Chapter 14: The Father Who Lost Everything
Victor disappeared before we could confront him.
His phone was off.
His hotel room was empty.
His car was gone.
The man who had walked into my wedding like he owned the world had vanished the moment the truth started catching up.
But this time, I wasn’t chasing him.
I was done chasing.
For years, I had chased the idea of a father.
The father from my childhood dreams.
The father who would come back and apologize.
The father who would finally choose me.
Victor was never that man.
He was just someone who looked like him.
The next morning, Eleanor called.
“I found him.””
I sat up.
“Where?””
“At his hotel.””
“What happened?””
“He’s waiting for you.””
I almost laughed.
“Of course he is.””
Ryan looked at me.
“You don’t have to go.””
“I know.””
I grabbed my coat.
“But I want to.””
Mark stood.
“I’m coming.””
I looked at him.
The pain between us was still there.
The damage was real.
But so was everything else.
“You don’t have to prove anything.””
“I know.””
He looked at me.
“But I want to.””
So we went together.
Victor was sitting in the hotel lounge.
Calm.
Almost peaceful.
Like he wasn’t responsible for destroying the happiest day of my life.
When he saw me, he smiled.
“Clara.””
I stayed standing.
“Why did you access my mother’s files?””
The smile disappeared.
Straight to the point.
He respected that.
Or maybe he feared it.
“You found more than I expected.””
“That’s not an answer.””
Victor leaned back.
“You always were like your mother.””
“I’ll take that as a compliment.””
“It wasn’t meant to be.””
I stared at him.
“You came back for the trust.””
“No.””
The answer came too quickly.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Really?””
Victor sighed.
“Fine.””
He looked tired.
“I came back because I needed money.””
There it was.
The truth.
Finally.
“Thank you.””
He frowned.
“For what?””
“For admitting it.””
Victor looked away.
“I was desperate.””
“That doesn’t excuse anything.””
“I know.””
The admission surprised me.
“You know?””
“Yes.””
For a moment, he looked like a human being.
Not a villain.
Just a broken man.
“I made mistakes.””
“Twenty-two years of mistakes.””
He nodded.
“I know.””
“Why did you leave?””
His eyes moved to Mark.
“Because your mother gave me no choice.””
Mark’s expression hardened.
“Still lying.””
Victor looked at him.
“You think you’re better than me?””
“No.””
Mark’s voice was quiet.
“I know I failed her too.””
Victor looked surprised.
Maybe because Mark wasn’t fighting.
He wasn’t defending himself.
He was accepting his mistakes.
And that made Victor look smaller.
“I never wanted to hurt Clara.””
I stared at him.
“You sent me a bill.””
His face changed.
“That was wrong.””
“You think?””
“Yes.””
The word was quiet.
“I thought if I made it a transaction, I wouldn’t have to admit I wanted something from you.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Victor looked at me.
“I wanted forgiveness.””
The confession shocked me.
Not because I believed him completely.
But because it sounded real.
“I didn’t know how to ask.””
“So you charged me?””
He looked down.
“Yes.””
A sad smile crossed his face.
“Ironic, isn’t it?””
“What?””
“I spent my whole life trying to prove I wasn’t worthless.””
He looked at me.
“And I ended up proving exactly what everyone thought.””
Silence.
Then he said:
“I didn’t cause your mother’s death.””
I watched him carefully.
“Did you have something to do with it?””
He didn’t answer.
That was enough.
“Victor.””
He sighed.
“I knew Richard was helping me.””
My heart tightened.
“But I didn’t know he would sabotage the car.””
The words landed.
“You knew he was involved?””
“Yes.””
“And you let him?””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“I found out afterward.””
I stared.
“After she died?””
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?””
He looked away.
“Because I was scared.””
The irony was almost unbearable.
Everyone was scared.
Everyone hid.
Everyone made choices.
And I was the one who carried the consequences.
“Where is Richard now?””
Victor looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
“That’s a lie.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“He disappeared years ago.””
“Then why did he access my mother’s files?””
Victor froze.
I noticed.
“What?””
“You said he did?””
“No.””
I leaned forward.
“You knew.””
Victor looked terrified.
Not of me.
Of something else.
“He’s alive.””
My heart raced.
“Who?””
Victor whispered:
“Richard.””
The room went silent.
“He’s been watching.””
“Watching what?””
Victor looked at me.
“You.””
I felt cold.
“Why?””
He looked directly at me.
“Because your mother didn’t just leave you money.””
A pause.
“She left you evidence that could destroy him.””
I stood.
“Where is it?””
Victor hesitated.
Then reached into his jacket.
He pulled out a small key.
“I took this the night of the accident.””
My heart stopped.
“The black box.””
He nodded.
“I thought it was money.””
“And?””
“It wasn’t.””
“What was inside?””
Victor looked at me.
“Your mother’s final recording.””
I grabbed the key.
“What recording?””
Victor’s eyes filled with regret.
“The one where she named everyone involved.””
My fingers closed around the key.
“Everyone?””
He nodded.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Even me.””
