Chapter 12 - The Price of Elara Fagan
Elara stared at Vadim.
He did not move.
Evelyn's recording continued.
“If Vadim Sokolov receives this message, tell him his name is being used.”
Elara's breath returned.
Gerald closed his eyes.
The recording explained everything.
Viktor had forged messages using Vadim's identity even years earlier.
He manipulated Evelyn into believing Alexei's son wanted North Star.
Evelyn discovered the deception shortly before her death.
She planned to expose Viktor.
She never got the chance.
Vadim looked at Gerald.
“You kept this.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it implicated me too.”
Gerald had helped Viktor steal.
He claimed he did not know Viktor intended murder.
Elara believed part of that.
Not because Gerald deserved trust.
Because the evidence matched.
“Why give it to us now?”
Gerald looked at her.
“I watched him put a gun against you.”
Silence.
“I spent your whole life pretending I was punishing you because you weren't mine.”
Elara's face hardened.
“There is no explanation that makes that acceptable.”
“I know.”
“And saving Daniel doesn't erase it.”
“I know.”
“You don't get forgiveness because you finally told the truth.”
“I know.”
For once, Gerald did not defend himself.
He left the recording.
Then he left the house.
Federal prosecutors received everything the next morning.
Gerald surrendered.
The investigation expanded.
Viktor faced charges connected to kidnapping, conspiracy, financial crimes, and multiple older cases reopened because of the new evidence.
Elara expected relief.
Instead she felt exhausted.
Trauma, she discovered, did not disappear merely because paperwork finally described it accurately.
Weeks passed.
She began rebuilding North Star.
Not alone.
Cassandra joined her.
Daniel visited carefully.
He never demanded the title Dad.
That mattered.
Vadim remained nearby.
Never pushing.
One evening, Elara found him on the terrace.
“You're avoiding me.”
“No.”
“You've had dinner in your office four nights.”
“Work.”
“Bad liar.”
He looked at her.
“I am trying to give you space.”
“Did I ask for it?”
“No.”
“Then stop deciding what I need.”
Vadim almost smiled.
“Yes, Mrs. Sokolov.”
She stepped closer.
“I haven't decided whether I'm keeping that name.”
His smile disappeared.
“I know.”
The marriage had begun as a contract.
Now Elara had choices.
She could annul it.
Vadim had already instructed lawyers to make that possible without touching her ownership.
That fact made the decision harder.
“You would let me go?”
“Yes.”
“Even if you don't want me to?”
Vadim's jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because loving someone and owning someone are opposite things.”
Elara stared.
He had said loving.
Vadim seemed to realize it too late.
She whispered, “You love me?”
He looked away.
That was answer enough.
Elara stepped toward him.
Before she could speak, his phone vibrated.
He ignored it.
Then hers did.
A message from Cassandra.
ELARA. TURN ON THE NEWS.
She did.
Gerald Fagan had been attacked while being transported to federal court.
May you like
And the man authorities believed responsible had escaped custody.
Viktor Sokolov was gone.
