Chapter 13 - THE LAST BETRAYAL
The final embroidered record changed everything.
It connected Victoria to a payment made three days before Lorenzo Moretti's murder.
The amount was five million dollars.
The recipient was a company controlled by Salvatore.
Ava stared at the decoded figures.
“Victoria paid him.”
Niko's expression darkened.
“To kill my father.”
The room became silent.
For nine years, Niko had believed Salvatore murdered Lorenzo because of a dispute over criminal territory.
The truth was worse.
Victoria had helped finance the murder to prevent Lorenzo from exposing the Bellwether scheme.
Niko looked at the record.
His jaw tightened.
Ava reached for his hand.
He didn't pull away.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered.
He looked at her.
“For what?”
“For bringing this into your life.”
Niko shook his head.
“It was already there.”
***
Federal investigators received the complete evidence.
The Rose Ledger.
The financial records.
The nurse's statement.
Lorenzo's letters.
The security footage from the gala.
Bianca's testimony.
Richard's confession.
The case expanded into a major investigation involving fraud, conspiracy, obstruction, and murder.
Victoria's accounts were frozen.
Several executives resigned.
The Whitmore Foundation was placed under independent oversight.
Ava watched the news without satisfaction.
Justice was necessary.
But it couldn't return eighteen lost years.
***
Two days later, Victoria called.
Ava answered from Niko's office.
“Hello, Ava.”
Her stepmother sounded calm.
Almost cheerful.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“What do you want?”
“To make you an offer.”
Ava closed her eyes.
“No.”
“You haven't heard it.”
“I don't need to.”
Victoria laughed softly.
“You've always been so emotional.”
Ava looked at Niko.
He nodded toward the recording equipment already authorized for the call.
Victoria continued.
“I can make this disappear.”
“No.”
“I can restore your father's reputation.”
“No.”
“I can give you the entire Whitmore fashion division.”
Ava almost laughed.
“You already gave Bianca my work.”
Victoria's voice hardened.
“Your mother should have known when to stop.”
Ava felt cold.
“What did you say?”
“Eleanor could have taken the money.”
“She wanted her work.”
“She wanted everything.”
“No.”
Ava's voice steadied.
“She wanted what belonged to her.”
Victoria was silent.
Then she said:
“Meet me tonight. Alone.”
“Why?”
“Because I have something your mother wants.”
Ava looked toward Niko.
“What?”
Victoria whispered:
“The original recording of the night she fell.”
The call ended.
***
Niko refused to let Ava go alone.
Ava refused to surrender the opportunity.
They argued.
Loudly.
For the first time, neither held back.
“You can't walk into a trap,” Niko said.
“And you can't decide everything for me.”
“I'm trying to keep you alive.”
“I know.”
“Then listen.”
Ava stepped closer.
“I am listening. But you need to listen too.”
Niko stopped.
She continued.
“My entire life, people made decisions for me. Dad. Victoria. Bianca. They said it was protection.”
His face changed.
Ava softened.
“I know you're different.”
“Then trust me.”
“I do.”
She touched his chest.
“But trust has to go both ways.”
Niko closed his eyes.
Then nodded.
“All right.”
***
They worked with investigators.
Victoria's proposed meeting location was monitored.
Ava wore a recording device.
Niko remained nearby.
The meeting took place inside an abandoned private theater.
Victoria sat alone beneath a broken chandelier.
She wore a black dress.
Pearls.
Perfect makeup.
Ava approached.
“Where's the recording?”
Victoria smiled.
“Still impatient.”
“Where is it?”
Victoria opened her handbag.
Removed a small digital recorder.
Then placed it on the table.
Ava stared.
“Play it.”
Victoria pressed a button.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Eleanor.
“You can't take my work.”
Then Victoria.
“Watch me.”
A struggle.
A scream.
A terrible crash.
Ava's knees weakened.
Then Eleanor's voice.
Weak.
Terrified.
“Richard…help…”
Silence.
Then Richard.
“Call an ambulance.”
Victoria's voice returned.
“No.”
Ava covered her mouth.
Richard again.
“She could die.”
Victoria answered:
“Then let her.”
Ava began shaking.
Victoria stopped the recording.
“There.”
Ava stared at her.
“You kept this?”
“Insurance.”
“Against whom?”
“Everyone.”
Ava looked at the woman who had raised her.
For thirteen years, Victoria had told her she was lucky.
Lucky to have a roof.
Lucky to have clothes.
Lucky to be allowed near Bianca's world.
Now Ava understood.
Victoria hadn't hated her because she was weak.
She had hated her because Ava was living proof of a crime Victoria couldn't erase.
“You destroyed my family,” Ava whispered.
Victoria smiled.
“No, Ava.”
She leaned forward.
“Your father destroyed it when he chose me.”
Then the theater doors slammed.
Ava turned.
Salvatore Moretti stepped from the darkness.
A gun in his hand.
And Victoria's smile vanished.
Because Salvatore wasn't pointing the weapon at Ava.
May you like
He was pointing it at her.
---
