Page 43 of Tempting My Nemesis

The cold glass of the window presses against my forehead as I close my eyes. We might have defeated Kane for now, but his threat still looms large. Despite that, it's my personal loss that weighs heaviest.

I turn away from the window, surveying the empty penthouse. The silence is deafening. Every corner holds a memory of her—her laugh, her warmth, the way she challenged me. Now, it's all gone.

Sinking onto the couch, I bury my face in my hands. The loneliness consumes me, a bitter reminder of the price I've paid for my need for control.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ZOE

I sit at the kitchen table in my mother’s house, where I’ve always come for comfort and advice. The warm aroma of tea fills the room, but today, it does little to ease the ache in my chest. I take a sip, trying to ground myself, but the familiar taste feels foreign against the backdrop of my current upheaval.

“Mom,” I begin, my voice wavering. “Did Dad ever mention anything about working with Steele Enterprises? Or about the Steeles’ deaths?”

Her reaction is immediate. Her hand freezes midair, and her eyes flick up to meet mine. There’s a flicker of something—guilt, fear—that sends a jolt of anxiety through me. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat a painful reminder of the secrets I’m trying to uncover.

“Zoe…” She sighs, her voice trembling. “There’s something you need to know. Your father… he wasn’t always the man you thought he was. He… he left something for you.”

I watch as she gets up and retrieves a small, weathered box from a cabinet. The room seems to grow colder as she places it on the table between us. Her hands shake slightly as she opens it, revealing a letter and a small USB drive.

“I found this after he passed,” she says, tears welling in her eyes. “I couldn’t bring myself to show you until now, but… you need to know the truth, Zoe.”

My fingers tremble as I take the letter and USB drive. The weight of them feels immense, like relics from a past I never fully understood.

“I need to know,” I whisper, more to myself than to her. “I have to understand.”

She nods silently, her expression one of deep regret.

The box in my bag feels like a ticking time bomb as I leave my mother’s house. My love for Caleb is now tangled with fear—fear of what I’m about to uncover and how it will change everything. Each step feels heavier than the last, the apprehension building within me almost unbearable.

Back at my apartment, I sit at my desk, staring at the USB in my hand. The letter from my father lies unopened beside me, a looming presence I’m not ready to face yet. My heart pounds as I turn the small device over in my fingers, feeling its weight. The room around me seems to fade away as I focus on the task ahead.

I plug the USB into my laptop and open the file contained within. My finger hovers over the play button, hesitation gripping me like a vice. Images of Caleb’s hurt and anger flash in my mind. With a deep breath, I press play.

My father’s face appears on the screen, older and more worn than I remember. His eyes are filled with a sadness that cuts through me. The man I once idolized looks like a stranger now.

"Zoe, if you’re watching this, then I’m no longer here to explain myself," he begins, his voice heavy with regret. "There are things I did… decisions I made… that I’m not proud of. And there’s something I need to confess, something that I’ve carried with me for years…"

My stomach twists into knots as he speaks. The warmth and safety I once associated with him begin to dissipate with everyword. He talks about deals he made to secure funding for Archer Innovations, deals with dangerous people who didn’t hesitate to use threats and violence.

"I made deals with the wrong people, Zoe," he continues, his voice trembling. "When those deals fell apart, they went after Steele Enterprises. That was because of me, because I threw them under the bus to protect myself… to protect us. They threatened the CEO’s family, trying to extort money from them. They were trying to get somewhere safe… trying to run away from the mess I dragged them into. But they never made it.”

My breath catches in my throat as the reality of his words sinks in. These weren’t just disgruntled investors—they were dangerous individuals willing to do whatever it took to get their money back. Caleb’s parents had been caught in the crossfire.

"God, they had a son…" he says, tears welling up in his eyes. " They were running from the people I brought into their lives, and in the end, it cost them everything. Because of me, that boy lost both his parents."

His confession crashes down on me like a tidal wave. The accident that killed Caleb’s parents wasn’t just a tragic event—it was a direct result of my father’s actions.

"No… no, it can’t be true…" I whisper, choking back sobs.

My hands tremble as I close the laptop. Tears finally break free, streaming down my face as guilt and sorrow overwhelm me. The world I thought I knew has shattered.

I pace my apartment, the letter from my father clutched tightly in my hand. The walls seem to close in, the air growing thick with every step I take. My mind races, torn between reaching out to Caleb and fearing his response. The truth weighs on me like an anchor, dragging me down.

I stop by the window, staring out at the city lights. The phone in my other hand feels heavy, each second of hesitation making the distance between Caleb and me grow wider. I bite my lip.

He was right. I want to tell him that I understand now, and how sorry I am. But what if he still won’t believe me? What if this is really the end?

My heart pounds as I dial his number, each ring echoing like a drumbeat in my ears. When he finally answers, his voice is cold and distant, nothing like the man I’ve come to know.

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