Chapter 8 - Matteo Refused to Inherit the Family Lie

Charles did not run.

That surprised me.

Maybe he knew running would make him look guilty.

Maybe he knew the roads were already covered.

Or maybe men like Charles never truly believed consequences were meant for them.

He stood by the fireplace while we waited.

No one spoke to him.

Lydia sat near the window.

Her ring remained on the chessboard.

Matteo stood beside Vincent.

Not touching him.

Close enough anyway.

Graham copied the flash drive onto his laptop.

Twice.

Then he gave one copy to me.

Charles watched.

“You trust the maid?”

Graham did not look up.

“Yes.”

Charles smiled.

“That is how empires end.”

I surprised myself.

“Maybe that is how they stop rotting.”

Everyone looked at me.

Including Matteo.

Charles did not answer.

Ten minutes later, headlights filled the driveway.

This time nobody hid.

Three investigators entered.

Two uniformed officers stayed outside.

The woman from the phone introduced herself as Evelyn Hart.

She was in her forties.

Calm.

Tired eyes.

No interest in family reputation.

Graham handed her the drive.

Then the signature records.

Then the facility invoices.

Then Nora’s name.

Evelyn looked at Vincent.

“Mr. Vale, I need to ask whether you are here voluntarily.”

Vincent almost laughed.

“For the first time in twelve years.”

She did not smile.

“Were you prevented from leaving the facility?”

“Yes.”

“By whom?”

Vincent looked at Charles.

“People paid through companies he controlled.”

Charles’ attorney had not arrived yet.

He still said nothing.

Evelyn turned to Lydia.

“Did you visit Mr. Vale?”

“Yes.”

“Did you understand he wanted to leave?”

“Yes.”

“Did you report it?”

Lydia’s face broke.

“No.”

Matteo looked away.

Evelyn did not soften.

“Why?”

“My father threatened Matteo.”

“Do you have evidence?”

Lydia nodded.

“Some.”

“Where?”

“The Union Station locker.”

Charles finally spoke.

“Nothing else is said without counsel.”

Evelyn looked at him.

“That is your right.”

He seemed almost disappointed she did not argue.

Two investigators took him outside.

Not arrested.

Not yet.

But not in control either.

Lydia watched the door close behind him.

Then she began to cry.

Quietly.

Matteo walked toward her.

I thought he might comfort her.

He did not.

He sat across from her.

“I need one more truth.”

She wiped her face.

“Ask.”

“If Graham had not come back tonight, would you have married me?”

Lydia froze.

Vincent looked away.

Graham stopped typing.

I wished I could leave.

Matteo repeated it.

“Would you have walked down that aisle?”

Lydia stared at the ring on the chessboard.

“Yes.”

Matteo closed his eyes.

She continued.

“And I would have hated myself every step.”

“That doesn’t make it better.”

“I know.”

“Would you have told me after?”

“I don’t know.”

He nodded.

That answer decided something.

He picked up the ring.

Lydia held her breath.

Matteo placed it in her palm.

“The wedding is over.”

Her fingers closed around it.

“I understand.”

“I don’t know what happens to us.”

She looked at him.

“I understand that too.”

He stood.

Then Vincent spoke.

“Matteo.”

Matteo turned.

His father’s voice was quiet.

“Do not make decisions tonight because you think pain becomes clarity.”

Matteo stared at him.

“You’re defending her?”

“No.”

Vincent looked at Lydia.

“She failed me.”

Lydia lowered her eyes.

“She also kept me alive more than once.”

Matteo frowned.

“What?”

Vincent nodded toward her.

“After the window was sealed, she paid Nora privately.”

Lydia looked up.

“Vincent—”

“She deserves the truth too.”

Matteo’s face hardened.

“What did she pay for?”

“Medication reviews. Food. Physical therapy. A second doctor.”

Lydia whispered, “It wasn’t enough.”

“No.”

Vincent agreed.

“It wasn’t.”

That honesty hurt.

Then he added, “But without it, I may not be standing here.”

Matteo looked at Lydia differently.

Not forgiven.

Not absolved.

Just differently.

Evelyn returned.

“We have enough to secure the facility records before anyone destroys them.”

Graham nodded.

“And Charles?”

“We are not discussing charging decisions tonight.”

Charles would have hated her.

I liked her immediately.

She looked at Vincent.

“We need a formal statement.”

Vincent sighed.

“I have twelve years.”

“We’ll start with one night.”

While they spoke, Matteo walked onto the porch.

I followed.

Not because he asked.

Because someone had to.

The lake was beginning to lighten.

Morning coming.

He leaned against the railing.

“I thought finding him would fix something.”

I stood beside him.

“Did it?”

“No.”

He looked through the trees.

“It made everything real.”

I understood.

Missing people can become ideas.

Living people cannot.

They need food.

Answers.

Doctors.

Forgiveness.

Time.

Matteo rubbed both hands over his face.

“My father lied to protect the Vale name.”

“Yes.”

“Lydia lied to protect me.”

“Yes.”

“Charles lied to protect a company.”

“Yes.”

He looked at me.

“Everyone had a reason.”

I nodded.

“That doesn’t make the reasons good.”

He almost smiled.

“Why are you still here?”

“You told me to come.”

“I also told you to stay at the estate eleven months ago.”

“That was employment.”

“This stopped being employment around midnight.”

I looked toward the house.

Vincent was visible through the window.

Alive.

“That door was mine.”

“What?”

“The ballroom door.”

He watched me.

“I opened it.”

Matteo nodded slowly.

“And if you hadn’t?”

I thought about that.

Then answered honestly.

“Graham would have found another door.”

Matteo looked toward the sunrise.

“Maybe.”

Inside, Graham called his name.

Matteo went back.

On the chessboard lay one final document Evelyn had removed from the copied files.

A transfer order.

Dated that morning.

Destination blank.

Authorized by Charles Maren.

Matteo looked at the empty destination line.

“What was he planning?”

Vincent stared at it.

Then at his son.

“To make me disappear again.”

Matteo folded the page.

“No.”

May you like

[COMPLETED] “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DRESS! YOU’RE NOTHING BUT AN OLD SEAM...

[COMPLETED] At the Mafia Boss's Engagement Party, I Served His Hungry So...

[COMPLETED] The Mafia Boss’s Fiancée Tried to Dismiss His Father’s Loyal...

His voice was calm.

“He doesn’t get another twelve years.”