Chapter 7 - THE BETRAYAL INSIDE THE HOUSE
Mrs. Gable sat calmly in the security room.
Victor entered.
"Explain."
She looked at him.
"I didn't access the archive."
Marco placed evidence on the table.
"Your credentials were used."
Mrs. Gable nodded.
"Credentials can be stolen."
Victor studied her.
"You knew my brother."
Her expression changed.
"Yes."
"Tell me everything."
Mrs. Gable sighed.
"Adrian discovered your father's illegal accounts."
Victor's jaw tightened.
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Adrian told me not to."
"Why?"
"Because he believed your father would kill you if you knew."
Victor went silent.
Mrs. Gable continued.
"Adrian wasn't killed by an enemy."
Victor's face became pale.
"He was killed because he tried to expose your father."
The room went silent.
Victor looked away.
Everything he believed about his family was collapsing.
Then Chloe entered.
"Victor."
He turned.
She was holding an envelope.
"I found this in my old apartment."
She handed it to him.
Inside was a letter from her father.
Victor read it.
Michael had written that he had discovered the same financial scheme Adrian had uncovered.
He had tried to expose Elias Hale.
But Victor's father had blamed Michael instead.
The scheme had been designed to protect the Russo empire by sacrificing innocent employees.
Chloe's father had escaped with evidence.
Then disappeared.
Victor's eyes burned.
"My father destroyed your family."
Chloe nodded.
"And yours."
Victor looked at her.
"I'm sorry."
"You didn't do it."
"But my name benefited."
She stepped closer.
"Then use your name to fix it."
That sentence changed him.
The following morning, Victor publicly opened an investigation into the old financial scandal.
It cost him millions.
Several partners abandoned him.
Three board members resigned.
But he didn't stop.
Vanessa confronted him outside the courthouse.
"You'll destroy everything your family built."
Victor looked at her.
"Maybe some things deserve to be destroyed."
"You love her."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"I could have made you happy."
Victor answered gently.
"No."
She shook her head.
"You don't know that."
"I do."
He walked away.
But Vanessa wasn't the mastermind.
The true architect was her father.
Elias Hale had been preparing for years.
His final move came that night.
Victor's financial systems were attacked.
Millions vanished.
His companies froze.
The news exploded.
RUSSO EMPIRE COLLAPSES UNDER INVESTIGATION
Chloe watched the television.
Victor stood beside her.
"What happens now?"
He looked exhausted.
"I don't know."
For the first time, he wasn't pretending.
Chloe took his hand.
"Then we'll figure it out."
Victor looked at her.
"You don't have to stay."
"I know."
May you like
She squeezed his hand.
"That's why I'm staying."
