Chapter 9
Making Sacrifices
Hillary Beck
“Everything is ready,” Jack said, walking over towards me. “Is Gale prepared?”
“Yes,” I said. “He is ready for this.”
I looked at Gale, standing there in his best suit with a tired smile on his face. He looked so brave and so strong, and I wanted nothing more than to reach over and hug him.
“I am sorry, Jack,” I said softly. “I promise I am not some gold digger. I promise I wasn’t just using you. I really do like you, a lot. But I have been in love with Gale for a long time now. During the time I was with you, Gale and I had ended things. And when we ended up sleeping together, I felt so guilty I decided to tell you everything. That was why I called you at that restaurant that day. I finally wanted to tell you the truth. I am sorry I led you on when it was Gale I loved. I just wanted to make him jealous, and I used you—”
“It’s okay,” he said, cutting me off. “I really do love you, Hillary. I think you are amazing, and great, and perfect in every way. I was heartbroken when I found out about you and Gale. I just wished you had told me earlier; we could have been friends. I could have moved on, instead of falling deeper and deeper for you. I—”
“I know,” I said. “And I am truly sorry. If I could go back in time and undo it all, I would. I would tell you the truth and save you from all this pain. I am sorry that I did what I did.”
“It’s alright,” he said. “I forgive you. Is Gale sure about this?”
“Yes,” I said. “We are all out of options, aren’t we?”
“So it would seem,” Jack said.
“I have called this press conference here today,” Gale’s voice echoed throughout the room as he spoke into the microphone. “To reveal the truth. I have always been known as the good lawyer, the lawyer who ensures justice is done, and who goes out of his to stand for what’s right. But recently, I have let you down. There have been accusations about the corruption of my senior partners. There is outrage at my defense of Mrs. Durrick when I was aware of her guilt, and there has been curiosity at some of the cases I have recently lost. Well, I am here to tell you another truth. A truth that I have known about for a while now, and I have been sitting on it because I didn’t know what to do. That is, until the woman I love, Hillary Beck, finally showed me the right path. So, I have decided to divulge everything and unveil this before you.”
Gale looked at me, his eyes meeting mine, and I gave a small nod, reassuring him.
“I have recently found evidence that my father was corrupt in his dealings,” Gale said. “He has taken numerous bribes over the years from a huge number of people to either convict the innocent or spare the guilty. I know how many people could have suffered because of this. I know how many innocents could be lying in prison right now because of my father. They all deserved justice! They all deserved to be treated fairly! This is why I have decided to come before you and present everything. I am ready for the investigation that awaits me. I support full transparency, and I am willing to provide whatever documents the authorities may require. I personally have nothing to do with this, and henceforth, I have nothing to hide. I am willing to answer any or all questions. That is all.”
As he ended his speech, the reporters started shouting questions at him. He gestured towards me, and I walked towards him, climbing up the stairs to the stage to stand next to him. He took my hand in his, and as my skin touched his, I realized how cold and clammy it was. He had just ruined his own firm, everything he had ever worked for, with his own two hands. As the conference ended, Gale and I made our way towards Jack.
We had already talked to the authorities the day before, and Gale had agreed to fully co-operate. I still remembered the discussion we had with Jack about this earlier.
“This may be the best option and the only escape,” Jack said. “When Daniel reveals everything, you will go down, your reputation will suffer, and there will be no way out. But if you confess, it turns the public in your favor. Think about it, your father might be corrupt, but you are innocent. The investigation will prove that you had nothing to do with this. You will retain your license, you will retain the public opinion; your reputation remains intact.”
“You are right,” Gale said, “but it means my father will be arrested.”
“Yes, that’s true,” I said, “but he will be arrested either way. Whether you say it, or whether Daniel says it.”
“I can’t throw my father under the bus and save myself,” Gale said. “How can I do that to my own father?”
“He deserves it,” Jack said in a low voice. “If he truly put innocents in jail for some money, he deserves it. Think of all the lives he has ruined. All those people doomed to spend their lives in jail even though they hadn’t done anything. He deserves all this and more. It’s always easy to talk of justice when it comes to others, but when it comes to one of your own, it becomes a hard pill to swallow. True justice is for everyone. For the people out there, and the people you know.”
After that discussion, I could see how Gale was plagued by the thought of it all. He wanted to do what was right, but he also wanted to save his father. In the end, he decided to do it. His father had lived a life of crime, and Gale had sent many criminals behind bars. It was time he stayed true to his vision of justice and held his father accountable.
So, we made our move, and Gale’s actions, even though they played in favor of Daniel, removed a huge amount of damage that would have otherwise happened.
Whatever may come now, we were together, and he and I were going to stand against it hand-in-hand, no matter what.
