Chapter 82 - THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE NAMES
We left the underground garage before dawn.
Noah refused to let go of my hand.
Neither did I let go of his.
The police took Lucas into custody.
But before they put him into the vehicle, he turned toward me.
“You don't understand what you signed.”
I stared at him.
“Then explain it.”
Lucas laughed bitterly.
“You think The Circle is an organization?”
“What is it?”
“A system.”
He looked at Julian.
“Your family built it.”
Julian said nothing.
Lucas continued.
“Banks. Companies. Property trusts. Private security. Legal networks. Information brokers. Everything connects.”
My father stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Lucas smiled.
“You're still protecting them.”
Then he was taken away.
On the drive home, no one spoke.
When we arrived, I checked Noah's room three times.
Windows locked.
Door locked.
Lights on.
Only after he fell asleep did I return to the kitchen.
Julian was there.
He stood beside the window.
“I owe you an apology.”
I didn't answer.
“I know that's not enough.”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I destroyed our family.”
“You did.”
“I hurt Noah.”
“Yes.”
His voice broke.
“I don't know how to fix it.”
I stared at him.
“You don't fix it with words.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
Then he placed a small envelope on the table.
“What is that?”
“Something I found in Lucas's belongings.”
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed four people standing outside an old courthouse.
My grandfather.
My father.
Elena.
And a woman I had never seen before.
On the back was one sentence.
THE FOUR FOUNDERS.
I turned the photograph over again.
“Who is the woman?”
Julian looked at me.
“Elena knows.”
I looked toward the hallway.
Elena was standing there.
Her face had gone completely white.
“That woman,” she whispered, “was your grandmother.”
I stared at her.
“My grandmother died before I was born.”
May you like
Elena nodded.
“She was supposed to.”
