Chapter 12: The Masks They Wear

The Figaro estate had always been a fortress of secrets, where power whispered through the halls and darkness lurked in every gilded corner. But now, those secrets were unraveling, and the house that Robert Figaro Sr. built was beginning to crack under the weight of its lies.

The night was heavy with tension as each member of the Figaro family moved through the mansion like actors in a tragedy, their masks firmly in place. None of them could anticipate the storm that was about to hit.

Robert Figaro Sr.: The Puppet Master Unveiled

In the dim glow of his study, Robert Sr. poured himself a glass of his finest rum, the amber liquid reflecting the firelight. He stared at the stack of documents in front of him—bank accounts, offshore holdings, coded letters. These papers weren’t just evidence of his empire’s vast wealth but proof of the sins that built it.

But there was something else on his desk tonight—a letter delivered earlier that day by an unknown courier. It was written on aged parchment, the handwriting meticulous.

“Your time is running out, Robert. The truth always surfaces, no matter how deep you bury it. Remember what you owe.”

The words sent a chill down his spine. Few people knew the depths of his past. Was it Theodore? Or someone else entirely? Robert’s mind raced, but his face remained stone cold. He had mastered the art of control, and no anonymous threat would break him now. Yet, as he tucked the letter into a locked drawer, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his carefully constructed world was slipping from his grasp.

Fernande Figaro: A Queen Torn

In her private sitting room, Fernande reclined on a chaise lounge, a glass of wine in her hand. But tonight, the wine tasted bitter. Her thoughts were consumed by Theodore Fillier.

The memory of their last meeting burned in her mind. Theodore had been colder than usual, his words more pointed.

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Fernande,” he had said, his voice low. “Are you sure you know who your real enemies are?”

What did he mean by that? She thought she understood Theodore, but lately, he seemed to know more about her family than she did. And then there was the photograph he had shown her—a picture of Robert and Theodore’s late father standing together, their expressions unnervingly similar.

The revelation had shaken her to the core. Why hadn’t Robert ever mentioned Theodore’s father? What other secrets was her husband hiding? And was Theodore truly an ally—or just another piece in this twisted game?

Robert Jr.: The Heir with a Plan

Robert Jr. paced the balcony outside his room, the cool night air doing little to calm his nerves. He had been making moves in the shadows, forming alliances with people his father would never approve of. But tonight, one of those alliances had sent him a warning.

“Your father’s enemies are circling, and they know about you,” the message read.

He clenched his fists. He had always wanted to prove himself, to step out of his father’s shadow and become his own man. But now he wondered if he had overplayed his hand. Still, he couldn’t back down. If the Figaro empire fell, he would rise from its ashes, no matter the cost.

Marie-Elizabeth: The Silent Rebel

Marie-Elizabeth sat in her room, her laptop open to an encrypted email. She had been feeding information to the journalist she was secretly meeting in Port-au-Prince. But tonight, she hesitated before hitting send.

The information she had uncovered was explosive—proof of bribes, blackmail, and worse. But as she stared at the screen, a new email came in, this one from an anonymous sender.

“We know what you’re doing, Marie-Elizabeth. Stop, or you’ll regret it.”

Her blood ran cold. She had always known the risks, but this was the first time she felt truly afraid. Still, she couldn’t stop now. The Figaro family needed to be exposed, even if it meant taking them all down—including herself.

Régine: The Observer

Régine lay on her bed, her journal open in front of her. She had sketched the man she had seen in the garden, his shadowy figure haunting her thoughts. But as she flipped back through her journal, she noticed something strange.

A few pages were missing. Torn out.

Her heart raced. No one was supposed to touch her journal. It was her safe space, her record of everything she had seen and heard. Who could have taken the pages? And what did they contain?

For the first time, Régine felt truly vulnerable. She wasn’t just an observer anymore—she was part of the story.

The Bombshell

As the family gathered for dinner, the tension in the room was palpable. Each member carried their own secrets, their own fears. But it was Theodore Fillier’s arrival that shattered the fragile calm.

He walked into the dining room unannounced, his expression unreadable.

“Dr. Fillier,” Robert Sr. said, rising from his seat. “What brings you here at this hour?”

Theodore didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he placed a folder on the table and slid it toward Robert.

“I think it’s time you explain this,” Theodore said, his voice icy.

Robert opened the folder, his face darkening as he read its contents. The others watched in stunned silence, their curiosity and dread growing with each passing second.

Finally, Robert looked up, his expression a mix of rage and fear.

“Where did you get this?” he demanded.

“That’s not the question you should be asking,” Theodore replied. “The question is: What happens now that I have it?”

The room erupted into chaos. Voices overlapped, accusations flew, and the fragile unity of the Figaro family shattered before their eyes. But amid the chaos, Régine noticed something—Theodore wasn’t just angry; he was hurt.

And that’s when she realized the truth. Theodore wasn’t just exposing the Figaros. He had a personal stake in their downfall.

To Be Continued…

What’s in the folder? What is Theodore’s connection to the Figaro family? And how far will each member go to protect their secrets? Stay tuned as the story plunges deeper into betrayal, lies, and revelations that will leave you breathless.