Chapter 204: The Deepest Betrayal

Tara's POV

As I began dragging Karen toward the door, fear replaced the defiance in her eyes.

"Tara, please," she begged, "whatever grievance you have, direct it at me. Leave my husband and son out of this. They know nothing about what I've done."

I smiled cruelly. "That's precisely why they should know. Don't you think they deserve to understand what kind of woman they're living with? I imagine in their eyes, you're the perfect wife and mother. How do you think they'll react when they learn it's all a facade? Anger? Disappointment? Heartbreak? I'd very much like to see for myself."

The threat of exposure to her family broke Karen's resistance. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Fine," she whispered, "yes, I know you're not here for revenge. You're looking for Finn."

I released her chin but maintained my grip on her arm. "Now we're finally getting somewhere."

Genuine tears filled Karen's eyes as she spoke, her voice choked. "But I truly don't know where he is! Yes, I helped remove him from the hospital, but he was immediately handed over to others. I swear I don't know where they took him!"

I tightened my grip, my patience wearing thin. "You expect me to believe you abducted him but don't know where he is? Karen, I don't have time for this."

"I'm telling the truth!" she winced under my grasp. "I was only responsible for getting him out of the hospital. Everything after that was handled by others. Tara, I swear I'm not lying!"

"Swearing means nothing," I scoffed. "How many people break their oaths daily? I'll ask one last time: where is he?"

Karen's face crumpled. "Kill me if you want, but I can't tell you what I don't know. My orders were only to remove him from the hospital. What happened next wasn't my responsibility. I truly don't know!"

"Just like you didn't know why I was here?" I sneered. "Karen, I've seen your tactics before. I gave you a chance, and you wasted it. That's unfortunate for you."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, making a show of unlocking it. "Peter," I said into the silent device, "Karen is missing her husband and son. She's too weak to travel in her... condition, so could you bring them here? I think she has important things to tell them."

Karen lunged for the phone in panic. "No! Stop! I'll tell you everything!"

She snatched the phone from my hand, only to discover the screen wasn't even unlocked. I hadn't actually called anyone.

"You tricked me," she said, defeat in her voice.

I raised an eyebrow. "All's fair in war, Karen. I learned that from you. Your act of playing dumb was quite impressive."

Karen stared at me for a long moment, the inner conflict clearly visible in her eyes. Finally, she sighed deeply. "Alright. I'll tell you what I know. Maybe it's not too late to save Finn."

Before continuing, she reached up to her face and, to my surprise, began peeling away what looked like an extremely thin latex mask. As the disguise fell away, her features transformed before my eyes.

I couldn't hide my shock when I recognized her true face. "It's you!"

Standing before me was indeed Karen—Finn's aunt, his closest relative after his mother's death. During the year Finn had studied with me, I had seen her multiple times. She would visit him frequently, bringing homemade meals, caring for him like a mother.

I felt a wave of shock. The person hurting Finn was the one he loved most besides his mother. For all those years after his mother's death, Karen had been his pillar, their relationship closer than most blood relatives.

My heart ached for Finn. If he discovered this truth, it would destroy him completely. I knew too well the pain of betrayal by a loved one. When I learned of Sophia's manipulation, it felt like being flayed alive—the pain of betrayal by a beloved, trusted person cuts deeper than any physical wound.

---

"How could you?" I demanded, anger building inside me. "Do you know how much Finn cares about you? You were his entire world! He once told me that despite losing his mother, he never felt alone because he had you. You were the one person in this world who truly loved him!"

Tears streamed down Karen's face. "I know, I know all of that! How could I not know how much he cared for me? I cared for him just as deeply, but..."

"You cared for him?" I laughed bitterly. "Karen, I used to think Sophia was shameless, but compared to you, she at least retained some dignity!"

Karen didn't try to defend herself. She knew I wouldn't believe her, but she continued anyway. "He was my sister's child. On her deathbed, she held my hand and entrusted him to me, asking me to raise him as my own. And I did, at first. I loved him like my own child. Even after I married, I still had him live with us. I thought we would be together forever, but..."

She paused, choking on her words. "People often lose what they treasure most. Someone threatened the lives of my husband and son to force me to hurt Finn. I had no choice."

"So you abandoned him?" My voice rose with anger. "When forced to choose between your husband and son or Finn, you chose your husband and son!"

Karen clutched at her chest as if in physical pain. "If my husband had been unkind to me, perhaps I wouldn't feel such agony. But he was good to me! From the day we married, he treated me like a princess. He never let me do housework, always helped raise our son. Tara, what would you have chosen if you were in my place?"

She pounded her fist against her heart. "As you said, I abandoned him for my husband and son! I followed that person's instructions—drugged Finn, then changed my appearance to stay close to him, doing everything that person ordered me to do!"

Realization struck me. "No wonder you looked at him so strangely that time when you and Jacob delivered me to him."

After taking a deep breath, I asked, "Where is he now?"

Karen shook her head. "That I truly don't know! I revealed my identity to you because I want you to help save him!"

"You just said someone threatened your husband and son's lives," I pressed. "If you don't know where Finn is, you must at least know who threatened you?"

Karen shook her head again. "I don't know that either!"

Seeing my angry expression, Karen quickly explained, "I truly don't know—you may not believe this, but although I've worked for this person for years, I've never seen their face. We've always communicated online! They were probably afraid I'd reveal their identity!"

"Do they contact you, or do you contact them?"

Karen pulled a phone from her pocket and handed it to me. "This is their number. You can trace it yourself."

I reached to dial the number, but Karen suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"Wait! I called them earlier today. I don't usually call twice in one day—it would raise suspicion. This person is extremely cautious. If they detect anything unusual, they might hurt Finn. Please don't call now!"

Something in Karen's expression convinced me. I lowered the phone. "Karen, even if you were forced, what you've done is still unforgivable..."

"I know," she interrupted, her voice hollow. "I never expected Finn to forgive me. I don't deserve forgiveness. So..."

With unexpected speed, she broke free from my control and lunged for the knife on the floor. Before I could react, she plunged it into her chest.

I immediately rushed to her side, my medical training taking over as I assessed the wound. "Don't be foolish! Let me help you!"

Karen weakly pushed my hands away. "Don't bother, Tara. They anticipated you would get information from me, so they ordered me to end myself if confronted. Even if you save me now, you can't protect me forever. And honestly, I don't want to live anymore. After everything I've done to hurt Finn, how could I face living? After you rescue Finn, please tell him I'm sorry. Tell him his aunt failed him, but ask him not to hate me—I'm not worth his hatred..."

---

Blood pooled beneath Karen as her breathing became more labored. With trembling hands, she pressed the phone into my palm.

"Over the years," she whispered, "though I never saw this person, I secretly gathered information. See if it helps. Please save Finn, you must! And my husband and son... please look after them. Thank you..."

Her voice faded before completing the sentence, her hand going limp in mine. Her eyes, still wet with tears, stared blankly at the ceiling.

I hadn't anticipated this outcome, but for Karen, perhaps it was a mercy. At least now she was free from the torment of being forced to betray someone she loved. The mental anguish over those years must have been unbearable.

Looking at the phone in my hand, I felt calm determination replace shock. My eyes narrowed dangerously as I activated the screen.

"Let's see who you really are," I murmured, already scrolling through the contacts.