Chapter 13 - The Woman Who Gave Her Away
Victoria stepped into the alley.
She wasn't crying anymore.
She wasn't trembling.
She wasn't the frightened woman Leo had seen in the mansion.
She looked calm.
Almost relieved.
In her hands was the original ledger.
The book that had destroyed lives.
The book that had survived twenty-two years of murder, betrayal, and silence.
Leo stared at her.
"You."
Victoria smiled.
"Yes."
Beatrice couldn't move.
Her eyes remained fixed on the woman standing beneath the streetlight.
The woman she had hated.
The woman she had feared.
The woman who had locked Lily in the cellar.
And now—
Her mother.
"No."
Victoria looked at her.
"I know."
"No."
Beatrice shook her head.
"You're lying."
"I wish I were."
"You aren't my mother."
Victoria's expression softened.
"I gave birth to you."
Beatrice's breathing became ragged.
"Then why did you abandon me?"
Victoria looked away.
"Because I was afraid."
"Of what?"
"Your father."
Beatrice stared.
"Adrian?"
Victoria shook her head.
"Not Adrian."
She looked toward the old man.
"Marcus."
Leo's grandfather smiled.
"She was always a coward."
Victoria's eyes hardened.
"Don't."
The old man laughed.
"You handed me your own daughter."
Victoria's face crumpled.
"I thought I was saving her."
"You were saving yourself."
Victoria closed her eyes.
"Yes."
Beatrice stepped closer.
"You gave me away."
Victoria nodded.
"I did."
"Why?"
"Because Marcus promised he would spare Adrian."
Beatrice froze.
"He threatened him."
"Yes."
"You chose him over me."
Victoria's voice broke.
"I chose wrong."
Beatrice laughed through tears.
"Twenty-two years."
Victoria couldn't answer.
"You let me grow up believing I was nobody."
"I watched you."
"You watched me?"
"Every day."
Beatrice stared at her.
"I saw you become strong."
"No."
Victoria shook her head.
"You became kind."
Beatrice looked confused.
Victoria whispered:
"That was the one thing Marcus could never understand."
Leo stepped forward.
"Where is Lily?"
Victoria looked toward the car.
"She's safe."
"Bring her here."
The old man raised his weapon.
"No."
Leo's eyes hardened.
"You've had enough control."
The old man smiled.
"You still don't understand."
He raised the ledger.
"This book contains names."
"I know."
"It contains governments."
"I know."
"It contains judges, police chiefs, CEOs, senators."
Leo's jaw tightened.
"And it contains you."
The old man's smile vanished.
Leo looked at the ledger.
"Give it to me."
"No."
"Then I'll take it."
The old man laughed.
"You think killing me will solve everything?"
"No."
Leo raised his gun.
"I think ending you will stop you."
Before anyone could move, Adrian stepped between them.
"Wait."
Leo turned.
Adrian looked at the old man.
"Tell him."
The old man frowned.
"Tell him what?"
"The truth."
Adrian's voice shook.
"Tell him who ordered the bombing."
The old man's expression changed.
Leo froze.
"Was it you?"
The old man said nothing.
Leo repeated:
"Was it you?"
Finally, the old man answered.
"No."
Leo stared.
"Then who?"
The old man looked at Victoria.
"She did."
Victoria closed her eyes.
Beatrice looked at her.
"Mom?"
Victoria began crying.
"I didn't know Lily was inside."
Leo's face became terrifyingly calm.
"You gave them the location."
"I thought they were going after Elena."
"You knew my wife was there."
"I knew she was helping Elena."
"And Lily?"
"I didn't know."
"You knew there was a child."
Victoria whispered:
"I thought they would take her."
Leo stepped closer.
"They killed my wife."
"I know."
"You destroyed my family."
"I know."
"And you expect me to forgive you?"
Victoria shook her head.
"No."
She looked at Beatrice.
"I only want you to know that I regretted it every day."
Beatrice's eyes filled with tears.
"You could have told me."
"I was afraid."
"You could have found me."
"I did."
Beatrice froze.
"What?"
Victoria swallowed.
"I was the one who placed you in the Rossi household."
Leo stared.
"You?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I knew Leo would protect you."
Leo's eyes narrowed.
"You used me."
"I knew you would love her."
He looked at Beatrice.
"And you were right."
A siren sounded in the distance.
Then another.
Mateo appeared at the end of the street.
Behind him were federal agents.
The old man looked around.
"What have you done?"
Mateo smiled.
"Made copies."
The old man stared at him.
"Of the ledger."
Mateo held up a phone.
"And every page has already been sent to investigators."
The old man's face collapsed.
Leo looked at Mateo.
"When?"
"While you were talking."
The old man raised his weapon.
Adrian tackled him.
The gun fired.
The bullet struck the pavement.
Federal agents rushed forward.
Within seconds, the old man was on the ground.
Handcuffed.
Victoria dropped the ledger.
Leo picked it up.
For the first time in twenty-two years, the Rossi family secret was no longer protected by fear.
Lily ran toward Leo.
"Papa!"
He dropped to his knees.
She crashed into his arms.
He held her tightly.
"I'm sorry."
Lily wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Don't leave me."
"Never."
She looked over his shoulder.
"Bee."
Beatrice smiled through tears.
Lily reached for her.
Beatrice came closer.
The little girl held one of her hands.
Then the other.
She looked between them.
"Are you sisters?"
Leo couldn't speak.
Beatrice laughed softly.
"Maybe."
Lily smiled.
"Then we can be sisters too."
Beatrice looked at Leo.
He nodded.
"Yes."
The old man was taken away.
Victoria was arrested.
Daniel surrendered.
The network began collapsing within hours.
Names were exposed.
Accounts were frozen.
Officials resigned.
Investigations opened across several states.
For the first time, the Rossi family no longer controlled the story.
The truth did.
But there was still one person missing.
Elena.
She had disappeared before the arrests.
Beatrice looked at Leo.
"Where did she go?"
Leo shook his head.
"I don't know."
Then his phone buzzed.
One message.
A photograph.
Elena standing on a beach.
Alive.
Underneath:
You saved her.
Now save yourself.
Leo stared at the message.
Beatrice looked at him.
"She's saying goodbye."
Leo nodded.
"Maybe."
Beatrice smiled sadly.
"She gave me a life."
May you like
Leo put his hand on her shoulder.
"Then we'll make it worth the sacrifice."
