Chương 8
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“You don’t get to talk about her like she was confused.”
Victor sighed.
“Still defending her.”
The sentence landed.
Adrian went quiet.
Not because he agreed.
Because the words revealed something.
Victor had known Adrian for a long time.
Long enough to know how he reacted.
Long enough to expect him.
“You were involved,” Adrian said.
Victor looked around.
“Can we not do this here?”
“You came here.”
“Yes.”
“Then answer.”
Victor adjusted his cuff.
A small, controlled movement.
“I came because I wanted to prevent another mistake.”
Elena frowned.
“What mistake?”
Victor looked at her.
“You.”
The answer unsettled her.
“What does that mean?”
“It means Lucia should never have involved you.”
Adrian took a step forward.
“Careful.”
Victor looked at him calmly.
“Your sister made decisions based on emotion.”
Adrian’s voice lowered.
“Don’t.”
Victor continued anyway.
“She trusted people because she wanted to believe everyone could be better than they were.”
Elena felt something inside her tighten.
That sounded like Lucia.
It was the cruelest part.
Victor was using something true to make something false sound believable.
“She was not naive,” Elena said.
Victor looked at her.
“No?”
“No.”
The room became quiet.
“She was scared,” Elena continued.
“But she was not stupid.”
Victor studied her.
For a moment, Elena wondered if she had made a mistake.
Then she realized something.
Victor was not used to being challenged by someone he considered unimportant.
That bothered him.
“You knew Lucia for a few months,” Victor said.
“I knew her when she was afraid.”
Victor’s expression changed slightly.
“And you think that makes you understand her?”
“No.”
Elena looked at the photograph.
“But I think it means I listened.”
The words stayed in the air.
Adrian looked at her.
Not because he was impressed.
Because he understood what she meant.
Everyone around Lucia had been trying to control her.
Elena had simply been the person who let her speak.
Victor turned toward Adrian.
“You need to leave this alone.”
Adrian laughed quietly.
It was not amusement.
It was disbelief.
“You waited six years to tell me that?”
Victor’s expression remained calm.
“Six years ago, your sister made a choice.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“My sister was forced into a choice.”
Victor did not answer.
That silence was enough.
Daniel stepped closer.
“You knew she was alive.”
Victor looked at him.
“You.”
Daniel stopped.
The way Victor said it carried disappointment.
Not surprise.
“You were always the weakest part of the plan.”
Daniel’s face changed.
Adrian noticed.
“What plan?”
Victor looked between them.
“You really don’t know.”
Nobody spoke.
Victor gave a small sigh.
“This is why Lucia was dangerous.”
Elena felt confused.
“Dangerous?”
“She believed finding the truth was enough.”
Victor looked at Adrian.
“She never understood what happens after the truth comes out.”
Adrian stared at him.
“You’re threatening us.”
“No.”
Victor shook his head.
“I’m warning you.”
“About what?”
“About the damage your family has already caused.”
The answer surprised everyone.
Even Adrian.
Victor reached into his coat.
Daniel immediately stepped back.
Adrian moved forward.
But Victor only pulled out a small folder.
He placed it on the table.
“No weapons.”
Nobody relaxed.
Victor opened the folder.
Inside were printed documents.
Bank records.
Names.
Dates.
Transactions.
Elena looked at Daniel.
He recognized them.
“You have these?”
Daniel asked.
Victor nodded.
“I kept copies.”
Adrian stared.
“Why?”
Victor looked at him.
“Because I knew eventually someone would need them.”
The answer sounded almost noble.
Almost.
Elena noticed the problem.
People who wanted to help usually did not wait until the damage was complete.
“Why now?” she asked.
Victor looked at her.
“Because Lucia is gone.”
The room went still.
Adrian’s face changed.
“What do you mean?”
Victor did not answer immediately.
That pause was different from Daniel’s.
Daniel hesitated because he was afraid.
Victor hesitated because he was choosing what version of the truth to give.
“I mean she has been gone longer than you think.”
Elena felt cold.
“No.”
Adrian looked at Victor.
“Where is she?”
Victor looked away.
For the first time, his control slipped.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“I don’t know.”
Adrian stared.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I expect you to understand that your sister trusted the wrong people.”
“Who?”
Victor looked at Daniel.
Daniel looked down.
Then Victor looked at Madison.
Madison closed her eyes.
Elena noticed.
The pattern.
Everyone knew pieces.
Everyone had carried a different piece.
And Lucia had somehow been the only person who saw the entire picture.
“Madison,” Adrian said.
She opened her eyes.
“Tell him.”
She shook her head.
“Tell him what?”
“The truth.”
Her face tightened.
“I don’t know the truth.”
Victor looked at her.
That was enough.
Adrian saw it.
“You’re afraid of him.”
Madison looked at Victor.
Then away.
“I’m afraid of what happens if I’m wrong.”
Adrian’s voice softened slightly.
“About what?”
Madison took a breath.
“About who he works for.”
Victor’s expression changed.
Not much.
But enough.
Elena saw anger.
Real anger.
Not the calm performance.
“Madison,” Victor said.
Her shoulders tightened.
“Don’t.”
The word came out quietly.
Victor looked disappointed.
“You’re making this harder.”
“No.”
Madison shook her head.
“You made it hard six years ago.”
Adrian looked between them.
“What happened six years ago?”
Madison’s eyes filled.
She looked exhausted.
“I found Lucia after she left the office.”
Adrian froze.
“What?”
“She was hurt.”
The room went silent.
Elena felt her heartbeat increase.
“What kind of hurt?”
Madison looked down.
“She had been attacked.”
Adrian’s face changed completely.
“Who attacked her?”
Madison did not answer.
She did not need to.
Everyone looked at Victor.
Victor remained still.
But his silence became louder than any confession.
Adrian walked toward him.
Slowly.
“You knew.”
Victor looked at him.
“I knew something happened.”
“You knew my sister was hurt.”
“Yes.”
“And you did nothing.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No.”
Adrian stopped a few feet away.
May you like
“I’m finally starting to.”
For the first time, Victor looked less powerful.
