Chapter 11 - The Betrayal Nobody Expected
Richard had arranged to meet them in an abandoned railway station.
Lorenzo hated the location.
Clara hated it more.
Too many exits.
Too many shadows.
Richard appeared alone.
He looked exhausted.
“I should have stopped this years ago,” he said.
Lorenzo stared at him.
“You helped him.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to my father.”
“Yes.”
“You stole from my family.”
Richard lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
Clara stepped forward.
“Then why are you here?”
Richard looked at her.
“Because Martin is going to kill you.”
Lorenzo's jaw tightened.
“Where is he?”
Richard handed Clara a small envelope.
“Everything you need.”
She opened it.
Inside were bank records, property transfers, and one photograph.
Martin Vale.
Alive.
Older.
Standing beside a man Clara recognized.
Nathan Cole.
The missing financial controller.
Clara looked up.
“Nathan works for him.”
“He has for years.”
“Why?”
“Debt.”
Richard's voice cracked.
“Martin destroys people financially, then offers to save them.”
Lorenzo stared at him.
“And my father?”
Richard took a breath.
“Your father refused.”
Silence.
“What happened?”
“Martin threatened your mother.”
Lorenzo stepped closer.
“My father died because he refused to cooperate?”
Richard nodded.
“He was going to expose everything.”
Clara looked at the documents.
There was one final account.
A payment made the morning Lorenzo's father died.
It had been authorized by Richard.
Lorenzo looked at him.
“You signed it.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
Richard's eyes filled with shame.
“Because Martin had my daughter in his hospital.”
Lorenzo's anger remained.
But Clara placed a hand on his arm.
“Lorenzo.”
He looked at her.
“This is bigger than revenge.”
Richard swallowed.
“I know where Martin will be tonight.”
“Where?”
Richard pointed toward the city.
“The Moretti Foundation gala.”
Clara stared.
May you like
“The gala?”
“He planned everything from the beginning.”
