4. The Unraveling Web

Lia arrived at Carlos's house, a sprawling estate that stood as a stark contrast to the modest apartment she called home. The opulence of his surroundings emphasized the divergence in their life paths since their childhood days. Carlos greeted her at the door, his charming smile momentarily masking the complex emotions beneath. "Welcome to my humble abode, Lia. Please, come in," he gestured, leading her through the grand foyer adorned with polished marble floors and intricate artwork. As Lia settled into the plush surroundings of Carlos's living room, she couldn't help but marvel at the extravagance that surrounded her. The room echoed with the hushed tones of wealth, a stark reminder of the stark contrast between their present lives. Carlos, sensing Lia's curiosity, began to divulge the secrets that had remained hidden for years. "Lia, I know our families have a tangled history, but there are things you need to know. My father didn’t betray your father. You’ll soon find out more but there’s something you must know first your father is still alive.” Lia's eyes widened at Carlos's revelation, her mind struggling to comprehend the unexpected turn of events. The plush surroundings of Carlos's living room seemed to blur as she processed the weight of his words. "Alive? But I mourned him, Carlos. I thought he was gone," Lia whispered, her voice choked with a mix of disbelief and relief. Carlos nodded solemnly, his eyes reflecting a depth of understanding. "Your father had to make a difficult choice. The business was on the verge of bankruptcy, and there were people after him, not just for financial reasons. His life, and the lives of your family, were in danger. Faking his own death was the only way he saw to protect all of you." Lia's emotions swirled, the revelation hitting her like a tidal wave. The grief she thought she had laid to rest five years ago resurfaced, now mingled with a profound sense of gratitude for her father's sacrifice. "But why didn't he tell me, Carlos? Why let me believe he was gone?" Lia asked, her voice trembling. Carlos sighed, his gaze fixed on a distant point. "He wanted to shield you from the chaos, from the dangers that lurked in the shadows. Your father believed that by faking his death, he could provide you with a chance at a normal life, free from the threats that haunted him." As the weight of the truth settled upon Lia, she felt a mix of emotions – gratitude for her father's sacrifice, anger at the circumstances that forced such drastic measures, and a profound sense of loss for the years she had believed her father to be gone. As Carlos revealed the next layer of the intricate web of deceit, Lia felt the ground beneath her shift. The plush surroundings of Carlos's living room seemed to close in on her as he continued, his voice bearing the weight of the unsettling truth. "Lia, you were the only one who knew about the impending bankruptcy and the betrayal. Maria and Vincent, seeing an opportunity, decided to frame you. With your father supposedly gone, they saw a clear path to taking over the family business. They wanted you out of the picture, and framing you for a crime you didn't commit was their way to achieve it," Carlos explained, his words hanging heavy in the air. Lia's eyes widened in disbelief, the magnitude of the betrayal sinking in. "All of this for money? They framed me for a crime I didn't commit, destroyed my life, just for the family business?" Lia's voice trembled with a mix of anger and hurt. Carlos nodded solemnly, his expression mirroring the gravity of the situation. "It seems so, Lia. Greed has a way of turning those we thought we knew into strangers capable of unthinkable actions." As Lia processed the revelation, the reality of the manipulation and deception that had shaped her life left her stunned. The extravagant surroundings of Carlos's living room now felt like a facade, a stark reminder of the stark contrast between the lives she and her betrayers led. Lia, grappling with a mix of emotions, felt a surge of determination. "I can't let them get away with this, Carlos. I won't rest until the truth is exposed and justice is served." "I can't believe they did this," Lia murmured, her voice carrying the weight of a heavy heart. "Mr. Cyrus was only trying to help me, and they used him to frame me. How could they betray someone who was genuinely trying to assist us?" Lia, her determination burning brighter, looked at Carlos with a furrowed brow. "If it wasn't your father, then who betrayed my father? Who set all of this in motion? And where is my father now?" Carlos paused, then uttered a name that sent a chill down Lia's spine. "Damon Cortez." The Cortez family carried an almost mythical reputation, their legacy spanning over a century, with each member standing as a paragon of leadership and accomplishment. Damon, the youngest grandson, was a figure both feared and respected in the business world. His cunning and ruthless nature had earned him a reputation for being both shrewd and malevolent. The mere mention of his name hinted at a formidable adversary, someone whose influence reached far and wide, casting a dark shadow over the unfolding mysteries in Lia's quest for justice. Lia, still grappling with the revelation about Damon Cortez, furrowed her brow in confusion. "But my father was never on bad terms with the Cortez family. Why would Damon be involved in framing us? It doesn't make sense. We barely know them." Carlos, sensing Lia's confusion, leaned forward, his expression serious. "Lia, there's a part of your family's history you might not be aware of. Years ago, your father served the head of the Cortez family. He was more than just an employee; he almost sacrificed his life for him." Lia's eyes widened in shock as Carlos continued, "The Cortez family was so grateful for your father's loyalty and sacrifice that they made a pact. If he ever had a daughter, she was to marry the head of the Cortez family's son." Lia's shock transformed into a mix of disbelief and concern. "A pact for me to marry the head of the Cortez family's son? But why would Damon, if his family was indebted to mine, frame my father and tarnish our lives?" Carlos answered, "Around your 18th birthday, your father went to meet with the Cortez family to discuss this pact. When Damon learned about it, he became furious. It seemed he had no choice but to adhere to the pact, but it didn't sit well with him." Lia's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and concern. "So, Damon was against the pact from the beginning? Why did he hate it so much?" Carlos sighed, "Damon was in a relationship at that time, and when he told his girlfriend about the pact, they had a massive fight. Unfortunately, it ended tragically. She got into a car accident as she drove away from their argument and didn't survive." Lia's shock deepened as she processed the tragic turn of events. "That's terrible. But why would Damon blame my family for what happened?" Carlos explained, "Sometimes people need someone to blame for their pain, even if it's misplaced. Damon might have harbored resentment toward your family, associating them with the circumstances that led to his girlfriend's death. That resentment could have festered over the years, turning into a desire for revenge." A somber realization settled over Lia as she connected the dots. "So, Damon's hatred for my family stemmed from a tragic incident, and he decided to take revenge by framing my father and destroying our lives."