Lucian's POV-
I drove the car as fast as I could.
Soon we reached the Kensington Dockyard.
"Remember this place?", I asked Nikos.
"What are you planning?", he asked as fear crept through him.
"Nothing much, just to make him realize, the cost of betraying a Valle.", I pulled out Stella and dragged her to the basement.
Nikos followed me.
He was afraid but had no guts to speak in front of me.
I know, that either this fire of revenge will burn the betrayer or me.
Either way, I have to suffer a loss but it's better to stop this fire from spreading and just cut the supply.
I pulled out Stella's phone.
Dragged a chair, sat on it.
I pulled out my lighter and cigarette from the pocket of my coat.
I usually do this when I am out of patience...
I lit the cigarette and called Stephen using Stella's phone.
[Hello? Stella? Where are you! I told you to come back as soon as possible! Don't tell me you are still at the corporation.]
Stephen's voice was heavy, I knew he was trying to escape but it's too late.
"Don't worry Mr. Flick, your daughter is in the right hands but wanna save her? Then come to the Kensington Dockyard along with Mrs. Era.", I hung up.
Stella was trying to shout and scream but in vain, the cloth stuffed in her mouth was wet.
"Pull the cloth out.", I instructed Nikos.
"Fine.", he did as I said.
"Stop it! I have nothing to do with my father's deed's!!!!", she shouted.
I pulled out the cigarette from my mouth, a smoke bubble flew through the air.
"You think, I am using you? Wrong! You are also a Flick! Who knows, that you are the next to betray me!", I shouted at her.
"Fine! Fine!" She took a deep breath.
"Then wait till my father comes!" She stared at me.
"He helped you"
"A coward"
"He was loyal to your mother"
"BASTARD!" I shouted and pushed her, she fell on the ground.
And fainted.
After some time, I heard footsteps approaching.
Nikos immediately stood up.
"Catch it, use it if needed.", I threw the gun towards him.
"How do you have it?", he stammered.
"Just do when I say!"
The footsteps grew louder.
Nikos raised the gun with shaking hands.I stood still, cigarette between my fingers, waiting…burning.
The basement door creaked open.
And there he was.
Stephen.
But not how I expected.
He wasn't confident.He wasn't smirking.He wasn't arrogant.
He was bleeding.
His lip was cut, his shirt torn, one arm hanging stiffly like someone had twisted it.
He limped forward, breath shaking.
And behind him—
"A-Aunt Era…" I whispered.
She was fine.Just pale. Terrified.But alive.
Stephen collapsed to his knees.
Nikos gasped, "What the—"
I stepped forward, grabbed Stephen by the collar.
"You dare come here hurt? Where is the act now?! What did you do to Aunt Era?!"
Stephen coughed, blood dripping from his mouth.
"Luc… stop… p-please… you're making a mistake…"
I pushed him back.
"WHAT MISTAKE? YOU BETRAYED ME!"
His eyes lifted—red, swollen—but honest.
"No… I was protecting you."
My blood ran cold.
"Protecting… ME?"
He nodded weakly.
"You weren't supposed to go home that night. Someone was waiting for you there. I moved Aunt Era because she was the only one they could use to reach you."
My heart stopped.
Nikos lowered the gun slowly.
Stephen continued, coughing:
"Those emails… the empty message… the footsteps you heard last night…Lucian… someone else is inside your house."
My entire body froze.
Stella, still on the ground, slowly opened her eyes—barely conscious.
"Dad…" her voice cracked, "tell him… everything…"
Stephen wiped the blood from his chin.
"I didn't betray you.""I was following your mother's last orders."
The cigarette slipped from my fingers.
My vision blurred.
"My… mother?"
Stephen nodded.
"She knew the Valle name would bring danger.She asked me to watch you from the shadows.To never tell anyone.To take the blame if needed.To let you hate me… if it meant keeping you alive."
My chest tightened.
Aunt Era cried silently behind him.
"Lucian… he was doing what your mother begged of him," she whispered.
Stephen looked up at me, defeated.
"If hurting me gives you peace… then shoot. But I will not let them kill you."
Silence.
My hands trembled.
For the first time…I didn't know what to do.
Why?
If not him... then who?
Who is the betrayer disguised as protector?
Who is the person my father mentioned in his letter?
I took a step forward...
"Then who is the protector, my father mentioned in that letter?", I asked Stephen because he knew something...
Something which could lead me to the truth.
"Your father never revealed him... only your father know him and if I am not wrong... your mother knew it too.", he said as he struggled to stand.
Ma... she knew it.
But she never mentioned anything about him...then how will I find him?
"Then what should I do know?", I asked him.
I had no option. I knew the move I made earlier was reckless but I need to do something.
I can't run for my whole life.
"For now, I assure you, the fire has cooled down. He went away. The Gail's are quite. But Lucian we still need to prepare for the storm that's goin to come. Because whoever is going to attack, will come back with more power."
His words sent a fear down my spine.
In anger and burning in the fire of betrayal, I suspected him but he is not the one...
Someone else but the for now, I'll make sure next time he comes.
He is not going to escape.
I turned towards Stella, she was struggling to get untied.
I helped her.
"Fine! Now when everything has cooled down... do you have any idea about the traitor?"
I was clueless, no. I have no idea!
I looked around at everyone...
But something was off.
Nikos was still trembling, sweating and afraid.
Stephen followed my gaze...
"Hey! Nik? Everyone is fine now, the misunderstanding is over...", Stephen assured as he stared at Nikos.
"Y-Y-yeah... s-su-sure!", he stammered.
I moved towards him.
"I am okay!", he shouted and moved back.
"You are acting wired!", I protested.
"Fine", he took a deep breathe..."You read your father's letter?"
"Yes", I answered.
"Then the protector he mentioned...", he paused.
"Is me."
What the...!
My body went numb, my fists tightened, anger surged through me.
I lunged forward and held him by the collar...
"How is this possible! I just met you the first time in Greece!", I shouted.
Stephen and Aunt pulled me back immediately, Stella held Nikos.
"Let me explain..."
"What will you explain! Jerk"
"Lucian! I know I was wrong but I never betrayed you!"
"You think I will believe you!"
"Yes!"
"NO WAY! NOT EVEN IN MY DREAMS!"
"You have to because! I was not the one to hurt you! But someone else! Someone you..."
His next words... sent chill down my spine!