Chapter 10: Blood and Betrayal

Frank Carter bursts in, sidearm drawn, the weight of three thousand cavalry at his back. His badge catches the light. "Senator Knox! When have I ever wronged you? You had an affair with my wife—what reason is that?"

Lucy stands silent. Frank’s voice cracks. "You shameless woman! What are you doing here with Kyle? Take him home!"

I smile. "As far as I know, General Carter has only one son, right? You once mocked my weak frame—look at Kyle. Don’t his eyes look just like the maples by the river?"

Frank’s face contorts with rage. He curses Lucy. "You curse Henry at home every day—was it all fake? Kyle’s actually his son?"

"Crude butcher, what do you know?" I say, wrapping my arm around Lucy. "She missed me so much, she cursed me every day."

Frank howls, gun trembling. Kyle throws himself at him. "Dad, let’s go home. Don’t fight anymore."

"Don’t call me Dad! You’re not my son!" Frank shouts, but his hand drops the gun. Kyle hugs him. Suddenly, Frank roars, pushing Kyle away—a knife is buried in Frank’s chest.

Kyle sits silent. "Kyle!" I laugh. "Worthy to be my son, Henry Knox!"

I reach for him, but Lucy calls my name. I turn. She closes her eyes. "Don’t blame me," she says.

Pain knifes through my side. Kyle has stabbed me. "Sorry, Dad. Mom told me to kill you."

Lucy bites her lip, smiling through tears. For a split second, I remember the Savannah Ball—her laughter, wild and free, before everything went to hell. That year, she was just Lucy, not Mrs. Carter, and I wasn’t Senator Knox. Everything’s changed.

Lucy whispers in my ear: "Did you really think… all I wanted was the First Lady’s crown?"

Her laughter echoes as she thrusts a long knife into my chest. The world fades. As it does, I wonder—how many more times will I have to die before I get this right?