Chapter 8 - The ConfrontationThe heavy iron door of the visitor room clicked open.
Marcus Sterling walked in. He was no longer wearing his arrogant smirk. His face looked tired, hollowed out by a deep, unbearable guilt.
He sat down opposite Richard, looking at the old man's bandaged hands and hollow cheeks.
"You knew," Marcus said softly, his voice stripped of all its former drama. "You knew Arthur set the fire to save his family from bankruptcy debt. You took the blame for the negligence safety violations back then... so his widow could collect the life insurance payout."
Richard looked at his hands, rubbing his scarred palms. "Arthur was my brother in everything but blood. He made a terrible mistake because he was desperate. I couldn't let his wife and child starve with the shame of him being a criminal. So I let the world think it was a tragic accident."
Marcus lowered his head, tears welling in his eyes. "All these years... I thought you murdered my grandfather. I spent my whole life planning to ruin you. I hired Vanessa, I staged the wedding, I leaked the documents..."
"You didn't ruin me, Marcus," Richard said quietly, his eyes filled with immense sorrow. "I ruined myself. The day I let greed and loneliness blind me... the day I raised my hand against my own daughter... that was the day I destroyed my own life. You just held up the mirror."
Marcus wiped his eyes hurriedly, swallowing hard. "The federal charges against you are being dropped, Mr. Vance. I submitted the real fire reports and Arthur's diary to the prosecutor yesterday. The fraud charges regarding Vanessa are dismissed because the prenuptial agreement was fraudulent from the start. You're a free man."
Richard didn't move. He didn't celebrate.
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"I don't care about freedom, Marcus," Richard whispered, pressing his shaking forehead against the glass. "I just want my daughter. Does she hate me?"
Marcus stood up, stepping toward the door. "There's someone outside waiting to answer that question himself."
