Chapter 15 - The Twenty-Year Betrayal
Vittorio requested to see Sebastian.
Sebastian refused three times.
On the fourth request, Clare asked why.
“Because he wants something.”
“Probably.”
“I’m done giving him things.”
“Then don’t go for him.”
Sebastian looked at her.
“Go for yourself.”
He hated when she made sense.
The meeting took place in a secure federal facility.
Vittorio entered wearing plain clothes instead of expensive suits.
He looked smaller.
Sebastian remained in his wheelchair.
Not because he needed it every minute now.
Because he wanted Vittorio to see exactly what he had done.
“You look well,” Vittorio said.
Sebastian said nothing.
“I hear the surgery succeeded.”
“Partially.”
Vittorio smiled sadly.
“Antonio would have been relieved.”
“Don’t talk about my father like you loved him.”
“I did love him.”
“You destroyed his son.”
“I protected his empire.”
Sebastian leaned forward.
“That was the difference between us. I was his son. You saw me as an asset.”
Vittorio’s eyes hardened.
“You were going to abandon everyone.”
“I was twenty-three.”
“You were the future.”
“I was a person.”
Vittorio looked away.
For perhaps the first time, Sebastian saw regret.
Not enough.
Never enough.
But real.
“Did you ever plan to reverse it?” Sebastian asked.
Silence.
“Answer.”
“No.”
The word landed softly.
“I knew you would leave if you recovered.”
“So you kept me trapped for twenty years.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you kill me?”
Vittorio looked at him.
“Because despite everything, I loved you.”
Sebastian almost laughed.
“That isn’t love.”
“I believed it was.”
“Then you never understood the word.”
Vittorio lowered his eyes.
Sebastian felt something unexpected.
Not forgiveness.
Freedom.
For twenty years, Vittorio’s lie had lived inside Sebastian’s body.
Now it didn’t.
“You’ll testify?” Vittorio asked.
“Yes.”
“Against family?”
“Against people who committed crimes.”
“You’ve changed.”
Sebastian looked down at his legs.
“No.”
Then back at Vittorio.
“I’m becoming the man you prevented me from becoming.”
He left without another word.
Outside, Clare waited beside the car.
“How was it?”
“Disappointing.”
“That bad?”
“That simple.”
She understood.
Most monsters were disappointing up close.
They did not have magnificent reasons.
They had fear.
Greed.
Control.
Weakness.
Sebastian took Clare’s hand.
She looked down at their joined fingers.
Neither pulled away.
That afternoon, another part of his old life ended.
Sebastian signed documents transferring several questionable businesses into a legal restructuring overseen by independent attorneys.
Sofia watched him sign.
“Dad would never believe this.”
“Dad made enough decisions for me.”
“What will you do?”
Sebastian looked toward Clare, who was helping Owen with homework across the room.
“Hotels.”
Sofia laughed.
“You’re serious?”
“I was always serious.”
The dream he had at twenty-three had survived.
Buried beneath scar tissue.
Beneath fear.
Beneath a wheelchair.
But alive.
That night Clare stood to leave.
“My apartment is safe again.”
“I know.”
“Owen has school.”
“I know.”
“So we’re going home.”
Sebastian nodded.
She waited.
“Aren’t you going to argue?”
“I’m rehabilitating.”
“That doesn’t mean learning manners.”
“It might.”
Clare smiled.
Then Sebastian said, “Come back tomorrow.”
She looked at him.
“For therapy?”
He paused.
“For dinner.”
Clare’s smile changed.
“Are you asking me on a date?”
“I’m attempting to.”
“You’re terrible at it.”
“I’ve been busy for twenty years.”
She laughed.
“Seven o’clock?”
“Seven.”
She turned toward the door.
“Clare.”
She looked back.
Sebastian’s expression softened.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For touching the scar everyone else stopped looking at.”
Clare shook her head.
“I didn’t give you your life back.”
“No.”
He looked at his legs.
May you like
“You reminded me it was still mine.”
---
