Chapter 14 - THE LAST MAN I TRUSTED
Marcus had been standing beside Nathan throughout the entire investigation.
He'd helped trace bank accounts.
Recovered security footage.
Protected Ethan.
And uncovered evidence against Victoria and Julian.
Now Victoria was accusing him of murdering my father.
Nathan turned slowly.
Marcus looked stunned.
“Boss, she's lying.”
I stared at him.
“Did you know my father?”
“No.”
But Investigator Brooks was already examining the newly recovered documents.
He opened a personnel record from twenty-four years earlier.
Marcus's photograph appeared.
His name was different.
Michael Stanton.
He had worked as a private security contractor for Julian Mercer.
Nathan stared.
“Marcus?”
Marcus's face changed.
For the first time, he looked afraid.
“I can explain.”
Brooks stepped forward.
“Then explain.”
Marcus swallowed.
“I was there the night Samuel Carter died.”
The air left my lungs.
I grabbed Ethan's arm.
Marcus looked toward me.
“Your father was trying to escape the warehouse. Julian ordered security to stop him.”
I felt tears gathering.
“What happened?”
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“There was a struggle. Samuel fell from a loading platform. He suffered a fatal head injury.”
I covered my mouth.
Nathan's expression turned hard.
“And you never told me?”
Marcus shook his head.
“Julian threatened my family. I was young and afraid.”
Brooks continued examining the documents.
“Did you help conceal his death?”
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.”
I stepped back.
For years, I'd imagined my father dying in some terrible accident.
Now I knew he'd been trying to protect us.
And the man standing in front of me had helped bury the truth.
“Why did you help us?” I whispered.
Marcus looked at me.
“Because I couldn't live with what I'd done.”
He swallowed.
“When I recognized Hannah's name, I realized her daughter was in danger too.”
My tears fell.
“So you waited until now to tell us?”
“I was afraid.”
I stared at him.
“My mother was afraid every day. She still fought for us.”
Marcus lowered his head.
He didn't argue.
Investigators took him into custody for questioning.
His cooperation would be considered, but it wouldn't erase his role in concealing my father's death.
In the weeks that followed, the evidence led to criminal charges against Victoria, Julian, and several others.
The fraudulent medical bill was canceled.
The attempted redirection of my money was reversed.
Nathan began restructuring his companies under independent oversight, cooperating with investigators and separating his legitimate businesses from the criminal operations that had damaged so many lives.
And I finally buried my mother.
Beside my father.
At the cemetery, Ethan stood on one side of me.
Nathan stood several feet away, giving us space.
I placed white roses on the graves.
“Mom,” I whispered, “I found him.”
Ethan began crying.
I held his hand.
“We found each other.”
Then I placed one final rose beside my father's name.
“Dad, the truth came out.”
For the first time since my mother died, I felt something other than grief.
Hope.
But as we turned to leave, Nathan approached.
“Bella?”
I looked at him.
He seemed nervous.
I had never seen that before.
“There's something I need to tell you.”
I waited.
He swallowed.
“I didn't transfer that money because I expected anything from you.”
I stared at him.
“Then why?”
His voice broke slightly.
“Because when you told me about your mother, you reminded me of the person I used to be before I became someone everyone feared.”
He paused.
“And because I wanted to help, even if I didn't know how to do it properly.”
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
“I'd like to know you again, Bella. Without money. Without pressure. Without secrets.”
May you like
My heart began beating faster.
And for the first time, I wondered whether the man who had frightened me in that penthouse might be capable of becoming someone entirely different.
