Chapter 14 - DIEGO'S LAST PERFORMANCE
Diego finally requested to speak directly to Elena.
Claire advised against it.
Elena agreed only under three conditions.
The conversation would be recorded.
It would happen through a secure video connection.
And Diego's attorney would be present.
When Diego appeared on the screen, he looked smaller.
Not physically.
Something about him had collapsed.
“Elena.”
She said nothing.
“I know you hate me.”
“That would require me to spend energy on you.”
He flinched.
“I deserve that.”
“You deserve far more.”
Diego looked down.
“I never meant for you to nearly die.”
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The sentence you keep repeating because you think intent erases choice.”
“I lost control.”
“No.”
Elena leaned toward the screen.
“You had control every second.”
“You turned the valve.”
“You pushed me.”
“You watched me fall.”
“You heard me beg.”
“You chose not to help.”
Diego's face tightened.
“I was angry.”
“And I was pregnant.”
Silence.
Elena continued.
“Tell me about Victor.”
Diego looked toward his attorney.
The attorney nodded once.
“Victor approached me last year.”
“He knew I was frustrated with Alvin.”
“Frustrated?”
“You treated me like a guest in your family.”
“My father gave you a position worth more than most people earn in ten years.”
“He never respected me.”
“So you decided to steal from him.”
Diego's jaw tightened.
“I decided to build something of my own.”
“With my shares.”
“I was going to return control later.”
Elena almost laughed.
“You actually believe your own lies.”
Diego's eyes filled with tears.
She had seen those tears before.
After cruel arguments.
After apologies.
After promises.
They no longer moved her.
“Did you drug my wine?”
“No.”
“Did Brenna?”
“I don't know.”
“Did Victor?”
“I don't know.”
“Where is Dr. Keller?”
“I don't know.”
“Who took Marisol?”
“I swear I didn't know they would touch her.”
Elena froze.
Claire looked up sharply.
Diego realized his mistake.
“You just said they.”
His attorney whispered something urgently.
Elena leaned closer.
“Who are they?”
Diego closed his eyes.
“Elena.”
“Who are they?”
He looked broken now.
“Victor has people.”
“What people?”
“Contractors.”
“Fixers.”
“Former security guys.”
“Names.”
“I don't know all of them.”
“Give me the ones you know.”
Diego began talking.
Three names.
Two companies.
One accountant.
A retired detective.
Then Elena asked the question that mattered most.
“Who told Victor about my father's birth file?”
Diego shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I heard Victor argue with someone about it once.”
“Who?”
“I never saw them.”
“What did you hear?”
Diego hesitated.
“A woman's voice.”
Elena's skin prickled.
“Brenna?”
“No.”
“Marisol?”
“No.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
Then he remembered something.
“She called Victor Uncle Vic.”
Elena stared at the screen.
Only one person in their family had called Victor that since childhood.
May you like
Her cousin.
Sabrina Sterling.
