Chapter 7: A Deepening Divide
1118 Words
Keria stared at Alexander, her heart racing. A mistake from his past? Something that could ruin everything? She had no idea what he could be talking about, but the look in his eyes told her it was serious—something dark and deeply buried.
“What kind of mistake?” she asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alexander let out a deep breath and moved back to his desk, his hands gripping the edge tightly as if he were holding himself together. He looked down, avoiding her gaze. The silence in the room stretched painfully.
“Keria… before I became the man you know now, before I built the company to what it is today, I made a deal with someone—a dangerous man.” His voice was low, edged with regret. “I was young, reckless, and hungry for success. I was willing to do anything to get ahead.”
Keria’s breath caught in her throat. “What kind of deal?”
He met her eyes then, his expression somber. “It wasn’t legal. In fact, it was far from it. I took a shortcut, and for a while, it worked. The money flowed in, the connections were made, and I became untouchable. But there were people hurt along the way—people I didn’t realize I was putting in danger.”
Keria’s stomach twisted as the weight of his words sank in. She had known Alexander came from a powerful family, but she had never imagined this side of him. To hear that he had been involved in something illegal, something that had hurt people—it made her question everything she thought she knew about him.
“And Vincent knows about this?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Alexander nodded. “He’s been digging for years. He found out about the deal I made, and now he’s using it as leverage. If he exposes it, everything I’ve worked for will come crashing down. And worse, people I care about will get dragged into the mess.”
Keria stood frozen, her thoughts spinning. She understood now why Alexander had been so distant, why he had kept so much from her. He was trying to protect her, yes, but he was also terrified—terrified of what this secret could do to both of them.
“Who did you make the deal with?” she asked after a moment.
Alexander hesitated before answering, his voice barely above a whisper. “A man named Elias Carrigan. He’s part of an underground network that operates in the shadows. They deal in everything—blackmail, illegal trade, political favors. At the time, I thought it was a way to quickly rise to the top. But I didn’t realize how deep I was getting involved.”
Keria’s blood ran cold at the name. She had heard of Elias Carrigan—a notorious figure who had his hands in countless illegal activities. He was ruthless, dangerous, and untouchable by the law. If Alexander had made a deal with him, it was no wonder he had been living in fear of that secret coming out.
“But if Vincent exposes this… what will happen?” she asked, dreading the answer.
Alexander’s face darkened. “If this goes public, I’ll be ruined. I could lose the company, my assets… and worse, Carrigan could come after us. He doesn’t like loose ends. If Vincent drags him into this, we could both be targets.”
Keria’s heart pounded in her chest. This was far worse than she had imagined. She thought they were just dealing with family politics, a greedy cousin trying to take over the company. But this—this was something much darker. If Elias Carrigan became involved, their lives were truly at risk.
“We have to stop Vincent,” she said firmly. “Before he can expose any of this.”
Alexander nodded, though his expression was grim. “I’ve been trying, but he’s always one step ahead. He’s careful, and he’s smart. And now that you’re involved, I’m afraid he’ll use you to get to me.”
Keria shook her head, determination hardening in her chest. “I won’t let him. If he thinks I’m just a pawn in his game, then he’s underestimating me.”
She turned on her heel, her mind racing with possibilities. She wasn’t going to stand by and let Vincent destroy everything. She had already reached out to Marcus, but now it was time to take things into her own hands. If Alexander wouldn’t act aggressively, she would.
“Keria, wait,” Alexander called out, but she was already halfway out the door.
“I’m going to do what needs to be done,” she said over her shoulder, her voice steady. “I won’t let Vincent win.”
Keria left the mansion, her pulse quickening as she made her way through the city. She had spent her whole life fighting for survival, crawling out of the darkness of being an illegitimate daughter with nothing to her name. She wasn’t about to let anyone—least of all Vincent Westwood—tear down the life she and Alexander had built together.
As she walked, she formulated a plan. If she could confront Vincent directly, perhaps she could find a way to turn the tables on him. She needed leverage—something that would stop him from going after Alexander or exposing his past.
By the time she reached the café where she had agreed to meet Marcus, her mind was made up. Marcus was already seated at a table in the corner, his eyes scanning the room. He waved her over as she entered.
“Keria,” he said, standing up to greet her. “What’s going on? You sounded urgent on the phone.”
“I need your help,” she said, sitting down across from him. “Vincent is about to destroy everything, and I can’t let that happen. I need to know everything you can dig up on him—his connections, his weak spots, anything that could be used against him.”
Marcus frowned, leaning forward. “Vincent’s not someone to mess with, Keria. I’ve heard rumors about the kind of people he’s dealing with. Dangerous people.”
“I know,” Keria replied. “But I don’t have a choice. If I don’t stop him, Alexander will be ruined. And so will I.”
Marcus studied her for a long moment before nodding. “Alright. I’ll see what I can find. But be careful. You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“I know,” she said, her voice firm. “But I’m not afraid.”
- Writer
