Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH ABOUT LUCIEN MORETTI
Evelyn discovered Lucien's past through a newspaper archive.
She had been searching for information about Crosswell when an old article appeared.
MORETTI FAMILY LINKED TO WATERFRONT VIOLENCE.
The article was twelve years old.
It described a dispute between rival shipping interests.
Several men had been injured.
One had died.
Lucien's name appeared repeatedly.
No charges had been filed against him.
But witnesses described him as a central figure in the conflict.
Evelyn stared at the screen.
That evening, she confronted him.
“Did you have someone killed?”
Lucien went still.
He looked at the article.
Then at her.
“No.”
Evelyn waited.
He continued.
“But I was involved in the organization that caused a great deal of harm.”
Her stomach tightened.
“What does that mean?”
Lucien sat down.
“My father built his empire through intimidation. When he died, I inherited it.”
He looked toward the window.
“I told myself I could control the violence.”
Evelyn remained silent.
“I believed I could make the organization legitimate without dismantling the people who had kept it running.”
He swallowed.
“I was wrong.”
She sat opposite him.
“Did you know people were being hurt?”
His expression darkened.
“Sometimes.”
The honesty hurt.
Evelyn looked away.
“Why didn't you stop it?”
Lucien closed his eyes.
“Because I was afraid that if I lost control, someone worse would take over.”
She stared.
“That's not a justification.”
“I know.”
For a long time, neither spoke.
Then Evelyn said:
“I can't be with someone who thinks love excuses harm.”
Lucien nodded.
“It shouldn't.”
She stood.
“I need time.”
He didn't stop her.
At the door, she turned.
“Lucien?”
He looked up.
“If you want to become someone different, you have to do it because it's right.”
His eyes filled.
“Not because of me.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
Evelyn left.
For three days, they didn't speak.
During that time, Lucien met with his attorneys.
He ordered independent audits.
He removed several longtime associates from management.
He expanded cooperation with investigators.
He did not call Evelyn to tell her.
May you like
He did not ask for praise.
For the first time, he began changing his life without expecting love to be the reward.
