Chapter 10 - THE CHAPEL
Alexander reached the chapel in less than six minutes.
No sirens.
No shouting outside.
Raymond wanted conversation.
That was the only reason Sophia was still useful to him.
The chapel doors stood open.
Raymond sat in the front pew.
Sophia sat beside him.
She was crying quietly.
No weapon touched her.
That did not make the scene safe.
Alexander entered alone.
His bodyguards remained outside.
“Daddy.”
Sophia stood.
Raymond placed one hand on her shoulder.
“Stay.”
Alexander’s expression changed.
Raymond looked older than Alexander remembered from the banquet.
Tired.
Almost ordinary.
That was the danger of men like him.
Age made everyone forget what they had once been willing to do.
“Let her go.”
Raymond looked at Sophia.
“She reminds me of Rebecca.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“Do not say my wife’s name.”
Raymond smiled faintly.
“She said the same thing about your father.”
Alexander stopped.
Raymond continued.
Rebecca discovered Edmund’s final confession.
Not through Samuel.
Through Raymond.
He had been there the night Edmund collapsed too.
Alexander stared.
“Why didn’t Samuel mention you?”
“Because he didn’t know I was listening from the hall.”
Raymond had heard Edmund tell Victoria he regretted what happened to Thomas.
Then something else.
Edmund admitted Thomas had been right.
The family would eventually destroy itself if each generation kept teaching fear as loyalty.
Raymond hated hearing it.
He had worshipped his older brother.
Rebecca later found out.
She confronted Raymond.
Not about the ambush.
About his refusal to accept Edmund’s final change.
“She told me the dead don’t owe us consistency.”
Alexander stared.
Raymond laughed bitterly.
“She was clever.”
Then his expression hardened.
“Too clever.”
Alexander moved one step closer.
Sophia looked at him.
He stopped.
Raymond continued.
He arranged the ambush to scare Alexander away long enough for the old family elders to pressure Rebecca into silence.
He did not intend serious injury.
He did not intend death.
Every harmful man had a sentence beginning with I didn’t intend.
Alexander was tired of them.
“You caused the ambush.”
“Yes.”
“You caused Rebecca’s fall.”
Raymond’s eyes narrowed.
“That was an accident.”
“No.”
“You grabbed her.”
“Yes.”
“You used my mother to knock her backward.”
Raymond’s jaw tightened.
“She wouldn’t stop.”
Alexander looked toward Sophia.
“My wife didn’t die because she wouldn’t stop.”
Then back.
“She died because none of you could tolerate someone refusing to be afraid.”
Raymond stood.
Sophia flinched.
Alexander immediately lifted one hand.
Raymond saw it.
For a moment, something like shame crossed his face.
Then disappeared.
“She’s safe.”
“Then release her.”
Raymond looked at Sophia.
The child surprised both men.
She pulled away from him.
Raymond did not stop her.
Sophia ran.
Alexander caught her.
He held her tightly.
Bodyguards entered.
Raymond raised his hands.
No fight.
No dramatic final stand.
Then Sophia whispered into Alexander’s collar:
“Uncle Ray said Grandma didn’t make Mommy fall.”
Alexander looked down.
“I know.”
Sophia shook her head.
“No.”
She looked toward Raymond.
“He said Mommy was alive after.”
Alexander froze.
Raymond’s face changed.
Sophia continued.
“Mommy talked.”
Alexander slowly looked at him.
“What did she say?”
Raymond did not answer.
Daniel moved forward.
Alexander stopped him.
“Raymond.”
The older man closed his eyes.
Rebecca had survived the fall for several minutes.
Victoria reached her first.
Raymond came down seconds later.
Rebecca was conscious.
Barely.
She looked at Victoria.
Then said something Raymond remembered exactly.
“Don’t let him raise Sophia in this house.”
Alexander stared.
Not “save me.”
Not “get Alexander.”
Sophia.
Then Raymond added:
“She said one more thing.”
Alexander waited.
“She said, ‘Tell Alexander his mother is more frightened than cruel.’”
May you like
Victoria had spent eight months proving Rebecca wrong.
Or perhaps proving how dangerous frightened people could become.
