Ximena lowered her head, fell silent for a moment, and then took a deep breath, “Yes, it was me but not entirely me. Everything I did was under Zorro’s control. Every step he took was aimed at removing obstacles in his quest to get The Yuncey Family’s Codex”
Sheid everything out for Caitlin. “I know my hands are stained with blood, I’vemitted unforgivable sins. But if I had a choice.. would’ve never done all those things for Zorro.”
Caitlin believed her–at least part of her story. The true viin in all of this was Zorro and his ambition.
Ximena was just a de in his hand. A pawn.
“I believe you,” Caitlin said. “Tell me<b>, </b>have you heard the rumor that the Yun’s Aromatic Coder hides a map to some r sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? What was Zorro’s real reason for chasing it all <b>these </b>years?”
royal tomb treasure? It
Ximena looked drained, her eyes dry but her face etched with fatigue. “It’s not about a <b>royal </b>tomb or treasure. It’s something even bigger.”
She took a shaky breath and continued, “Before I left Shadow Moon Pavilion, Zorro told me that inside the Codex was a map… a map to a
lost ancient kingdom.”
Caitlin blinked. “A hidden kingdom?”
That was beyond absurd. <ol><li>rd. Caitlin <b>had </b>read the first half of the Codex herself. All she’d found was the deed to the Fragrance & Dye Studio </li></ol>
nothing about any map.
“I don’t know if it’s true. But that’s what he said. That’s what he believes
Ximena hadid her cards on the table. Her willingness to confide in Caitlin was proof–she was no longer an enemy.
Caitlin, sensing an opportunity, pressed further. “If he’s been nning this for twenty years, then what about my grandfather’s family? Were
<b>you </b>
involved in the destruction of the Jonathan family?”
“I don’t know who did it,” Ximena said. “But it wasn’t Zorro. There were other factions just like Shadow Moon Pavilion, all eyeing the Codex Once your grandmother’s true identity was exposed, the Jonathan family was doomed. I don’t know who wiped them out. But when I took over Thompson Residence, it wasn’t a foreclosure. It was purchased from someone named Carlos Dominguez”
“Carlos Dominguez?” Caitlin repeated. “That wasn’t anyone from the Jonathan family.
I got the property from.”
“No. And that’s who I got
Caitlin was thrown off. She’d always assumed it was Jonathan who’d sold off the family estate. Why was it passed through someone else? Was it trafficked through intermediaries?
Il find out.”
“I’ve never heard of him… but I’ll find
They had covered a fot. Caitlin now had more pieces of the puzzle.
And as for what to do with Ximena… killing her might not affect Zorro <b>at </b>all But using her? That could change everything, <ol><li>ly. “What if we make a deal?” </li></ol>
“Ximena,” Caitlin said <b>suddenly</b>.
Ximena looked confused. “A deal?”
“I’ll help you fix things with Zeke. In exchange, you help me take Zorro down.”
There were no permanent enemies in this world. Only shifting alliances. If the goals aligned, even former adversaries could fight do bydd
Caitlin’s true enemy was Zorro.
Ximena’s eyes widened in disbellel. “You want to take down Zorro? Shadow Moon Pavilion?”
She <b>looked </b>at Caitlin like she’d lost her mind.
tion wa
Did she not know <b>what </b>kind of force she was challenging? Shadow Moon Pavilion wasn’t just a name it was a storm. And Zorro… he was at the eye of it.
“Zorro doesn’t need me to list his crimes, Caitlin said coldly. “He used me, tore me away from my daughter, and obsessed over the Codex like a madman. That man is evil to the core. He needs to fall.”
“You think I want to keep serving him?” Ximena said bitterly. “But… I don’t have much time left.”
Caitlin narrowed her eyes. “Your death contract… how long?”
“He gave me a deadline: retrieve the Codex, or die. I’ve falled. I’ve been discarded. I have one month left. Just one…”
Her voice broke.
Once the time was up, Shadow Moon Pavilion would send someone to eliminate her. She wouldn’t have anywhere to run.
“So you’re just going to ept that?”
Caitlin’s voice was firm. “Ximena, I don’t believe in fate. I believe in taking control of it. If death ising either way, why not fight for
something?”
Ximena looked up at her, stunned. She had expected Caitlin to kill her, But instead, Caitlin was offering a partnership–an unthinkable one.
Going against Zorro… she still remembered the <b>way </b>he butchered Dean. The man was capable of anything.
“I don’t have any real power, Ximena whispered. “It would be like ants trying to topple a mountain…”
“Zorro’s cruelty
elty has turned everyone against him. Even Zeke <b>walked </b>away.
That tells y
you <i>a </i>
all you need to know–his empire is cracking.”
Caitlin stepped closer. “He’s discarded you. He thinks you betrayed him. You know too much. He won’t let you live.
“And your children<b>… </b><b>do </b>you think he’ll spare them?”
Ximena’s breath hitched. She clutched her chest as if the weight of it all was suffocating her.
“I’m guessing the hit he ordered doesn’t stop with you. Once time’s up, he’ll send his assassins–to kill you and anyone he thinks could betray him: Zeke<b>. </b>Zora. All of them<b>.</b>”
<b>Calt </b>
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