Marcus Webb made a choice.
Not for Cross.
Not for Sterling.
For himself.
And his testimony destroyed the Syndicate's case.
---
The call came at 6 AM.
Sterling's voice was calm, but there was something beneath it. Relief. Satisfaction. Victory.
"Marcus Webb wants to talk."
"About what?"
"About everything. The payments. The conspiracy. Cross."
Damien sat up in bed.
Christabel stirred beside him.
"When?"
"Today. Now. Before Cross can stop him."
---
They met at Sterling's office.
Not the courthouse. Not the penthouse. Neutral ground.
Marcus Webb was sitting in the conference room.
His face was pale. His hands were shaking. His eyes were red from crying.
He looked like a man who hadn't slept in days.
"Thank you for coming," Marcus said.
Damien didn't sit.
"I'm not here for you."
"I know."
"I'm here for the truth."
"That's why I called."
---
Sterling sat at the head of the table.
Eli was in the corner, laptop open, recording everything.
"Dr. Webb, you asked for this meeting. You said you wanted to tell the truth."
"I do."
"Then tell us."
Marcus took a breath.
His hands were shaking.
"Cross approached me six months ago. He said he knew about the assault. He said he could help me get justice."
"Justice or money?"
"Both. He said I deserved compensation. He said he could make sure I got it."
"Did he mention the Syndicate?"
"Not at first. That came later."
---
Eli typed.
Marcus continued.
"He paid for my lawyers. He paid for my living expenses. He paid for everything. I didn't ask questions. I was angry. I was scared. I wanted someone to pay for what happened to me."
"And now?"
"And now I know the truth. He wasn't helping me. He was using me."
Sterling leaned forward.
"Using you for what?"
"To get to Damien. To destroy his reputation. To force a settlement. To get money."
---
Marcus looked at Damien.
"I'm sorry."
Damien's face didn't change.
"I'm sorry for what I did. I'm sorry for lying. I'm sorry for letting him use me."
"Why now?"
Marcus was quiet for a moment.
"Because I couldn't sleep. Because I kept seeing my patients' faces. Because I became the thing I hate."
"And?"
"And I want to make it right."
---
Sterling stood.
"If you testify to this, Cross will come after you."
"I know."
"His lawyers will destroy you."
"I know."
"You could go to prison."
"I know."
"And you're still willing?"
Marcus looked at him.
"Yes."
---
Sterling walked to the window.
Looked out at the city.
"Dr. Webb, do you understand what you're admitting? You conspired to commit fraud. You accepted illegal payments. You lied under oath."
"I understand."
"You could lose your license. Your career. Everything."
"I already lost everything. When I decided to lie."
---
Christabel spoke for the first time.
"Why should we trust you?"
Marcus looked at her.
"Because I have nothing left to lose."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
---
Damien stood.
Walked to Marcus.
Stood in front of him.
"If you're lying—"
"I'm not."
"If you're playing games—"
"I'm not."
"If this is another trap—"
Marcus stood.
"It's not. I'm done being his puppet. I'm done being anyone's puppet."
Damien studied his face.
Then he nodded.
"Okay."
---
Sterling called the judge.
The prosecution was notified.
Cross was informed.
His lawyers scrambled.
But it was too late.
Marcus Webb had made his choice.
---
The testimony was scheduled for the next morning.
Marcus spent the night in a safe house.
Not because he was a prisoner.
Because Cross had already tried to call him. Twice. Three times. A dozen times.
Marcus didn't answer.
"He's going to destroy you," Eli said.
"He can try."
"His lawyers are good."
"So am I."
---
That night, Christabel put Lena to bed.
Not Damien. Her.
Lena was walking now. Real walking. Across the room. Back and forth.
"Da," she said.
"Dada."
"Da da da."
Christabel laughed.
"Your father would be so proud."
Lena smiled.
Then she fell.
Then she got up.
Then she kept walking.
---
Damien appeared in the doorway.
"She's getting better."
"She's determined."
"She's yours."
"She's ours."
He walked to her.
Put his arm around her.
"Marcus is going to testify."
"I know."
"He's going to destroy Cross."
"I know."
"Are you okay with that?"
She looked at him.
"I'm okay with the truth."
---
The next morning, Marcus Webb took the stand.
The courtroom was packed.
Cross sat at the plaintiff's table, his face carved from stone.
Marcus sat in the witness box.
His hands were steady.
His voice was calm.
"Dr. Webb," Sterling began, "you've asked to correct your previous testimony."
"I have."
"Please tell the court what you told me."
Marcus looked at Cross.
Then at the jury.
Then at the judge.
"Victor Cross paid me to lie."
---
The room erupted.
The judge banged her gavel.
"Order! Order in the court!"
Marcus continued.
"He approached me six months ago. He said he could help me get justice. He said he could help me get compensation. But he wasn't helping me. He was using me."
"Using you for what?"
"To destroy Damien and Christabel Moreau. To force a settlement. To get money."
---
Cross stood.
"Lies! All lies!"
"Sit down!" the judge shouted.
Cross's lawyer pulled him back into his seat.
Marcus kept talking.
"I have records. Emails. Bank statements. Everything."
Sterling smiled.
"Thank you, Dr. Webb. Nothing further."
---
Cross's lawyer stood.
His face was red.
"Dr. Webb, you're admitting to perjury?"
"I'm admitting to the truth."
"You're admitting to fraud?"
"I'm admitting that I was manipulated."
"By whom?"
"By Victor Cross."
---
The cross-examination lasted hours.
Cross's lawyer tried everything.
But Marcus didn't break.
He didn't waver.
He told the truth.
The whole truth.
And nothing but the truth.
---
When it was over, Marcus walked out of the courtroom.
He didn't look at Cross.
He didn't look at anyone.
He just walked.
Damien watched him go.
"He did it."
"He did."
"He saved us."
"He saved himself."
---
That night, Christabel wrote in her notebook.
Today, a broken man told the truth. Not because he wanted to. Because he had to. Because the lies were eating him alive.
I understand that.
I've been there.
I am there.
But I'm learning that the truth, even when it hurts, is the only way out.
---