Elias's POV
"Richard, let them go." Diana stepped between us and the armed men. "They're innocent—"
My father laughed. Actually laughed. "Innocent? My daughter has been working with my enemy for months. She just took evidence that could destroy everything I've built." He looked at Nora with eyes colder than winter. "You're just like your mother. Weak. Sentimental. Stupid."
"Run," I whispered to Nora, calculating distances. "When I move, you run."
"I'm not leaving you—"
"NOW!"
I threw myself at the nearest man, and chaos exploded.
But we didn't get far. More men appeared—too many. They grabbed Nora, yanked her away from me. I fought like a wild animal, but someone hit me hard across the face and everything spun.
When my vision cleared, Richard Chen had a gun pointed at Diana's head.
"Drop the flash drive, Nora," he said calmly. "Or I kill her. Then I kill him. Then I make you watch everyone you care about die before I let you join them."
Nora's hand shook as she held up the flash drive. "Okay. Okay, just don't—"
Sirens. Loud and close.
Richard's face twisted with rage. "Who called the police?"
"I did," said a new voice.
Victoria Bennett stepped out of a car I hadn't noticed, phone in hand. My mother, who I'd barely spoken to in weeks, looking fierce and terrifying. "I've been following my son all night. Did you really think I'd let him walk into danger alone?"
She wasn't alone. Behind her were at least a dozen men in suits—private security, all armed, all professional.
"This is a private matter," Richard snarled.
"Murder is never private," Victoria replied coldly. "Neither is conspiracy to commit mass murder through pharmaceutical fraud. The FBI is two minutes away, Richard. You can try to kill all of us, or you can run. Choose quickly."
Richard looked between us, his gun still pointed at Diana. I saw the calculation in his eyes. Saw him weighing the cost of murder against the cost of letting us live.
Finally, he lowered the gun. "This isn't over," he said. "Not even close."
He and his men disappeared into the shadows just as police cars screeched around the corner.
Four hours later, we were still at the police station giving statements. Diana had turned over her evidence. The FBI had opened an investigation. My mother had called every lawyer she knew to make sure Nora and I were protected.
But none of it felt real. I kept seeing that gun pointed at Diana's head. Kept seeing Nora's terrified face.
"You should go home," Nora said quietly. We were alone in a waiting room, both of us exhausted. "Get some sleep."
"I'm not leaving you."
"Elias—"
"I said I'm not leaving you." I pulled her close. "He almost killed you tonight. Do you understand that? Your own father was going to murder you."
She was shaking. I felt it through her whole body. "I keep thinking about my mom. About how she died knowing he'd won. That he got away with killing her."
"He didn't win," I said fiercely. "She left you the truth. She left you those letters. And now you're going to finish what she started. You're going to take him down."
"What if I can't?" Her voice was so small. "What if I'm not strong enough?"
"You're the strongest person I've ever met." I tilted her face up to look at me. "You survived your family's betrayal. You rebuilt your entire life. You stood up to him tonight even when you were terrified. That's not weakness, Nora. That's courage."
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I'm so scared."
"I know. Me too." I brushed the tears away with my thumbs. "But we're scared together. That makes us dangerous."
She almost smiled. "How does that work?"
"Because separately, we're just two broken people. But together?" I pulled her even closer. "Together, we're unstoppable."
This time when we kissed, it wasn't desperate or frantic. It was a promise. A choice. Two people who'd been hurt choosing to be brave enough to trust again.
When we finally broke apart, Nora was looking at me with something that made my heart ache.
"I need to tell you something," she whispered. "About what Vivian said at the hospital—"
"It doesn't matter—"
"It matters to me." She took a shaky breath. "You investigated my family. You watched me. You knew who I was from the beginning. Part of me wants to be angry about that. But honestly?" She pressed her hand against my chest. "I would have done the same thing. You were protecting yourself and your family. I understand that."
"I should have told you sooner," I said. "I should have been honest—"
"You're being honest now. That's what matters." She smiled softly. "No more secrets, remember? We promised."
"No more secrets," I agreed.
A police officer appeared at the door. "Ms. Chen? The FBI wants to talk to you about your mother's case."
Nora stood, squaring her shoulders. She looked at me one more time. "Wait for me?"
"Always."
She walked out with the officer, and I was alone with my thoughts and the memory of her kiss.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: Your girlfriend's very brave. Let's see if she's still brave when she finds out what REALLY happened six years ago. Some secrets are worth killing for. —A Friend
My blood turned to ice.
Someone knew about Sarah. About the accident. About the secret I'd buried so deep I'd almost convinced myself it wasn't real.
The secret that would destroy everything if Nora ever found out.
Another text: Check your email. I sent you a little reminder of that night. A video you thought was destroyed. Wouldn't want it to fall into the wrong hands... like your fiancée's. Meet me at St. Catherine's rooftop, 4 AM. Come alone, or everyone learns the truth about what you did.
My hands were shaking as I opened the email.
The video started playing. Dark road. Headlights. Sarah's voice: "Elias, you're driving too fast—"
My voice, slightly slurred: "I'm fine. Just one drink—"
Then the crash. The horrible sound of metal and screaming and—
I shut it off, my heart hammering.
I'd been drinking that night. Not a lot, but enough. Enough that I'd been over the limit. Enough that when that drunk driver hit us, it was partly my fault too. The police had covered it up because of my family's connections. Made the other driver take all the blame.
But someone knew. Someone had proof.
And they were going to tell Nora unless I met them.
I looked at the clock. 3:47 AM. Thirteen minutes.
If I went to that meeting, I might be walking into a trap. If I didn't go, Nora would learn the truth from someone else. She'd learn that I'd been lying about the accident for six years. That I'd helped cover up my own guilt. That the man she'd been trusting was just another liar.
I stood up, my decision made.
I had to go. Had to face this. Had to protect Nora from the truth for just a little longer—at least until Richard Chen was behind bars and she was safe.
Then I'd tell her everything myself. And if she hated me for it, at least she'd be alive to hate me.
I texted her: Something came up at the hospital. Emergency surgery. I'll meet you at home later. Stay safe.
The lie tasted bitter.
But I'd told worse lies. Kept worse secrets.
What was one more?
The hospital rooftop was empty when I arrived. Dark except for the city lights below. Cold wind cutting through my jacket.
"Hello, Elias."
I spun around.
Helena Rothschild stepped out of the shadows, smiling like a cat with a mouse. The woman my mother had tried to force me to marry. The woman I'd been avoiding for months.
"You," I breathed. "You sent those texts."
"Surprised?" She walked closer. "I've been very patient, Elias. Watching you play house with Richard Chen's pathetic daughter. Watching you pretend to be happy. But I'm done waiting."
"What do you want?"
"What I've always wanted." Her smile turned cruel. "You. Your family. Your everything. And I'm going to get it." She held up her phone. "This video gets sent to Nora unless you agree to my terms. Break up with her. Marry me. Merge our companies like our families planned. Or I destroy you both."
My jaw clenched. "You can't—"
"I already have." She showed me her phone screen.
A message to Nora: Ask Elias about the night his fiancée died. Ask him why he's REALLY been so protective. Ask him about the blood alcohol test the police covered up.
Sent: 3:59 AM.
"No," I whispered.
"She's reading it right now," Helena said gleefully. "Wondering what it means. Soon she'll figure it out. She'll know you're just another man who lied to her. Used her. And she'll hate you for it."
I grabbed Helena's shoulders. "Take it back. Delete it. I'll do whatever you want, just—"
"Too late." She pushed me away. "The message is sent. The truth is out. And now you have to choose: Come with me and maybe I'll help you explain it to her gently. Or stay here and watch her discover it alone."
Below us, through the hospital windows, I could see lights. Movement.
Nora was somewhere down there. About to learn the truth. About to have her heart broken again.
By me.