Chapter 8 - THE ENEMY WHO KNEW HIS NAME
The house that once represented Nathan Whitmore’s success had become a battlefield.
The marble floors.
The expensive paintings.
The family photographs.
Everything that represented safety was gone.
Now it was just a place where secrets came to life.
Nathan stared at Dominic.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Dominic smiled.
“I expect you to finally stop believing the version of the story your mother created.”
Nathan’s eyes narrowed.
“My mother protected me.”
“Did she?”
Dominic looked toward the staircase.
“Ask yourself something.”
“What?”
“If your mother was innocent…”
He paused.
“Why did she hide the evidence?”
Nathan said nothing.
Because he had asked himself the same question.
Dominic walked around the room.
“You were a child, Nathan.”
He touched an old family photo.
“You saw your father as a hero.”
“He was.”
Dominic smiled.
“No.”
His voice became cold.
“He was a thief.”
Nathan stepped forward.
“Watch your mouth.”
Dominic didn’t react.
“Your father stole money from our company.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Is it?”
Dominic looked at him.
“Then why did your mother keep the financial records hidden?”
Nathan felt his anger rising.
“You’re manipulating me.”
“Maybe.”
Dominic smiled.
“But manipulation only works when there is some truth underneath.”
Suddenly, one of Dominic’s men moved toward the second floor.
Nathan noticed.
“Where are you going?”
The man ignored him.
Nathan reacted instantly.
He attacked.
The fight exploded through the living room.
A chair broke.
Glass shattered.
The attacker was strong.
Trained.
But Nathan had spent years surviving situations most people never knew existed.
He took the man down.
Dominic watched calmly.
“You really are your father’s son.”
Nathan looked at him.
“Don’t compare me to him.”
Dominic smiled.
“You still don’t know who he was.”
Then Victoria appeared at the top of the stairs.
Everyone stopped.
Nathan looked at her.
For the first time, he saw something different.
Not guilt.
Not fear.
Pain.
Dominic looked up.
“Victoria.”
She didn’t answer.
“You disappoint me.”
Nathan turned.
“What does that mean?”
Dominic smiled.
“She was never supposed to care about you.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Stop.”
Dominic continued.
“She was supposed to collect information.”
Nathan looked at her.
“How much did you give him?”
Victoria whispered:
“Not enough.”
Dominic laughed.
“Exactly.”
Nathan felt sick.
Not because of what she did.
Because he realized she had been fighting him.
Fighting Dominic.
And he never knew.
Victoria came downstairs.
“Nathan, listen to me.”
He looked at her.
“I don’t know what’s real anymore.”
She nodded.
“I deserve that.”
Dominic looked annoyed.
“You’re getting emotional.”
Victoria turned.
“You lied to me.”
Dominic’s expression changed.
“I gave you a purpose.”
“You destroyed my life.”
“You had no life before me.”
Nathan watched them.
And suddenly understood.
Victoria wasn’t Dominic’s partner.
She was his prisoner.
Dominic stepped closer.
“Enough.”
He pulled out a folder.
“Nathan, you want the truth?”
He threw it onto the table.
“Read it.”
Nathan opened the folder.
Inside were old documents.
His father’s signatures.
Bank transfers.
Secret agreements.
And one document at the bottom.
A death report.
Nathan read the name.
His hands became cold.
Because the document wasn’t about his father.
It was about his mother.
Nathan looked up.
“What is this?”
Dominic smiled.
“Your mother didn’t die from an illness.”
The room became silent.
Nathan’s voice lowered.
“What?”
Dominic leaned closer.
“She was murdered.”
Nathan stopped breathing.
“And the person who ordered it…”
May you like
Dominic looked directly at Victoria.
“…is someone you trust.”
