Chapter 13 — The Betrayal
362 Words
Damian took the documents to his office.
He spent the entire night studying them.
By morning, he had discovered something disturbing.
The money had not disappeared because of Richard Bennett.
Someone else had transferred it.
An account number appeared on the document.
Damian recognized it.
It belonged to one of his father’s closest business partners.
“Impossible.”
He searched further.
Then he found another name.
Victor Hale.
Damian’s father’s former financial adviser.
Victor had disappeared after the fire twenty years ago.
Damian immediately called his security chief.
“Find Victor Hale.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I want everything.”
“Yes, sir.”
Damian ended the call.
Then he heard a knock.
Serena entered.
“You haven’t slept.”
“Neither have you.”
She noticed the papers.
“What did you find?”
Damian hesitated.
Then he handed her the documents.
Serena read them.
Her eyes widened.
“My father didn’t steal the money.”
“I don’t think he did.”
“Then you’ve hated my family for twenty years for nothing.”
Damian looked at her.
“I may have been wrong.”
Serena swallowed.
“What about my father?”
“I need to speak to him.”
“You should.”
Damian reached for her hand.
She looked down.
Neither moved.
Then Damian whispered,
“I’m sorry.”
Serena looked into his eyes.
“For what?”
“For making you pay for something you didn’t do.”
Tears filled her eyes.
She squeezed his hand.
For the first time, Serena felt that maybe Damian wasn’t her enemy.
Maybe he never had been.
⸻
That afternoon, Serena visited her father.
“Dad, I know the truth isn’t what you told me.”
Her father looked at her sadly.
“Who told you?”
“Damian found documents.”
Her father’s eyes widened.
“Damian knows?”
“Yes.”
Richard closed his eyes.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
He whispered,
“Victor Hale.”
Serena froze.
“Who is Victor Hale?”
Her father looked toward the window.
“The man who destroyed both our families.”
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