Chapter 4 - The Man She Thought Was Her FatherEvelyn couldn't hear anything after that.
Not the guards.
Not the footsteps.
Not even Damen saying her name.
“My father was Michael Ward.”
Victor laughed.
“You believed that.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
Damen caught her wrist.
“Don't.”
She pulled free.
“Who was he?”
Victor glanced at Damen.
“Ask your protector.”
Her eyes snapped toward him.
Damen was silent.
That silence told her everything.
“You knew.”
“I knew there was a question about your parentage.”
“That's not what I asked.”
“I didn't have proof.”
“You knew.”
His voice was quiet.
“I knew enough to be worried.”
Evelyn stared at him.
Three years with Nolan had taught her what betrayal felt like.
But this was different.
Damen's silence hurt more because she had started trusting him.
Victor smiled.
“There it is.”
He stepped closer.
“The truth always destroys something.”
Damen raised his gun.
“Leave.”
Victor laughed.
“You think this ends here?”
“No.”
Damen looked at his men.
“It ends with you.”
Gunfire erupted.
Evelyn dropped behind the table.
The station became chaos.
Damen moved toward Victor.
Victor retreated into the tunnel.
Two men chased him.
Then everything went silent.
Seconds later, Damen returned.
Victor was gone.
But the phone remained.
Damen picked it up.
The video of Evelyn's mother was still playing.
“Your mother is alive,” he said.
“For how long?”
“We'll find her.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Tell me.”
He hesitated.
“Damen.”
He exhaled.
“Your biological father was Adrian Ward.”
She blinked.
“That means nothing.”
“He wasn't a businessman.”
“What was he?”
Damen's eyes darkened.
“The most powerful man in Chicago's underground network.”
Evelyn stared.
“And you knew him?”
“No.”
“But you know about him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Damen didn't answer.
Her voice broke.
“Why?”
He finally looked at her.
“Because he died protecting my family.”
Silence.
Evelyn felt dizzy.
“What?”
“My father worked for him.”
She stared.
“So your family and mine…”
“Were connected.”
“How?”
Damen's voice lowered.
“Your father was once my father's closest ally.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“This makes no sense.”
“It will.”
He handed her the flash drive.
“Your father left that for you.”
They returned to the estate.
A technician opened the drive.
There was only one file.
A video.
Michael Ward appeared on screen.
Evelyn stopped breathing.
He looked older than she remembered.
Tired.
Afraid.
“My daughter,” he said.
“If you're seeing this, then I failed to protect you.”
Tears filled Evelyn's eyes.
“You were never supposed to know about Adrian.”
The video continued.
“Adrian was your biological father.”
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Michael explained everything.
Adrian had been hunted.
Michael had taken Evelyn and raised her as his own.
The Ward shares were part of Adrian's hidden empire.
And the Black Ledger contained names that could destroy half of Chicago's elite.
Then Michael said the words that shattered everything.
“Damen Voss knows where the ledger is.”
Evelyn turned.
Damen stared at the screen.
Michael continued.
“Damen, if you're watching this, you owe my daughter the truth.”
The video paused.
Then another file opened.
A photograph appeared.
Adrian Ward stood beside two young boys.
One was Nolan.
The other was Damen.
Evelyn's blood ran cold.
She looked at Damen.
“You knew Nolan before me.”
“Yes.”
“You knew my father.”
“Yes.”
“You knew what was happening.”
“Yes.”
“And you still let me walk into that hotel.”
Damen stepped closer.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
He looked at the frozen image.
“From Nolan.”
Evelyn's voice shook.
“Why?”
Damen finally said it.
“Because Nolan was never supposed to marry you.”
Her heart stopped.
“What was he supposed to do?”
May you like
Damen's eyes met hers.
“Kill you.”
