coming from Mrs brown..

Mrs brown was still on the floor, clutching her throat each breath a wet, rattling wheeze. She looked up at Kalen who was now right in front of her.

"Who asked you to do everything?"Kalen asked, his voice soft, too soft. Her gaze slid to Ruben with pure venom and hate.

" You think you're so smart.... You... "she coughed out spitting on the carpet. Her voice was rasped as she glare right at Ruben. Ruben took a step forward, but Alex immediately put a hand on his chest stopping him.

" Don't! "Alex said with a warning.

" Answer him!!!!..... Who asked you to kill me, dad and who asked you to do everything! "Liora demanded, shaking with anger.

Mrs Brown's laughter came out broken and horrible. She pushed herself against the desk, leaving a smear of mascara and woods. Her eyes flicker past Kalen and settled on Ruben.

" Why don't you ask him "she said pointing a finger at Ruben. Ruben went still immediately..... Alex, and the lawyer frozed, shock and confused. But Kalen did not look surprised not even a little bit, his face remained blank.

" What nonsense are you talking about!!! "Ruben yelled angrily.

" Y... You think you can walk in here and play the hero!!! You are choking me like you are a clean yourself "Mrs brown said angrily

" What is she talking about "Liora asked still doubting everything.

" don't listen to her sweetheart, she want to find a way out this "Ruben said, his jaw was tight, maybe too tight.

" I will tell you everything "Mrs brown said her voice laced with mockery and it was totally broken.

" After Hannah's death...thinking the wealth would automatically be transferred to Ruben, but then we found out about Hannah's will. Years past and Ruben got frustrated of waiting so he decided to clear his way... Unfortunately the old nanny took the fall in the fire... "Mrs brown let out a bitter laugh.

" Ruben got himself into a huge mess with the board and he needed money to settle it, but he had none and his last hope was sealed by Hannah, so decided to fake his death and disappeared. I was the only one stupid enough to help him, because I always do!!!....Then two years back he contacted me, that was when all the plan to take out the last obstacle came in. And that was you." The room was frozen in stunned silence. Liora looked like she'd been slapped by reality itself. Alex was staring at Ruben like he’d turned into a stranger. The lawyer looked like he was about to vomit.

Liora’s voice shattered the quiet. It wasn’t loud — it was worse. Whispered. Broken.

"I did not do any of this" Liora stared at him breathing hard. The rage she had carried for years has no where to land because every thing still seems blurry to her.

"You used her, fake your death or maybe disappearance, let her take the heat. Then you came back and convinced her to finish the job. Am I right?" Kalen asked his gaze fixed on Ruben.

Ruben's eyes darted between Kalen and Mrs brown, his mask of goodness slipped before he even knew what was going on.

" I had to do it... That was the only way to get what is mine. I worked hard with Hannah but she gave everything away I couldn't take it" The truth and Ruben's sudden confession hit Liora harder than she thought. Her anger was replaced by a new and colder horror as she tried to understand everything. Why would he do something so terrible to his own daughter?

"You all were busy watching me, but the real devil was pretending to be the Saint... How ironic" Mrs brown laugher broke out in the silent room. But this time Kalen gave her a small smile...

"in did I was watching the wrong person for a long time, but..." his gaze flicker back to Ruben "I already know he wasn't the Saint" Ruben frown in confusion.

"How?" he asked

"First you gave me a hint the first time I met you. Your story kept changing, and I never told you Liora was kidnapped and who was Involved but you knew. Secondly Mrs brown was involved with Michael but there was no record of them ever meeting or any transaction between them. But there is this person behind Micheal pulling all the strings... One mistake you made was when you gave me your phone to make a call. Transfer receipt... "Ruben stared at him in horror. Kalen was playing him all along. But Ruben didn’t flinch.

"I did what was necessary, Liora was an obstacle."Alex took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous.

"You’re not even sorry."Ruben shrugged.

"I don't regret anything I did, I just regreted the fact that I didn't get what was mine."The door burst open. Police poured in, cuffs drawn.

One of the officers took in the scene: Ruben standing, Dorothy on the floor, the lawyer frozen. "Mr and Mrs brown ," he said slowly. "You’re under arrest."As they cuffed him, Liora turned away. She didn’t watch as they led him out. She didn’t watch as he smiled at her, like he was still calculating his next move. But suddenly she stopped the cops because she have a lot of things to ask him.

" You said you loved my mother... So why did you do this to her" Liora's voice cracked trying so hard to stop her tears from falling

"I did what I did to win" there was no warmth in his eyes... Nothing like the father she used to know.

Liora’s face cracked first. Not into tears — into something sharper, colder. Rage twisted her features until she barely looked like herself. The girl who’d spent her whole life trying to be good enough was gone, replaced by something wild and wounded

TBC