Chapter 14 - Margaret’s Last Revenge
Before the board vote, Margaret escaped during transport.
She took Isabella from a secure transfer vehicle and brought her to the ruins of the old Hale estate.
Police surrounded the property.
Margaret demanded me.
Not money.
Not shares.
Me.
I entered the burned mansion wearing the same red dress from the reception.
Margaret stood inside the ruined ballroom with a gun against Isabella’s side.
“You came,” she said.
“You knew I would.”
She looked at my face.
The bruise had faded to yellow.
“Was it worth it?”
“Was what worth it?”
“Freezing everything.”
“No.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You regret winning?”
“I regret that everyone believed hurting me was an acceptable strategy.”
Even Margaret looked away.
She had arranged the accusation.
Created the public confrontation.
Counted on Andrew’s temper.
She had not ordered the slap.
But she had built the stage.
“You planted the necklace,” I said.
“To expose the agreement.”
“You used my body as a trigger.”
“I needed proof.”
“You needed control.”
Her fingers tightened around the gun.
Isabella spoke.
“Margaret, your father was not innocent.”
“Neither were you.”
“No.”
The admission unsettled her.
She expected denial.
Excuses.
Everyone in our families survived through excuses.
I told Margaret about Elena’s restitution plan.
The Hale family would receive compensation under the same process as every other victim.
“I do not want charity.”
“It is repayment.”
“My father is dead.”
“So is mine.”
“You still had a life.”
I looked around the burned estate.
“My father managed my childhood. My mother purchased my marriage. My husband betrayed me. My sister hated me before meeting me. Did I have a life, Margaret, or did I have a role?”
Her gun lowered slightly.
Brenda entered through the ruined doorway.
“Let her go.”
Margaret stared at her.
“You defend Mariana now?”
“No,” Brenda said. “I am trying to stop becoming worse.”
Margaret’s eyes filled.
She looked at Isabella.
Then at me.
The gun slipped from her hand.
Police rushed in.
As officers led her away, Margaret stopped beside me.
“Andrew still has one weapon.”
May you like
“What?”
“A document proving you were never Rafael’s legal daughter.”
