Chapter 18 - WHAT NATHAN CHOSE
Nathan survived.
The bullet grazed his side when Charles tried to use him as a shield.
Two days later, I visited him once.
He looked smaller without expensive clothes and arrogance holding him upright.
“I’m pleading guilty,” he said.
“To what?”
“Fraud conspiracy. Unauthorized access. Evidence tampering.”
“And assault?”
His eyes moved to the fading bruise on my cheek.
“Yes.”
I nodded.
He swallowed. “Celeste told me you found your father.”
“I did.”
“I’m glad.”
“Don’t ask me to forgive you.”
“I won’t.”
That surprised me more than an apology would have.
Nathan admitted he had known Charles was manipulating the trust but convinced himself no one would really be hurt. He liked the money, the stores, the attention. Celeste liked survival. Charles liked control.
Everyone had a reason.
None of the reasons erased what they did.
As I stood to leave, Nathan said, “Emma?”
I turned.
“The night I proposed, the part about loving you wasn’t fake.”
I looked at him for a long moment.
“That may be the saddest thing you’ve said.”
“Why?”
“Because love that keeps choosing betrayal is just another kind of selfishness.”
I walked out.
In the hallway, Rachel waited with new documents.
“Charles has started cooperating.”
“For a deal?”
“Of course.”
“What did he give them?”
“A list of every person he paid.”
I scanned the first page.
Executives. Lawyers. Vendors. A judge.
Then one name stopped me.
Eleanor Vale.
My grandmother.
May you like
Not an old payment.
One made three weeks ago.
