Chapter 6 - The BetrayalThe location was an abandoned theater.
Evelyn arrived alone.
Or at least that was what Victor believed.
Damen watched from two blocks away.
He hated the plan.
He hated letting Evelyn walk into danger.
But she had insisted.
The theater was dark.
Dust covered the seats.
A single spotlight illuminated the stage.
Victor stood beneath it.
“You came.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Where is my mother?”
“Alive.”
“Show me.”
Victor smiled.
“First, we talk.”
“You've killed enough people tonight.”
“I killed one.”
He tilted his head.
“You don't know how many people die because of the decisions your father made.”
“My father protected people.”
“Your father built an empire.”
Victor's voice hardened.
“And then he trusted the wrong man.”
Evelyn frowned.
“Who?”
Victor smiled.
“Damen.”
Her stomach twisted.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“He saved me.”
“He needs you.”
“Why?”
Victor reached into his coat.
He pulled out a photograph.
Damen standing beside Adrian.
Another man stood behind them.
Evelyn recognized him.
Michael Ward.
Her adoptive father.
Victor pointed to him.
“Your father trusted Michael.”
Then to Damen.
“But Michael betrayed Adrian.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“That isn't true.”
Victor threw another photograph onto the stage.
Michael handing documents to a younger Damen.
“This happened three days before Adrian died.”
Evelyn stared.
“What was in the documents?”
Victor smiled.
“The location of the ledger.”
A silence followed.
“Damen knew where it was.”
“Then why hasn't he taken it?”
“Because the ledger can only be opened by Adrian's blood.”
Evelyn's heart stopped.
“Me.”
“Yes.”
Victor stepped closer.
“And now you understand.”
She backed away.
“You don't want the shares.”
“Not anymore.”
“You want the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the names inside can make a king kneel.”
Before Victor could continue, a gunshot echoed.
He disappeared behind a curtain.
Damen emerged from the shadows.
Evelyn spun.
“You followed me.”
“Obviously.”
Victor shouted from the balcony.
“Damen!”
Damen looked up.
“This was always going to end badly.”
Victor fired.
Damen pulled Evelyn behind a wall.
The theater erupted.
When the shooting stopped, Victor was gone.
But another man remained.
Nolan.
He stood at the rear entrance.
Evelyn froze.
“Nolan.”
He looked exhausted.
“Evelyn.”
Damen raised his weapon.
Nolan held up his hands.
“I didn't come to hurt her.”
Evelyn stepped forward.
“Then why are you here?”
Nolan looked at Damen.
“Because he lied to you.”
Damen's jaw tightened.
“Don't.”
Nolan laughed bitterly.
“You never told her the truth.”
Evelyn looked between them.
“What truth?”
Nolan's eyes softened.
“I didn't reject you because you weren't good enough.”
Evelyn felt her throat tighten.
“I know.”
“No.”
He stepped forward.
“I rejected you because I was trying to keep you alive.”
Damen looked furious.
“Nolan.”
“I refused the marriage.”
Nolan's voice cracked.
“My father ordered me to go through with it. I said no.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew what would happen after.”
Evelyn whispered, “You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Then why humiliate me?”
Nolan looked broken.
“Because if I made you hate me, you would leave.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“You could have told me.”
“If I told you, they would have killed you.”
“Who?”
Nolan glanced toward Damen.
“The person who gave the order.”
Damen's expression changed.
Nolan said the name.
“Damen's father.”
The silence was absolute.
Evelyn looked at Damen.
His face revealed nothing.
“You knew,” she whispered.
Damen lowered his weapon.
“Yes.”
“You knew your father ordered my death.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Evelyn stepped back.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Her voice broke.
“But somehow I'm always the last person to know my own life.”
Nolan stared at her.
“I did love you.”
She looked at him.
“Maybe you did.”
Then she turned to Damen.
“But I don't know whether you ever did.”
Damen had no answer.
Evelyn walked past them.
Neither man stopped her.
Outside, her phone rang.
A stranger's voice whispered:
“Miss Ward.”
She stopped.
“The person you trust least…”
A pause.
May you like
“…is the only person who can save you.”
Then the call ended.
