Chapter 10 - The Second Fountain
Victor held the gun against Dad's back.
Nathaniel and Marcus were positioned outside his direct sight.
I stood near the ballroom entrance.
Madison was alive.
Ethan had escaped during the abduction and alerted authorities.
Victor didn't know.
He believed he still controlled everything.
He ordered Dad toward the fountain.
The symbolism was obvious.
“You humiliated Claire here,” Victor said. “Now she'll watch you beg.”
Dad looked at me.
“I won't.”
Victor pressed the weapon harder.
“You will.”
“No.”
Dad's voice remained calm.
“You've misunderstood my daughter.”
Victor frowned.
Dad continued.
“She doesn't need to watch me suffer.”
His eyes met mine.
“She needed me to understand what I did.”
That mattered more than revenge ever could.
Dad turned slightly.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“I am sorry.”
Victor shouted, “Stop talking.”
Dad ignored him.
“I humiliated you because I thought controlling how people saw my family mattered more than how my family felt.”
My throat tightened.
“I made you feel small because your independence made me feel unnecessary.”
Victor shoved him.
Dad stumbled.
“I pushed you into that fountain because I wanted four hundred people to laugh with me.”
His voice broke.
“I was wrong.”
Victor raised the gun.
Nathaniel moved.
Everything happened at once.
Madison ducked.
Marcus entered from the side.
Dad struck Victor's arm.
The weapon fired into the ceiling.
Nathaniel tackled Victor.
Agents flooded the ballroom.
Seconds later, Victor Lang lay handcuffed on the marble floor beside the fountain.
It was over.
Almost.
Marcus recovered the Claire file.
The laptop evidence tied Victor to decades of fraud, coercion, kidnapping, identity misuse, and financial crimes.
Samuel's testimony completed the case.
Daniel's drive completed the digital trail.
Mom's testimony explained the original conspiracy.
Victor had nowhere left to hide.
But our family still had work to do.
Dad looked at the fountain.
Then at me.
“Can you forgive me?”
I didn't answer immediately.
Forgiveness wasn't a switch.
And an apology didn't erase years.
“I can try.”
He nodded.
“That is more than I deserve.”
Madison embraced me.
Then Dad.
Samuel stood beside Daniel.
Mom joined them.
For the first time, I saw my family not as powerful people.
Just damaged people.
Nathaniel approached.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
I smiled.
“No.”
He smiled back.
“Better answer.”
Outside, dawn approached.
Marcus took Victor away.
Reporters were already gathering.
Bennett International would face investigation.
Dad would likely lose control of the company.
He knew.
Strangely, he looked relieved.
Then Nathaniel took my hand.
Dad noticed.
This time there was no joke.
No insult.
No judgment.
He simply asked:
“How long have you loved my daughter?”
Nathaniel looked at me.
“Long enough.”
Dad nodded.
Then Nathaniel added:
“But there is something Claire hasn't told you.”
I turned sharply.
“Nathaniel.”
His expression changed.
Dad looked between us.
“What?”
Nathaniel reached inside his uniform jacket.
My heart stopped.
He removed a small velvet box.
Madison gasped.
I stared at him.
“Not here.”
He smiled.
“I'm not proposing here.”
I exhaled.
Then he handed the box to me.
Inside was a ring.
But beneath it lay a folded piece of paper.
I opened it.
One address.
One date.
Tomorrow.
I looked at Nathaniel.
“What is this?”
His smile disappeared.
“Something Samuel asked me to give you.”
Samuel stood across the ballroom.
I turned toward him.
He looked frightened.
Then he said:
“Claire, Victor wasn't the only person who knew you were at that meeting.”
The ballroom suddenly felt cold again.
I looked at the address.
May you like
Samuel whispered:
“And tomorrow, the other person wants to meet you...”
