Chapter 35 - A Letter from the Past
The courier handed me a standard, rough paper envelope stamped with the official seal of the state penitentiary. I stared at the return address. The name printed in block letters made my chest tighten.
Arthur Vance. My father.
It had been years since the night in the grand ballroom. Years since he and my mother had conspired to destroy me for an insurance payout, resulting in the brutal assault that left the scar on my face. They had both been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for conspiracy, fraud, and aggravated assault. I had cut all ties, changed my name, and built an entirely new life.
I slowly sliced the envelope open with a silver letter opener. Daniel stood close behind me, his hand resting reassuringly on my shoulder.
I unfolded the single sheet of lined prison paper. The handwriting was shaky, a stark contrast to the bold, arrogant signature he used to put on fraudulent checks.
Nora,
I know you have every reason to throw this letter away. I have spent the last five years in a concrete cell, thinking about what I did to you. The doctors here have diagnosed me with late-stage pancreatic cancer. They give me three months. I am dying in the dark.
I heard about the Vanguard Agency. I heard you are helping people. I am begging you, as your father, for one final act of mercy. Come see me. Let me apologize before I die. Please don't let me leave this world entirely alone.
- Arthur.
I read the letter twice, my face completely impassive. I didn't feel sadness. I didn't feel anger. I just felt a profound, overwhelming emptiness.
"What does it say?" Daniel asked softly.
I handed the letter to him. He read it quickly, his jaw clenching tightly. "He's dying. And he wants absolution."
"It's a manipulation," Marcus stated bluntly, having read the letter over Daniel's shoulder. "Narcissists cannot handle dying without an audience. He doesn't want to apologize to heal you, Nora. He wants you to forgive him so he can feel better about himself before he dies."
"I know," I said, my voice steady. I looked out the window at the bustling city below. I had spent years helping victims cut ties with monsters. Now, the ultimate monster from my own past was begging for a lifeline.
"Are you going to go?" Daniel asked, his voice filled with gentle concern.
May you like
I touched the scar beside my nose. I thought about the coppery taste of blood, the freezing marble floor, and the absolute betrayal.
"Yes," I said, a cold, unyielding resolve settling into my bones. "I am going to go. Because I need him to see exactly who I became."
