Chapter 15 - The Lowest Point
Marcus confessed before sunrise.
“I gave Dominic information.”
Luca said nothing.
Elena looked stunned.
Rebecca looked furious.
Marcus continued.
“He had my brother.”
Not physically.
Financially.
Marcus’s younger brother owed money after a failed business.
Dominic had purchased the debt years earlier.
For months, he threatened to destroy the man’s family unless Marcus provided information.
“How much did you give him?” Luca asked.
“Schedules.”
“Security?”
“Yes.”
“Medical appointments?”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Luca’s voice became dangerously quiet.
“Maya’s school?”
“No.”
Marcus looked up.
“Never.”
Luca wanted to believe him.
That was the problem.
Twelve years of betrayal had made belief feel like stupidity.
“Leave.”
Marcus nodded.
He placed his weapon and security badge on the desk.
Then he walked out.
Hours later, the board voted.
Dominic won by two votes.
Luca was temporarily removed from operational control.
His office access was suspended.
His corporate accounts were restricted.
The headlines appeared within minutes.
COSTELLO EMPIRE TURNS ON DISABLED BOSS.
Luca read the words once.
Then closed the screen.
That afternoon, his rehabilitation failed.
He attempted to stand.
His right leg collapsed immediately.
Pain shot through his back.
He hit the therapy mat hard.
Dr. Warren ordered him to stop.
Luca slammed his fist against the floor.
Twelve years.
A stolen company.
A dead father who had betrayed him.
A mother who had lied.
A cousin who had poisoned him.
A security chief who had leaked information.
And a daughter he had known for less than a month.
For the first time since the toxicology report, Luca felt defeated.
Maya appeared at the doorway.
He hated that she saw him on the floor.
“Go.”
She did not.
“Maya.”
“You fell.”
“Yes.”
“So?”
Luca stared at her.
She walked over and sat beside him.
“When I learned the turn, I fell sixteen times.”
“This is not dancing.”
“No.”
She leaned against his shoulder.
“It’s harder.”
Luca closed his eyes.
He had lost the board.
He had lost his certainty.
But he had not lost everything.
Then Maya looked toward the medicine tray.
One unopened bottle remained.
She frowned.
“That’s the bottle the nurse always hides behind the orange juice.”
Luca opened his eyes.
“What?”
Maya pointed.
“I saw her switch the labels last week.”
The room went silent.
May you like
The betrayal was not finished.
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