I Raised My Husband's Love Child...Then He Shot Me

Chapter 23

I stared at my phone, my heart racing as I read the message from the private investigator.

"I've found something. There's a direct connection to your mother's death."

My grip tightened around the phone, my jaw clenching. This was it. The moment I'd been waiting for.

"Xavier?" Rachel's concerned voice broke through my thoughts. "What's going on?"

I slid the phone into my pocket, trying to mask the storm brewing inside me. "We need to go."

Gerald scoffed, stepping in front of us. "Leave? After I'm not done talking to you?" His voice was sharp, filled with the arrogance I had grown to despise.

I met his gaze with a cold stare. "We have nothing to discuss."

His eyes narrowed, anger flashing in his eyes. "You barge into my event, cause a scene, and now you think you can just walk out?"

I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only he could hear. "I'm here for war, Gerald. Every single person involved in my mother's death will pay."

Something flickered across his face—was it anger? Fear? It didn't matter. I was done playing games.

I grabbed Rachel's hand and pulled her with me as we strode out of the hall. The whispers followed, but I didn't care. My mind was on one thing—revenge.

When we got home, Rachel's gaze never left me, worry still etched on her face. As soon as we stepped into the living room, she spoke up.

"Xavier, what's going on?"

I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my face. "The private investigator sent me a message. He found a link to my mother's death."

Rachel's face hardened. "What kind of link?"

Before I could answer, the butler entered with the PI. The older man carried a folder, his face grim.

"I assume you saw my message?" he asked.

I nodded. "Show me what you found."

He set the folder on the coffee table and opened it. Inside were several documents—bank statements, transaction records, and an official report.

"The Russo Corporation," the PI said, pointing to the papers. "They wired a large sum of money to an offshore account linked to the man responsible for the accident three years ago."

Rachel sucked in a sharp breath. "So, it wasn't just an accident."

I stared at the papers, a surge of rage building inside me. The Russo family had been involved in my mother's death.

"This is enough to bring them down," the PI continued. "Once this gets out, they won't be able to cover their tracks."

I turned to my butler. "Release it. Spread it everywhere."

The butler nodded and left the room without another word.

Rachel watched me closely. "What's your plan now?"

I leaned back against the couch, fists clenched. "Now, we wait. With this information out there, they'll start scrambling to cover their tracks. And when they do, they'll expose themselves."

A small smile tugged at Rachel's lips. "You handled today well. You didn't let Gerald or anyone else intimidate you."

I looked at her, my expression softening. "I told you, I'm done being the weak one."

She reached out, placing her hand on mine. "You'll find your mother's killer, Xavier. And when you do, they'll regret ever crossing you."

A slow smirk spread across my face. "And what about you? What's your plan for Michael and his family?"

Rachel's eyes darkened with amusement. "Oh, Xavier, don't you see? As you bring them pain, it benefits me too."

I chuckled and pulled her closer. "I like the way you think."

She smiled, and I leaned in, pressing a kiss to her lips. For a moment, the world outside seemed to fade away. It was just the two of us, bound by our thirst for justice—and revenge.

Then her phone rang.

Rachel pulled back, frowning as she glanced at the screen. Her expression changed immediately, fear overtaking her features.

I tensed. "Rachel?"

She swallowed hard, her eyes wide with panic. "I… I have to go."

I stood up immediately. "Go where? Who was that?"

Her hands trembled as she dropped the phone to the floor with a crash. She grabbed my hand, her voice breaking.

"We have to go, Xavier, it's my… my… my grandparents," she cried.