The Lewis mansion rose before them like a pce from another century, its stone walls glowing golden under the evening lights. Alexander gripped the steering wheel tighter as they approached the circr drive, knowing that behind those wallsy wealth and power beyond most people''s imagination.


    Camille touched up her lipstick in the passenger mirror, her face bright with happiness. "I can''t remember thest time I felt this excited about seeing Mom and Dad," she said, closing thepact with a satisfied snap.


    Alexander forced a smile. "It''s wonderful that you''ve rebuilt your rtionship with them."


    "It really is." Camille turned to study his profile. "Are you nervous? You seem tense."


    Tense didn''t begin to cover what Alexander felt. Here he was, about to dine with the very people who had destroyed his ns for revenge. The couple whose wealth and connections had saved Kane Industries from his carefully orchestrated attack.


    "Just want to make a good impression," he lied smoothly.


    The front door opened before they could knock. Margaret Lewis stood there in an elegant navy dress, her silver hair perfectly styled, diamonds sparkling at her throat and ears. She looked every inch the society matriarch, but her face transformed when she saw Camille.


    "Darling!" Margaret embraced her daughter warmly, holding her close for several heartbeats. "You look absolutely radiant."


    "Thanks, Mom." Camille''s voice was soft with emotion. "You look beautiful too."


    Margaret turned to Alexander, her smile genuine but measuring. "Alexander. Thank you foring. I know this week has been difficult for everyone."


    "Mrs. Lewis." Alexander took her offered hand, noting the firm handshake, the direct gaze that seemed to see straight through him. "Thank you for having us. And for everything you did for Kane Industries."


    "Please, call me Mom. We''re family now." She stepped aside to let them enter. "Richard is in the library. He''s been looking forward to this all day."


    The interior of the mansion spoke of money so old it had forgotten its origins. Persian rugs covered polished floors, oil paintings in heavy frames lined the walls, and crystal chandeliers cast warm light over furniture that belonged in museums. Alexander had grown up wealthy, but this was wealth on a different scale entirely.


    Richard Lewis appeared in the doorway of what must be the library, and Alexander immediately saw where Camille got her strong jawline and determined eyes. He was tall, silver-haired, wearing a perfectly tailored suit that probably cost more than most people''s cars.


    "There''s my girl," Richard said, opening his arms.


    Camille practically ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist like she was twelve years old again. "Hi, Dad."


    "Hello, sweetheart." Richard''s voice was thick with emotion as he held his daughter. Over her head, his eyes met Alexander''s. "And you must be the man who stole my daughter''s heart."


    Alexander stepped forward, extending his hand. "Mr. Lewis. It''s an honor to finally spend time with you properly."


    Richard''s handshake was firm, his gaze direct and calcting. This was a man who had built fortunes and destroyedpetitors, who moved in circles where billion-dor decisions were made over dinner. "Call me Dad. Margaret''s right - we''re family now."


    They moved into a dining room that could have hosted a state dinner. The table was set with china so fine it seemed to glow, crystal sses that caught the light from another massive chandelier, and silver that had probably been in the family for generations.


    As they sat down, Alexander found himself directly across from Richard, with Camille to his right and Margaret to his left. The arrangement felt intentional, designed to put him at the center of their attention.


    "So," Richard said as the first course arrived, "tell me about Pierce Enterprises. I''ve been following your clean energy initiatives with great interest."


    Alexanderunched into a description of hispany''s projects, carefully keeping his voice steady even as his mind raced. These people had casually moved billions of dors to save Kane Industries. They socialized with the most powerful families in America. They could destroy his life with a single phone call if they suspected what he was really doing.


    "Impressive," Richard nodded approvingly. "The sr panel efficiency improvements alone could revolutionize the industry."


    "That''s the goal," Alexander replied. "Though it''s been challenging to scale production to meet demand."


    "I might be able to help with that," Richard said casually. "I know some people in


    manufacturing who could be interested in partnership opportunities."


    Margaret ced her hand on Alexander''s arm. "Richard, let the man eat his dinner before you start talking business deals."


    Camilleughed. "Dad''s alwaysworking. Even at family dinners."


    "Guilty as charged," Richard admitted with a grin. "But that''s how we were able to help Kane Industries so quickly. When you''ve spent decades building rtionships, you can mobilize resources fast when your daughter needs help."


    The casual way he talked about mobilizing billions made Alexander''s chest tighten. These people lived in a world where money was just a tool, where financial markets could be moved by phone calls between old friends.


    "We can''t thank you enough for what you did," Camille said, reaching across the table to squeeze her father''s hand. "If you hadn''t stepped in when you did..."


    "Nonsense," Margaret interrupted. "You''re our daughter. Of course we were going to help."


    Alexander watched the exchange, seeing the genuine love between Camille and her parents. They had hurt her deeply in the past, but they were trying to make amends now.


    "The attack on Kane Industries was quite sophisticated," Richard observed, cutting into his steak. "Someone put a lot of thought into those stock maniptions."


    Alexander''s fork froze halfway to his mouth. "Sophisticated how?"


    "The timing, the coordination, the specific rumors that were spread." Richard''s eyes never left Alexander''s face. "It wasn''t random market vtility. Someone with inside knowledge orchestrated the whole thing."


    "Do you think they''ll try again?" Camille asked, worry creeping into her voice.


    "Possibly," Richard said. "But it will be much harder now. The institutional support we arranged sends a clear message - Kane Industries has powerful friends. Anyone thinking about another attack will have to consider the consequences." The threat was politely worded but unmistakable. Alexander felt sweat form between his shoulder des despite the mansion''s perfect climate control. "Well, whoever it was picked the wrong target," Margaret said firmly. "Nobody attacks our family without consequences."


    Our family. The words hit Alexander like a punch to the stomach. They were including him in that protection, treating him as one of their own. Even as he nned to destroy everything they had worked to save.


    vern


    The main course gave way to dessert, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Camille told stories about their honeymoon. Italy, her face glowing as she described the vi and the food and the perfect weather. Alexander smiled and nodded at the right moments, ying the part of the devoted husband.


    As coffee was served, Margaret excused herself from the table. "I have something


    for you, darling," she told Camille. "A little gift to celebrate Kane Industries'' recovery."


    She returned carrying a velvet jewelry box that looked antique and valuable. "This has been in our family for four generations. I''ve been waiting for the right moment to pass it on to you."


    Camille''s eyes widened as her mother opened the box. Insidey a ne that took Alexander''s breath away. Diamonds and sapphires formed an intricate pattern around what had to be a twenty-carat center stone, the whole piece glittering like captured starlight.


    "Mom, I can''t ept this," Camille whispered. "It must be worth..."


    "Ten million dors," Margaret said simply. "Give or take. Your great-great- grandmother wore it to meet the Queen of Ennd. Your great-grandmother wore it to the opera with the Astors. Your grandmother wore it to her wedding." "And now it''s yours," Richard added, his voice gentle. "You''ve proven yourself worthy of the Lewis name, sweetheart. In business and in life."


    Tears spilled down Camille''s cheeks as Margaret fastened the ne around her neck. The diamonds caught the chandelier light, sending rainbow sparkles across her skin. She looked like royalty, like she belonged in this world of old money and older traditions.


    Alexander stared at his wife, seeing her transformed by wealth and love and eptance. The ne alone was worth more than most people made in a lifetime. It represented power, status, a ce in society that couldn''t be bought - only inherited.


    "It''s beautiful," he managed to say, his voice rough with emotions he couldn''t


    name.


    "You look stunning, darling," Margaret said, stepping back to admire her daughter. "Absolutely stunning."


    Camille stood and moved to a mirror hanging on the dining room wall, touching


    the ne with reverent fingers. "I can''t believe it''s really mine." "Believe it," Richard said. "You''re a Lewis. This is your birthright."


    Alexander watched his wife admire herself in the mirror, wearing ten million dors around her neck like it was nothing. These people could give away fortunes as casual gifts. They had saved Kane Industries with a few phone calls. They moved in circles where his uncle''s ''death would be dismissed as a minor business casualty.


    How was he supposed to fight against that kind of power? How could one man seeking justicepete with centuries of umted wealth and influence?


    "We should head home soon," Camille said reluctantly, still touching the ne. "Work tomorrow."


    "Of course," Margaret nodded. "But promise me you''ll wear that to the charity g next month. I want everyone to see how beautiful you look."


    As they prepared to leave, Richard pulled Alexander aside while the women said


    their goodbyes.


    "I like you," Richard said quietly. "You make my daughter happy. But I want you to understand something."


    Alexander tensed, preparing for whatever wasing.


    "Camille is everything to us. We failed her once, and we won''t fail her again." Richard''s voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge. "Anyone who tries to hurt her will discover exactly what the Lewis family is capable of." Alexander met the older man''s gaze steadily. "I would never hurt Camille."


    "Good." Richard smiled, but his eyes remained cold. "I''m d we understand each other."


    In the car driving home, Camille couldn''t stop touching the ne. "Can you believe they gave me this? It''s like something from a fairy tale." Alexander drove through the dark streets, his mind racing. The evening had


    shown him exactly what he was up against. The Lewis family didn''t just have


    money


    - they had power, connections, the ability to destroy anyone who


    threatened their interests.


    "Your parents obviously love you very much," he said.


    "They do." Camille''s voice was soft with wonder. "I never thought we''d be close


    again. But tonight... it felt like we were a real family." Alexander nodded, making appropriate sounds of agreement while his thoughts churned. He was trapped between his love for Camille and his need for justice.


    Between his vow to his uncle and his growing understanding that some enemies were too powerful to defeat.


    The ten-million-dor ne around his wife''s neck glittered in the streetlight, a constant reminder of the vast wealth and power arrayed against him. A reminder that he had married into a family that could crush him without breaking stride.


    But Richard Pierce deserved justice. The three workers who died in that factory explosion deserved truth. And Alexander had made promises to the dead that couldn''t be broken, no matter the cost.


    As they pulled into their building''s underground garage, Alexander


    made a silent vow. The Lewis family''s wealth and power wouldn''t stop him. Their threats wouldn''t


    deter him. Their love for Camille wouldn''t save them from the consequences of protecting Victoria Kane.


    He would find another way. He had to.


    Because some debts could only be paid in blood.