Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD
Elizabeth Kane appeared at Roman's office on a rainy Tuesday afternoon.
No warning.
No appointment.
No explanation.
She walked through the door wearing a cream-colored coat.
Her hair was silver now.
Her face older.
But her eyes were exactly as Roman remembered.
He stood slowly.
“Mother.”
Elizabeth smiled.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Roman didn't move.
Twenty-two years.
Twenty-two years of grief.
Of birthdays without her.
Of Christmas mornings spent staring at an empty chair.
And she was standing before him.
Alive.
“Why?”
The word barely escaped his throat.
Elizabeth's smile faded.
“Roman—”
“Why did you let me bury you?”
She looked away.
“It was complicated.”
Roman laughed bitterly.
“Complicated?”
His voice broke.
“I was fourteen.”
Elizabeth's eyes filled.
“I know.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“I know.”
“You let me believe it.”
She swallowed.
“I was trying to protect you.”
Roman stared.
“From what?”
Elizabeth hesitated.
Then whispered, “From Charles Whitaker.”
Roman went still.
She continued.
“He was laundering money through our companies. I discovered it. He threatened to expose me for crimes I'd committed years earlier.”
Roman looked at her.
“So you disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“And Father helped?”
Elizabeth nodded.
Roman's jaw tightened.
“Then why didn't you come back?”
She began crying.
“Because I was afraid.”
Roman stared at her.
He wanted to embrace her.
He wanted to scream.
He wanted to be fourteen again.
He wanted the years back.
But none of that was possible.
So he asked the only question that mattered.
“Are you telling me the truth now?”
Elizabeth looked at him.
For a long moment, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, “Not all of it.”
Roman closed his eyes.
May you like
Of course.
There was always another lie.
