Chapter 17 - Elena’s Choice
Elena met Adrian without Victor.
Not secretly.
She told Victor first.
That mattered.
Adrian arrived at the market before opening.
He looked around.
“This place still smells the same.”
Elena replied, “That isn’t nostalgia. That’s fish.”
He almost laughed.
She did not.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
“To ask what you want.”
“I already gave investigators everything.”
“No. What do you want from this family?”
Adrian looked toward the old photograph of his father hanging above the register.
“He chose Victor.”
Elena shook her head.
“He chose Victor to run the business.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
“He trusted him.”
“And Victor nearly destroyed it trying to prove he deserved that trust.”
Adrian stared at her.
Elena continued.
“You and your brother have spent twenty years fighting a dead man’s decision.”
That landed.
She offered Adrian a path.
Give up disputed company claims.
Accept a negotiated repayment of legitimate debt.
Cooperate fully with investigators.
Walk away from ownership.
Adrian laughed.
“You think Victor agreed to that?”
“No.”
“You didn’t ask him?”
“I’m asking whether you would.”
Adrian looked around the market again.
For the first time, Elena understood that he loved it too.
That made what he had done worse, not better.
Finally, he said, “If Victor buys out my valid share, I’ll sign.”
“How much?”
“Market value. Not revenge value.”
Elena studied him.
“Why?”
Adrian’s eyes filled.
“Because Jayden looked at me like I was a stranger.”
“You became one.”
“I know.”
The family eventually agreed.
Not reconciliation.
A settlement.
Adrian would leave Cole Harbor Seafood.
Victor would repay legitimate amounts over time.
Fraud-related claims remained subject to investigation.
Family and law would no longer be confused.
When Victor signed, his hand shook.
“He’s my brother.”
Elena answered, “Yes.”
May you like
“And?”
“And sometimes loving someone means refusing to let them keep hurting you.”
