Free Web NovelChapter 61: The Cruelest Truth
Santiago stood on the private verandah of his hotel suite, the cool night breeze brushing against his face but offering no relief from the storm raging inside his mind.
The city lights stretched out below like scattered diamonds, beautiful yet indifferent. His hands gripped the railing tightly, knuckles white, as memories flooded him without mercy.
Leon’s screams echoed in his head — raw, terrified, desperate. "Help me! Sylvain! Please!" The image of the boy being dragged into the van, kicking and crying, refused to leave him. Santiago closed his eyes, jaw clenched so hard it ached.
"What have I done?" he whispered to the empty night. "He trusted me. He was innocent... and I helped them take him. All for this mission. All for..."
That figure face flashed in his memory — the one person he had left everything for, the reason he had gone against his powerful family and come to this city. The search had consumed him for years. Every lead, every risk, every lie — all to find the person who held his heart.
A sharp knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts. Santiago straightened, wiping his face quickly before walking back inside. The hotel had been fast — the door Silas had broken earlier was already replaced with a new, sturdy one. frёewebnoѵēl.com
He opened it cautiously.
Standing in the hallway was Silas Vane, tall and imposing in his tailored black suit.
Behind him stood a meek hotel attendant, eyes downcast, clearly terrified of the powerful man in front of him.
Santiago froze for a second, shock flickering across his face before he masked it with practiced calm.
"Mr. Vane," he said evenly. "To what do I owe this... unexpected visit?"
Silas didn’t smile. "We need to talk inside."
Santiago glanced at the nervous attendant, then stepped aside. "Come in."
Silas walked past him without another word. The attendant bowed awkwardly and hurried away down the corridor. Santiago closed the door behind them.
The moment Silas entered the suite, Santiago’s phone rang loudly from the coffee table. He picked it up, glancing at the unknown number. Normally he would ignore it, but something made him answer.
"Hello?"
A familiar, excited voice burst through the line. "Young Master! I found him! I finally found the one you’ve been searching for all these years! From the leads he’s alive. I have solid confirmation and current location details!"
Santiago’s entire face transformed. Joy, disbelief, and overwhelming relief washed over him. He completely forgot Silas was standing in the room.
"Are you serious?" Santiago’s voice cracked with emotion. "Send everything to my phone right now. The person photos, location, everything. Don’t leave out a single detail. I need to see him. After all these years..."
The man on the line laughed happily. "I’m sending the full package now. You won’t believe how close he actually was. I’ll stay on standby if you need anything else."
"Thank you," Santiago whispered, voice thick. "You have no idea what this means to me."
He ended the call, eyes shining with unshed tears of joy. His hands trembled as he waited for the files to come through.
Silas watched him silently, then gestured toward the couch. "Sit down, Santiago. We have important matters to discuss."
Santiago, still riding the high of the news, sat down with a smug, almost giddy expression. "Whatever you want to say, make it quick. I’m in a very good mood today."
Silas reached into his jacket and pulled out the thick folder Violet had given him. He dropped it on the coffee table with a heavy thud. "Open it."
Santiago glanced at the folder, then back at Silas, still smiling. "No. I’m tired of your games, Vane. Man up and tell me what you want. Stop hiding behind mysterious files and dramatic entrances."
Silas let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Always so defiant. Fine, I came here to offer you an alliance. Work with me Santiago, help me find Leon and take down the people behind his kidnapping. You have resources. I have power. Together we can end this chaos."
Santiago’s smile faded slightly. He leaned back, crossing his arms. "No. I already have allies. Powerful ones. I don’t need you, Silas. Our goals don’t align."
Silas stood up slowly, buttoning his suit jacket. He walked toward the door, then paused and looked back.
"My number is in that folder. When you finish reading the truth inside it, you’ll come looking for me. Whether you like it or not."
Santiago sneered. "Don’t hold your breath on your way out."
Silas left without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.
Santiago sat there for a moment, still buzzing from the phone call. Curiosity eventually won. He picked up the folder and opened it.
The first few pages were about Leon’s kidnapping. Photos of Santiago meeting with Viktor, and evidence of his involvement were all in it. He frowned but kept reading. freёweɓnovel.com
Then he reached the deeper files. Glancing through it, his eyes widened in shock.
Photographs. Medical records. Timeline.
Everything pointed to one devastating conclusion — the person he had been searching for, the lover he had risked everything for, the man whose disappearance had haunted him for years... was Leon.
The same boy he had just helped kidnap. The same innocent, smiling boy he had betrayed.
Santiago’s world shattered. "No..." he whispered, voice breaking. "This can’t be... It’s not possible..."
He frantically opened the files sent to his phone from the earlier call. The first photo loaded — Leon smiling brightly beside a horse, looking carefree and happy, exactly as Santiago remembered from their meetings.
The same face.
The same gentle eyes.
Santiago let out a heart-wrenching cry that echoed through the entire suite. He dropped the phone and folder, falling to his knees as sobs tore from his chest.
"No! Leon... Oh God, what have I done? The boy I’ve been looking for... the one I left my family for... I sold him out. I helped them take him. Leon!"
He curled on the floor, crying uncontrollably, fists pounding the carpet.
"I’m sorry... I’m so sorry... I didn’t know... I didn’t know it was you..."
Downstairs, Silas stepped out of the hotel and walked toward his waiting car. He shook his head slowly, a dark, satisfied glint in his eyes.
He climbed into the backseat and closed the door. "Drive."
As the car pulled away, Silas stared out the window, the night city blurring past. He had expected Santiago reaction and all he was waiting for was Santiago visit to launch his plan.
