Chapter 4 - “Yes.”
“My miscarriages?”
His face broke.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
“How did you know?”
“Marcus told someone. I heard.”
I started crying.
Angry tears.
“You could have come.”
“I promised Elena.”
“I needed family.”
“I know.”
“You were alive.”
“I know.”
“I thought I had nobody.”
Vincent looked at me.
His eyes were red now.
“I know.”
The two words destroyed me more than any apology could have.
“Why that night?”
“My men saw Marcus leave the building with luggage.”
“You followed him?”
“Yes.”
“Why come upstairs?”
Vincent looked away.
“That’s the part I have not told you.”
A chill moved over my skin.
“What part?”
“He called me.”
I stared.
“Marcus called you?”
“Seven minutes before he left.”
“What did he say?”
Vincent’s face hardened.
“He said, ‘Your sister’s girl is your problem now.’”
My stomach turned.
“He knew I was dying.”
“Yes.”
“And he called you anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To make sure I found you.”
For one terrible second, relief tried to enter.
Then Vincent continued.
“Not to save you.”
I felt cold.
“He wanted me seen entering your penthouse.”
Understanding came slowly.
News cameras.
Security footage.
A dead wife.
A mafia boss entering minutes later.
“Oh God.”
“He planned to make your death mine.”
My hand covered my mouth.
“If you died, he had someone to blame.”
Vincent nodded.
“And the accounts?”
“Disappear while everyone looked at me.”
Marcus had not merely abandoned me.
He had turned my death into an exit strategy.
I looked through the chapel doorway toward the corridor leading to my daughter.
“Did you record the call?”
“Yes.”
“Give it to the police.”
Vincent studied me.
“That recording will become public.”
“I don’t care.”
“They will hear him call you—”
“His burden?”
My voice steadied.
“Let them.”
For the first time since the penthouse, I no longer felt like something terrible had happened to me.
I felt like I was choosing what happened next.
“Give them everything.”
Vincent nodded.
“All right.”
“And Vincent?”
May you like
He paused.
“Thank you for breaking your promise.”
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