Chapter 342: Nothing Left to Find
Damien’s expression changed at the question.
When Ken asked to speak with him privately, he had assumed it would be about Harper and Nick. After what he had witnessed between the two of them today, Damien wouldn’t have been surprised if Ken had questions.
Or perhaps it was something business–related.
What he hadn’t expected was for Ken to bring up that night.
Especially after seven years.
The question had caught him completely off guard, not only because of how much time had passed, but because from the very beginning, Ken had made it clear that the Takahashis wanted no involvement in the conflicts between the other families.
Especially anything involving Viktor Volkov.
Even seven years ago, when Damien had desperately turned to the Takahashis for help deciphering the anonymous coded message that ultimately led them to Cassandra, Ken had initially refused to get involved. It had taken considerable persuasion, and in the end, even Dahlia had resorted to asking Alice to convince her husband to help.
So why, after all this time, was Ken suddenly asking about the accident?
That night had remained one of the darkest chapters of Damien’s life. It was also where everything with Volkov had begun.
The guilt Damien carried over what happened had become an invisible chain between them, one Volkov had never hesitated to tighten whenever Damien tried to pull too far away.
“Not much more than what I knew seven years ago,” Damien finally answered. “I tried to find out who they were after the accident, but all I could ever get was Jane and John Doe. A woman in her early forties and a man in his mid–forties.”
His jaw tightened.
“Volkov made sure everything else disappeared. Their names, their identities, anything that could tell me who they were or where they came from. I used every connection and resource had, but every time I tried to dig deeper, I hit another dead end.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Chapter 342 Nothing Left to Find
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“What’s with the sudden interest?” Damien asked. “You’ve stayed out of anything involving Volkov for years, so I doubt you’re asking me this out of simple curiosity.”
He studied Ken’s expression.
“Do you know something I don’t?”
Ken set his glass down on the table beside him.
“I might.”
Damien’s attention sharpened immediately. He was about to press Ken for an answer, but Ken seemed to have expected the reaction and cut him off before he could.
“But before I tell you what I found, I needed to know how much you already knew. Whether you had ever managed to get past whatever Volkov buried seven years ago.”
“If you’re asking whether I ever found anything beyond what I just told you, no. I didn’t,” Damien replied flatly.
He leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening.
“I even asked Viktor about them twice. Both times, he told me everything had been taken care of and that the couple’s family had been well compensated. That was all he would give me.”
Ken drained the rest of his whiskey in one gulp.
“And you believed him?” he asked, his tone almost mocking.
Damien caught the underlying mockery in his tone and immediately felt the need to defend himself.
“Of course not. But Cassandra’s mental state had already deteriorated badly by then, and I had nothing else to go on.”
Ken nodded slowly before rising from his chair and walking back toward the bar.
“Then he made sure there was nothing else for you to find.”
Damien frowned.
“What are you saying?”
Instead of answering, Ken poured himself another whiskey. Then he reached for a second glass and poured another.
He returned and held it out to Damien.
“You’ll need this.” Damien looked at the glass, then at Ken. This time, he didn’t refuse. He took it from him Ken returned to his chair and took a sip of his whiskey before continuing. “Think about it. The less anyone knew about that couple, the less there was to investigate. No names, no identities, no records that could lead anywhere. Nothing that could connect what happened that night back to his daughter.” He looked directly at Damien. “It was the only way Volkov could protect his daughter. Or perhaps I should say, protect his name.” Damien leaned forward, growing increasingly confused by what Ken was trying to imply. “Protect it from what? If what happened that night was nothing more than an accident, there was nothing a good lawyer and enough money couldn’t have handled.” “Exactly.” Ken leaned back in his chair, his expression growing more serious. “Volkov is a snake, Damien. The kind that finds a weakness, sinks his teeth into it, and refuses to let go as long as that weakness remains useful to him.” His eyes settled firmly on Damien. “Volkov took advantage of what happened that night. He made you believe that because you didn’t return his daughter’s feelings, somehow everything she did afterward became your responsibility. That she ruined her life because of you.” “He knew exactly what he was doing. He took that guilt and used it to keep his hold on you.” Damien’s jaw tightened, his fist slowly clenching against his thigh. “And seven years later, he’s still there,” Ken continued. “Still lurking in the shadows of your life because for years, that guilt was the one thing stopping you from cutting him out of it completely.” Damien remained silent. Because Ken was right. It had taken Maya coming into his life for Damien to finally see what Volkov had spent years making sure he never did. Chapter 342 Nothing Left to Find +25 PONE The guilt he carried over the innocent lives lost that night because of Cassandra’s recklessness was real. So was the guilt he carried over the downward spiral the accident had triggered in Cassandra afterward. But the guilt Volkov had forced onto him for Cassandra’s choices was not. Damien had never been responsible for Cassandra falling in love with him. He hadn’t been responsible for not returning her feelings. And he certainly hadn’t been responsible for her choices that night. Yet Volkov had spent seven years making him feel as though he was responsible for all of it simply because he hadn’t loved Cassandra the way she wanted him to. And for seven years, Damien had allowed him to. Ken let out a quiet sigh, a trace of sympathy crossing his expression. It was unfortunate how effectively Volkov had used Damien’s guilt against him for all those years, but there was no point dwelling on it now. He continued. “I may not involve myself in every detail of your affairs, but that doesn’t mean I know nothing about what’s happening.” Ken paused, his expression turning serious. “I’m also aware that once Jaime is out of the woods, you have some unfinished business to take care of.” Damien knew exactly what he meant. “Viktor Volkov.” Damien gave a single nod, his eyes darkening. “He’s overstayed his welcome in my life long enough. It’s time I finally get rid of some old dead weight,” he said coldly. 60 Comments LUCK DRAW > Thenjiwe Mofokeng