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A few days later, during a quiet weekend dinner at my mentor’s home, he set down his utensils and said, “The police have officially launched an investigation into Delilah’s crimes.”
“False accusations, assault, bribery, fraud-she’s facing a list long enough to put her away for life.”
With overwhelming evidence against her, Delilah was formally arrested.
Honestly, I had expected Daniel to take matters into his own hands and exact revenge in secret. But instead, everything proceeded according to law.
The trial was broadcast live online.
In court, Delilah was a shadow of her former self-disheveled, hysterical, her lips still scarred from previous injuries, making her speech garbled and pitiful. She tried to pin the blame on her dead mother or a few loyal followers, but her arguments were flimsy and unconvincing.
In the end, she was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
Behind bars, she finally tasted the fear and despair Ava had once endured. But no one pitied her.
Daniel and the Wren family didn’t escape unscathed either. Four of her known accomplices weren’t prosecuted, but the stain on their reputations was permanent.
The Thorne Corporation took a major hit. In the face of public backlash and corporate fallout, Daniel resigned from all his positions and disappeared from the spotlight.
My own life, meanwhile, had taken a new turn.
My debut film had just been released. Although my role was minor, it left a strong impression- so much so that I was invited to participate in promotional events and press tours across the country.
Tonight was the wrap-up celebration for our roadshow.
At the party, Oscar-the award-winning star of the film-approached me with a glass of champagne. He raised it toward me and smiled.
‘I hope we’ll have the chance to work together again,” he said. “Next time, maybe as co-leads.”
laughed lightly. “Thank you. I’d like that very much.”
‘You’ve got something special,” he continued, sincere now. “The film’s only been out for twc weeks and it’s already grossed hundreds of millions globally. Your character-small as the part was-sparked so much conversation. You brought her to life.”
Then he added, “You’ve got real talent. And with Director Jake guiding you, the sky’s the limit.”
I smiled, grateful. “You’re being too kind.”
In the middle of the laughter and music, I hadn’t noticed a familiar pair of eyes watching us from across the room.
Daniel had returned from Hollywood, tracking me down quietly after vanishing for weeks. He stood at a distance now, watching Oscar and me chatting, laughing.
The sight seemed to stab at him-me, radiant in an evening gown, standing beside someone like
Oscar. That someone should have been him.
He finally approached, quietly.
“Ava-no, Celia,” he corrected himself softly, “I wish you happiness.”
He looked at Oscar as though assuming he was my boyfriend. There was no bitterness in his voice, just sorrow. Real, aching sorrow.
I asked him, “Why did you hand Delilah over to the authorities instead of… doing what you once
said
you would?”
He replied, “Because I thought… that’s what you would’ve wanted.”
I looked at him for a long moment. “Doing the right thing doesn’t give you the right to decide or my behalf.”
My voice was calm. Detached.
And with that single sentence, something inside him finally gave way. The last flicker in his eyes dimmed, then disappeared.
“I’m leaving, Celia,” he said quietly. “Goodbye.”
Goodbye, Daniel.
