Chapter 50: Fractured Trust

Dominic's words echoed in my mind like an inescapable shadow. My father—the man I had always looked up to, the cornerstone of my existence—was entangled in everything: the deceit, the corruption, the betrayal that had engulfed both our families. How had I overlooked it? How had I been so oblivious? 

The world around me felt like it was spiraling out of control; the once-enchanting ballroom, adorned with sparkling chandeliers and gleaming marble floors, now felt stifling. I hardly noticed the chatter, the laughter, or the clinking of glasses. All I could focus on was the rapid thumping of my heart, each pulse a reminder of the delicate situation I found myself in. 

I had to escape. I needed air. The walls felt like they were closing in, suffocating me. 

Instinctively, I turned and headed for the exit, my thoughts racing. I sensed Dominic behind me, but I wasn’t ready for him to follow. Not yet. I needed time to process everything, to think clearly. I required answers that only one person could provide: my father.

The corridor beyond the ballroom was serene, the soft murmur of conversations fading away. My footsteps resonated in the expansive area, and for a brief moment, I paused to inhale deeply, collecting my thoughts. 

But then I heard it. 

“Elena.” 

His voice cut through the silence like a knife. I stood still, my heart racing, and turned to see Dominic in the doorway, his stare steady. He wasn’t taken aback by my flight; he understood me too well by now, aware that the reality was more than I could bear.

“I’m not going to apologize for what I said,” he began, his voice steady. “But you need to understand—your father’s role in all of this goes far deeper than just business. He’s been manipulating everything from the start, Elena. Including you.”

The words hit me harder than any physical blow ever could. How much had I really known? How much had I willingly ignored because I refused to see the truth about the man who had raised me?

“I don’t want to hear it, Dominic,” I spat, my voice raw. I didn’t want to deal with his cold, calculated perspective. I didn’t want to believe what he was saying, even though a part of me knew it was true.

“You have to hear it,” he said, his voice low and insistent. “You’ve been a pawn in this game for longer than you realize. And the sad truth is, your father has been pulling the strings, controlling everything to protect his own interests.”

I shook my head, trying to push the words out of my mind, but they clung to me like a sickness. “No. He wouldn’t do that.”

Dominic stepped forward, his gaze softening for just a moment, though the intensity still lingered. “I wish you didn’t have to find out this way. But you need to understand, Elena. The life you’ve known is a lie. Your father is as guilty as any of them.”

I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to spill over. I wanted to scream at him, tell him he was wrong. But deep down, I knew he wasn’t. And the realization broke me.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered, stepping back. “I can’t be a part of this game anymore. I need to find the truth. The real truth.”

Dominic regarded me with a blend of worry and something more profound. 'You’re not in this alone, Elena. I’ll do whatever it takes to help you uncover the truth. But you have to place your trust in me.' 

I shook my head, brushing away the tears that threatened to spill. 'Trust you?' I scoffed bitterly. 'How can I trust you when you’ve been part of this game just like he has?' 

He remained silent, and for what felt like an eternity, we stood still. The space between us seemed as infinite as the cosmos, yet I couldn’t ignore the magnetic pull that still existed, the delicate bond we had created amidst the turmoil. 

'I’ll uncover the truth myself,' I declared, my voice trembling despite my attempts to sound determined. 'I don’t need you or anyone else to do that.'

Dominic’s face hardened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he took a step back, his expression unreadable. “Just be careful, Elena. Your father’s not the only one who’s been pulling strings. There are others involved. Powerful people who will stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden.”

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew he was right. This wasn’t just about my father. It was about something much bigger, something that would change everything. And I wasn’t going to stop until I uncovered the entire truth.

As I turned to leave, the pain in my chest was undeniable. A part of me still yearned for Dominic's support, still hoped he could be the man I once believed in. Yet, that man was lost, buried beneath a facade of deceit and manipulation. All that remained was the harsh reality. 

Walking through the opulent hall, my thoughts were consumed by the gravity of my recent discoveries. I needed to confront my father; I couldn't allow him to remain in the shadows any longer. 

However, just as I reached the exit, something caught my eye and froze me in my tracks. 

Liam. 

He stood by the doors, his body tense, his gaze dark and inscrutable. The moment our eyes met, a subtle, almost derisive smile appeared on his lips.

“Elena,” he said, his voice smooth but laced with something darker. “You’ve been running away from things for far too long. You really think you can outrun the truth?”

I froze, every muscle in my body tightening. The last time I’d seen Liam, things had been complicated. Too complicated. There was history between us, a past that neither of us could forget. But what did he want now?

“What are you doing here, Liam?” I asked, my voice colder than I intended.

He stepped closer, his eyes glinting with something dangerous. “I’m here to offer you a choice, Elena. You don’t have to go down this path alone. You don’t have to confront your father on your own. We both know he’s guilty, but you also know that he’s not the only one who needs to be taken down.”

My heart skipped a beat. “What are you talking about?”

Liam’s smile widened, but it wasn’t a comforting smile. It was predatory, calculating. “There’s more to this than just your father, Elena. And I’m willing to help you find the truth—if you’re willing to help me.”

I narrowed my eyes, suspicion rising. “Help you? What do you want from me?”

His gaze darkened, his voice lowering. “A partnership. You and me. We can expose them all. Together.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. I didn’t know what Liam’s game was, but I wasn’t stupid enough to trust him. Not after everything that had happened.

“I don’t trust you,” I said, my voice steady but filled with warning.

He remained unfazed. "You will, in time. No matter how hard you resist, Elena, we share more similarities than you think." 

I yearned to express my thoughts, to demand he leave me alone, but the words stuck in my throat. Liam was a threat, always had been. Yet, despite the danger, a part of me lingered in uncertainty. 

Liam was proposing a perilous partnership. But was it a gamble worth taking?