Chapter 69: The Man Behind the Mask

The smoke curled in the air, dancing like a wicked omen.

I stared at the man I had called “father” for twenty-eight years—Senator Richard Sinclair—now standing in the doorway of Charles Barron’s study, a smoking pistol in his gloved hand and blood on his conscience. The man I had defended through scandals. The man I had nearly destroyed myself trying to protect.

He looked at me like a stranger.

“Why?” I croaked, barely able to speak over the thundering pulse in my ears. “Why did you kill him?”

Richard stepped forward calmly, as if he hadn’t just shot the only man who could’ve unraveled the twisted threads of my existence.

“He was a liability,” he said simply. “And liabilities must be removed.”

Dominic moved protectively in front of me, but my father didn’t even glance at him.

“This doesn’t make sense,” I said, voice breaking. “You knew Victor was my real father. You knew—and you still arranged the marriage. You let me fall into this nightmare.”

Richard’s eyes darkened. “You were never supposed to fall. You were supposed to obey.”

My stomach churned. “So what, I was just a pawn? A bargaining chip in your power game?”

He chuckled softly. “No, Elena. You were the ultimate weapon.”

Weapon.

That word struck me like a slap.

I stood slowly, blood roaring in my ears. “You raised me to fight corruption. You said integrity mattered. You lied to me my entire life.”

“You were never meant to know the truth,” he said coldly. “You weren’t even meant to exist. When Olivia got pregnant, I should’ve ended it all. But I saw the opportunity. So I waited. I built the narrative. The prodigal daughter. The brilliant journalist. The symbol of morality, when in truth… you were the result of the greatest scandal of all.”

Dominic’s fists clenched. “You used her. You used both of us.”

“And it worked,” Richard replied calmly. “Until now.”

Behind him, movement flickered.

I wasn’t sure who I expected to see step into the study—but it certainly wasn’t Victor Caldwell.

Older, grayer, eyes like cold steel. And behind him… Olivia Sinclair.

Alive.

Very much alive.

Her eyes locked on mine, wide with unshed tears. “Elena.”

I froze.

My world tilted.

“Mom?”

She rushed forward before Richard could stop her, reaching for me like a mother desperately trying to reclaim time.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, voice trembling. “I didn’t want this for you. I didn’t want any of this.”

“You said you were dead,” I rasped. “All these years—”

“She was dead,” Richard interrupted. “To me. To the world.”

Victor spoke now, stepping around him. “He faked her death. Locked her away. Threatened the baby. He built an empire on that lie.”

I turned to Richard, my voice like broken glass. “You imprisoned her?”

“She betrayed me,” he snapped. “She fell in love with him. Do you know what that does to a man in my position?”

“I don’t care what it did to you,” I hissed. “You robbed me of a mother. You robbed her of a life.”

Olivia reached out, her hands trembling. “I watched you grow up through photos. Through whispers. I thought you’d be safe if I stayed hidden.”

Dominic stepped closer to Victor, his voice thick. “You knew about all this. You knew she was alive.”

Victor’s voice cracked. “I couldn’t protect her. Not the way I wanted. He threatened Elena. Said he’d have her killed.”

Richard aimed the gun again. “Enough.”

But this time, I wasn’t the same girl who once cowered under his shadow.

“I’m not afraid of you anymore,” I said coldly. “You’ve controlled my life for the last time.”

He sneered. “Then you’re as foolish as your mother.”

Olivia moved quickly—too quickly. She grabbed the vase from the side table and hurled it at him, hitting his arm. The gun went off, but the shot went wide, shattering a mirror.

Chaos erupted.

Victor tackled Richard to the floor, and Dominic grabbed my hand, dragging me out of the study.

“Come on!” he yelled.

We tore down the hallway as more guards stormed the estate. Liam appeared near the foyer, armed and furious.

“You okay?” he barked.

“Not even close,” I gasped.

“Car’s waiting,” he said, leading us through the side entrance. “Victor’s men will clean up the rest.”

“Victor’s what?”

Dominic gave a grim smile. “Turns out my father had more control than he let on.”

We stumbled into the black SUV, tires screeching as we peeled out of the estate.

Silence fell as the estate vanished behind us.

But it wasn’t over.

Not even close.

Hours Later – Caldwell Tower Penthouse

I stood by the glass windows of Dominic’s penthouse, watching the city lights blur like a dream I couldn’t wake from.

He stepped beside me, silent.

“You okay?” he asked.

I laughed bitterly. “I just found out my mother’s alive, my real father was my enemy, and my other father wanted me dead. What do you think?”

He didn’t reply.

He just placed a hand on the small of my back.

Gentle.

Familiar.

“I didn’t fall in love with you because of who you were born to,” he said quietly. “I fell in love with you in spite of it.”

I turned, eyes burning. “You love me?”

He nodded once. No hesitation.

Even now. Even after everything.

“I don’t know what happens next,” I admitted.

“Then we figure it out together,” he said.

I leaned into him, just a little.

“Promise me something,” I whispered.

“Anything.”

“If I become a monster like them… stop me.”

He tilted my chin, looking me dead in the eyes. “If you become a monster, I’ll stand beside you. Because I’ve been one too.”

Our mouths met—not with fury or desperation, but with something softer. Something raw. Something real.

Love, born from hate.

And despite the darkness surrounding us…

It felt like the beginning of something that could survive even the worst of truths.