Guests stood from their tables.
Phones came out instantly.
People whispered in shock.
But Veronica heard none of it.
She could only stare at Damien.
And for the first time in years…
The powerful Veronica Hale looked afraid.
The little girl clutched the golden pocket watch tightly.
Tears streamed down her face.
“My mommy told me everything,” she cried. “She said you both abandoned me!”
Damien stepped forward sharply.
“That’s not true.”
“Then why did she die alone?!” the girl screamed.
The words hit Veronica like a knife.
Her breathing became uneven.
“Eva’s dead…” she whispered to herself.
Damien lowered his eyes silently.
For a moment, guilt crossed his face.
Then Veronica suddenly grabbed his arm.
“You told me the baby died.”
Damien’s expression darkened instantly.
“Lower your voice.”
“You lied to me for eight years!” Veronica shouted.
The entire rooftop fell silent again.
The little girl looked between them in confusion.
“What do you mean?”
Veronica’s eyes filled with tears for the first time in years.
“The night Eva disappeared,” she whispered, “Damien told me the child didn’t survive.”
The little girl stepped backward slowly.
“No…”
Damien clenched his jaw.
“You don’t understand what happened.”
“Then explain it!” Veronica screamed.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Damien looked around nervously—almost terrified.
That’s when Veronica noticed it.
He wasn’t scared of her.
He was scared of someone else.
Suddenly—
A black SUV stopped outside the restaurant entrance.
Four armed men stepped out into the rain.
Damien’s face lost all color.
“No…” he whispered.
One of the men pulled out a gun.
Guests began screaming.
The little girl grabbed Veronica’s hand in panic.
And then Damien said the words that changed everything:
“They found us.”
Before Veronica could react—
The restaurant lights suddenly went black.
Complete darkness.
Screams echoed everywhere.
Then—
A gunshot.
And Veronica felt warm blood splash across her face.
— END OF PART 2 —
