Chapter 8 - The Truth Victor Couldn't Buy
Victor did not call Nora.
That was the first test.
Every instinct told him to warn her immediately, send security, surround the building, take control.
Instead he called Adrian.
"Find out whether Thomas approached her."
Twenty minutes later, Adrian returned the call.
"He didn't."
"How do you know?"
"Building footage. Thomas watched from across the street and left."
Victor looked at the photograph.
"Why?"
"Maybe intimidation."
"Maybe."
Victor called Gabriel.
His brother answered.
"I need your help."
There was a pause.
"That's new."
Victor almost smiled.
"Get used to it."
They discovered Thomas had spent the week visiting lawyers.
His control over the trust was collapsing.
Financial investigators were reviewing everything.
He was not threatening Nora.
He was desperate.
Saturday arrived.
Victor reached the counseling office ten minutes early.
He wore no expensive overcoat.
No entourage.
No driver waiting outside.
Just Victor.
Nora entered carrying neither child.
Victor stood.
"Where are they?"
"With Mom."
He nodded.
"Good."
The counselor invited them inside.
The first session was brutal.
Nora spoke.
Victor listened.
She told him about feeding two premature babies alone at three in the morning.
About waking terrified that one would stop breathing.
About watching Victor dress for another "meeting."
About Sylvia.
About loneliness.
Victor did not defend himself.
When the counselor asked what he wanted, Victor said:
"My family."
Nora's face tightened.
Victor corrected himself.
"I want to become someone they can choose."
Nora looked at him.
That answer changed something.
Not everything.
Something.
Weeks passed.
Victor attended every session.
He learned feedings.
Appointments.
Laundry.
He learned Mia hated being cold after baths.
He learned Leo relaxed when someone hummed badly.
Victor hummed terribly.
Leo loved it.
Nora laughed the first time she heard him.
Victor stared.
He had missed that sound.
He didn't tell her.
He simply kept humming.
Meanwhile, Thomas's financial scheme unraveled.
Attorneys recovered assets.
Gabriel provided records.
Sylvia testified about the payments she'd received.
Thomas eventually signed a settlement relinquishing control of the disputed holdings while civil and financial investigations continued.
Victor refused to celebrate.
Money had caused enough noise.
One evening, Nora brought the twins to the penthouse.
It was the first time she'd returned.
She stopped inside the doorway.
Victor didn't approach.
"Welcome home."
Nora looked at him.
"This isn't home yet."
Victor nodded.
"You're right."
She walked into the nursery.
Everything remained.
But there were changes.
A medication chart.
Feeding schedule.
Emergency numbers.
Victor's handwriting covered sticky notes.
Nora picked one up.
MIA — LEFT CHEEK AGAINST CHEST.
She smiled despite herself.
Victor stood behind her.
"She gets angry if I forget."
"She gets angry because she's your daughter."
Victor laughed.
Then Nora's smile disappeared.
"Victor."
"Yeah?"
"Thomas contacted me."
His body stiffened.
"When?"
"Yesterday."
"What did he want?"
"To apologize."
Victor waited.
"And?"
"I don't believe him."
"Neither do I."
"But he gave me something."
Nora removed an envelope.
Inside was a final letter from Dominic.
Victor read it.
His father apologized to Gabriel.
To Victor.
To future family members forced to inherit his mistakes.
Then one sentence stopped Victor.
Do not confuse protecting your family with possessing them.
Victor folded the letter.
Nora watched him.
"That's what I did."
"Sometimes."
"I thought keeping everyone close meant keeping them safe."
"I know."
Victor looked at her.
"Do you still want a divorce?"
Nora inhaled.
"I don't know."
Victor nodded.
That answer hurt.
But it was honest.
"I can live with I don't know."
Nora's eyes filled.
"You couldn't before."
"I'm learning."
A knock came from the front door.
Victor frowned.
Nobody should have been arriving.
He checked the camera.
Thomas.
Nora came beside him.
Thomas stood outside holding nothing.
Victor looked at her.
"I won't open it unless you want me to."
Nora considered.
Then nodded.
Victor opened the door.
Thomas looked older.
Smaller.
"I came to say goodbye."
Victor didn't respond.
"I'm leaving Chicago."
"That's your choice."
Thomas looked toward Nora.
"I owe you an apology."
"Yes," Nora said.
Thomas almost smiled.
Then he handed Victor a sealed envelope.
"Your father gave me this thirty years ago."
Victor stared.
"Why now?"
"Because I've run out of reasons to keep it."
Thomas turned away.
Victor looked at the envelope.
His name was written across the front.
May you like
Underneath it were three words:
ABOUT YOUR MOTHER.
