Chapter 9: The Truth That Destroyed The Empire
Lucien did not look like a defeated man.
That was the first thing Theron noticed.
He looked calm.
Almost peaceful.
And somehow that was more frightening.
People who lost control panicked.
Lucien never panicked.
He adapted.
Theron stepped in front of his mother and sister.
A protective instinct he could not stop.
Lucien opened the car door and stepped out.
"You always did love dramatic entrances.""
Theron's voice was cold.
"You knew.""
Lucien looked toward the house.
"Eventually.""
"How long?""
A pause.
"Long enough.""
Theron's anger rose.
"You knew my mother was alive.""
"Yes.""
"You knew Elara existed.""
"Yes.""
The honesty was shocking.
"Why?""
Lucien adjusted his coat.
"Because secrets are valuable.""
Theron stared.
"You destroyed your own family for power.""
Lucien shook his head.
"No.""
He looked at the house.
"I saved it.""
"That is what you tell yourself.""
Lucien stepped closer.
"Your mother was going to destroy everything.""
"My mother wanted the truth exposed.""
"Your mother was emotional.""
Theron almost smiled.
There it was.
The same excuse.
The same weapon.
Anyone who challenged Lucien was simply emotional.
Anyone who loved something was weak.
"You never understood love.""
Lucien looked at him.
"Love makes people reckless.""
"No.""
Theron glanced back at his mother.
"It makes them human.""
Lucien sighed.
"You're more like your mother than you realize.""
"Good.""
For a moment, Lucien's expression softened.
Almost like regret.
Then it disappeared.
"You have no idea what you are protecting.""
Theron frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Lucien looked at Elara.
"Ask your sister.""
Everyone turned.
Elara looked uncomfortable.
"Don't.""
Theron noticed.
"Don't what?""
She looked down.
"I wasn't just hidden.""
The silence returned.
"What are you saying?""
Elara looked at Lucien.
"I helped him.""
Theron's face changed.
"No.""
"I was young.""
"How young?""
"Seventeen.""
His chest tightened.
"You worked with him?""
"I thought he was protecting me.""
Her voice cracked.
"I thought you hated me.""
Theron froze.
"What?""
Elara looked at him.
"Your mother told me you blamed me.""
"Why would I blame you?""
"Because Lucien told me you did.""
The pieces began falling into place.
Lucien had not only destroyed relationships.
He had created hatred between people who loved each other.
Theron looked at his father.
"You made us enemies.""
Lucien said nothing.
"You made everyone believe they were alone.""
Still nothing.
"Why?""
Finally, Lucien answered.
"Because people who trust each other become difficult to control.""
The sentence was quiet.
Simple.
Terrible.
Theron felt something inside him break.
Not anger.
Not sadness.
Something else.
Acceptance.
He finally understood who his father was.
Not a complicated man.
Not a damaged man.
Not a man who had made mistakes.
A man who had chosen.
The police arrived moments later.
Marcus had followed Theron.
He approached with documents.
"Theron.""
He held up a file.
"We found the final evidence.""
Lucien looked annoyed.
"What evidence?""
Marcus smiled.
"Your mistake.""
He opened the folder.
"Fifteen years ago, you paid a private investigator to track your wife.""
Lucien's face changed.
"The investigator kept records.""
Theron looked at him.
"You thought everyone could be bought.""
Marcus continued.
"But you forgot some people keep copies.""
The documents included recordings.
Bank transfers.
Messages.
Plans.
Everything.
Lucien's empire was finally cracking.
But then Corisande arrived.
Everyone turned.
She looked exhausted.
Broken.
Not the polished woman from the courtroom.
Just a person who had finally run out of places to hide.
"Theron.""
He looked at her.
"I need to tell you something.""
He didn't answer.
She looked at Eirlys.
"I was wrong.""
The words were barely audible.
"But I was scared.""
Theron remained silent.
"I hurt her.""
Her voice broke.
"I know.""
Eirlys hid behind him.
Corisande cried.
"I wanted to protect her.""
"By hurting her?""
"No.""
She shook her head.
"By making sure Lucien never got what he wanted.""
Theron stared.
"You knew about the inheritance.""
"Yes.""
"You knew about Elara.""
"Yes.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
Corisande looked away.
"Because Lucien had something against me.""
"What?""
Her face went pale.
"My son.""
The world stopped.
Theron stared.
"Your son?""
Corisande nodded.
"The child I had before you.""
Another secret.
Another hidden life.
"He took him.""
Theron's expression changed.
"He told me if I betrayed him, I would never see my son again.""
Nobody spoke.
Because suddenly everyone understood.
Lucien's power was never money.
It was fear.
He collected people's weaknesses.
And used them like weapons.
Lucien looked around.
For the first time, he was surrounded.
The people he manipulated.
The people he betrayed.
The people he tried to erase.
Theron stepped forward.
"It's over.""
Lucien looked at him.
"No.""
A strange smile appeared.
"You still don't know the final secret.""
Theron's eyes narrowed.
"What secret?""
Lucien looked at Eirlys.
"The inheritance was never about the money.""
Everyone went silent.
"What does that mean?""
Lucien smiled.
"Ask your daughter who she really is.""
Theron immediately turned.
Eirlys looked frightened.
"Daddy...""
He knelt.
"What is it?""
She slowly reached into her pocket.
And pulled out a small folded paper.
"I found this in Mommy's room.""
Theron opened it.
His face changed.
Because written inside was one sentence.
*Eirlys Viremont is not the heir. She is the proof.*
And beneath it was a name.
A name Theron had never seen before.
May you like
A name that would reveal the final betrayal hidden inside the Viremont family.
*The real heir was someone else.*
