Chapter 9 – The Betrayal
Clara's heart pounded as she walked through the quiet London street. Midnight air was cold, the lamps throwing weak circles of light. She clutched her coat tighter.
"Clara raymond?" a rough voice called from the shadows.
She stopped. "Who's there?"
An older man stepped forward, his face lined, his hair grey at the edges. He smelled faintly of smoke.
"You don't know me," he said. "But I knew Victor Blackwell. I worked with him for thirty years."
Clara stiffened. "You sent the message?"
"Yes." He pulled a small notebook from his pocket. "Victor left things out, Lot's of things Kevin doesn't know. The empire wasn't just built on bribes and money laundering. There was blood."
Clara swallowed. "What do you mean, blood?"
The man leaned closer. "Decades ago, Kevin's grandfather, Charles Blackwell killed a man. It was covered up. That death cleared the way for the empire to rise."
Clara's stomach twisted. "You're saying the Blackwells are murderers?"
"I'm saying the empire is soaked in secrets," the man replied. "If this comes out, Kevin won't just lose the company. He'll be destroyed."
Clara shook her head. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you need to understand what you've married into," the man said. "Kevin can't protect you from this. Not if the past resurfaces and believe me, Evelyn and the board will use it."
Clara gripped her bag. "Why should I believe you?"
He opened the notebook, showing an old police report. A missing person's file. Clara's eyes scanned the name, the date. Her stomach dropped.
"This is real," he said quietly. "And it's only the beginning."
Clara felt her breath catch. "I have to go."
"Think carefully, Mrs Raymond." he called after her. "Decide if you'll stand with Kevinor save yourself."
Clara didn't look back.
At the Blackwell offices, Kevin stood in the hallway outside the boardroom, listening through the heavy door. Voices carried inside.
"He's reckless," one member said. "We can't let him run the empire."
"Evelyn has the documents," another voice replied. "She can control the fallout. If Kevin won't marry her, we force him out."
Kevin pushed the door open, his voice cold. "Try it. I dare you."
The room went silent. Twelve board members stared at him. Evelyn sat at the end of the table, her red lips curving into a smile.
"Kevin," she purred. "We were just discussing stability."
"Don't lie," Kevin snapped. "You're plotting a coup."
One of the older men cleared his throat. "The empire cannot survive scandal. You're putting us all at risk."
"I'm cleaning up the mess Victor left," Kevin shot back. "You think handing the empire to Evelyn will save you? She'll burn it to the ground."
Evelyn leaned forward. "At least I won't destroy it with secrets."
Kevin slammed his hands on the table. "You think you can scare me? You're nothing without my name."
Her smile didn't falter. "And you're nothing without my silence."
Kevin's chest heaved, but he turned on his heel and walked out, his anger boiling.
Clara was waiting at home when Kevin stormed into the penthouse. He threw his jacket across the couch.
"Rough day?" she asked softly.
He glared at her. "Where were you last night?"
Clara froze. "What?"
"Don't play dumb." Kevin's voice was sharp. "I know you left, you met someone."
Clara's hands trembled. "How do you know?"
"Because I had someone follow you," he snapped. "I couldn't risk Evelyn getting to you first."
Clara's chest tightened. "So you spied on me?"
"You were sneaking around behind my back!" Kevin shouted. "Tell me who it was."
Clara bit her lip. "He was an old associate of your father's. He said there's more about your grandfather."
Kevin stepped closer, his face pale. "What did he say?"
"That Charles killed someone. That's how the empire started."
Kevin's fists clenched. "That's a lie."
"He had proof," Clara whispered. "A missing person's file."
Kevin slammed his hand against the wall. "Damn it, Clara! You should have told me immediately."
"I didn't know what to think!" she cried. "You already have Evelyn and the board against you. I didn't want to make it worse."
His voice rose, raw. "So you hid it from me? You don't trust me?"
Tears stung her eyes. "It's not about trust, Kevin! It's about survival. Every time I stand beside you, another secret explodes. I don't even know who I married anymore!"
Kevin stared at her, breathing hard. "So what then? You want to leave again? Is that it?"
Clara turned away, hugging herself. "Maybe I should."
His chest heaved. "Go ahead then. Walk away. Just like everyone else."
Clara spun back, her voice breaking. "Don't you dare put this on me. You dragged me into this mess. You made me your shield, remember? You chose me because I was convenient!"
Kevin's face hardened. "That's not true."
"Then prove it!" Clara shouted. "Tell me I'm more than just a pawn in your war!"
But Kevin stayed silent, he looked helpless and confused.
The quiet between them was louder than any scream. Clara shook her head, her heart breaking.
"I can't do this," she whispered. She grabbed her coat and headed for the door.
Kevin didn't stop her.
******
Clara walked quickly through the lobby, her heels echoing against the marble. She pressed the elevator button with shaking hands.
"Mrs. Raymond," the doorman said cautiously. "Are you all right?"
She forced a smile. "I'm fine."
But inside, she was breaking. The secrets, the threats, the lies, they were crushing her.
Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out, her hands trembling.
It was an unknown number. Leaving won't save you. The Blackwells always collect their debts.
Her stomach dropped.
At that same moment, Kevin stood in the penthouse, staring out at the London skyline, fists clenched. He whispered to himself, "Don't leave me, Clara. Not now."
But she was already gone.