Chapter 4 - THE LIE THAT BUILT AN EMPIRE
Victor Hayes had been dead for six years.
But his influence still controlled Gabriel's life.
Gabriel spent the next week examining old records.
Bank statements.
Property transfers.
Medical files.
Private correspondence.
He discovered that Rosa had not died in a robbery.
She had been placed in a psychiatric facility under a false name.
Her records showed repeated claims that her husband threatened her.
Gabriel stared at the documents.
His father had told him Rosa was unstable.
Dangerous.
Unfit to raise a child.
Now the records suggested something else.
Rosa had tried to leave Victor.
And Victor had punished her.
Gabriel's anger became unbearable.
He wanted to destroy something.
Someone.
Instead, he went to Benny's.
Norah was wiping tables.
She looked up.
“You look terrible.”
Gabriel almost laughed.
“Thank you.”
She pointed toward a booth.
“Sit.”
He obeyed.
She brought him soup.
Not stracotto.
Chicken soup.
Gabriel stared.
“What is this?”
“Food.”
He looked up.
Norah crossed her arms.
“You can't survive on memories.”
He hesitated.
Then picked up the spoon.
For the first time in weeks, he ate without asking anyone to taste the food first.
Norah watched quietly.
When he finished, she said:
“Rosa used to tell me something.”
Gabriel looked up.
“What?”
“She said the past is a room you can visit, but you can't live there.”
Gabriel stared.
May you like
Then whispered:
“That sounds like her.”
