Chapter 34: The Fight for the Truth

Alexander stood in the doorway like a storm made flesh — chest heaving, jaw clenched, eyes blazing with a rage Lena had never seen. He looked like a man seconds away from killing someone with his bare hands.

Dylan stepped back, hands raised slightly, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Well,” Dylan said lightly, “that didn’t take you long.”

“Step away from her,” Alexander growled, voice low and dangerous. “Now.”

Dylan tilted his head. “Funny… that’s exactly what someone guilty would say.”

Lena felt Alexander’s body vibrate with fury at those words.

“Lena,” Alexander said without taking his eyes off Dylan, “come to me.”

She didn’t move.

Her legs were frozen.

Her heart too loud.

Her thoughts tangled.

Dylan’s words echoed in her mind:

“Your mother didn’t die because of the Split Circle.

She died because of him.”

Alexander sensed her hesitation. “Lena,” he said again, softer but strained, “come to me. Please.”

Her voice trembled. “Is it true?”

Alexander froze.

“Is what true?” he asked, though his tone revealed he already feared the question.

Dylan stepped closer to Lena. Alexander immediately aimed the gun at him.

“Careful,” Dylan murmured. “She deserves answers.”

Alexander’s expression twisted with rage.

But Lena’s voice rose, cracking with fear and confusion.

“Alex, did you have anything to do with my mother’s death?”

A silence heavier than stone filled the room.

Alexander finally turned his head — just enough to look at her.

His eyes softened for a split second.

“No,” he said. “Never. I swear to you.”

But Dylan laughed — cold, mocking. “You expect her to believe that?”

Alexander aimed the gun directly at Dylan’s forehead. “One more word, and I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” Dylan said quietly. “Finish what your father started?”

Alexander lunged.

The gun struck Dylan’s shoulder as Alexander tackled him to the floor. Both men crashed into a table, shattering it. Lena screamed as glass flew. Mrs. Ward stumbled back, gasping.

Alexander pinned Dylan with raw strength, fury unleashed.

“You don’t get to talk about my father!” he roared as he punched Dylan across the jaw.

Dylan’s head snapped to the side, blood instantly dripping from his mouth — but he only smiled.

“You’re proving my point,” he rasped.

Alexander punched him again.

And again.

Dylan coughed blood — but he still grinned, eyes glowing with twisted amusement.

“Lena!” he shouted between blows. “Ask him—ask him about the night your mother died!”

“STOP!” Lena screamed, collapsing to her knees. “Alex, STOP!”

Her voice sliced through the chaos.

Alexander froze mid-strike, chest heaving violently, knuckles bleeding. He looked up at her — eyes wild, desperate.

“Lena…” he whispered.

Dylan took the chance.

In one quick movement, he twisted, slammed his elbow into Alexander’s ribs, and rolled free. Alexander hit the floor with a grunt. Dylan staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth.

“You were always easy to provoke,” he hissed.

Alexander scrambled up, but Dylan raised a hand warningly.

“Try that again, and I’ll tell her the whole truth. Every detail.”

Alexander froze.

Lena grabbed the edge of a table, pushing herself up, tears streaking her cheeks.

“What truth?” she demanded. “Tell me NOW!”

Alexander’s face paled.

Dylan’s expression softened as he looked at Lena — not kind, but almost pitying.

“You deserve to know,” he said. “Your mother was killed because she tried to expose something. Something the Split Circle wanted buried.” He pointed at Alexander. “Something he profited from.”

Alexander stepped forward, eyes blazing. “That’s a lie.”

“Is it?” Dylan said. “You never told her why your father chose you. You never told her how deep your family was involved.”

Lena’s heart twisted painfully. “Alex… please… tell me something. Anything.”

Alexander swallowed hard. “Lena, I swear to you — I didn’t harm your mother. I wasn’t even there.”

Dylan chuckled. “But you know who was.”

Lena turned to him sharply. “Who!?”

Dylan looked right into her eyes.

“The same person watching you now.”

Alexander’s face drained of color. “Dylan, don’t—”

But Lena felt it before he said the name.

A shadow behind all the chaos. A presence that lingered.

“Marcus?” Lena whispered.

Dylan shook his head slowly.

“No,” he said. “Not Marcus.”

He took a step back toward the broken window.

“It was someone closer.”

He paused.

“Someone who visited your mother the day before she died.”

Lena’s pulse thundered.

“Who, Dylan!?”

Dylan looked at Alexander.

Then at her.

And said one word:

“Victoria.”

Lena’s breath collapsed.

Mrs. Ward gasped.

Alexander’s eyes went wide with horror.

But before anyone could react—

Dylan jumped backward, smashing through the window glass into the night.

“NO!” Alexander roared, sprinting to the shattered frame—

But Dylan vanished into the darkness below.

Lena staggered, barely staying upright.

Victoria.

Her mind spun.

Victoria had known her mother.

Victoria had visited her…

before she died.

And Victoria had been watching Alexander.

Watching her.

Mrs. Ward rushed to Lena’s side. “Child, breathe—”

But Lena couldn’t.

Her entire world had shifted.

And the truth was far more dangerous than she ever imagined.