I used to be Boston’s star detective, but I was wrongfully imprisoned for eight years. Furious victim families stabbed me eight times, demanding I pay with my life. My parents disowned me. I lost everything and I suffered through hell in prison. When I got out, I disappeared to a remote fishing town on the Maine coast. I thought life would finally be peaceful, but my ex-wife Serena’s arrival shattered that. She was now Boston’s most celebrated prosecutor, building her name on one high-profile conviction after another. Rain pounded against my shack as neighbors crowded outside, whispering: “Serena stayed single for eight years waiting for him, and Gideon still won’t see her? Ungrateful bastard.” I watched her stand there, soaking in their admiration. Almost laughed. Eight years ago, the person who framed me to save her lover’s career was Serena herself. …… My door stayed locked. Outside, the neighbors felt sorry for Serena. She looked calm, like she’d rehearsed the whole performance. The noise kept getting louder. Finally my boss Tom cracked. He stumbled out of the shack, practically bowing to her: “Ms. Vance, please, we’re just fishermen here. We don’t want trouble.” “This town’s too small for someone like you. If you don’t leave soon with all these people, none of us will have work tomorrow.” He turned and yelled at my door: “Gideon! The DA drove all this way. Get out here!” “Leave him alone. Don’t push him.” The moment I heard that voice, my hands froze on the net. The nylon cord cut into my fingers, drawing blood I barely felt. Eight years and that voice still got under my skin. I knew she wouldn’t leave until she got what she came for. Tom had been good to me. He didn’t deserve this circus. I let out a long breath, stood up, and opened the door. The reporters hit me like a wall. Microphones shoved in my face, cameras flashing, voices overlapping: “How does it feel going from decorated detective to fisherman?” “DA Vance stayed faithful for eight years. Why won’t you see her? Still angry she turned you in?” “Your former rookie’s been chasing her. Any comment on that?” They kept pushing closer. A microphone clipped my jaw. The questions got sharper, meaner. I looked past them and locked eyes with Serena. She was watching me with this cold, calculating expression. My whole body went stiff. I opened my mouth to speak. Nothing came out. The reporters smelled blood. They pressed harder, one asshole nearly shoving me off the porch. That’s when Serena moved. She cut through the crowd and positioned herself between me and the cameras. Her voice came out quiet but razor-sharp: “That’s enough. This is between him and me. It’s private.” She turned to face the cameras with a sad smile. “These men work hard for their living. Let them do their jobs. Everyone, please leave.” The reporters grumbled but backed off. I turned to go back inside. “Gideon.” I forced myself to look at her. Made my voice steady. “What do you need, DA Vance?” She flinched at the formal title. Good. “These years… have you been okay?” The question was obscene coming from her mouth. I wanted to laugh. Instead she stepped closer and reached out. I jerked backward. My heel caught the edge of a bait bucket. Crash. I went down hard, flat on my back. My bleeding hand smashed into the gravel. “Gideon!” She rushed forward, genuine concern flashing across her face: “Are you hurt? Let me help—” “Don’t.” I scrambled back on my hands and knees, used the wall to pull myself up. Blood smeared the wood. “I’m fine.” Tom was staring at me like I’d lost my mind. “DA Vance, if there’s nothing else, I need to go. Early start tomorrow.” Her eyes went soft. Wounded. She reached for my arm: “Gideon, why are we doing this? We don’t have to be so cold to each other.” “You don’t know what these years have been like for me. I—” “Mommy!” A kid came running and crashed into Serena’s arms. Eight, maybe nine years old. Then I saw him. Captain Liam Jenkins, my former rookie, walking up with my parents on his arm. He took Serena’s hand like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Serena, sweetheart, you should’ve told me you were coming up here.” He smiled warmly at my parents. “Mom and Dad were worried sick when they found out you drove all this way alone.” Then he turned to me. That smile sharpened. “No offense, Mentor. Kid really missed his mom. Plus she’s pregnant again, so we gotta be extra careful. You understand.” My eyes dropped to her flat stomach. If he said she was pregnant… I thought about what the reporters said. Eight years of devoted waiting. What a sick joke. Before I could process it, my parents went for my throat: “Gideon Hale. You’ve got some nerve still breathing.” My father’s voice could strip paint. “You destroyed this family’s reputation. Made us a laughingstock.” My mother jumped in, tears in her eyes but venom in her voice: “Three years ago your father had a stroke. If Liam hadn’t been checking on us regularly, hadn’t rushed him to the ER, he’d be dead right now. Dead, Gideon.” I looked at them. Really looked. Their hair had gone gray. Deep lines carved into their faces. They’d aged so much. All those years I couldn’t be there for them, couldn’t take care of them, it ate at me every day. But watching them look at Serena and Liam like they were the real family, like I was just some embarrassing mistake they’d made… that hurt worse than any shank I’d taken in prison. If they only knew. If they knew Serena and Liam were the ones who framed me, who destroyed an innocent man to cover their own crimes… What would they think then? My father looked at me with nothing but disgust. My mother’s voice dripped pure contempt: “We disowned you eight years ago. As far as we’re concerned, you’re not our son anymore.” She turned to Serena, her voice going soft: “Serena, honey, you don’t owe us anything. This person isn’t worth your time. You and Liam, you’re our family now.” Tom was watching this whole scene unfold. I saw the way he looked at me shift. My hands were shaking. I shoved them deep in my pockets. Serena sighed, all patience and understanding: “Mom, Dad, don’t be too hard on him. People have been talking about you both for years because of what happened. I get why you’re angry.” She gently coaxed them toward the car. But before she left, she turned back to me one last time: “What happened back then… I know I owe you for that. If you ever need anything, you can call me.” Her voice was so sincere I almost believed it myself.
I nodded. Didn’t speak. Serena saw I didn’t refuse. She left satisfied. I knew the truth. I’d avoid them forever if I could. Did she expect me to beg for scraps? After they left, Tom patted my shoulder. His eyes said everything. I knew. Things had changed. Next morning proved it. Tom assigned me the oldest boat. The worst jobs. “Gideon, it’s not that I don’t want to help,” Tom looked uncomfortable. “After yesterday, and you being fresh out of prison… nobody wants to work with you. You’ll have to work alone.” I nodded. Grabbed the nets and headed for that piece of shit boat. Serena had destroyed my peace. Now she was taking everything else. A week straight, I worked myself to death for nothing. Did the hardest jobs for the lowest pay. Then Tom found me and handed me an envelope. “This month’s wages. You should try somewhere else.” He wouldn’t look at me. “This was Serena’s idea, wasn’t it?” My voice was rough. But I already knew. Tom sighed. “DA Vance said it’s for your own good.” For my own good. Those words crushed me. I stood there holding that envelope. My fingers went numb. I didn’t argue. I packed my stuff and left that town. Three days of hitting walls. Then my phone rang. Serena. “Gideon, I’ve arranged a clerical position for you at the DA’s office. Someone will pick you up. You start in three days.” “DA Vance.” I cut her off. “Keep it. I don’t want your charity.” “Just leave me alone.” “Leave you alone?” Her voice stayed calm. “I’m trying to help. You don’t need to treat me like the enemy.” “I remember when you were Boston’s best. I’m giving you a chance to—” “Were. Past tense.” I laughed. Bitter. “Don’t forget who made me into this.” Silence. Then her voice came back colder. “I know you hate me. But you’re destroying yourself and I won’t allow it.” That command in her tone. “If you don’t want clerical, fine. Be a consultant for Liam. He just made Deputy Chief. He needs help. You’re his mentor.” My stomach turned. “No thanks.” “You don’t have a choice, Gideon.” Her voice went soft. Deadly. “You take this job, or Mom and Dad lose the house. At their age, they’ll end up on the street” My blood ran cold. She always knew where to cut.
Serena moved fast. Two days later, her people picked me up and brought me to Boston. Set me up in a shithole apartment. Three days in, someone knocked and told me to follow them. Wouldn’t say where. I walked into an ambush. The door opened onto a press conference. Camera flashes blinded me. Captain Liam sat at the microphone on stage, a red-and-white banner stretched behind him. “Thank you for coming.” His voice was smooth. “We’re here to demonstrate the Boston PD’s commitment to second chances.” He turned to me. Perfect mix of regret and pity in his eyes. “This is Detective Gideon Hale. My mentor. He made mistakes. Serious ones. But he’s paid his debt.” Cameras clicked. “We believe in redemption. People can change. They deserve a second chance.” His voice dropped, more measured now. “The BPD is bringing Detective Hale back as a criminal investigation consultant. He’ll be working with us again.” The reporters went crazy. I sat in that metal chair feeling naked. Stripped of everything. Then Liam stood up. He walked over in front of everyone. Every camera. Every reporter. He pulled out an envelope. Held it out with both hands. “Mentor.” His voice carried through the mic. “This is from me. A welcome-home gift.” A show of charity. Of mercy. I saw the satisfaction flash in his eyes. My stomach flipped. The reporters ate it up. A thousand pictures of Liam’s generosity. I’d become a prop. A symbol of their noble souls. That night, every outlet in Boston ran the story. Headlines everywhere: “BPD Offers Second Chance to Disgraced Detective” “Captain Jenkins Welcomes Fallen Mentor” “DA Vance Stands By Convicted Ex-Husband” I laughed. Bitter. They’d crucified me again, and this time the whole city watched. My parents started visiting. Every time, they looked at Liam like he was a saint. At Serena like she was an angel. “Serena, you work too hard. Taking care of this worthless thing.” My mother’s voice dripped gratitude. “Gideon, look at Liam. If you had half his character, we could die happy.” My father jumped in: “That boy saved my life while you rotted in prison where you belonged.” My mom grabbed Serena’s hand: “You’re pregnant. Don’t stress yourself. If Gideon causes trouble, tell me. I’ll straighten him out.” I watched them. My heart had gone numb. Then one night, Liam came for dinner with my parents. Casual. Friendly. Halfway through, he dropped it: “Oh, Mentor, we picked up some criminals last week. The ringleader has a connection to your old case. The serial murders. He’s one of the victims’ brothers.” My parents froze. “He’s been making threats. About getting even.” “What?” My father’s face went red. He slammed his hand down on the table hard. “This is all your fault! His brother died because of you! Of course he wants revenge. He has every right to want you dead!” My mother started crying. Not for me. “Liam, Serena, please. I know he deserves whatever happens, but we can’t have this affecting you. You’re having a baby!” Liam patted her hand. “Don’t worry, Mom. Serena and I won’t let anything happen. We’ve already talked to these men.” The way he said “talked.” The way his eyes cut to me. Every alarm bell in my head started screaming. What the hell were they planning?
Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260701qYXkNCFZZQ 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni336237”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix
Leave a Reply