Chapter 14 - THE LAST BETRAYAL
Rebecca was arrested that night.
But she didn't resist.
She simply looked at me.
“I never wanted the children hurt.”
“Yet you helped Victor.”
“I was trying to stop him.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
I almost laughed.
“Everyone is afraid.”
She looked at Ryan.
“I was afraid of losing my son.”
Ryan stared at her.
“You lost him anyway.”
That broke her.
She began crying.
“I thought if I kept control of the company, I could protect everyone.”
“You destroyed everyone.”
“I know.”
The evidence against her was overwhelming.
But before she was taken away, she asked to speak to me privately.
I agreed.
She sat across from me.
“I hated you.”
“I know.”
“But it wasn't because you couldn't have children.”
I looked at her.
“It was because you reminded me of your mother.”
“Why?”
“She was brave.”
Rebecca's eyes filled.
“I wasn't.”
I didn't know what to say.
She continued.
“Every time I looked at you, I remembered what I wasn't.”
That was the closest thing to an apology she had ever given.
I stood.
“You hurt me.”
“I know.”
“You hurt my children.”
“I know.”
“I won't forgive you.”
She nodded.
“I don't expect you to.”
Then she was taken away.
Weeks passed.
The scandal became national news.
The Montgomery empire collapsed.
The Hart company survived.
I became its CEO.
Ryan resigned from his position.
He sold his shares and created a trust for the children.
He moved into a modest house nearby.
He didn't ask me to return.
He didn't pressure me.
He simply showed up.
Every morning.
Every afternoon.
Every school event.
Every doctor's appointment.
Every bedtime when the children asked for him.
Slowly, the children began calling him Daddy.
I watched from a distance.
One evening, Ryan approached me.
“Mariana.”
“Yes?”
“I'm leaving.”
My heart tightened.
“What?”
“I've been offered a position in New York.”
I stared.
“You're moving?”
“Maybe.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought you wanted me gone.”
I looked at him.
“I wanted you to stop running away.”
He smiled sadly.
“I don't know how to stay.”
I stepped closer.
“Then learn.”
He looked at me.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Lily ran outside.
“Mommy! Daddy! Come see!”
We turned.
She was standing beside Ethan and Evan.
They had built something in the backyard.
A little wooden house.
Three children.
Two parents.
One tiny home.
Ryan laughed.
“I think we're being summoned.”
I smiled.
“Come on.”
We walked toward them.
Then I noticed something carved into the wood.
Three names.
ETHAN.
EVAN.
LILY.
Underneath them was another word.
FAMILY.
I touched it.
Ryan stood beside me.
“I don't deserve this.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“But you can earn it.”
He nodded.
“I will.”
For the first time, I believed him.
But then a black envelope arrived at my office.
No return address.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed my three children.
Taken that morning.
On the back were six words:
The Montgomerys aren't your only enemies.
I stared at the photograph.
Then another piece of paper fell out.
One sentence.
Ask your mother who your real father is.
I slowly looked toward my parents.
My father was standing across the room.
My mother had gone pale.
May you like
And I realized the truth was not finished with me.
Not even close.
