Bound By His Revenge

TRUTH BENEATH THE LIES

Victor Hale stood beside the large window, his hands resting calmly behind his back.

Lina remained near the doorway.

She held the old photograph tightly.

Her eyes moved between Victor and the picture.

"My mother knew you."

Victor didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he walked toward a small table and poured himself a glass of water.

"Your mother knew more people than you were ever told."

"Why?"

"Because your mother was once part of something very important."

Lina's brows tightened.

"What are you talking about?"

Victor looked at her.

"The Blackwood family."

Lina shook her head.

"My mother had nothing to do with them."

"You believe that because she wanted you to."

"My mother would never lie to me."

Victor gave a faint smile.

"People don't always lie because they want to hurt us."

"Sometimes they lie because they want to protect us."

Lina looked down at the photograph.

"What happened between my mother and the Blackwoods?"

Victor walked toward her.

"That is the question you've been asking all your life without knowing it."

"Stop speaking in riddles."

For the first time, Victor's expression became serious.

"Twenty-two years ago, your mother worked with Edward Blackwood and Richard Blackwood."

"Your mother was involved in a business project called the Blackwood Project."

Lina stared at him.

"What project?"

Victor's eyes hardened.

"A project that was supposed to make both families extremely wealthy."

"What happened?"

"Someone betrayed them."

"Who?"

Victor didn't answer.

Instead, he walked toward a cabinet and removed an old file.

He placed it on the table.

Lina approached cautiously.

Inside were photographs, business documents, and handwritten notes.

She picked up the first photograph.

It showed her mother standing beside Richard Blackwood.

They looked happy.

The next picture showed Edward, Victor, Richard, and Grace sitting around a conference table.

Lina's hands trembled.

"Why did my mother never tell me?"

"Because she was afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

Victor stared directly into her eyes.

"Death."

Lina froze.

"What?"

"Your mother knew someone wanted everyone involved in that project dead."

Lina slowly stepped backward.

"Then why are you alive?"

Victor smiled.

"Because I learned how to survive."

Before Lina could ask another question, her phone suddenly rang.

She reached into her pocket.

Damien.

Her eyes widened.

Victor watched silently.

"Answer it."

Lina hesitated.

"Go ahead."

She answered.

"Damien?"

Silence.

Then his voice came through.

"Lina."

Her heart tightened.

"Where are you?"

"I don't know."

"I'm coming for you."

"Damien, listen to me. There's something you need to know."

Victor walked toward her.

"Tell him."

Lina looked at him.

"My mother knew your family."

Silence.

Damien's breathing changed.

"What did you say?"

"She knew your father."

Damien didn't respond.

Victor's eyes remained fixed on Lina.

Then another voice came through Damien's phone.

Edward.

"Damien..."

Lina heard the fear in his voice.

"Don't believe Victor."

Victor smiled.

Lina looked at him.

"Why shouldn't I?"

Edward answered quickly.

"Because Victor is the reason your mother disappeared twenty-two years ago."

Lina's eyes widened.

Victor's smile disappeared.

"Enough."

He reached for the phone.

Lina stepped away.

"What did he mean?"

Victor said nothing.

"Why did my mother disappear?"

Victor's expression hardened.

"Because she discovered the truth."

"What truth?"

Before Victor could answer, a loud crash came from outside.

Both of them turned.

Security guards shouted from the hallway.

"Someone has entered the estate!"

Victor's face changed.

"Impossible."

Lina took the opportunity to move toward the door.

Victor grabbed her arm.

"Stay here."

"Let me go!"

The door suddenly burst open.

Two armed men rushed inside.

Victor immediately pulled Lina behind him.

"Who are you?"

The men didn't answer.

One raised his weapon.

Victor pushed Lina to the floor.

A gunshot exploded through the room.

The bullet struck the wall.

Lina screamed.

Victor grabbed a hidden weapon from beneath his jacket.

He fired once.

The attacker fell.

The second man ran.

Victor turned toward Lina.

"Are you hurt?"

Lina stared at him.

She had expected a monster.

Instead, he had protected her.

Before she could process it, Victor's phone rang.

He answered.

A man's voice spoke quickly.

"They've reached the warehouse."

Victor's face went pale.

"Who?"

"The Blackwoods."

Victor looked toward Lina.

Then he smiled bitterly.

"Of course."

He ended the call.

Lina stared at him.

"What's happening?"

Victor walked toward the window.

"The past is catching up with us."

---

At the same time...

Damien stood outside the old Hale warehouse.

Edward sat inside the car.

The place looked abandoned.

Rust covered the metal walls.

Broken windows surrounded the building.

Damien looked at his watch.

11:58 p.m.

Two minutes until midnight.

His security team waited several meters away.

He had ignored Victor's warning about bringing people.

He wasn't going to risk Lina's life.

Damien turned toward Edward.

"What happened here?"

Edward remained silent.

"Tell me."

Edward finally opened the car door.

He stepped outside.

"I was hoping you would never have to know."

Damien stared at him.

"Know what?"

Edward looked at the warehouse.

"Your father didn't die because of a business dispute."

Damien froze.

"What?"

"Your father discovered that someone inside our company was stealing money."

"Who?"

Edward's voice trembled.

"Victor."

Damien's eyes widened.

"He discovered Victor was selling company information."

"What happened next?"

"Your father confronted him."

Edward looked toward the warehouse.

"They met here."

Damien swallowed.

"And my mother?"

Edward closed his eyes.

"She came looking for your father."

A cold wind swept through the area.

Then...

The warehouse lights suddenly came on.

Damien's security team raised their weapons.

The large metal doors slowly opened.

A figure stood inside.

Victor Hale.

But he wasn't alone.

Lina stood beside him.

Damien's heart stopped.

"Lina!"

She looked at him.

"Damien!"

He took a step forward.

Victor raised his hand.

"Don't."

Damien stopped.

Victor smiled.

"You came."

"Let her go."

"I will."

Damien stared at him.

"Then why are we here?"

Victor looked at Edward.

"Because your grandfather owes you the truth."

Edward slowly walked forward.

Victor's expression became cold.

"Tell him."

Edward's lips trembled.

"The night your parents died..."

He paused.

Damien waited.

Edward finally whispered:

"Your father wasn't the only person who died that night."

Lina stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

Edward looked directly at Lina.

"Your mother was there too."

Lina's face went pale.

"But she's alive."

Edward shook his head.

"No."

Victor stepped forward.

"That's what you've all been led to believe."

Damien stared at him.

"What are you saying?"

Victor reached into his coat and pulled out an old document.

He handed it to Damien.

"Read it."

Damien opened the file.

His eyes moved across the page.

Then stopped.

His entire expression changed.

"No..."

Lina stepped closer.

"What is it?"

Damien couldn't speak.

Victor smiled.

"You spent your entire life believing the Brooks family destroyed yours."

He looked at Lina.

"And you spent yours believing your mother abandoned you."

Victor's voice dropped.

"Both of you were lied to."

Damien slowly looked up.

Victor continued.

"The person responsible for everything..."

"...was someone neither of you ever suspected."

He pointed toward Edward.

Damien turned.

His grandfather stood frozen.

Victor smiled.

"Ask your grandfather who ordered the warehouse fire."

Damien's blood ran cold.

Edward closed his eyes.

And finally whispered:

"It was me."