Chapter 9: The Recording My Mother Left Behind
The room was completely dark.
Then a projector turned on.
A video appeared on the wall.
My mother's face.
Alive.
Smiling.
My heart shattered.
"Elena...""
Her voice.
After all these years.
Her real voice.
Everyone became silent.
The recording showed my mother sitting in her office.
"I don't know who will watch this.""
She looked tired.
Afraid.
"But if Elena sees this, it means I failed to protect her.""
Tears filled my eyes.
"No.""
I whispered.
My mother continued.
"Your father did not betray us.""
I looked at Richard.
He closed his eyes.
"He was framed.""
The video changed.
Documents appeared.
Names.
Accounts.
Transfers.
Proof.
Victor Laurent had built an operation using stolen company funds.
But someone else controlled him.
Someone higher.
Someone nobody suspected.
The final document appeared.
A name.
I stopped breathing.
Because I knew it.
Everyone knew it.
*Adrian Vale.*
Not my husband.
His father.
The man who raised him.
The man who taught him.
The man whose shadow had followed us for years.
Vanessa watched my reaction.
"Now you understand.""
I turned toward her.
"You knew.""
"Yes.""
"And you still married him?""
Her expression changed.
"I needed access.""
My anger burned.
"You destroyed my life.""
She looked at me.
"You destroyed mine first.""
"No.""
I shook my head.
"You chose revenge against people who weren't responsible.""
Her eyes flashed.
"Your father ruined my family.""
Richard stepped forward.
"Your father was innocent.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You expect me to believe that?""
The video continued.
My mother appeared again.
"Elena, if you are seeing this, remember one thing.""
She looked directly into the camera.
"The most dangerous people are not those who hate you.""
A pause.
"They are those who pretend to love you.""
Everyone became still.
My mother knew.
She knew someone close to us would betray me.
The screen went black.
Then Vanessa's phone rang.
She answered.
A man's voice came through the speaker.
Even from a distance, I recognized it.
Adrian.
"Vanessa.""
Her face changed.
"Where are you?""
His voice sounded desperate.
"Please.""
I stepped closer.
"Adrian?""
Silence.
Then:
"Elena.""
Everyone heard.
"You need to leave.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Vanessa isn't the only one involved.""
My blood went cold.
"What are you saying?""
A pause.
Then Adrian whispered:
"There's someone standing behind her.""
Vanessa's face went pale.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Adrian continued.
"Someone who has been controlling everything.""
The lights suddenly flickered back on.
Everyone looked around.
And then we saw it.
A man standing at the doorway.
Older.
Powerful.
Calm.
The man from the photograph.
The man everyone thought was dead.
Victor Laurent.
He smiled.
"Adrian always was a coward.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Father?""
Victor ignored her.
His eyes locked onto mine.
"Elena.""
He smiled.
"Your mother was right.""
A chill moved through me.
"About what?""
May you like
He stepped inside.
"About never trusting the people who claim to protect you.""
