Mason slid the third document across the table. This time, he didn't just hand it over. He opened it to a specific page, his eyes locking onto hers. "Celine, what comes next… you already have some intel. But you need to brace yourself and stay frosty."

A cold dread washed over Celine. It felt like a massive truth bomb was about to drop.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and gave Mason a firm, determined nod.

"Start reading from here. The stuff before this, you're pretty much covered."

The file was about the Williams family.

Seeing a photo of Dante's parents, Celine’s breath hitched. Her eyes welled up, misting over. She blinked them shut for a second, then forced herself to keep reading. But as she devoured the words, the tears came in a flood, streaming down her face. She choked for air, clutching her chest as she buried her face, her voice a broken whisper: "No… it can't be… how could they…"

"Celine…"

Mason’s heart ached for her. He’d seen her file. The elder Williamses had been her lifeline, pulling her out of the pits. Their kindness was next-level.

"Mason… it says… it says…" Celine’s sobs racked her body, words failing her. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat, to ask him if it was real, but he just nodded before she could even get the question out.

Why? Why?!

They were such good people…

She’d had her doubts about their car accident being a fluke, but Dante's grandfather had dug for ages and found zilch. She’d just resigned herself to it being a tragic accident.

"But Mr. Williams…"

"Wondering why he couldn't crack it, huh?" Mason’s voice cut through her thoughts.

Celine nodded, completely stumped. How did Mason crack this case so fast when Dante's grandpa couldn't?

Mason paused, a grim expression on his face.

"Celine, remember that first file? The one where I told you to lock down the name. Ring any bells?"

Celine stared at him, drawing a blank. That guy with barely any info, not even a pic… She remembered. His name was…

"Russell Morgan."

"Russell Morgan," they said at the same time.

Mason let out a bitter chuckle. "Russell Morgan… is my uncle. He's also the deputy mayor. All I can say is, he’s been secretly in cahoots with the Lopez family for years. Ten years ago, when that accident went down, the Lopezes and the Williamses were in a brutal fight for some development rights."

Celine looked like she’d been punched. Her eyes were wide, her face frozen, her mouth hanging open in shock.

Mason let her have a minute to process.

"You… you…" she finally stammered after a long silence, "how did you even…?"

"Celine, when you emailed me for help, I never thought I’d dig up this much dirt. But I gotta warn you, even if you took this evidence to rat out my uncle, the paperwork would probably disappear before it even left the city."

"So, you gotta stop digging. You know now the Lopez family iced Mr. and Mrs. Williams. You can drop a hint to Dante’s grandpa and let him take it from there. My uncle’s already been promoted and transferred; his ties to the Lopezes will fade over time."

"You get what I'm laying down?"

Celine met his gaze. She did.

From now on, the Lopez family wouldn't have that backdoor protection. In fact, they’d need to make sure their secret stayed buried, permanently. The Williams family was the perfect cover.

So Mason’s whole spiel today was really about…

"Is this your uncle's plan?" Celine's eyes held a storm of emotions. Was she being played? Was Mason using her as a messenger to the Williamses?

Talk about a sneaky move – burning bridges and using a pawn to get the job done.

Her expression, her question – it said it all. She finally got it.

"Celine, you gotta realize, without my uncle’s backing, the Lopez family is toast. The Williamses will get to the truth; it’s just a matter of time. This window of opportunity, this small gap, that’s my way of paying you back. Now’s the time to hit them hard while the Lopezes are caught off guard, to make sure they can’t recover."

Mason knew Celine was sharp. She'd figure out the endgame.

Celine stayed quiet. She glanced at the recording pen, its red light still blinking, knowing that when she left, this audio and video would be delivered to him.

She nodded. No matter what, the Lopezes were responsible for the deaths of her benefactors.

The meeting was over. Celine said her goodbyes, turning down Mason’s offer for a ride. She needed to walk, to let it all sink in.

If Isabella already knew, then Archer Reynolds, who’d come back with her, had to be in the loop too.

Suddenly, Celine thought of Dante. And instantly, the humiliation she’d endured for three years came crashing back.

She saw Dante as a pathetic figure, no better than the cowering, broken version of herself from those years.

"Hahahaha… haha… Dante, you absolute clown…"

A bitter, scornful laugh escaped her, mocking her own pain and Dante’s idiocy.

But the hurt was too much. She sank to her knees, tears streaming, a silent scream of agony trapped in her throat.

She'd arrogantly protected him for three years, only to make him despise her more, loving him until her heart was in pieces…

And he, like a clueless idiot, had been fed lies, not only getting involved with the daughter of his parents’ killers but even offering them shelter. And after being betrayed, he’d stayed loyal, waiting for her, loving her…

"Hahaha… So none of us won… haha… sob…"

It was past ten at night. Winter had sunk its teeth in, and the temperature had plummeted. Walking outside, each breath bloomed into a white cloud in the frigid air.

But Celine still hadn't made it home.