Chapter 9 - The Man Behind the Marriage
Marcus survived.
The bullet passed through his shoulder, missing the artery by less than an inch.
Police found him inside a parking garage two miles from the mansion.
His attacker escaped.
But before losing consciousness, Marcus managed to send Daniel one final piece of evidence.
A bank transfer.
The payment had been made to Nathan Price through an offshore account.
The account belonged to a company registered in Eleanor Choi's name.
Daniel stared at the document.
Ava stood beside him.
“Your mother?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Not necessarily. Someone could have used her company.”
“Or she could be lying.”
“Yes.”
For once, he didn't defend her.
They were sitting in a private conference room at the hospital where Margaret was recovering.
Margaret had suffered a concussion but was expected to survive.
Ava looked toward the door.
“Marcus said Victor wasn't giving the orders.”
Daniel nodded.
“Which means someone above him has been directing this.”
“Your mother?”
“Possibly.”
Ava swallowed.
“What if it's Isabella?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Why would she threaten you?”
“I don't know.”
Ava's voice broke.
“But I don't know her. I don't know what happened during those twenty-eight years.”
Daniel took her hand.
“We'll follow the evidence.”
That afternoon, Detective Rachel Foster arrived from Baltimore with two federal investigators.
They had obtained Nathan Price's financial records and recovered several communications from the warehouse where Michael had been held.
One message mentioned a meeting scheduled for midnight at a private freight terminal outside Chicago.
The sender used a single initial.
M.
Ava looked at Daniel.
“Michael?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Your father was in the hospital when the message was sent.”
“Marcus?”
“He was being treated for the gunshot.”
“Then who?”
The detective placed a photograph on the table.
Ava stared.
The woman in the photograph had dark hair, elegant features, and a small crescent-shaped pendant around her neck.
Isabella Vale.
Ava felt the blood drain from her face.
“She was seen entering the freight terminal yesterday,” Detective Foster said.
Ava gripped Daniel's arm.
“She's here.”
Daniel studied the photograph.
“Then we let the authorities bring her in.”
Ava turned toward him.
“I want to be there.”
“No.”
The word escaped before he could stop it.
Ava stared.
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
“I'm sorry.”
He corrected himself.
“I don't think it's safe. But you deserve to make your own decisions.”
Ava looked at the photograph.
“I've spent my entire life wondering why she left me. If she's alive, I need to hear the truth from her.”
Daniel nodded.
“Then we work with the investigators. No private rescue mission. No more secrets.”
That night, federal agents surrounded the freight terminal.
Ava waited in a protected command vehicle several blocks away, accompanied by Daniel and Detective Foster.
At 12:17 a.m., agents entered the building.
No gunfire.
No resistance.
Inside, they found Victor Choi sitting at a metal table.
His hands were zip-tied.
A bruise darkened his cheek.
And beside him stood Isabella Vale.
Ava watched the live feed, barely breathing.
Isabella raised her hands when agents entered.
“I want protective custody,” she said.
“I have evidence.”
Victor shouted from the chair.
“She's lying! She planned everything!”
Isabella looked at him.
“Tell them who paid you.”
Victor laughed bitterly.
“You think they'll believe you?”
Isabella turned toward the nearest camera.
“Tell Daniel Choi that his mother didn't order the marriage.”
Ava gripped the seat.
Isabella continued.
“Tell him Victor didn't choose Ava Bennett.”
Daniel went still.
Then Isabella said:
“I did.”
Ava felt as if the air had been pulled from the vehicle.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Isabella lowered her hands.
“I arranged for Daniel to meet my daughter in Baltimore. I knew his family had lied about his infertility. I knew Victor was moving against Michael Bennett.”
Ava began shaking.
Isabella continued.
“I thought if Daniel fell in love with her, he'd protect her.”
Daniel whispered, “You manipulated us.”
On the screen, Isabella's expression crumpled.
“Yes.”
She looked directly toward the camera.
“And it was the worst mistake of my life.”
Ava covered her mouth.
Isabella had arranged the meeting.
She had put them together.
She had used her daughter as part of a plan.
But the worst revelation was still coming.
Victor suddenly began laughing.
“You still haven't told them the important part.”
Isabella turned toward him.
“Be quiet.”
Victor smiled.
“Tell your daughter what happened to Daniel's father.”
Isabella went pale.
Victor leaned toward the camera.
“Tell her who was driving the other car.”
Daniel stared at the screen.
Isabella closed her eyes.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“It was me.”
