"Why?"
"Because evidence has a price."
Naomi stared at him.
"People died because of your money."
Marcus's face hardened.
"People die because they make choices."
Victor shook his head.
"You haven't changed."
Marcus looked at him.
"Neither have you."
Then Victor said something Naomi had not expected.
"I recorded you."
Marcus froze.
Victor pulled out his phone.
"Everything you said."
Marcus's face changed.
"You wouldn't."
"I already did."
Adrian stepped forward.
"And the investors have copies."
Marcus looked around.
For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes.
Then he smiled.
"You're bluffing."
"No."
Mr. Chen walked into the bookstore.
Behind him were two attorneys and several investigators.
Marcus looked shocked.
Mr. Chen spoke calmly.
"You underestimated the wrong people."
Marcus raised his gun.
Police sirens sounded outside.
He turned toward the door.
There was nowhere to go.
But before the police entered, Marcus looked at Naomi.
"You still don't know what happened to Liang Wei."
Naomi held his gaze.
"Tell me."
Marcus smiled.
"Ask your grandmother."
Naomi's heart stopped.
"My grandmother?"
"She was there."
David closed his eyes.
Marcus continued.
"She knows who pulled the trigger."
Naomi turned toward David.
"Is that true?"
David didn't answer.
"Is it true?"
Finally, he whispered:
"Yes."
Naomi's world collapsed.
Marcus dropped his weapon.
Police entered.
He was arrested.
But Naomi barely noticed.
Because the question that mattered most was no longer about Marcus.
It was about Evelyn.
Her grandmother had spent her entire life telling Naomi that words mattered.
Now Naomi needed to know what Evelyn's words had been hiding.
The truth came from an old recording.
Not the one Evelyn had left.
Another one.
Victor had kept it for nearly three decades.
They listened in silence.
Liang Wei's voice came first.
He was frightened.
He knew Marcus intended to steal the investors' money.
He knew someone was coming.
Then Evelyn's voice.
"Liang, you have to leave."
"I can't."
"They know."
"I know."
"Then go."
"I won't abandon everyone."
There was a pause.
Then another voice.
Marcus.
"You should have taken the offer."
Liang answered:
"I will never sell my people."
A struggle followed.
Then a gunshot.
Naomi closed her eyes.
She heard Evelyn scream.
David shouted.
Another shot.
Then silence.
But the recording continued.
Footsteps.
Victor entered.
Marcus said:
"Take care of this."
Victor's younger voice answered:
"What about Evelyn?"
"She knows too much."
Naomi opened her eyes.
She looked at Victor.
"You were there."
"Yes."
"You helped him."
"I did."
"Why?"
"I was twenty-eight."
"That's not an answer."
Victor looked down.
"I was afraid."
Naomi stared at him.
"You helped hide a murder."
"Yes."
"And my grandmother?"
"I tried to protect her afterward."
"Why should I believe you?"
"You shouldn't."
His honesty surprised her.
Victor continued.
"I cannot undo what I did."
He reached into his coat.
"But I can help you expose what came after."
He gave Naomi another file.
Inside were records from Hong Kong.
Sarah Carter.
Alive.
Naomi's hands trembled.
"Where is she?"
"Victoria Harbour."
Naomi could barely breathe.
"She has been waiting."
The next morning, Naomi flew to Hong Kong.
Her mother opened the door.
For several seconds, neither woman spoke.
Sarah was older than Naomi remembered from photographs.
Her hair was gray.
Her eyes were exactly the same.
Naomi began to cry.
Sarah did too.
"I thought you were dead."
Sarah covered her mouth.
"I thought you hated me."
"I never knew you."
"I know."
"Why didn't you come?"
"Because your grandmother begged me not to."
Naomi sat down.
Sarah explained what had happened.
Liang Wei had discovered the financial scheme.
He arranged for Sarah to escape before the attack.
Evelyn had helped.
David had stayed behind.
Everything that happened afterward was designed to keep Naomi alive.
The lies had been terrible.
But they had worked.
Naomi looked at her mother.
"Did Grandma know Marcus would come after me?"
"She knew he would."
"Then why did she teach me Mandarin?"
Sarah smiled through tears.
"Because your grandmother believed that if the truth ever came for you, you needed to be able to read it yourself."
Naomi thought about the restaurant.