Chapter 24 - Sins of the Father
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The quiet in the study was deafening. My father stared down at the gold pocket watch, his face draining of all color until he looked like a ghost.
"Where did you get this?" Rafael whispered, his voice trembling as he reached a shaking hand toward the watch.
"A courier delivered it last night from Zurich," I said, stepping closer to the desk, my hands planted flat on the polished wood. "Along with a flash drive containing the deeds to Bank Account 409."
My father closed his eyes, sinking slowly back into his leather chair as if he had just been dealt a physical blow. "Elena... you were never supposed to see this."
"Who is Valentin Vance, Dad?" I demanded, tears of rage brimming in my eyes. "Why did his money build Montes Global Group? Why is my foundation’s land registered under his trust?"
"Valentin is... he was a man from my past," my father choked out, looking away toward the garden windows.
"Don't lie to me!" I screamed, slamming my fist onto the desk. "He knows the exact minute Mom died! He has the deed to my life! You told me you built this empire with your own sweat and blood to protect me from men like Alejandro!"
"I did!" Rafael yelled back, looking at me with eyes full of desperate tears. "Everything I did, I did to keep you safe!"
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"By making a deal with a devil?" I asked, my voice dropping to a terrifying whisper. "The letter says Alejandro was just a pawn. Was Alejandro working for Valentin all along?"
My father buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking as he finally broke. "Alejandro didn't even know who he was truly serving, Elena. Valentin Vance is the man who owns us all."
