Chapter 518: Chapter 518 Vladimir’s Confession
Liam reached forward and grabbed Governor Vladimir by the hair.
The governor let out a pitiful cry as he was dragged upright. For a man of his size, Vladimir should have been difficult to move, yet in Liam’s grasp he looked no heavier than a sack of clothes. The expensive robe hanging from his body had become soaked with sweat, his face pale and twisted with agony as one of his legs hung at an unnatural angle.
His hands desperately clawed at Liam’s wrist.
"P-Please... please..."
Liam paid no attention to the desperate pleas.
Behind them, Ivan stood rooted to the spot.
He swallowed hard.
Liam tilted his head slightly as he looked at Vladimir.
"So," he said pleasantly, "as I was saying..."
He pointed toward Ivan.
"Do you know this friend of mine?"
The governor didn’t hesitate this time.
"Yes! Yes, I know him!" Vladimir cried immediately, tears spilling down his cheeks. "I know him! Please don’t hurt me anymore! Please!"
Liam blinked before smiling wider.
"See? Was that so difficult?"
He released Vladimir.
The governor collapsed backward into the massage chair, clutching at himself while sobbing openly.
Liam reached over and lightly smacked the side of his head.
"Good."
He sounded almost proud.
"Now tell me this. Why did you have to lie and make me seem like a horrible person for hurting you?"
Liam glanced down at Vladimir’s injured leg.
Then covered his mouth dramatically.
"Oh dear," he murmured. "That does look pretty bad."
The governor’s entire body trembled.
Meanwhile, Ivan stared in disbelief.
If someone walked into the room right now without context, they might genuinely think Liam was concerned.
Only the three conscious men present understood the horrifying truth.
Liam wasn’t concerned.
He was mocking him.
Liam slowly lowered his hand.
The smile remained.
"So," he said softly, "tell me what happened twelve years ago."
The room became silent.
Outside, distant sounds of the mansion drifted through the closed windows.
Inside, only Vladimir’s uneven breathing could be heard.
The governor lowered his head.
At this point, the illusion of escape had vanished.
The guards weren’t coming.
His authority meant nothing.
His wealth meant nothing.
He sat before a young man who had walked into one of the most heavily protected residences in the state, dragged a prisoner out of prison itself, and looked completely at ease while doing it.
Lying had only made things worse.
"T-Twelve years ago..." Vladimir began weakly.
His voice broke.
"I murdered an innocent man in his own home."
He shut his eyes tightly.
"And I arranged for someone else to take responsibility for it."
Ivan lowered his head.
Even though he had lived with the truth for years, hearing it spoken aloud still made his chest tighten.
Liam listened quietly.
Then smiled.
"Is that all?"
Vladimir nodded quickly.
"Y-Yes. That’s all."
The atmosphere shifted.
The warmth disappeared from Liam’s expression.
He stared at Vladimir.
Silence stretched between them.
Then Liam spoke.
"I’ll ask again."
His voice was soft.
Too soft.
"Is that all?"
The governor’s breathing became frantic.
"No... no..."
His shoulders shook violently.
"I..."
His lips trembled.
"I also tried to force myself on his daughter."
The confession rushed out.
"I tried, but she escaped! I swear it! I didn’t touch her! I swear on everything I have, she escaped before I could do anything!"
Tears streamed down his face.
"I was drunk and afraid after killing her father. I panicked. I lost control. But she got away. I never touched her."
The room fell silent.
Ivan looked at the governor with disbelief and disgust.
Even after all these years, he hadn’t known everything.
The man beside him had truly destroyed an innocent family.
Liam remained quiet for several seconds.
Then he slowly reached into his pocket.
Both men instinctively flinched.
Instead of another act of violence, Liam pulled out his phone.
He unlocked it calmly.
"Ivan."
The older man nearly jumped.
"Y-Yes?"
"Stand beside him."
Ivan obeyed immediately.
He hurried toward the massage chair and positioned himself next to Vladimir without the slightest complaint.
Liam raised his phone.
The camera application opened.
Then he pressed record.
A small red light appeared on the screen.
Governor Vladimir stared at it.
Then his gaze shifted upward.
Past the phone.
Toward Liam.
Toward that same calm smile.
Toward eyes that had never once shown uncertainty since entering this mansion.
The governor swallowed.
His voice shook.
"W-What do you want me to say?"
Liam lowered the phone slightly.
"Start talking."
His tone carried no emotion.
"Tell the truth."
Governor Vladimir stared into the camera.
His lips quivered.
For years he had stood before microphones giving speeches about justice, integrity, and public service.
He had smiled at citizens.
Shaken hands.
Made promises.
Now, sitting in his own mansion with tears staining his face and fear hollowing out his eyes, he finally spoke honestly.
"H-Hello..."
His voice cracked.
He looked directly into the camera.
"I am Governor Vladimir..."
He broke down sobbing before forcing himself to continue.
"Twelve years ago... I killed an innocent man in his own home..."
——-
Tatiana sat stiffly on the couch in Alina’s apartment, her eyes fixed on the television screen with an intensity that would have made anyone think the world depended on the outcome of the romance movie currently playing.
The apartment itself was warm and cozy. The curtains had been drawn halfway, allowing soft afternoon sunlight to spill into the living room. A bowl of snacks sat forgotten on the coffee table while the television played scenes of two lovers reuniting dramatically in the pouring rain.
Tatiana didn’t even blink.
Her blue eyes followed every line of dialogue. Every little expression. Every awkward confession.
Beside her, Alina slowly lowered the cup she had been drinking from and turned to stare.
"...Why are you so focused?" she finally asked.
Tatiana didn’t even spare her a glance.
"What?"
"You’ve been staring at this movie like it’s some kind of survival guide."
Tatiana frowned.
"It’s just interesting."
Alina narrowed her eyes suspiciously before letting out a snort.
"Interesting? Tatty, it’s not like you’re ever going to need any of this."
Tatiana finally looked away from the television to glare at her.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Alina spread her hands innocently.
"It means exactly what I said. You’re twenty four years old. You treat men like they’re carrying contagious diseases and you’ve never had a boyfriend."
Tatiana’s face darkened.
"One day soon I’ll have my own man."
Silence.
Alina stared at her.
Then her expression slowly crumbled.
"Tatty..."
She sounded genuinely emotional.
"Tatty, you’re twenty four and you’ve never even kissed a guy."
Tatiana’s eye twitched.
"I don’t think there’s a one day in your case."
Tatiana grabbed a pillow and threw it directly into Alina’s face.
"Shut up."
Alina pulled the pillow away.
"I’m serious!"
"You don’t know anything."
"You avoid eye contact with ninety percent of the male population!"
Tatiana folded her arms tightly.
"You exaggerate."
"You almost snapped Danill’s hand because he accidentally touched your shoulder!"
"He surprised me."
"You broke Liam’s hand."
Tatiana immediately stiffened.
"..."
Alina blinked.
The more she talked, the stranger Tatiana’s expression became.
Her friend, who normally argued back immediately, had suddenly gone quiet.
Tatiana’s eyes shifted back toward the television.
A little too quickly.
Alina slowly sat upright.
Her eyes widened.
No way.
She looked at Tatiana.
Then back at the television.
Then back at Tatiana again.
Suddenly, she sprang to her feet.
"ARE YOU CRUSHING ON SOMEONE?!"
