ă€ŠSCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)ă€‹


 Chapter 1

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    Three years. One thousand and ny-five days of trying to be the perfect wife, and this was my reward divorce papers on our anniversary.

    I stared at Stefan''s perfect signature on thest page, the ink still fresh. He must have signed them this morning, probably right after I''d left that stupid handmade card on his desk. The one I''d spent hours making, like a fool who still believed in fairy tales.

    The anniversary card I made for my husband Stefan still sat on the kitchen counter, untouched. Three years of marriage summed up in a handmade gesture he couldn''t even bother to open. I''d spent hours on itst night, writing words I thought mattered.

    My coffee had gone cold. Funny how you notice small things when your world is falling apart.

    "Sign here. And here." Stefan''s voice was distant, businesslike. He''did out the divorce papers like contracts at one of his meetings, sticky tabs marking each signature line. "The highlighted sections need initials."

    My hands wouldn''t stop shaking. "You''re doing this today? On our anniversary?"

    "Camille." He sighed, that familiar sound of disappointment I''d heard so many times before. "There''s no point dragging this out."

    The morning sun streamed through our kitchen windows, catching the diamond on my finger. Three carats, princess cut, picked out by his mother. "Not your style, dear, but it''s what a Rodriguez wife should wear," she''d said at the time. Like everything else in my life, it had never really been mine.

    "Is there someone else?"

    The question hung in the air between us. Stefan straightened his tie, Italian silk, the blue one I''d given him for Christmas. "Yes."

    One word. That''s all it took to erase three years of trying to be perfect.

    "How long?"

    "Two months." He wouldn''t meet my eyes. "She came back to town and..."

    "Two months," I repeated. All thosete nights at the office. The missed dinners. The way he''d stopped kissing me goodbye in the mornings. "Were you ever going to tell me? Or just keep lying until the papers were ready?"

    "I didn''t want to hurt you."

    Augh bubbled up, harsh, unfamiliar. "That''s thoughtful of you."

    My hand knocked against my coffee mug, sending it crashing to the floor. Dark liquid spread across the pristine tiles, staining the grout I''d scrubbed on hands and kneesst week because his mother wasing to visit.

    "Let me get that..." Stefan reached for the paper towels.

    "Don''t." My voice cracked. "Just... don''t pretend to care now."

    I bent to pick up the broken pieces. A photo slipped from between the divorce

    papers,nding face-up in the spilled coffee.

    The world stopped.

    I knew that smile. Those eyes. That perfectly poised expression that had haunted every family photo since I was twelve.

    "Rose?" My sister''s name tasted like poison. "Your first love was Rose?"

    Stefan''s silence said everything.

    Memories hit like punches to the gut. Rose helping me pick out my wedding dress. Rose giving toasts at our engagement party. Rose calling every week to check on my marriage, to give advice about keeping Stefan happy.

    My adopted sister. My parents'' golden child. The one they''d chosen to love.

    "She never left town, did she?" The pieces were falling into ce. "She''s been here the whole time, waiting. ying the supportive sister while you bothughed at stupid, naive Camille."

    "It wasn''t like that." Stefan ran his hands through his hair, that gesture I used to find endearing. "We tried to fight it. But some people are just meant to..."

    "If you say ''meant to be'' I swear I''ll throw this mug at your head." My fingers tightened around the broken ceramic. "How long were you together before? Before me?"

    He shifted ufortably. "Four years. Until she got the job offer in London." Four years. The same time I''d started dating Stefan. The same time Rose had suddenly be my biggest cheerleader, pushing me toward him.

    "She set this up," I whispered. "All of it. And I fell for every piece."

    "Camille, you''re being dramatic. Rose cares about you."

    "Like she cared when she told my first boyfriend I was damaged goods? Or when she convinced my parents I was too unstable for college?" The broken mug cut into my palm, but I barely felt it. "She''s been sabotaging me my whole life, and I kept making excuses because that''s what good sisters do, right?"

    Blood dripped onto the divorce papers. Stefan reached for my hand but I jerked away.

    "Don''t touch me." I grabbed a dish towel, wrapping it around my palm. "Where is she now? Waiting tofort me through my divorce? nning your next wedding?"

    "She wanted to be here, but I thought it would be better..."

    "Better?" Iughed again, the sound edged with hysteria. "Yes, you''ve both been

    so concerned with what''s better for me. Such caring people."

    I picked up the pen, the Mont nc he''d given me on our first anniversary. The one Rose had helped him choose.

    "Camille, wait. We should talk about this properly."

    I signed every page, my signature perfectly steady. Let them see I wasn''t breaking. Let them think they''d won.

    "I''m done talking." I gathered my purse, the signed papers, Rose''s photo. "Done pretending. Done being the good sister, the perfect wife, the daughter who neverins."

    "Where are you going?"

    "Away from you. Away from her. Away from everyone who thinks Camille Lewis is someone they can use and discard."

    My phone buzzed, Rose''s smiling face lit up the screen. Right on cue,ing to y her part.

    I declined the call and walked to the door. Behind me, Stefan called out, "You can''t just leave. We need to discuss arrangements, the house, the ounts..."

    "You can have it all." I turned to face him onest time. "The house, the cars, the life you built on lies. I don''t want anything that reminds me of either of you."

    "Camille, please..."

    "Goodbye, Stefan." I smiled, and something in my expression made him step back. "Give Rose my love. Tell her thank you, actually."

    "For what?"

    "For finally showing me the truth. About her, about you, about who I need to be."

    I walked out of that house, out of that life, leaving bloody fingerprints on the door handle. Let them try to erase those as easily as they''d erased me.

    Three years of pretending to be someone I wasn''t. Three years of swallowing pain

    and making excuses for people who never deserved my loyalty.

    My phone buzzed again. Rose. Then my mother. Then Stefan. One by one, I blocked them all.

    Every connection to the life I thought I had to live.

    In my rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of my reflection. Tears streaked my makeup, blood stained my dress, my hair hade loose from its perfect twist.

    I looked nothing like the polished, proper wife Stefan Rodriguez had married.

 Chapter 2

    Camille''s point of view

    The house was quiet, too quiet. I slipped in through the side door, locking it softly behind me. The air smelled like lemon polish and roses, just like it always did. It felt strange to be back, like stepping into someone else''s life.

    The kitchen was dark except for the faint glow of the fridge light. I crept up the stairs, careful to skip the third step that creaked. Every sound I made felt loud, like the house itself was listening.

    When I reached my bedroom door, I stopped. It was open a crack, just like I''d left it all those years ago. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside and shut the door.

    My childhood bedroom hadn''t changed in three years. Same pale pink walls, same white furniture, same collection of second-ce trophies. Rose''s first-ce ones used to shine in the room next door.

    I stared at my reflection in the vanity mirror, the same one where I''d practiced my wedding makeup three years ago, Rose standing behind me with that perfect smile. Now my mascara was smeared, hair wild, designer dress wrinkled. Mom would have a fit if she saw me like this.

    The clock on my nightstand read 10:47 PM. I''d been sitting here for hours, packing what little of my old life I wanted to keep. Amazing how seventeen years in this house fit into one duffel bag.

    My phone buzzed again, the twentieth time in an hour. This time it was Mom.

    "Camille, this is ridiculous. Come home so we can discuss this like adults. Rose is worried sick..."

    I hung up. Of course Rose was worried. Her carefullyid ns were unraveling. The front door clicked open downstairs. I froze, listening to familiar footsteps on hardwood. The slight tap of heels, the whisper of expensive fabric.

    "Camille?" Mom''s voice floated up the stairs. "Darling, I know you''re here. The housekeeper saw your car."

    I should have parked around the block. Should have been smarter, faster, better at disappearing. But I''d never been the clever one, had I? That was Rose''s role.

    More footsteps. A deeper voice, Dad, probably called home from work to deal with his hysterical younger daughter. Again.

    "Princess?" His voice carried that same gentle tone he''d used when I was twelve, crying about Rose getting my spot in the school y. "Let''s talk about this."

    A third set of footsteps made my blood freeze. Lighter, more graceful. Perfect, like everything else about her.

    "Camille?" Rose''s voice dripped concern. "Sweetie, please. Don''t shut us out."

    I looked at the family photo on my dresser, taken the day Rose''s adoption was finalized. Mom and Dad beaming, Rose radiant in her new dress, thirteen-year-old me trying to smile through braces and e. One big happy family.

    What a joke.

    The memory hit me like a punch to the gut:

    "But I''ve been practicing for months!" I clutched my script, tears blurring the words. "Mrs. Bet said the lead was mine!"

    Rose touched my shoulder, gentle as always. "Oh, sweetie. I didn''t mean to take your part. I just... the words came so naturally in the audition. Mrs. Bet said I had a gift."

    Of course she did. Everyone said Rose had a gift. For music, for acting, for making people love her.

    "Maybe..." Rose''s eyes lit up with that special gleam that always meant trouble. "Maybe you could help me practice? Be my supporting actress? We could make it our sister thing!"

    I''d agreed. Because that''s what good sisters did. Because saying no to Rose meant disappointed looks from Mom, lectures from Dad about family loyalty.

    Opening night, I watched from the wings as Rose brought the audience to tears. Afterward, Mom bought her roses. Dad took us all to dinner.

    No one mentioned that I''d written Rose''s best lines during our "practice sessions." Or that her dramatic monologue had been word-for-word what I''d performed in my original audition.

    Rose just had a gift for memorization, that''s all.

    "Camille Elizabeth Lewis!" Mom''s voice sharpened. "This behavior ispletely uneptable."

    I opened my bedroom door.

    They stood in the hallway like a perfect family portrait, Mom in her designer suit, Dad looking distinguished in his work clothes, Rose wearing concern like thetest fashion trend.

    "Hello, sister." My voice came out steady. "Shouldn''t you beforting your fianc¨¦?"

    Rose''s eyes widened. Always the performer. "Camille, please. Let me exin..."

    "Exin what? How you''ve been sleeping with my husband? Or how you set this whole thing up from the beginning?"

    "What is she talking about?" Dad turned to Rose, who already had tears forming. Perfect, delicate tears that never smeared her makeup.

    "She''s upset," Rose whispered. "Lashing out. You know how she gets, Daddy."

    "Don''t." Myugh sounded strange, even to me. "Don''t you dare y that card again. Show them the ring, Rose. The one Stefan gave you two months ago while

    I was supposedly too sick to attend the charity g."

    Mom gasped. Dad''s face darkened. But Rose, Rose''s mask slipped for just a second. I saw it this time, that sh of cold calction behind the concern.

    "It wasn''t like that," she started.

    "Really? Then how was it? Exin to everyone how you''ve been calling me every week, giving me marriage advice while sleeping with my husband. Tell them about all the times you helped me pick out lingerie for anniversaries when Stefan was really workingte with you."

    "That''s enough!" Mom stepped forward. "Rose would never..."

    "Never what, Mom? Never lie? Never manipte? Never steal something that belonged to her sister?" I pulled out my phone, ying thest voicemail from Stefan.

    His voice filled the hallway: "Rose is my soulmate, Camille. We tried to fight it, but some people are just meant to be together. You have to understand..."

    The silence that followed was deafening.

    Rose recovered first. "I never meant to hurt you. We can''t help who we love..."

    The sound of my palm connecting with her cheek echoed like a gunshot.

    "Camille!" Mom grabbed my arm. "Have you lost your mind?"

    "No," I said quietly, watching a red mark bloom on Rose''s perfect face. "For the first time in fourteen years, I''m seeing clearly."

    I walked past them, duffel bag in hand. Behind me, Rose''s sobs started, the same

    performance she''d perfected over years of turning everyone against me.

    "Where are you going?" Dad called after me. "You can''t just walk away from family!"

    I paused at the top of the stairs, looking back at my so-called family. Momforting Rose, Dad looking torn, and my sister watching me through her tears with eyes that held no warmth at all.

    "Family?" I smiled, and something in my expression made them all step back. "No, this isn''t family. This is a game. And for fourteen years, I''ve been ying by Rose''s rules."

    "Camille, please," Rose reached for me, ever the caring sister. "Let me make this right."

    I caught her wrist before she could touch me. "You taught me well, big sister. About maniption. About patience. About waiting for the perfect moment to strike."

    Her eyes widened, real fear this time, not performed.

    "Thank you for the lessons," I whispered, letting her go. "Now watch how well I learned them."

    I walked down the stairs, ignoring their calls. In the foyer mirror, I caught onest glimpse of myself, mascara-stained, wild-eyed, finally unchained.

 Chapter 3

    ROSE''S POINT OF VIEW

    I swirled the champagne in my crystal flute, watching the bubbles dance. Victory tasted sweet, just like I''d imagined all these years. The living room of my penthouse apartment overlooked the city where I''d spent twenty years pretending to be the perfect adopted daughter, the loving sister, the supportive friend.

    What a joke.

    "To freedom," I whispered to my reflection in the window. The woman staring back at me smiled, perfect teeth, perfect hair, perfect lies. Just like always.

    My phone buzzed again. Another missed call from Stefan. He''d been calling non- stop since Camille walked out, probably worried I''d change my mind now that everything was in the open. Poor, predictable Stefan. Still thinking he was in control of any of this.

    I kicked off my Louboutins and sank into the leather couch, letting memories wash over me like warm wine.

    The first time I saw Camille Lewis, I hated her.

    I was thirteen, fresh out of foster care, desperate to please my new parents. They''d brought me to this massive house with its manicuredwn and marble floors, promising me a fresh start. A real family.

    Then this skinny thing with braces and messy hair came bouncing down the stairs, all eager smiles and innocent eyes.

    "Hi! I''m Camille. I''ve always wanted a sister!"

    She hugged me right there in the foyer, not caring that my clothes were

    secondhand or that I smelled like the group home''s industrial detergent. Just pure, genuine joy at having a sister.

    I wanted to vomit.

    Because there she was, this awkward, imperfect girl who had everything I''d spent thirteen years dreaming about. Parents who actually wanted her. A home she belonged in. A future secured by the Lewis family name.

    And she didn''t even appreciate it properly.

    I watched her over dinner that first night, watched how she slouched in her chair and talked with her mouth full. How she didn''t know which fork to use for sd. How sheughed too loud and asked too many questions.

    "Rose has such lovely manners," Mrs. Lewis.... Mom..... had said, smiling at me. "Perhaps you could learn from your new sister, Camille."

    That''s when I saw it. The first crack in Camille''s perfect world. The slight dimming of her smile, the way she sat up straighter, tried harder.

    It was beautiful.

    My phone buzzed again, pulling me back to the present. Stefan''s face lit up my screen, his fifth call in an hour. With a sigh, I answered.

    "Darling, you''re being needy."

    "Rose." His voice was rough. Had he been drinking? "She''s gone. Really gone. Blocked my number, cleaned out her closet..."

    "Isn''t that what we wanted?" I kept my voice gentle, soothing. The same tone I''d used all those times I''d counseled Camille through her marital problems. Problems I''d carefully orchestrated.

    "I just... the way she looked at me..."

    "Stefan, sweetheart." I let steel edge into my sweetness. "Are you having second thoughts? After everything we''ve been through?"

    "No! No, of course not. I love you. I''ve always loved you."

    "Then stop calling me about your ex-wife. It''s pathetic."

    I hung up, tossing the phone aside. Men were so predictably weak. Even Stefan, who I''d spent four years grooming before pushing him toward Camille, still needed constant management.

    But he''d served his purpose. Just like everyone else in my carefully constructed game.

    The family photo on my mantel caught my eye, my adoption day. I stood in the center, of course. Always the center. Camille pushed to the edge of the frame, trying so hard to smile through her insecurities.

    God, it had been easy. Almost too easy.

    A little whisper here about how Camille was unstable. A few concerned conversations with Mom about how worried I was about my dear sister''s emotional state. Casual mentions to Dad about how Camille seemed to be struggling with basic adult responsibilities.

    Fourteen years of careful groundwork, positioning myself as the responsible daughter, the achievable dream, while slowly crushing Camille''s confidence, her rtionships, her sense of self.

    The college rejection was particrly inspired, if I do say so myself. All it took was one tearful conversation with Mom about finding Camille''s "secret" diary, filled with dark thoughts and destructive ns. ns I''d written myself, of course, in Camille''s childish handwriting that I''d spent months practicing to forge.

    Suddenly, their precious younger daughter wasn''t ready for college. Needed time to "find herself." Needed to stay close to home where they could watch her.

    Where I could watch her.

    I took another sip of champagne, savoring the moment. Because this, this was what I''d really wanted all along. Not Stefan, he was just a useful pawn. Not the Lewis fortune, though that woulde in time.

    No, what I wanted was to watch perfect, precious Camille finally break. To see her realize that everything she thought she had family, love, security, had been built on my lies.

    My phone buzzed with a text from Mom: "Rose, darling, pleasee over. Your father and I need to talk about what happened."

    I smiled, already nning my performance. The tearful confusion, the reluctant confession about Stefan''s pursuit, the gentle concern about Camille''s mental state.

    By the time I was done, they''d be thanking me for protecting them from their unstable daughter all these years.

    Standing up, I walked to my closet, selecting the perfect outfit for my next scene. Something subtle but expensive. Grieving sister, not celebrating victor.

    The massive walk-in closet had been Camille''s wedding gift to me. "So you''ll always have space for your amazing fashion sense," she''d said, hugging me tight.

    Even then, even after years of watching me steal every spotlight, every opportunity, every scrap of parental approval, she''d still loved me. Still trusted me.

    Idiot.

    I pulled out a cream cashmere sweater, remembering how Camille used to borrow my clothes in high school. How I''d wait until she had something important, a date, a presentation, an interview, then suddenly remember I needed that exact outfit. She''d always given them back without argument. Always apologized for the inconvenience.

    Always tried so hard to be the perfect sister.

    My reflection caught my eye, and for a moment, just a moment, I saw something ugly there. Something that looked like the scared, angry foster kid who''d walked into the Lewis house all those years ago.

    But then I blinked, and I was perfect Rose again. wless Rose. Rose who could do no wrong.

    Slipping on my Cartier bracelet, another gift from my dear sister, I prepared for my next performance. The concerned family meeting would need just the right touch of reluctant honesty, devastated betrayal.

    "Oh, Camille," I whispered to my reflection, practicing my worried frown. "What have you done to yourself?"

    But as I turned to leave, something made me pause. That look in Camille''s eyes before she''d walked out, I''d never seen it before. Not in twenty years of pushing her, testing her, breaking her.

    It had looked almost like... understanding.

    Like she''d finally seen through my mask to the truth underneath.

    I shook off the uneasy feeling. Camille was weak, just like I''d made her. She''d run

    away, lick her wounds, maybe try to start over somewhere new.

    But she''d never be free of me. I''d made sure of that years ago.

 Chapter 4

    STEFAN''S POINT OF VIEW

    The scotch burned going down, but I poured another anyway. My third? Fourth? I''d lost count somewhere between signing those divorce papers and watching Camille walk away.

    Our wedding photo still sat on my desk, mocking me. Camille''s genuine smile, my distracted eyes, already looking past her, always looking for Rose.

    Rose.

    Even her name felt like betrayal now.

    My phone lit up with another message from her: "Darling, stop drinking ande over. We should celebrate."

    Celebrate. Like we hadn''t just destroyed someone who loved us. Someone who''d given me three years of devotion I never deserved.

    The memory hit me like a punch to the gut.

    "Stefan?" Camille''s voice was small, uncertain. "Did I do something wrong?"

    I looked up from myptop, irritated at the interruption. She stood in the doorway of my home office, holding a te of something that smelled amazing.

    "I made that pasta you mentioned. The one with truffles?" Her eyes were hopeful. "Rose gave me the recipe..."

    Of course she had. Rose had made that pasta for me in Rome, years ago. Back when we were... whatever we were.

    "I''m busy." I didn''t even look at the te. "Just leave it."

    "Oh." A pause. "It''s just, you''ve been workingte all week, and I thought..."

    "Camille." My voice sharp with an anger that wasn''t really meant for her. "I said I''m busy."

    She left the te and disappeared, quiet as always. The pasta sat untouched until morning, a perfect recreation of a memory that belonged to another woman.

    I hurled my ss at the wall, watching crystal shatter like the life I''d built on lies.

    God, I''d been cruel. Not just at the end, but throughout our marriage. Every missed dinner, every forgotten anniversary, every time I''d chosen work over her, all excuses to avoid the guilt of wanting her sister.

    My phone buzzed again. Mother this time.

    "Darling, I just heard from Rose. Are you alright? Do you need anything? I always said Camille wasn''t suited for our family..."

    I silenced the phone, remembering another moment I''d tried to forget.

    "She''s trying so hard, Stefan." Rose''s voice was gentle as she poured me another drink. We were alone in my office after another disastrous family dinner. "Maybe if you gave her more guidance..."

    "Like you did?" I couldn''t keep the bitterness from my voice. "Teaching her all the ways to be perfect?"

    Rose''sugh was musical, practiced. Everything about her was practiced. "Are you saying you preferred me imperfect?"

    The air between us crackled with unspoken history. Four years of passion and ns, ended by her sudden departure to London. Or so she''d imed.

    "Why did you really leave?" The question slipped out, colored by whiskey and old pain.

    "You know why." She touched my cheek, familiar and forbidden. "Camille needed a chance at happiness. We both agreed..."

    Had we? I couldn''t remember anymore. Everything from that time felt hazy, manipted. Like watching a y where I''d forgotten my lines.

    "She loves you," Rose whispered, too close now. "More than I ever could."

    But her eyes said something different. They always had.

    Another memory surfaced, this one fromst week. The moment everything changed.

    "I made your favorite breakfast." Camille''s smile was bright, genuine. Always so damn genuine. "Happy anniversary."

    The divorce papers burned in my briefcase, Rose''s perfume still lingering on my clothes from ourte-night "meeting."

    "I can''t." I grabbed my keys, avoiding her eyes. "Early meeting."

    "Oh." Her voice cracked slightly. "Will you be home for dinner? I thought we could..."

    "Don''t wait up."

    I''d spent that evening with Rose, nning how to break the news. She''d worn the

    same perfume she''d worn in Rome, all those years ago.

    "It''s kinder this way," she''d said, stroking my hair. "A clean break. Camille will understand eventually."

    Would she? The look in her eyes when she''d seen Rose''s photo...

    My office door opened, startling me from the memory. Mother stood there,

    perfectly coiffed even at midnight.

    "Really, darling. Drinking alone in the dark?"

    "Not now, Mother."

    She clicked across the room, surveying the broken ss with disapproval. "Rose is worried about you. We all are."

    "Worried?" Iughed, harsh and broken. "Like you were worried about Camille all these years?"

    "That girl was never right for you." Mother''s voice hardened. "Rose, on the other hand..."

    "Stop." I stood, unsteady. "Just... stop."

    "Stefan Rodriguez, you will not speak to me that way. I raised you better..."

    "Did you?" The words exploded out of me. "You raised me to what? String along a woman who loved me while pining for her sister? Listen to you tear her down at every opportunity?"

    Mother stepped back, shocked. In twenty eight years, I''d never raised my voice to her.

    "Everything she did was wrong, wasn''t it?" I continued, the scotch making me brave. "Her clothes, her manners, her cooking. Nothing was ever good enough. But Rose... Rose was perfect."

    "Because she understands our world! She..."

    "She understands maniption." The truth hit me like a freight train. "She yed us all. You, me, Camille..."

    "Don''t be ridiculous." Mother straightened her designer jacket. "Rose loves you. She always has."

    Had she? Or had she loved the game more?

    I remembered the cold calction in her eyes when she''d orchestrated our "chance" meetings after returning from London. The way she''d encouraged Camille''s insecurities while ying the supportive sister.

    Even our reunion two months ago felt staged now. The charity g, Camille conveniently "sick," Rose in that dress I''d loved in Rome...

    "Mother." I sank back into my chair, suddenly exhausted. "Please leave."

    "Stefan..."

    "Go. Tell Rose... tell her..." What? That I was sorry? That I finally saw through her perfect mask? That I''d destroyed my marriage for a fantasy she''d carefully crafted?

    Mother left, her disappointment hanging in the air like expensive perfume. Like Rose''s perfume. Like all the artificial, manipted pieces of this life I''d chosen.

    My phone lit up with another message. Rose again: "Darling, stop being dramatic. Come home. To me."

    Home.

    I looked around my office, at the shattered ss and scattered papers. At Camille''s wedding photo, her genuine smile now seeming like an usation.

    What had I done?

 Chapter 5

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    The parking garage of the hotel where i lodged was too quiet. My heels echoed against concrete, each click bouncing off empty cars and shadowed pirs. It waste, past midnight, but something felt wrong. Off.

    My confrontation with Rose and my family had left me drained, empty except for the cold satisfaction of finally seeing behind her mask. I fumbled with my key fob, wanting nothing more than to get to my hotel room and n my next move.

    A car door mmed somewhere in the darkness.

    I stopped, listening. Nothing but the hum of fluorescent lights and the distant sound of traffic.

    My phone buzzed in my purse. Rose''s number. I declined it, but not before noticing my signal had dropped to one bar.

    Perfect.

    Footsteps behind me. Multiple sets.

    I walked faster, cursing my choice of heels. The hotel''s elevator was just around

    the corner, past a row of concrete pirs. If I could just...

    "Going somewhere, Mrs. Rodriguez?"

    A man stepped out from behind a pir. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in ck. Professional. Two more appeared behind me, cutting off my retreat.

    Not a random attack, then.

    "Actually, it''s Ms. Lewis now." My voice stayed steady despite my racing heart. "And I have a dinner reservation, so if you''ll excuse me..."

    The first man smiled. It wasn''t a nice smile. "I''m afraid your ns have changed."

    I gripped my purse tighter, feeling for the pepper spray I''d started carrying after signing the divorce papers. "Did my sister send you? Or was it Stefan?"

    "Our employer prefers to remain anonymous." He stepped closer. "Now, we can do this the easy way..."

    I didn''t let him finish. The pepper spray caught him directly in the eyes.

    He screamed, stumbling backward. I ran, kicking off my heels as I sprinted for the elevator. The other two men shouted, their footsteps thundering behind me.

    Almost there. Just a few more...

    Pain exploded in my scalp as someone grabbed my hair, yanking me backward. My purse went flying, contents scattering across the concrete.

    "That wasn''t very nice." The first man''s voice was rough with pain and rage. "Hold her."

    Strong hands gripped my arms. I fought, kicking, scratching, but they were too strong. Professional. Trained.

    "Our employer said you might be difficult." The first man wiped his streaming eyes. "Said you needed to learn your ce."

    Rose. This had Rose written all over it. Her parting shot, making sure I understood just how powerless I really was.

    "If you''re going to kill me," I spat, "at least have the guts to look me in the eyes."

    Heughed. "Kill you? No, no. Just a message. A reminder of what happens to people who don''t know when to let go."

    The first punch caught me in the stomach, driving the air from my lungs. I doubled over, gasping, but the men holding me kept me upright.

    "See, some people don''t understand their role in life." Another blow, this one to my ribs. "Some people need to be taught..."

    I tasted blood. My vision blurred, pain shooting through my body. But I wouldn''t cry. Wouldn''t give Rose the satisfaction.

    "That''s enough."

    The voice cut through the garage like a whip crack. Female. Authoritative.

    My attackers tensed. Through swollen eyes, I saw dark figures emerging from the shadows. Men in suits, moving with military precision. And behind them...

    A woman. Tall, elegant, probably in her fifties but with an ageless quality about

    her. She wore a ck designer suit that probably cost more than my car, her silver hair swept into a perfect chignon.

    But it was her eyes that caught me. Sharp, intelligent, and oddly... familiar.

    "Ma''am," one of my attackers started, "our employer..."

    "Is about to have a very bad day." The woman''s voice was ice. "Release her. Now."

    The hands holding me disappeared. I slumped forward, pain shooting through my ribs.

    "Secure them." The woman''smand sent her men moving. My attackers didn''t even try to run. They knew better.

    She walked toward me, heels clicking on concrete. Designer shoes. Probably cost more than my monthly rent.

    "Camille Lewis." Not a question. She knew exactly who I was.

    I tried to straighten, to maintain some dignity despite my split lip and torn dress. "Do I know you?"

    Her eyes softened, just slightly. Like she was seeing something, someone else in my face.

    "No." She gestured, and more men appeared with a medical kit. "But I knew someone very much like you, once. Someone who also had to learn the hard way about trust and betrayal."

    The world was getting fuzzy around the edges. Blood dripped onto my ruined dress, each breath sending knives through my ribs.

    "Who..." I swayed, darkness creeping in. "Who are you?"

    She stepped forward, catching me as my knees buckled. This close, I could smell

    her perfume, something expensive, unique. Something that tickled at the edges of my memory.

    "Someone who''s been watching you for a very long time, Camille." Her voice seemed toe from far away. "Someone who''s going to help you be everything they tried to prevent."

    The darkness was winning now. But before it took mepletely, I heard herst words:

    "After all... you look just like my daughter."

    Then nothing but ck.

 Chapter 6

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    I woke to silk sheets and sunlight. For a moment, I thought I was back in my childhood bedroom, before everything fell apart. But the ceiling above me was unfamiliar, hand-painted cherubs floating in a cloudless sky, framed by gilded molding that probably cost more than my entire wedding.

    Pain shot through my ribs as I tried to sit up, memories flooding back. The parking garage. Rose''s hired thugs. The mysterious woman with silver hair.

    "Careful." A voice from the doorway made me turn. "Three bruised ribs and a mild concussion. The doctor said you need rest."

    She stood there like something from a fashion magazine, tailored ck pants suit, pearls that definitely weren''t fake, silver hair swept into an elegant twist. But it was her eyes that held me. Sharp. Calcting. Hauntingly familiar.

    "Where am I?" My voice was rough. "Who are you?"

    "You''re safe." She moved into the room with fluid grace, settling into a chair beside my bed. "As for who I am... my name is Victoria Kane."

    The name hit like a physical shock. Everyone knew Victoria Kane, the ruthless CEO who''d built Kane Industries from nothing, the woman Forbes called ''The Queen of Wall Street.'' She was worth billions, moved markets with a phone call, and was rumored to be more powerful than most governments.

    "Why..." I swallowed hard. "Why am I here?"

    Something flickered in her eyes, pain, maybe, or memory. "Because Three years ago, I saw a photo in a society magazine. A young woman at some charity g, wearing a dress that didn''t quite fit, smiling bravely while her ''perfect'' sister held court."

    The g. One of Rose''s many triumphs, orchestrated to highlight the difference between us.

    "The photo caught my attention," Victoria continued, "but it was your eyes that made me look closer. They were... familiar."

    She reached for her phone, pulling up an image that made my breath catch. A young woman, maybe my age, with my face. My eyes. My smile.

    "Your daughter?" The resemnce was uncanny.

    "Sophia." Victoria''s voice softened. "She would have been thirty-two this year."

    Would have been. The words hung heavy in the air.

    "What happened?"

    "Car ident. Ten years ago." Her fingers traced the photo. "Though ''ident'' is

    a polite fiction. Her fianc¨¦''s family didn''t approve of the match. Brake lines are so easily tampered with."

    Ice slid down my spine. "Did they..."

    "Face consequences?" A smile that could cut ss. "Eventually. But that''s not why you''re here."

    She set down her phone, fixing me with that prating gaze. "After I saw your photo, I had you investigated. Learned about your family dynamics. Your marriage. Your sister''s... activities."

    "You''ve been watching me?" It should have felt creepy, but somehow it didn''t. "Why?"

    "Because I recognized something in you. Something I saw in Sophia. Raw potential, wrapped in other people''s expectations. A diamond they tried to pass off as ss."

    My heart pounded. "I don''t understand."

    "Don''t you?" She leaned forward. "I watched you try to fit their mold. Watched you shut away parts of yourself to please them. Watched them clip your wings while convincing you it was for your own good."

    Tears burned my eyes. "Like the college eptance."

    "Which Rose sabotaged. Yes, I know about that too. Just like I know about the diary she forged, the jobs she made sure you didn''t get, the friends she slowly turned against you."

    "You know everything." My voice cracked. "And you just... watched?"

    "I waited." She stood, moving to the window. "Waited to see if you''d break or bloom. Waited for the moment you finally saw through their perfect lies."

    The confrontation with Rose shed through my mind. "And now?"

    "Now?" She turned back to me, sunlight casting her in silhouette. "Now I''m offering you a choice. You can walk away from all of this. I''ll set you up somewhere new,fortable, far from them. Or..."

    "Or?"

    "Or I can teach you to be what they always feared you might be. Powerful. Independent. Free."

    She moved back to my bedside, and suddenly I saw what made her so formidable. It wasn''t just the money or the influence. It was the absolute certainty that the world would bend to her will.

    "Your sister spent twenty years teaching you about maniption," she continued. "Let me teach you about power. Real power, not the petty games she ys."

    "Why?" I had to know. "Because I look like your daughter?"

    "No." Her hand touched mine, surprisingly warm. "Because you look like I did, forty years ago. Before I learned that the world doesn''t give you what you deserve, it gives you what you have the strength to take."

    I stared at our joined hands, seeing the perfect manicure that probably cost more than my monthly sry. "And if I say yes?"

    "Then I adopt you. Publicly, legally,pletely. You be Camille Kane, heir to everything I''ve built." Her smile turned sharp. "Imagine your sister''s face when she realizes the investor she''s been desperately courting is her ''weak'' little sister."

    The thought sent a thrill through me. "She''d lose her mind."

    "That''s just the beginning. I''ll teach you everything I know. Business. Strategy. Power. In five years, you won''t just survive their games, you''ll rewrite the rules."

    "And what do you get out of this?"

    Victoria''s eyes met mine, and for a moment I saw raw honesty. "A chance to finish what Sophia started. A chance to see someone bloom instead of break. And..." A pause. "A chance to have a daughter again."

    I thought about my life, the careful box they''d put me in, the dreams they''d stolen, the lies they''d fed me. Thought about Rose''s smug smile and Stefan''s betrayal and my parents'' willing blindness.

    "When do we start?"

    Victoria''s smile was like sunrise, brilliant and inevitable. "We already have." She reached for a folder on the bedside table. "First, we need to establish your disappearance. Make them think their thugs seeded."

    "Let them think I''m..." Understanding dawned. "Let them think they broke me."

    "For now." She opened the folder, revealing documents, passports, bank statements. "While you heal, while you learn, while you be who you were meant to be."

    I sat up straighter, ignoring the pain in my ribs. "And then?"

    "And then?" Victoria Kane, my new mother, smiled like a queen bestowing kingdoms. "Then we show them exactly what happens when you try to cage a wolf in sheep''s clothing."

    Looking at her, I finally understood what real power looked like. Not Rose''s petty maniptions or Stefan''s inherited privilege. This was something else. Something primal. Something they''d tried to crush in me.

    But they''d failed.

    And now they''d pay.

    "When can I sign the papers?" I asked.

    Victoria''sugh was rich with promise. "That''s my girl."

    For the first time in fourteen years, those words felt true.

 Chapter 7

    ROSE''S POINT OF VIEW

    My phone buzzed while I was getting my nails done. Normally, I''d ignore it, Tuesday afternoons are my me-

    time, after all. But something made me look. Maybe it was intuition. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was just that delicious feeling I''d had all morning, like something wonderful was about to happen.

    The headline made me smear the perfect French manicure Julie had just finished on my right hand.

    "LOCAL WOMAN FEARED DEAD AFTER CAR FOUND IN RIVER"

    My hands shook as I clicked the link, not caring about the ruined nail polish. There it was, in clean ck and white: Camille Elizabeth Lewis, age 25, presumed dead after her car was discovered in the Morton R "Oh my God," I whispered, but inside, fireworks were going off. Champagne corks were popping. Every cell in my body wanted to jump up and dance.

    "Everything okay, Miss Lewis?" Julie asked, concerned about my trembling hands.

    I forced my face into the appropriate expression of shock and grief. "My sister... there''s been an ident. I... I need 10 go

    The drive home was torture, having to keep my face properly devastated while my heart soared like a bird finally freed from its cage. I barely made it through my front door before theughter bubbled up, wild a

    She''d

    actually done it. My pathetic, clingy little sister had finally done something right. She''d disappeared

    exactly like I''d arranged, right down to the car in the river. Those gays I hired through three different cutouts had followed my instructions perfectly.

    I poured myself a ss of the Cristal I''d been saving for a special asion. This definitely qualified. Taking my phone and the champagne,

    I curled up in my favorite window seat, the one with the perfect view of the garden Camille used to love so much

    The articles were everywhere now. Local news, social media, even some regional

    outlets picking up the story. I scrolled through them like love letters, each one sweeter than thest. The photos they''d chosen were perfect, Camille always photographed terribly, looking washed- out and uncertain next to my carefully curated mour. Even in death, she was my

    shadow.

    "To you, little sister," I whispered, raising my ss to the empty room. "Thanks for finally getting out of my way.

    My phone rang, Stefan, right on cue. I took a deep breath, arranged my voice into something appropriately broken. "Baby?" I let my voice crack. "Did you... did you see?"

    "Rose, I''m so sorry." He sounded genuinely upset, the fool''I''m on my way over. You shouldn''t be

    alone right

    Perfert. Absolutely perfect. "I just can''t believe she''s gone,I said, adding a little sob for effect. "My baby sister.." "We''ll get through this together," he promised. ended the call and stulled at my reflection in the win mourning period had passed. Six months maybe. Elght at the most Than me forfort, and I''d finally have everything I''d

    spent four years carefully arranging.

    The house would need to be dark when he arrived. Grief-

    stricken. I went around drawing curtains, ating the perfect stage set for my performance. The grieving sister, devastated by loss, turning to her sister''s

    widow for support... it was almost poetic.

    My phone buzzed again, Mommy this time. I let it ring twice before answering.

    "Rose?" Her voice was thick with tears. "Please tell me it''s not true."

    "Mommy..." I forced a sob. "They found her car... in the river..."

    "No, no, no..." The raw pain in her voice sent a thrill through me. This was what I''d wanted all these years, to be the only daughter, the only focus of their attention. No more splitting their

    love with my pale imitation of a sister. "The police think..." I paused for effect. "They think she might have done

    it on purpose. She''s been so strangetely, so distant..."

    The seeds I''d nted over the past months were blooming beautifully. The subtle hints about Camille''s depression, the careful suggestions that she wasn''t coping well with life. Everyone would believe it. They'' the signs.

    "I should have helped her more," Mom wailed. "Should have been there..."

    "We all should have," I soothed, while inside I was dancing "But you know Camille, she never wanted to burden anyone."

    After I got off the phone, I kicked off my heels and spun around my living room, champagne sloshing over the rim of my ss. Free! Finally, gloriously free! No more perfect little Camille with her sad eyes and qu I caught sight of a photo on the mantel, me and Camille at her wedding, her maid of honor dress carefully chosen to make her look frumpy next to my designer gown. I picked it up, studying her face. She''d neve "You should thank me," I told her image. "I''ve given you the perfect exit. Everyone will remember you as the tragic, beautiful soul who couldn''t bear the world''s cruelty Better than letting them see what a failure y

    Were."

    The doorbell rang, Stefan, right on time. I set down the photo and checked my makeup in the hall mirror. The waterproof mascara was artfully smudged, my eyes red from the champagne. Perfect.

    "Remember," I whispered to my reflection, "you''re devastated. Broken. Lost without your beloved sister."

    I opened the door to find Stefan looking wrecked, his blue eyes red-

    rimmed. Such a sensitive soul. It was one of the things that had drawn me to him, that and his family''s money, of course.

    "Oh, Stefan!" I threw myself into his arms, letting him hold me while I shook

    with what he would think were sobs.

    "I''ve got you," he murmured into my hair. "We''ll get through this together."

    Over his shoulder, I smiled. Yes, we would. Just not the way he imagined.

    I let him lead me to the couchi, arrange me carefully among the cushions. He went to get me water, sweet, predictable Stefan, while I checked my phone again. #RIPCamille was trending locally. The news cove Perfect. Simply perfect.

    ˇ°I just keep thinking,ˇ± I said when Stefan returned, ˇ°about all the things left unsaid. All the time we''ll never have..."

    He sat beside me, pulling me close, and I nestled into him like I belonged there. In a way, I did. Everything was falling into ce exactly as I''d nned

    Camille was gone, Stefan was here, and soon, so soon, I''d have everything I''d ever wanted. The fortune, the status, the perfect life, all mine, with no pale shadow of a sister to dim my spotlight.

    "To new beginnings," I whispered into Stefan''s shirt, too soft for him to hear.

    Outside, it started to rain, nature''s own tribute to my triumph. I closed my eyes and smiled, letting Stefan mistake my expression for grief.

    Goodbye, little sister. Thanks for finally doing something right.

 Chapter 8

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    The nightmare grabbed me by the throat, dragging me under before I could fight back.

    I was standing in the rain outside a restaurant, my face pregard against cold ss, watching Rose and Stefant inside. They sat at a candlelit table, champagne sses raised in a toast. Stefan wore the tie I''d gi Their

    "Did you see her face?" Rose''s voice echoed unnaturally lour "When she found the divorce papers? Like a stupid. puppy being abandoned at the shelter."

    Stefan chuckled, pouring more champagne. "And when she realized it was you? God, I almost felt sorry for her."

    "Almost," Rose agreed, her smile shark-

    like. ˇ°But not quite. She made it too easy, Stef. Always so desperate to be loved. So willing to believe the lies."

    They clinked sses again. The sound transformed into breaking ss, shattering windows, car metal crumpling

    The scene shifted. I was in my car, rain hammering the windshield, wipers fighting a losing battle against the downpour. My cheeks were wet- tears or rain, I couldn''t tell anymore.

    Headlights appeared behind me, too bright, too fast. Gaining.

    I gripped the steering wheel tighter, foot pressing the elerator. The headlights grew closer, lighting up my rearview mirror until I was blind.

    A bump. Metal against metal. My car swerved.

    Then I was flying, the world spinning as my car broke through the bridge railing. That weightless moment of suspension before gravity remembered me.

    The water rushed up.

    I screamed, the sound ending in a gurgle as icy water filled my lungs. As I sank, I saw them standing on the bridge. Rose Stefan. My parents. All watching impassively as I drowned. Rose waved goodbye, her smile triumphant.

    "Should we call someone?" my mother asked, not particrly concerned.

    "Why bother?" my father replied. "She was always such a disappointment."

    The water closed over my head, and darkness pulled me down, down, down...

    I woke gasping, sheets

    tangled around my legs like grasping hands. For terrifying seconds, I couldn''t remember where I was. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, painted cherubs, golden trim, luxury I hadn''t earned Victoria. The adoption. My new life.

    Reality settled back, but the terror remained, clinging to my skin like river mad. I pushed myself upright, ignoring the protest from any healing ribs, Sweat stered by nightgown to my body, and my heart hamm

    ChaMer

    The digital clock on the bedside table glowed 1:17 AM. Too early to be awake, toote to hope for peac swung my legs over the side of the bed, needing to move, to prove to myself I wasn''t drowning deep. I The marble floor was cold against my bare feet as I padded to the bathroom, flipping on lights as I went. The woman in the mirror was a strangerˇŞ

    hollow eyes, skin pale as paper, hair wild from thrashing in my sleep.

    I sshed cold water on my face, Trying to wash away the nightmare''s residue. But when I closed my eyes, I saw them again. Laughing Toasting Celebrating my destruction

    A sound escaped me, something between augh and a sol The absurdity suddenly hit me -

    I was standing in a bathroom worth more than my old car, in a mansion owned by one of the world''s wealthiest women, who wanted to adopt me because I looked like her dead daughter.

    Theugh bubbled up again, louder this time, edged with brysteria. I pressed my hand against my mouth, trying to hold it in, but it was toote. The dam had broken.

    I slid down the bathroom wall until I hit the floor,ughter transforming to sobs that tore through my chest. Every breath hurt my bruised ribs, but I couldn''t stop. Years of swallowed tears demanded release.

    I cried for the little girl who''d never been enough. For the college dreams crushed by Rose''s lies. For three years of marriage to a man who''d never truly seen me. For the weak, trusting fool I''d been, giving char My hands curled into fists, nails digging half-

    moons into my palms. The physical pain was almost a relief, something solid to focus on instead of the gaping emptiness inside.

    "Enough."

    The voice cut through my breakdown like a knife. Victoria stood in the doorway, silver hair loose around her shoulders, wrapped in a ck silk robe. Her face gave nothing away, but her eyes were sharp, assess Shame burned through me. She''d offered me strength, power, a chance at revenge, and here I was, dissolving on her bathroom floor at three in the morning. Proving everyone right about weak, emotional Camille.

    I tried to stand, to salvage some dignity, but

    my legs wouldn''t cooperate. "I''m sorry," I managed, voice raw

    from crying. "The nightmare..."

    "Tell me." Not a request. Amand.

    I hesitated, then described the dream in halting sentences. The restaurant. The bridge. The water. Their faces as they watched me drown.

    Victoria listened without interruption, without pitying murmurs orforting titudes. When I finished, she simply nodded.

    "Get up."

    I stared at her. "What?"

    "Get up," the repeated, extending one hand. "This floor is no ce for a Kane."

    Her words hit like a ssh of cold water. This floor was no ce for a Kane. And that''s who I was now, or who I was bing Not weak Camille Lewis, but Camille Kane Heir. Survivor. Avenger.

    I took her hand, letting her pull me to my feet. Her grip was surprisingly strong for a woman her age, and dry against my tear damp skin.

    "Follow me," she said, turning without checking if I would obey.

    fingers.cool

    I followed her through darkened hallways, past priceless artwork and antiques that glowed dimly in the shadows. We descended a grand staircase, my bare feet silent on plush carpet, and entered a part of the

 Chapter 9

    Victoria stopped at a heavy wooden door, unlocking; it with key from her robe pocket. Inside was a home gym. unlike any I''d ever seen, state- of-the-

    art equipment, mirrors covering one wall, a boxing ring taking up the center of the room.

    She flipped on lights that mimicked daylight, making; me blink at the sudden brightness. Without a word, she crossed to a cab and extracted hand wraps and boxing gloves "Put these on."

    I took them, bewildered. "Victoria, it''s the middle of the night."

    "And you''re awake, drowning in self-

    pity instead of nning your resurrection." Her voice wasn''t cruel, just matter-of-

    fact. "So put them on."

    My hands trembled as I wrapped them, clumsy from Inexperience. Victoria watched, neither helping nor criticizing, until I managed to secure the gloves.

    "Hit that." She pointed to a heavy bag hanging in the corner

    I approached it uncertainly. "I''ve never boxed before."

    "I''m not teaching you to box. I''m teaching you to channel your rage." She positioned

    herself behind the bag, holding it steady. "Now hit it. Hard as you can."

    Feeling foolish, I threw a weak punch. The bag barely moved.

    "Again. Harder. Think of Rose''s face when she saw you at the house that day."

    I hit again, putting slightly more force behind it.

    "Pathetic. Is that all the anger you have? After what she did to you?" Victoria''s voice hardened. "Think of Stefan signing those divorce papers on your anniversary. Think of your motherforting Rose while you walked away bleeding."

    Heat bloomed

    in my chest, anger flickering to life. I threw another punch, then another, each one harder than the

    "Better. Now think of themughing in that restaurant. Toasting your

    destruction. nning your recement." The image from my nightmare shed before me, champagne sses clinking, Rose wearing my ring, Stefan in the tie I''d given him. Something snapped inside me. My "Yes!" Victoria''s approval fueled me. "Again. Think of

    the men who attacked you. Think of your parents choosing Ilose over you for fourteen years."

    I lost myself in the rhythm of it, fists connecting with leather again and again. Each punch carried away a piece of furt, of betrayal, of worthlessness. I hit until my arms burned and sweat soaked my nightgown, u llut until I had nothing left.

    When I finally stopped, chest heaving, Victoria released the bag and handed me a towel withoutment. I wiped my face, suddenly exhausted but oddly cleaner somehow, Like I''d purged something toxic from

    "This is thest time," Victoria said, unwrapping the gloves from my hands. "Thest time you break for them. Thest time you cry over people who never deserved your tears."

    I met her eyes, seeing not pity but recognition. Understanding. She knew this journey because she''d walked it

    herself.

    "Tomorrow, we begin." She checked her watch, a discreet

    Patek Philippe that probably cost more than

    a year''s rent at my old apartment. "In exactly four hours, you''ll meet with thewyers to finalize the adoption papers. By noon, you''ll be legally Camille Kane. By evening, you''ll have begun your education in fina She tossed the gloves into a basket and turned to face me fully, silver hair gleaming under the lights.

    "Tonight was necessary, Grief must be acknowledged before it can be transformed. But from sunrise onward, your are no longer their victim. You are my prot¨¦g¨¦. My heir. Myughter."

    The word ''daughter'' hung in the air between us, weighted with expectations and possibilities. I straightened my shoulders, Ignoring the protest from my ribs,

    "What if I''m not strong enough?"

    Victoria''s smile was sharp as a de. "Strength isn''t something you''re born with. It''s something you build, one painful brick at a time. And you, Camille, have been gathering bricks for years without knowing it." She moved toward the door, pausing with her hand on the light switch. "Each betrayal, each disappointment, each moment they underestimated you -

    those are your building materials.

    Now we construct something magnificent from them."

    I followed her from the gym, back through silent hallways that would soon be familiar. My home. My fortress. Myunching pad.

    At my bedroom door, Victoria paused. For a

    moment, I thought she might embrace me, offer some maternalfort after the night''s emotional storm. Instead, she simply touched my shoulder, a brief pressure that conveyed more than words could have. "Sleep if you can," she said. "If not, start reading the files left on your desk. The first details your sister''s recent business ventures. She''s seeking investors for a boutique clothing line, apparently."

    An investor. Rose, who''d stolen my husband, my family, my dignity, was

    now seeking money. The irony was almost poetic

    "How long before she knows?" I asked. "That I''m alive. That I''m... yours."

    Victoria''s smile held all the warm

    I nodded, something new settling into my bones. Something hard and certain.

    "Best," Victoria said, turning away.

    now is the first day of your ow life."

    papers

    I entered my room, closing the door softly behind me. The ghtmare''s grip had taded, reced by something sharper, clearer Purpose. Direction For the first time in years, perhaps ever, I knew exactly who I nee Not the good sister. Not the perfect wife. Not the pleasing daughter.

    Someone new. Someone dangerous.

    Someone who would make them all regret the day they decided Camille Lewis wasn''t worth keeping.

    the dayt

    I caught my reflection in the window ss, disheveled, eyes red- rimmed, but standing straight.

 Chapter 10

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    The ck car moved through morning fog, tires humming gainst wet roads. I stared out the window, watching trees blur into gray mist. Victoria sat beside me, her face a mask of calm, but her fingers tapped a n

    "Where are we going?" I asked, breaking the silence that had stretched between us since we left the mansion Thirty

    minutes ago. The papers making me

    officially Camille Kane had been signed at dawn, the ink barely dry. Victoria''s eyes stayed fixed on the passingndscape. "To meet someone important."

    The car turned onto a narrow road lined with tall iron gates and stone walls. A cemetery. My stomach tightened. "Sophia?" I whispered.

    Victoria nodded once, sharp and quick, like admitting pain "Today marks ten years since I lost her."

    The cemetery was empty of visitors, kept private by security guards who nodded respectfully as our car passed. Ancient trees created a natural cathedral over graves that dated back centuries. This was no ordi

    Our driver stopped at the end of a curving path. "We walk from here," Victoria said, gathering her bag and stepping out without waiting for help.

    I followed her along a stone path that wound uphill toward secluded corner overlooking the city. The grass here was greener, the flowers fresher. Clearly tended with special care.

    We stopped before a white marble headstone, simple yet elegant. Quality that whispered rather than shouted.

    SOPHIA ELIZABETH KANE

    BELOVED DAUGHTER

    TAKEN TOO SOON

    1990-2013

    Below those words, a single line of poetry: "Some souls are too bright for this world."

    Victoria ced white lilies by the stone, her movements practiced yet tender. I hung back, feeling like an intruder on this private grief.

    "Come," she said, not looking at me. "She would want to meet you."

    I stepped forward,

    uneasy. What do you say to a grave of someone you never knew? Someone whose death made your

    new life possible?

    Victoria knelt despite her expensive sult, uncaring about grass stains or dirt. "Hello, my darling," she said, touching the carved letters of Sophia''s name. "I''ve brought someone to meet you." just cold.

    The wind picked up, sanding, fallen leaves dancing around 1 zipped my jacket higher, shivering from more than

    "Tell me about her," I said. "The real story, not the public rsion."

    Victoria was

    quiet so long I thought she wouldn''t answer. When she spoke, her voien

    "Sophia was brilliant. Graduated MIT at twenty. Could solve equations that baffled men twice her age. But she was also kind, which I failed to teach her." A bitter smile crossed her lips. "That she learned despite I waited as Victoria gathered her thoughts, watching her fingers trace her daughter''s name over and over.

    "She fell in love with Oliver Preston. Old money, old connections. Handsome, charming, seemed perfect. His family owned shippingpanies thatpeted with our tech enterprises."

    Victoria''s face hardened. "They never thought her good enough. The Kanes were new money, self-

    made. I came from nothing. Built everything. They came from generations of wealth, of ''proper breeding. They thought Sophia beneath

    them."

    The familiar sting of rejection echoed in my chest. Always being measured and found wanting.

    "What happened?" I asked, though part of me already knew

    "They were engaged six months when she died. Car crash on a mountain road. Brake lines cut." Victoria''s voice turned to ice. "Police called it an ident. I knew better."

    She stood, brushing dirt from her knees. "The Prestons celebrated quietly. Their son free to marry the ''right'' background. They underestimated how far a mother would go for justice.

    someone from

    The look in her eyes made me shiver again. This wasn''t griel anymore, but something harder. Colder.

    "One by one, theirpanies failed. Stock prices crashed. Ships lost at sea. Mysterious audits. Computer systems failing. Nothing that could be traced back to me, of course.

    Victoria''s smile

    was terrible to behold. "Oliver married the girl they chose. Three monthster, he jumped from his penthouse. Left a note confessing he''d known about the brake lines. Couldn''t live with the guilt." I swallowed hard. "And the rest of the family?"

    "Bankrupt within two years. Their homes sold. Their treasures auctioned. The Preston name forgotten by society that once bowed to them."

    Victoria looked at me fully now. "That''s the lesson, Camille Revenge isn''t about violence or threats. It''s about patience. About being smarter. About taking what matters most to those who hurt you," She opened her bag, removing a small wooden chest. Beautifully carved, with silver hinges and lock. About the size of a jewelry box.

    "This brings us to why we''re here today."

    She held out the box to me. I took it, feeling its surprising weight.

    "What is it?"

    "Your funeral." Victoria''s eyes were steady on mine. "For Camille Lewis."

    Understanding dawned slowly. "You want me to..."

    "Put everything inside. Every mernury, attachment, and weakness of your old life. Everything that was Camille Lewis must go in that box."

    I stated at the chest in my hands, suddenly unsteady on my feet.

    "You can''t be who you need to be while clinging to who you were," Victoria continued. "The woman they hurt, they used, they discarded, she must die here today."

    My fingers traced the carved wood. "And If I''m not ready?"

    "Then this ends now. You go back to

    being Camille Lewis, and I help you start somewhere new, with afortable but

    ordinary life." Her voice softened slightly. There''s no shame in that choice. But there''s no revenge in it either."

    The weight of the moment pressed down on me. Step forward or back. Choose power or peace. Be the hunter or remain the hunted.

    I opened the box.

    Its interior was lined with dark blue velvet. Empty, waiting. Like the future stretching before me, a nk page I could fill however I chose.

    With trembling hands, I reached for my purse. Inside was all I had left of my old life. The few things I''d grabbed before leaving the house that day, plus what Victoria''s people had collected from my hotel room be staging my "drowning."

    First, my wedding ring. Three carats, princess cut. "Not your style, dear, but it''s what a Rodriguez wife should wear." I stared at it, remembering the day Stefan had slid it onto my finger, Rose watching with that "Your marriage,ˇ± Victoria observed. "Your first major loss.

    I dropped the ring into the box. The sound it made hitting the bottom was strangely final.

    Next, the charm bracelet my parents had given me for my sixteenth birthday. Each charm representing some achievement of mine they''d actually noticed. So fewpared to Rose''s overflowing trophy shelf. "Your family"

    "Your family," Victoria said. "Your deepest wound."

    The bracelet joined the ring.

    A small stack of photos came next. Me as a child, before Rose

    came. Thest pictures of when I was enough all by myself. Me at my wedding, smiling so hopefully. A family Christmas, all of us posed perfectly for a card no one would remember receiving

    "Your illusions," Victoria noted. "The stories you told yourself to survive."

    The photos fluttered into the box like fallen leaves.

    Last was my wallet. Inside, my driver''s license, credit cards, social security card. The official records of Camille Lewis.

    "Your identity," Victoria whispered. "Who they told you to be."

    These too went into the chest. I stood empty-

    handed now, strange lightness spreading through me.

    Victoria produced a small silver key. "Are you certain? Once locked, this chest will be buried here, beside Sophia. Camille Lewis will rest here forever."

    Was I certain? The question echoed in my mind. To lock away not just mementos, but the person I''d been

    for twenty-

    five years. The good sister. The loyal daughter. The loving wife. The woman who always forgave, always understood, always gave second chances.

    But what had that earned

    me? Betrayal. Heartbreak. A sister who orchestrated my humiliation. A husband who discarded me on our anniversary. Parents who always loved their chosen daughter more.

    "Yes," I said, surprising myself with the steadiness of my voice. "I''m certain."

    Victoria inserted the key, turning it with a soft click. Then she knelt, cing the chest in a small hole already dug beside Sophia''s headstone.

    "Andrew," she called.

    A man in a dark suit stepped forward from the tree line where he''d been waiting. I hadn''t even noticed him. He carried a shovel and began covering the box with earth, each thud of dirt making the separation m

    "In burying Camille Lewis beside my daughter," Victoria said, watching the box disappear, "we honor both lives cut short by betrayal. Sophia by her fianc¨¦''s family. You by those who should have treasured you." When thest of the dirt was patted smooth and leaves scattered over it to hide

    the freshly turned earth, Victoria stood tall beside me. Together, we looked down at where pieces

    of my past nowy buried.

    "Now Camille Lewis can truly rest," Victoria said, "and Camille Kane can rise without anything holding her back." I expected to feel grief, or fear, or perhaps regret. Instead, strange calm washed over me. "When Victoria''s smile held approval. "We already have. Your education starts today. Finance, business strategy, social dynamics. Every weapon you''ll need."

    She handed me her phone, open to a news article. The headline read: "Lewis

    Family Holds Memorial Service for Daughter Believed Drowned."

    There was a photo, Rose in tasteful ck, eyes dramatically red, clutching Stefan''s arm. My parents looking appropriately devastated. All positioned perfectly for the cameras,

    "The first lesson," Victoria said, watching my reaction closely, "is learning to recognize performance. See how she tilts her head to catch the light? How her hand grips his arm, not for support, but possession? H even in grief, she''s aware of the camera angles?"

    I studied the photo with new eyes, seeing beyond my initial reaction. "She''s enjoying it," I realized. "The attention. The sympathy. She''s the star now."

    "Precisely. And your parents? Notice their posture, the distance between them. Your father''s hand not quite touching your mother''s back. What does that tell you?"

    I looked closer. "They''re distant. Going through motions. Maybe... ming each other?"

    Victoria nodded, pleased. "Grief fractures weak foundations Their perfect family image is cracking already. By the time we''re finished, it will be dust."

    She took back her phone, sliding it into her pocket. "Come, We have a meeting with your teachers at noon. Your first public appearance as my daughter."

    As we walked back toward the car, I nced once more at the twin graves, one marked, one secret. Sophia Elizabeth Kane and Camille Elizabeth Lewis. Both women destroyed by people who should have pro

    I straightened my shoulders, feeling strength I hadn''t known I possessed.

    "Happy birthday, Camille Kane," Victoria said as the driver opened our car door. "The world awaits."

    I smiled, feeling the expression settle strangely on my face. Not the smile of the woman I''d been, eager to please, desperate for approval. But something sharper. More dangerous.

    "It won''t know what hit it," I promised, sliding into the cool leather interior.

    As we drove away, I didn''t look

    back at the graves. The past was buried now, Dead and gone.

    All that remained was the future. And the reckoning it would bring

 Chapter 11

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    "Stanford University, ss of 2016. Summa cumude. Double major in Economics and Computer Science."

    I stared at the diploma in my hands, the heavy paper embossed with gold seals and signatures. My name, Camille Kane written in elegant calligraphy across the center. A degree I never earned from a university I''d never attended. "How is this possible?" I asked, running my finger over the raised seal. It felt real. Everything felt real. Victoria sat across from me in her priva to-

    ceiling bookshelves. A massive desk separated us, covered with documents spread out like puzzle pieces forming my new life. "Money opens many doors," she said, sliding another folder toward me. "People a at graduation. The woman in the pictures looked like me, but with subtle differences, straightened hair, confident posture, designer clothes I''d never owned.

    "That''s not me," I whispered, touching the smiling graduate''s face.

    ˇ°Digital maniption. Quite good, isn''t it? We had an expert blend your features with photos of a real Stanford graduate. Just enough to pass as you if no one looks too closely."

    1 moved to the next document. Harvard Business School eptance letter, followed by more transcripts, more doctored photos.

    "MBA with focus on venture capital and

    emerging markets, Victoria continued, watching me closely. "You were quiet but brilliant. Professors remember you as intensely private but insightful."

    "And these professors will confirm this if asked?"

    Victoria''s smile was thin. "They already have. Three different background checks from various business publications have contacted them. All received the same carefully constructed memories of the remarkabl My head spun. The depth of the deception was staggering. An entire life constructed from nothing, solid enough to withstand scrutiny.

    "What about before college? High school? Childhood?"

    Victoria handed me another folder, thicker than the others. Your entire history, Private schooling

    in Switzend. Before that, exclusive boarding schools to shield you from media attention after I adopted you at age ten. Your biological parents, distant rtions of mine died in a yacht ident off the coast of The folderained school records, newspaper clippings of the ident,

    adoption papers dated fifteen years ago. Photos of a young girl who resembled me but wasn''t quite right another digital creation.

    "The backstory exins your absence from public life," Victoria said. "You were my closely guarded secret, educated abroad to protect you from those who might exploit our connection. It also exins why you''re only now stepping into the spotlight as my heir."

    I closed the folder, suddenly needing air. The weight of this new identity pressed down, both gift and burden. Freedom and cage.

    "There''s more," Victoria said, gesturing to the remaining files. "Medical records. Tax filings. Property deeds for apartments in New York and Paris you''ve

    supposedly owned for years. Even a driving record with a speeding ticket from 2018."

    "The speeding ticket?"

    "Authenticity requires imperfection. A life too clean raises questions."

    I stood, moving to the window overlooking Manhattan. Sixty floors below, people scurried like ants, unaware of the fiction being written in this room. A fiction that would soon be my reality. "Social media?" I asked, knowing the answer already.

    "Carefully curated ounts dating back eight years. Limited posts, tasteful photos from global locations, the exact digital footprint one would expect from a private heiress. Our team has been building them slov I turned back to her. "And what about the real me? Camille Lewis? What happens to her records, her ounts, her life?"

    Victoria''s face softened, just slightly. "Already managed. Your college records show an unremarkable student who never graduated. Your employment history reflects a series of administrative jobs with long gap A bitter taste filled my mouth. "Making my suicide more believable."

    "Precisely." Victoria was unapologetic. "The more your disappearance aligns with expectations, the less anyone will question it."

    She pressed a button on her desk phone. "Send in James with the final packet."

    Momentster, a tall man in a dark suit

    entered carrying a sleekptop and several files. He nodded respectfully before setting them on the desk.

    "The surveince report, Ms. Kane," he said to Victoria. "And the social media monitoring as requested." "Thank you, James. That will be all."

    He departed silently, closing the heavy door behind him.

    Victoria opened one of the files, considering its contents before looking up at me. "Are you ready for this?" "Ready for what?"

    "To see what your sister and ex-

    husband have been doing since your... departure."

    My stomach tightened. Part of me wanted to say no, to preserve the numbness I''d carefully cultivated since burying my

    old life at the cemetery. But the stronger part, the part Victoria was nurturing, needed to see,

    "Show the "

    She handed me the Ille. Inside were surveince photos, dozens of them, crisp and professional. Rose and Stefan walking hand in-

    hand through an airport. Rose and Stefan dining at a rooftop restaurant. Rose wearing a white sundress on a beach, Stefan kissing her beneath an unbre

    "Their romantic getaway," Victoria exined unnecessarily. "Santorini. They left three days after your memorial service."

    I stared at the images, waiting for pain that didn''te. Instead, a cold rity washed over me. Theuto happy. Carefree. Unburdened by the woman they''d discarded.

    "They didn''t even wait a month," I said, my voice strange to my own ears.

    "Grief has its own timeline," Victoria replied, her tone making it

    we thought of their mourning period.

    More photos showed them shopping, swimming, posing for selfies with the blue Mediterranean behind them. In each one, Rose looked triumphant. The victor who''d finally imed her prize. "There''s more," Victoria said, opening theptop. "Social media monitoring"

    The screen showed Rose''s I*******m ount, newly updated with she and Stefan photos. The caption beneath a sunset picture read: "Finding joy again after unimaginable loss, Camille would have wanted us t Augh escaped me, harsh and unfamiliar. ˇ°She''s using my ''death'' for likes."

    "Your fathermented," Victoria noted, scrolling down. "So happy you''ve foundfort in each other. Camille is watching over you both.""

    The room seemed to tilt sideways. My parents. The ones who should have questioned everything. Who should have demanded justice, investigation, answers. Instead, they were blessing this union built on bet "Keep scrolling," I said, needing to see it all, to burn it into my memory.

 Chapter 12

    Camille''s point of view

    Rose had posted a "tribute" to me, a carefully filtered photo of us as teenagers, her arm around my shoulders, her face glowing while mine was partly in shadow "Missing my angel sister every day. Your light wa Beneath it, dozens of sympatheticments. Friends who''d never questioned her role in my marriage''s end. Acquaintances eager to attach themselves to her grief narrative.

    And Stefan,menting with a simple heart emoji. The man who''d handed me divorce papers on our anniversary, now publicly mourning the wife he''d discarded

    ˇ°Enoughˇ± I said finally, closing theptop. "I''ve seen what I needed to see.

    Victoria studied me carefully. "And what do you feel?"

    I searched myself, digging for the hurt, the rage, the betrayal that should be there. Instead, I found something colder, more focused. Like looking at specimens in ab.

    Mothing, 1 answered honestly. "They''re strangers performing in a y."

    Victoria''s smile was approving "Good Emotional detachment is essential for whates next."

    She gestured to the rest of the files on her desk. "Your new fe awaits, Camille. Elite education. Investment prodigy. My reclusive adopted daughter finally emerging totake her ce in my empire."

    I picked up my new passport, thumb brushing over the name embossed in gold. Camille Kane. A woman who''d never been hurt by Rose. Never been betrayed by Stefan. Never been overlooked by parents who "And if someone recognizes me? Someone who knew Camille Lewis?"

    Victoria''s expression turned serious. "Your new life must be imprable. If anyone connects Camille Kane to

    Lewis, everything we''ve built copses."

    "How do we prevent that?"

    "First, appetere" She gestured to my hair. "Tomorrow morning, our stylists will transform you. New cut, new elor, subtle changes that create distance from your former self."

    I touched my long brown waves, mother piece of the old me about to disappear. "What else?

    "Body Language Speech patterns. The way you walk, the way you hold a ss, the way you respond to questions. nord sessions with a behavioral coach who work with intelligence agencies. He''ll help eliminat The thorough of the n was both impressive and terrifying, Victoria had thought of everything, anticipated ety pratitial crack in toy raw identity.

    "And stimportently," she continued, "limited exposure to

    anyone who knew Camille Lewis. For at least the first year, you''ll avoid any setting where you might encounter old connections."

    "And der that?

    Victor''s gamed "After that, when your new identity is firmly established, when the world has epted

    Camille Kane without question, then we begin the real work"

    She opened another file, this one containing financial reports, business ns, investment portfolios.

    "Rose has expanded her boutique into a small fashion line. She''s seeking five million in startup capital. Her current business n is remarkably solid, I must admit."

    I nced at the numbers, the projections, seeing the dream my sister had likely been nurturing even while pretending to support my marriage. "And?"

    "And Kane Ventures will be very interested in her proposal. So interested that I''m sending my prot¨¦g¨¦e, you..... to handle the potential investment personally

    The image formed in my mind instantly. Me, transformed, powerful, wealthy beyond imagination sitting across from Rose, holding her dreams in my hands. Her not recognizing the sister she''d betrayed, now pos "How long?" I asked. "How long until I can face her as Camille Kane?"

    "One year. Perhaps eighteen months. Time for your ''death'' to fade from memory. Time for your new identity to solidify, Time for you to master every skill you''ll need to dismantle their world piece by piece." I nodded, a n forming. Not just revenge, but justice. Not just destruction, but reconstruction. Taking back everything they''d stolen from me and more.

    Victoria handed me a final document, a schedule that spanned months, detailing my transformation from Camille Lewis to Camille Kane. Language lessons. Etiquette training Finance courses. Self- defense sses. Public. speaking workshops. Aplete rebuilding from the ground up.

    "It begins tomorrow," she said. "5 AM. Personal trainer. 7 AM. Hair and styling. 9 AM. Diction coach. 11 AM. Press conference preparation. 2 PM. Official introduction to the board of Kane Industries." The day stretched before me, the first of many that would forge me into someone new. Someone stronger. Someone

    capable of executing the justice I deserved.

    Victoria opened her desk drawer and withdrew a small velvet box. "Onest thing."

    Inside was a pendant, a silver phoenix rising from mes, suspended on a tinum chain. Diamonds formed the bird''s wings, catching light as she held it up.

    "My gift to you. A reminder of what you''re bing."

    She moved behind me, fastening the ne around my throat. The pendant settled against my skin, cool at first, then warming

    "From the ashes of what they did to you," she murmured, her hands resting briefly on my shoulders. "From the fire they thought would destroy you."

    I touched the phoenix, feeling its weight against my corbone. "Thank you."

    Victoria returned to her desk, gathering the files into neat stacks. "Everything is in ce. Your new identity, your education, your backstory. Now we need only set the pieces in motion."

    She pressed another button on her phone. "Send in the surveince team."

    Moments

    "Ms. Lewis and Mr. Rodriguez returned from Greece this morning," James reported, handing her his tablet.

    "And the parents?" Victoria asked.

    "The Lewises are maintaining appearances," another man reported. "Charity functions, social obligations. Mrs. Lewis has increased her anxiety medication. Mr. Lewis has been spending more time at his club th "Financial status?" Victoria directed this question to the third man.

    "Lewis Industries stock has dropped eight percent since the memorial service. Initial sympathy has faded, investors are questioning Mr. Lewis''s focus. The Rodriguez family business remains stable, though ther rtionship to Rose."

    Victoria nodded, satisfied. "Continue monitoring. I want updates daily. Focus particrly on Rose''s business activities. Every investor she approaches, every meeting she takes."

    "Yes, Ms. Kane."

    They departed as silently as they''d

    arrived, leaving me alone again with Victoria and the scattered remnants of my-

    fabricated life.

    Well?" she asked, studying my reaction. "Does this satisfy you? Knowing they''re being watched? Knowing we see every move they make?"

    I considered the question, searching my feelings. The photos should have hurt. The news of them in Greece should have enraged me. Instead, I felt strangely detached, as if watching characters in a film I''d alre "No," I answered honestly. "It doesn''t satisfy me."

    Victoria raised an eyebrow. "No?"

    "Watching isn''t enough. Knowledge isn''t enough." I picked up the photo of Rose and Stefan on their vacation, her face glowing with triumph, his arm possessively around her waist. "They''re happy. They believe I set the photo down, turning it face-

    down on the desk. "I don''t want reports about their lives. I want control over their lives. I want them to build dreams I can shatter. Create hopes I can destroy. Construct a future I can dismantle."

    Victoria''s smile

    spread slowly, pride evident in her eyes. "And you shall have that opportunity. But first, you must be someone they would never suspect. Someone they would trust with their aspirations."

    I looked at the stack of documents that created Camille Kane, the foundation of my new existence. "When do we begin dismantling their happiness?"

    "The moment you''re ready," Victoria promised. "The moment Camille Kane is real enough, solid enough to withstand their scrutiny.''

    She gathered the surveince photos, sliding them into a folder. "For now, focus on bing. On

    shedding thest traces of the woman they hurt. On building the woman who will destroy them."

    I nodded, understanding the path before me. A long game. A patient revenge. Not the quick satisfaction of confrontation, but the deeper pleasure of orchestrated downfall.

    "Tomorrow," I said, gathering my new identity papers. "We begin tomorrow."

    Standing straighter, I faced Victoria with new determination. "I''m ready."

    She nodded once, satisfaction evident in her eyes.

 Chapter 13

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW the

    "Hold still, please."

    Dr. Miranda Torres''s gloved fingers touched my chin, turning my face gently to catch the light. Her dark eyes studied every curve and angle with the focus of an artist examining marble before the first chisel strike.

    We sat in her private clinic, a discreet facility hidden behind unmarked doors in a luxury Manhattan building. The consultation room looked more like an upscale spa than a medical office, with soft lighting, exper single diploma on disy. The credentials were understood, not advertised. Dr. Torres didn''t need wall decorations to prove her expertise, her client list of celebrities, politicians, and billionaires spoke for itself. " 1 nced at Victoria, who sat in a leather chair in the corner, tablet in hand, seemingly absorbed in emails but missing nothing.

    "What exactly will you be doing?" I asked, trying to keep the nervousness from my voice.

    Dr. Torres touched a screen on her desk, and a 3D model of my face appeared on the wall disy. I stared at the digital version of myself, the me I''d been living with for the past five weeks of Victoria''s transformation program. "We''re not nning aplete overhaul," Dr. Torres exined, manipting the image with practiced gestures. "That would be obvious, unnatural, and frankly, unnecessary. Instead, w "Your cheekbones, for instance," she continued. "Already well-

    defined, but we can enhance them slightly

    to create more dramatic shadows." The digital face shifted, the cheeks bing more sculpted. "It changes how light hits your face, how others perceive your strength."

    Victoria finally looked up. "Show the jaw adjustment as well."

    Dr. Torres nodded, manipting the image again. My jawline became slightly more defined, stronger.

    "The goal isn''t disguise," the doctor said, eyes meeting mine directly. "It''s transformation. We''re not erasing you, we''re amplifying your power. People

    see what they expect

    to see, and no one looking for a victim will recognize a queen."

    The words hit something deep inside me. No one looking for a victim will recognize a queen. Wasn''t that exactly what Victoria had been teaching me these past weeks? That power came not just from wealth or "What about recovery time?" I asked, surprising myself with how clinical my own voice sounded. When had I started epting this

    as necessary rather than extreme?

    "Two weeks for the Initial healing. Six weeks before you''re camera ready for close-

    ups. We''ll use minimally Invasive techniques, fillers, fat transfers, thread lifts, and only minor surgical interventions."

    She turned back to the disy, continuing her overview. "Sabtle refinement of the nose bridge. Enhancement of the lips, not overfilled, just a slight increase in definition. row lift to open the eyes. And we''ll adjust

    +25 BONU

    slightly."

    I watched my digital face transform bit by bit. Each change was small, almost imperceptible on its own. Together, they created someone new, someone who looked like me but somehow... more. Stronger. Sharper. A face thatmanded attention rather than sought approval.

    "When can you begin?" Victoria asked, setting aside her tablet.

    Dr. Torres checked her calendar. "I''ve already cleared my schedule for tomorrow morning. Assuming blood workes back normal today, we can proceed at 7 AM."

    Tomorrow. So soon. My heart rate increased, a flicker of panic rising in my chest. This was happening. Really happening. Not just new clothes or a different hairstyle, but physical changes to my very face. Victoria must have noticed my reaction. "Do you need more time to consider?" Her tone was neutral, but I recognized the test beneath the question. Was I stillmitted? Still willing to do whatever necessary t I met her gaze steadily.

    NO, Tomorrow is fine

    Dr. Torres nodded, pleased. "Excellent. My nurse will draw blood now, and I''ll provide detailed pre- operative instructions. No food after midnight, no alcohol for 24 hours before, no aspirin or anti- inmmatories for a week.

    She rose from her chair, signaling the consultation was ending. "One more thing, Ms. Kane," she added, using my new name with practiced ease. This transformation is as much psychological

    as physical. The woman you''ll see in the mirror afterward will look different, yes, but how you carry her, how you embody her, that''s what truly changes how the world sees you."

    After blood draws and paperwork, James drove us back to Victoria''s

    mansion in silence. I stared out the window at passing Manhattan streets, trying to memorize my own face in the reflection. By this time tomorrow, it would be altered in ways I couldn''t fully grasp yet. "You''re quiet," Victoria observed as we pulled into the private drive.

    "Just thinking"

    "Having doubts?"

    I turned to look at her directly. "Would you stop the procedures if I said yes?"

    A hint of a smile touched her lips. "No. But your answer tells me I won''t need to force the issue."

    As always, she saw through me with unsettling rity. I wasn''t having doubts, not really. Just trying to process the finality of what was happening. Every step until now had been theoretically reversible Different But altering my face, that was permanent. A physical manifestation of mymitment to this new life, this new identity.

    "Dr. Torres is the best," Victoria said as we entered the house. "She''s discreet, skilled, and understands our objectivespletely. She''s also the only surgeon who has ever worked on my face."

    This surprised ine, Victoria looked naturally elegant, her age visible but beautifully managed. I''d never suspected

    cosmetic intervention.

    "You''ve had work done?" I asked before I could stop mysel

    She raised one perfect eyebrow. "Of course. Beauty is a weapon, Camille, Only fools refuse to sharpen their des

    due to misced principles "

    That night, I stood before my bathroom mirror longer than usual, studying the face that would change tomorrow. I traced my cheekbones, the line of my jaw, the curve of my lips. Features inherited from parents sister.

    Would changing my outside help heal what was broken inside?

    Sleep came fitfully, filled with dreams of faceless women and mirrors that showed strangers. I woke before my rm, stomach tight with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

    James drove me to the clinic in pre-

    dawn darkness. Victoria didn''t apany us this time, a board meeting required her attention. But her absence felt deliberate, another test to see if I would proceed without her oversight. Dr. Torres greeted me The next few hours passed in a haze of medications and murmured voices. I remembered the cool feel of antiseptic on my skin, the gentle pressure of Dr. Torres''s hands marking surgical guidelines, the strange Then nothing.

    I woke to dimmed lights and the soft beep of monitoring equipment. My face felt tight, pressure bandages wrapped around my head. A private nurse appeared immediately, offering ice chips for my dry throat. ˇ°E The recovery suite turned out to be a luxury apartment attached to the clinic, staffed with

    private nurses

    and equipped with everything needed for healing inpletefort and secrecy. Victoria had arranged for my things to be brought from the mansion-

    clothes, toiletries, even books I''d been reading.

    t see.

    For five days, I existed in a twilight state of medications, gentle care, and gradually reducing bandages. Dr. Torres visited twice daily, monitoring my healing with meticulous attention Special diets arrived on silve I still hadn''t seen myself.

    The mirrors had been covered when I arrived at the recovery suite, standard protocol, Dr. Torres exined, to prevent psychological shock during the most swollen phase of recovery.

    On the sixth day, Dr. Torres arrived for her morning check with

    Victoria in tow. Something in their expressions told me today was significant.

    "The initial healing has progressed exceptionally well," Dr. Torres said, examining my face with clinical precision. "The swelling has reduced enough for a first look Are you ready?" My heart pounded as I nodded.

 Chapter 14

    Camille''s point of view

    Victoria watched with unreadable eyes as Dr. Torres led me to therge bathroom. A white cloth covered the full-

    length mirror. The doctor positioned me carefully, standing slightly behind my right shoulder.

    "Remember," she said gently, "what you see today is still healing. There''s swelling, bruising. The final results. won''t be visible for weeks. But you''ll get a first impression of your new appearance."

    With that, she pulled away the cloth.

    I gasped.

    The woman in the mirror was me, but not me. My face but enhanced in ways that transformed my entire appearance. My cheekbones cast elegant shadows beneath them, giving my face a sculpted quality it ha Even through residual swelling and

    faint bruising, I could see the changes Dr. Torres had created. Subtle Individually, powerful collectively. My lips had a new definition, not obviously augmented but somehow more present. My nose, always slight a perfect straight bridge.

    I raised a hand to my face, watching my reflection do the same. The stranger in the mirror touched her cheek with trembling fingers.

    "What do you think?" Dr. Torres asked quietly.

    Words failed me. This new face looked.. strong. Confident. The kind of face that belonged on magazine covers or in boardrooms. The kind of face people remembered.

    "It''s..." I swallowed hard. "I hardly recognize myself."

    "That''s partly the swelling," Dr. Torres assured me. "And partly the shock of change. Your brain needs time to adjust to the new image. In a few

    weeks, this will feel like you. The real you."

    But which me was real? The woman I''d been before, or this new creation designed for power?

    Victoria stepped forward, studying my reflection with critical eyes. Then, something rare happened, she smiled. A genuine expression of approval that transformed her usually stern face. "Perfect," she said simply. "Exactly what we needed."

    Something warm bloomed in my chest at her approval, a feeling I immediately tried to suppress. I shouldn''t crave her validation this way. Shouldn''t feel this rush of pleasure at her eptance. Yet I did. Dr. Torres detailed the continuing care routine, medications, specialized skincare, follow-

    up appointments. I listened with half an ear, still captivated by the stranger in the mirror who now wore my expressions.

    Later, after Victoria and Dr. Torres had gone, I sat alone in the recovery suite, lights dimmed as evening fell. Every few minutes, 1

    found myself reaching for the small hand mirror beside my bed, checking to see if the face I''d earlier was still there. Still mine.

    seen

    Each time, those new eyes looked back at me, harder, sharper, more prating than the eyes I''d known all my life. Eyes that no longer pleaded for love or eptance. Eyes that demanded respect. As night deepened, exhaustion finally pulled me toward sleep. But as consciousness faded, images began forming

    in the darkness behind my eyelids, Dreams taking shape, vivid and disturbing

    I stood on a bridge, rain pouring down around me. Below, dark water churned angrily. Across from me stood Rose," her perfect face contorted with fear. Between us, a broken railing gaped like an open mouth. "Please," Rose begged, backing away from me. "Camille, please, it wasn''t supposed to happen like this!"

    e until her back

    In the dream, I moved toward her, my new face reflected in her terrified eyes. She kept retreating hit the damaged railing. It creaked ominously.

    "You took everything from me," dream-

    me said, voice cold as the rain drenching us both. "My husband. My family. My life."

    "I''m sorry!" Rose cried, genuine terror in her voice as the railing began giving way behind her. "I''ll fix it! I''ll make it right!"

    But it was toote. The railing snapped. Rose screamed as she fell backward, hands grasping empty air. I watched her plummet toward the dark water below, her scream cutting off as she hit the surface and dis 1 should have felt horror. Should have rushed to the edge, called for help, tried to save her. Instead, dreamˇŞ

    me smiled, satisfied, as Rose''s hands broke the surface once, twice, then disappeared for good.

    I woke with a gasp, heart racing, sheets tangled around my legs. The dream had felt so real, the rain on my skin, the sound of the railing breaking, Rose''s scream as she fell. But what disturbed me most wasn''t I hadn''t wanted to save my sister. I had wanted to watch her drown.

    The realization sent me stumbling to the bathroom, where sshed cold water on my face, my new face, before looking up at my reflection in the mirror. In the harsh bathroom light, with water dripping from my

    Not just because of the surgical changes, the swelling, the bruises fading to yellow. Something in my eyes had changed too. Something harder, colder. Something that had watched Rose drown in my dream an

    1 backed away from the mirror, suddenly afraid of what I saw there. Not the physical changes, but the transformation happening

    inside. Was this who I was bing? Someone who could dream of her own sister''s death and feel pleasure rather than horror?

    Sleep cluded me for the rest of the night. I sat by the window, watching city lights

    glitter in the darkness, trying to untangle the knot of emotions inside me. By dawn, I''d reached no conclusions, just a dull eptance that something fundamental was shifting within me. Something that might be Two more days passed in the recovery suite before Victoria dered it time to return to the mansion. The bruising had faded enough to be covered by makeup, the swelling reduced to subtle puffiness only I wo

    As James drove us

    back, Victoria reviewed uing appointments on her tablet. "The board wants to officially announce you as my heir at next quarter''s shareholders meeting. We''ll need professional portraits before then. Dr. To I nodded, only half listening, still caught in thoughts of my disturbing dream.

    "Your silence suggests either disinterest or distraction," Victoria observed, setting aside her tablet. "Which is it?" I turned from the window to face her. "I had a dream about Rose. About watching her drown and.. Chaple

    I expected judgment, perhaps even concern about my psychological state. Instead, Victoria''s expression remained neutral, assessing

    "And this troubles you?"

    ˇ°Shouldn''t it?ˇ± I asked. "She''s still my sister."

    "Is she?" Victoria''s question hung in the air between us. "The woman who orchestrated your husband''s betrayal? Who manipted your parents against you for years? Who celebrated while the world thought y Put that way, it sounded rational, even obvious. But something still twisted ufortably in my stomach.

    "It''s not about forgiveness," I said slowly. "It''s about who m bing. The person in that dream, the one who smiled while watching her sister drown, I didn''t recognize hier

    Victoria studied me for a long moment before responding. "Transformation isn''t just physical, Camille. Your face changes, yes, but so does your heart. Your mind. Your soul, if you believe in such things." She gestured to my altered features. "What Dr. Torres did was merely the external manifestation of an internal process already underway. The woman who can dismantle Rose''s world cannot be the same woma The car pulled into the mansion''s driveway, gravel crunching beneath the tires, Victoria gathered her things, preparing to exit, but paused before opening her door.

    "Your dream doesn''t show corruption," she said, her voice unexpectedly gentle. "It shows preparation. Your mind is readying itself for what your heart still resists."

    With that, she stepped from the car, leaving me to follow when ready.

    That night, in my suite at the mansion, I stood before the full-

    length mirror in my bathroom, lights bright enough to hide nothing. Unwrapped the soft bandage Dr. Torres had applied for sleeping. Studied every changed angle of my face with critical eyes.

    The woman looking back at me seemed both familiar and foreign. I recognized the core of my features, the basic blueprint remained. But the enhancements had transformed me into someone whomanded frame.

    Now I would learn the same. But for a different purpose.

    Turning away from the mirror, I moved to my desk where files awaited review, Rose''s growing fashion business, Stefan''stest projects, my parents'' social calendar. Information gathered by Victoria''s team, deli Rose''s designs were good, better than I''d expected. She had genuine talent beneath the maniptive exterior. Her

    business n showed surprising acumen. The investor meetings lined up for theing months represented real opportunity for growth.

    All of which would make it more satisfying when I eventually controlled whether she seeded or failed.

    The thought should have disturbed me. A month ago, it would have. Now, it felt like stepping into a role I was born to y.

    I closed the files and returned to the mirror, studying my new face one more time. In the dream, Rose had looked into these eyes and seen something that terrified her. Soon, that dream would be reality. "We''re not erasing you," Dr. Torres had said. "We''re amplifying your power."

    She was right. The face looking back at me now wasn''t a disguise. It was a revtion. The woman I might have. be naturally, if life hadn''t beaten me down for so many years. If Rose hadn''t systematically

 Chapter 15

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    The fist came at my face too fast to dodge. I tried to block like Jason had taught me, but my arms felt heavy as stone. His knuckles grazed my cheek as I stumbled backward.

    "Too slow," he barked. "Again."

    My lungs burned. Sweat stung my eyes. We''d been at this for almost two hours, and the digital clock on the gym wall showed 5:47 AM. The sun wasn''t even up yet.

    Jason Winters stood opposite me on the training mat, barely breathing hard. His military haircut and scarred face gave nothing away, no tiredness, no frustration, just cold assessment. As Victoria''s head of secu

    "I can''t,"4 gasped, hands on my knees. "Need water."

    "Your sister won''t give you water when she''s destroying

    everything you love," he said tly. "Your ex-

    husband won''t offer a break when he''sughing at your weakness,"

    The mention of Rose and Stefan sent fresh anger coursing through me. I straightened, raising my fists again. Jason nodded once, approval flickering in his gray eyes. "Channel it. Use it."

    He circled me slowly. I tracked his movement, watching for tells we''d discussed yesterday, the slight shoulder drop before he jabbed, the weight shift before he kicked.

    There, his right foot pivoted slightly. I ducked the punch that followed, slipping inside his

    guard like he''d demonstrated. My counter-

    strike hit his ribs, not hard enough to damage but enough to make him grunt.

    "Better," he said, stepping back. "You''re learning.ˇ±

    Those words were the closest thing to praise I''d received since this nightmare training began. Three weeks of waking at 4:30 AM forbat lessons with Jason, followed by business sses,nguage instructi "Ten minute break," Jason said, checking his watch. "Then weapons training."

    I copsed onto a bench, grabbing my water bottle with shaking hands. My body felt like one massive bruise. Even my fingernails hurt.

    In the mirrored wall opposite me, a stranger stared back. My once-

    long brown hair had been cut into a sleek bob and dyed a rich, darker shade. My face had thinned from the grueling exercise regiment and surgery, cheekbones now sharp enough to cut ss. Designer workou I barely recognized myself anymore. Which was exactly the point.

    "Water won''t restore your electrolytes," a crisp voice said from the doorway. Victoria stood there in her impable business suit, looking as though she''d been awake for hours. Perhaps she had.

    She crossed to me, handing over a green smoothie in a steel tumbler. "Protein, vitamins, minerals. Drink it all.ˇ±

    The taste was awful-like liquified grass with a hint of metal-

    but I''d learned not toin. Victoria didn''t tolerate

    weakness, especially not from her "daughter."

    "Jason reports improvement," she said, scrolling through messages on her phone. "Though your defensive

    reactions remain inadequate."

    "I''ve never fought before," I muttered, gulping the vile smoothie. "Three weeks ago, my biggest physical challenge was yoga twice a month."

    Victoria''s eyes flicked up from her screen. "And how did this serve you when Rose took everything? discarded you? When those men attacked you in the parking garage?"

    When

    The memory of fists connecting with my ribs sent phantom pain through my body. I flinched.

    "Exactly," Victoria said, noting my reaction. "The world doesn''t care about fair. It respects only strength and the willingness to use it."

    She checked her watch, a discreet Patek Philippe that probably cost more than my parents'' car. "Your meeting with Japanese investors is at nine. After that, corporate finance with Professor Whitman until noon

    "The groundwork isid," Victoria cut me off. "Your Stanford and Harvard credentials have been verified by three separate media

    outlets. Your childhood in Swiss boarding schools exins your absence from American social circles. The timing is perfect, mysterious heiress emerges just as public interest peaks."

    Jason returned, carrying a collection of wooden training knives. Victoria nodded to him and turned back to me.

    "After lunch,nguage lessons with Madame Rousseau. Your French remains embarrassingly rudimentary for someone supposedly educated in Switzend."

    I bit back a retort. Arguing was pointless.

    "Then etiquette with Mrs. Harrington from four to six. Dinner with the board members at seven." She handed me a tablet. "Their profiles. Memorize before tonight."

    The screen showed faces and bios of twelve stern-

    looking executives, all men over

    fifty. More names, more details to absorb into my already overloaded brain.

    "That''s all for now," Victoria said, already turning toward the door. "Jason, focus on knife defense today. The weakness in her left side leaves her vulnerable."

    After she left, Jason held out a hand to pull me up from the bench. If I expected gentleness after Victoria''s demanding schedule, his grim expression crushed that hope.

    "Knife attacks aren''t like the movies," he said, demonstrating a shing motion with the wooden trainer." They''re fast, dirty, and

    usually from someone standing closer than you think."

    By 6:30, I had six new bruises and a shallow cut on my forearm where I''d failed to block correctly. By 7:15, I could barely lift my arms to shower.

    Staring at the tiles in the massive rainfall shower, I let hot water pound my aching muscles. The bathroom alone in my suite was bigger than my entire first apartment after college. Italian marble, gold fixtures, towels softer than clouds. Luxury surrounded me now, but it felt like a beautiful prison.

    I dressed mechanically in the outfitid out by my new personal stylist, a navy blue Chanel suit, cream silk blouse, and pearls that cost more

    than a car. My reflection looked polished, wealthy, untouchable.

    Exactly as Victoria intended.

    The car walted downstairs, James holding the door with hissual stoic expression. Since bing Victoria''s adopted daughter, I hadn''t driven myself anywhere. Hadn''t cooked a meal, made a bed, or even chos

    clothes. Every aspect of my existence was managed, controlled, shaped.

    "The investors are already at the office," James informed me as we pulled into morning traffic. "Ms. Kane asks that you review the portfolio proposals during the drive.

    Another folder, another stack of documents to memorize. Topened it to find prospectuses for three Japanese techpanies seeking American investment, filled with terms barely understood three weeks ago.

    I forced myself to focus, absorbing facts and figures, trying to anticipate questions. Victoria would test meter-

    she always did, with that expectant look that made me feel simultaneously eager to please and resentful of the

    need to do so.

    By nine o''clock, I sat across from three Japanese businessmen in Victoria''s sleek conference

    room, speaking confidently about market pration andpetitive advantage like I''d been doing it my whole life. Victoria watched from the head of the table, her face revealing nothing.

    When we closed the deal an hourter, securing exclusive investment rights for less than thepanies had initially asked,

    a flicker of approval crossed her face.

    "Well done," she said after they left, the closest thing to praise

    she''d offered since our training began. "Your preparation was evident."

    The tiny scrap of acknowledgment shouldn''t have meant so much, but I felt warmth bloom in my chest. Then hated myself for craving her approval at all.

    Professor Whitman arrived next, a stern Harvard economist who treated me like an ignorant child despite my supposed MBA from his institution. For three hours, he grilled me on corporate finance structures un "Your grasp of leveraged

    buyouts remains superficial," he noted as he packed up, not bothering to hide his disappointment. "Review chapters seven through twelve before tomorrow."

    I nodded, though the thought of more studying after today''s schedule made me want to scream. Or cry. Or both. Lunch with the Vanity Fair editor was a special kind of torture. Maintaining my new identity while a

    "So what was it like, growing up as Victoria Kane''s secret daughter?" she asked, recorder running between our tes at the exclusive restaurant Victoria had chosen.

    I gave the practiced answer, natural enough to sound genuine. "Private. Sheltered. Mom was always concerned about my safety, especially after what happened to her first family,"

    The editor leaned forward eagerly. "Yes, the tragic ident that imed her husband and son. You would have been, what, eight when that happened?"

    "Ten," I corrected smoothly, though in reality, I''d been thirteen when Victoria''s family died, a fact I''d memorized from public records rather than personal experience. "Too young to fully understand, but old enoug "And being sent abroad afterward? That must have been difficult."

    "She wanted me safe," I replied, the rehearsed exnation flowing naturally now. "The istion was challenging, but it forged independence. Mother always says strength grows from difort."

    The editor scribbled notes, clearly loving the narrative of the mysterious heiress emerging from seclusion. By the time lunch ended, she''d extracted enough quotes for a glowing profile that would further cement I checked my watch as her taxi pulled away. Twenty minutes to reach Madame Rousseau''snguage studio. Not enough time to rest. Never enough time.

 Chapter 16

    Camille''s point of view

    By four o''clock, my brain felt stuffed with French conjugations and pronunciation corrections. My third coffee of the day wasn''t helping the shaking in my hands.

    Mrs. Harrington, the etiquette coach, noticed immediately. Ady never allows fatigue to show," she reprimanded, straightening my already-

    straight spine.

    "Shoulders back. Chin parallel to the floor. Now, let''s review the proper handling of difficult dinner conversations."

    For two more hours, we practiced responding to inappropriate questions, managing awkward silences, and the subtle art of steering conversations toward or away from specific topics. All skills Victoria deemed When James finally drove me back to the mansion at six, I had exactly forty-

    five minutes to prepare for dinner with the board

    members. My head pounded. ck spots danced at the edges

    of my vision. The thought of making small talk with twelve stern executives made me want to curl into a ball and disappear.

    Instead, I changed into the evening dressid out for me, an elegant ck Dior that probably cost more than most people''s monthly sry. The stylist had left detailed notes about which jewelry to wear and how Looking in the mirror, I barely recognized the sophisticated woman staring back at me. Designer dress. Perfect makeup. Expensive jewelry. I looked like I belonged in Victoria''s world of wealth and power. But inside, I felt hollowed out. Empty. A pretty shell with nothing left inside.

    My knees buckled suddenly, room

    spinning around me. I grabbed the vanity for support, but my arms gave way. Thest thing I saw before darkness imed me was my reflection sliding sideways in the mirror, eyes closing as consciousness slij

    I woke to softness beneath me and the sensation of something cool on my forehead. Opening my eyes slowly, I found myself on my bed, still in the ck dress, though someone had removed my shoes.

    "The third time this week," Victoria''s voice came from nearby. "Your body is telling you something."

    I turned my head to find her sitting in a chair

    beside my bed, reading sses perched on her nose as she reviewed documents. She didn''t look up.

    "What time is it?" I croaked, throat dry.

    "Nearly nine. James found you when you didn''te down for the

    car." She made a note in the margin of whatever she was reading. "I sent your regrets to the board. We''ll reschedule." Shame washed over me. "I''m sorry."

    Victoria finally looked up, removing her sses. "For what? Having physical limitations? That''s not failure, it''s biology"

    I struggled to sit up, room tilting

    dangerously before settling "The dinner was important."

    "Yes. And you were in no condition to attend." She set aside her papers. "Which raises a question about your training regimen."

    My heart sank. More lessons? Earlier mornings? I couldn''t imagine how my schedule could be more grueling than it already was.

    "Why are you doing this to me?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, raw and honest in a way I hadn''t allowed myself to be since epting her offer.

    Victoria didn''t seem offended. If anything, she looked like she''d been expecting the question.

    "Because no one bes powerful by beingfortable, she said, her voice matter-

    of-fact. "Not even my own daughter."

    She stood, moving to the window that overlooked the mansion''s gardens, silver hair gleaming in the moonlight filtering through the ss.

    "When I was twenty-

    two," she continued, "I worked three jobs while attending night sses. I slept four hours

    a night for two years. Copsed twice from exhaustion. Kept going anyway."

    She turned back to face me. "By twenty five, I''d built my firstpany. By thirty, my first billion. Each step required sacrifice. Comfort and power rarely coexist."

    "But this pace isn''t sustainable," I protested. "I can''t keep.

    "Of course you can''t," she interrupted. "That''s precisely the point."

    1 stared at her, confused.

    "Pushing beyond your limits shows you where they truly lie," she exined. "Most people never discover their actual capacity because they stop at the first sign of difort."

    She returned to the chair beside my bed. "The training you''ve endured these past weeks has taught you more than facts and skills. It''s shown you that you''re capable of far more than you believed." I considered her words, realizing with surprise that she was right. Three

    weeks ago, I couldn''t have imagined. absorbing so much information, enduring such physical challenges, maintaining apletely new identity under pressure.

    "But now adjustments are necessary," Victoria continued. We''ve established your baseline. From tomorrow, your schedule will change."

    Relief flooded through me. "Fewer lessons?"

    "Different distribution," she corrected. "Combat training three days a week instead of five. Business education condensed into more efficient modules. More independent study, less ssroom time." She handed me a ss of water from the bedside table. "Your body needs recovery time to strengthen. Your mind needs space to process. Neither benefits from constant pressure without relief."

    I sipped the water, studying her over the rim of the ss. "You knew this would happen. The copse."

    "I anticipated it," she acknowledged. "Just as I anticipate your ability to adapt to whates next."

    "Which is?"

    "Phase two." Victoria smiled slightly. "The foundation isid, basic skills, public introduction, established background. Now we build your reputation, your connections, your influence."

    She stood again, smoothing, her impable suit. "Sleep now. Tomorrow startster, 9 AM meeting with your new personal physician. He''ll assess your physical condition and rmend adjustments to your training.

    It felt like a massive concessioning from her. But as she reached the door, she paused, looking back with steel in her eyes.

    "Don''t mistake this for softness, Camille. The path ahead remains difficult. But breaking you serves no purpose. I need you strong, capable, and fully functional."

    "For revenge," I said quietly.

    "For justice," she corrected. "And for the future neither of us could have achieved alone."

    After she left, I stared at the ceiling, too exhausted to undress but too wired to sleep immediately. Her words echoed in my mind: No one bes powerful by beingfortable. Not even my own daughter. The endearment felt strange, both false and oddly genuine I wasn''t her daughter, not really. But I wasn''t Camille Lewis anymore either. I existed in some in- between state, shedding my old self day by painful day, but not yet fully transformed into whoever I was bing.

    Rolling onto my side, I caught sight of my reflection in the dressing table mirror across the room. Even from here, I could see how different I looked from the woman who had signed divorce papers three weeks Eventually, exhaustion won, pulling me under into dreams filled with fighting shadows and endless tests I couldn''t pass. I woke periodically throughout the night, each time remembering Victoria''s words before c No one bes powerful by beingfortable.

    By morning, something

    had shifted inside me. The resentment remained, but alongside it grew a different feeling, determination. If this brutal regimen was the price of bing someone who could never be hurt like Camille Lewis ha When my rm sounded at 8 AM, practically mid-

    daypared to my usual wake-up, I rose without the bone-

    deep dread that had apanied each morning for weeks. My body still ached, my mind still felt overloaded, but

    something else had grown stronger.

    My resolve

    The woman in the mirror looked back at me with eyes that matched Victoria''s in their determination, if not yet in their confidence. Not quite Camille Lewis anymore. Not fully Camille Kane yet, But getting closer every day.

    I showered, dressed in the outfitid out for me, and headed downstairs where James would be waiting with the car. Each step still hurt, but now I weed the pain.

    It meant I was changing Growing. Bing

 Chapter 17

    ROSE''S POINT OF VIEW

    "Ms.

    Lewis, do you think the police should reopen the investigation into your sister''s death?"

    The reporter''s question hit me like ice water as I stepped out of my boutique. Three months. Three months since Camille''s car had been pulled from the river. Three months of ying the grieving sister while se I arranged my face into the perfect mask of dignified grief I''d perfected. "My family continues to cooperate fully with authorities," I said, voice carefully modted to show emotion without appearing unstable. "Bu The reporter pressed closer, microphone extended. "Soutces close to the investigation say no body was ever recovered. Some suggest the case should be treated as a missing person situation rather than a presumed drowning

    My heart skipped a beat, though my expression remained steady. "The current was exceptionally strong that night. The police exined this to us. Many drowning victims are never..." I let my voice catch delibe This performance was bing tedious. I''d given the same answers at the memorial service, at charity events, at business functions. Always the grieving sister, bravely carrying on despite unimaginable loss. I sympathy opening doors, sad smiles earning trust, tearful interviews generating publicity for my fashion line.

    Buttely, the questions had shifted. Where''s the body? Why was she driving there that night? Was there a suicide note? Each one carrying the unspoken suggestion that things didn''t add up. "Onest question" the reporter started, but I cut him off with a raised hand.

    "I''mte for a meeting with investors. Please respect my family''s

    privacy during this difficult time."

    My driver held the car door open, and I slid inside, dropping the sorrowful expression the moment the tinted windows shielded me from view. Tension coiled in my stomach like a snake. These questions were be "The Lewis Industries offices," I instructed the driver, checking my makeup in apact mirror. Perfect, as always. Not a crack in the facade.

    I nced at the news alert on my phone as I slid into the car

    The headline made my blood freeze.

    **HEIRESS DROWNING: QUESTIONS REMAIN**

    The article rehashed the basics, Camille''s car found partially submerged, no witnesses, no body recovered despite extensive searching. But it also included quotes from a "source close to the investigation" sugg I closed the article with a flick of my finger. My father had probably seen it already. He monitored all news about the family obsessively since Camille''s disappearalice,

    Of course he was. Daddy never could handle pressure. Always looking to others to fix his problems, usually me, since Camille had been useless in a crisis. Just one more way I''d proven my value to the family t

    The car pulled up to Lewis Industries, the gleaming tower that housed my father''spany. The business he''d built from nothing, the empire that should have been mine from the beginning, if not for his sentimentality regarding his biological daughter.

    The receptionist smiled as I entered the lobby. "Ms. Lewis, your father is expecting you."

    The executive elevator whisked me to the top floor, where Dad''s assistant ushered me straight into his office. He stood at the window, back to the door, shoulders tense beneath his tailored suit. He''d lost weight "Daddy," I said softly, closing the door behind me. "You wanted to see me?"

    He turned, face haggard in ways makeup couldn''t hide. None of the fake grief I''d perfected, but genuine suffering etched into every line. It was pathetic, really. All this pain for a daughter who had never apprecia "Rose." He opened his arms, and I stepped into them, ying my part

    perfectly. The supportive daughter. The family''s rock. "Have you seen the papers?"

    "Just now. It''s nothing, tabloid nonsense."

    He released me, moving to his desk where several newspapersy open. Not just the Post, but the Times, the Journal. All running variations of the same story.

    "The board is concerned," he said, sinking into his chair. These rumors... the suggestion of impropriety... it''s affecting investor confidence."

    I perched on the edge of his desk,ying aforting hand on his arm. "The police investigation was thorough. The case is closed. These are just reporters looking for a story where none exists."

    "Your mother hired a private investigator."

    The words hit me like a p. "She what?"

    Dad rubbed his temples, looking older by the minute. "Behind my back. Said she couldn''t live with unanswered questions. Needed closure."

    Panic fluttered in my chest, but I kept my voice level. "That''s unnecessary. And potentially damaging to thepany if it suggests we don''t trust the official investigation."

    "That''s what I told her!" His fist hit the desk, a rare disy of temper. "But she won''t listen. Ever since... since we lost Camille, she''s been different. Distant. Suspicious."

    Of me, he meant. Though he wouldn''t say it aloud. Moin had always been more perceptive than him, more likely to see through my careful maniptions. She''d been watching me with narrowed eyes at family "I''ll talk to her," I promised, mind already racing through potential problems. A private investigator meant questions. Digging Potentially uncovering things better left buried.

    Like the men I''d hired to scare Camille. The ones who were supposed to rough her up a bit, send a message, then disappear. Not force her car off a bridge. Not kill her. That hadn''t been the n. Excessive, messy, and

    unnecessary. But what was done was done, and I''d adapted ordingly. Tragedy could be useful when properly managed

    "It''s not just the investigation," Dad continued, looking miserable. "The memorial fund donations have raised questions too. That Times reporter asked for a breakdown of how the money''s being used." The Camille Lewis Memorial Fund, my masterstroke. Set up ostensibly to support mental health awareness, it had

    Chapter 17.

    generated nearly two million in donations, much of which was currently financing my fashion line''s expansion. All perfectly legal, with the right paperwork and the right ountants. But not something that would "I''ll have the Foundation''s ountants prepare a statement," I said smoothly. "Complete transparency will put these questions to rest."

    Dad nodded, clearly relieved to have me handling

    things. Always so eager to believe the best of me. To see me as the good daughter, the responsible one. The worthy heir.

    "There''s one more thing," he said, hesitation in his voice. "Detective Ramirez called this morning. They found something downstream. A... a shoe. They think it might be Camille''s."

    My stomach dropped. "After three months in the water?"

    "Caught in debris, apparently. They want us to identify it."

    A shoe. Just a shoe. Not a body. Not evidence of anything except that my sister had been wearing footwear when her car went into the river. Still, it unsettled me. Physical evidence connecting Camille to the wa

    "When?"

    "Tomorrow morning." He looked away. "Would you go? Your mother can''t handle it, and I..."

    "Of course." I squeezed his hand, the dutiful daughter once more. "I''ll handle everything."

    I left his office with my mind churning. Too many loose threads. The newspaper articles. Mom''s private investigator. Now this shoe. Small things individually, but together they formed a pattern I didn''t like. Quest My phone buzzed as I reached the lobby. A text from one of my investors, confirming our meeting tomorrow. I

    responded quickly, promising to bring the updated business projections.

    As my car arrived, I couldn''t help but feel irritation building. These questions about Camille''s

    disappearance were bing an unwee distraction from my business ns. Thest thing I needed was police reopening the case and digging into details better left buried.

    Details that only I knew. The men I''d hired to scare Camille that night. The n that had gone terribly wrong when they forced her car off the bridge instead of just delivering a warning. A miscalction I hadn''t a

    The afternoon crawled by in a haze of meetings and phone calls. My fashion line was gaining traction, featured in Voguest month, celebrities requesting custom pieces. Everything I''d worked for was falling int Except these damned questions that wouldn''t die.

 Chapter 18

    Rose point in view

    By evening, I was exhausted from maintaining the perfect bnce of grieving sister and focused businesswoman. My driver took me to my parents'' house for our weekly family dinner, a tradition I''d insisted on

    In reality, these dinners served to monitor my parents, manage the family narrative, and remind everyone of my central role in holding things together post- tragedy. Tonight, however, I dreaded facing Mom''s suspicious eyes. The house looked the same as always, manicuredwn, gleaming windows, tasteful luxury evident in every detail. The home I''d been brough established my dominance over every aspect of family life.

    Helen, the housekeeper, opened the door before I could ring the bell. They''re in the sitting room, Miss Rose." Your mother''s had... a difficult day."

    Mom was drinking again. Perfect. An inebriated mother was easier to manage than a suspicious one.

    I found them exactly as expected-

    Dad with a financial report, pretending to work while actually hiding; Morn on her third martini, staring at nothing. The picture of a family fractured by loss.

    "Evening," I said brightly, kissing each of their cheeks. "Helen''s cooking smells amazing"

    Mom looked up, eyes slightly unfocused. "You''rete."

    "Investor meeting ran long, Good news, though, we''ve secured funding for the international expansion." Dad attempted a smile. "That''s wonderful, princess. Your business acumen never ceases to amaze me." "You''re in no condition," Dad muttered, not looking up from his papers. "Rose will handle it."

    Mom''sugh was bitter, cutting. "Rose handles everything, doesn''t she? So capable. Soposed. Never a hair out of ce, even when discussing her sister''s remains."

    The usation in her tone was unmistakable. I kept my expression neutral, concerned but steady. "Mom, I know this is difficult. But falling apart won''t bring Camille back. Someone needs to stay strong for this "This family." She snorted, taking another sip of her drink. What family? My daughter is dead. My husband buries himself in work rather than face his grief. And you...

    She trailed off, studying me with eyes suddenly sharper than her intoxication suggested.

    "And I what?" I asked softly.

    The moment stretched, tension crackling between us. For an instant, I thought she might actually say it, the suspicion I''d seen growing in her gaze over recent weeks. The doubt that had prompted her to hire a But Dad intervened, setting aside his papers with forced cheer. "Let''s eat, shall we? No sense letting Helen''s cooking go cold.":

    Chapter.

    Dinner was excruciating, Mom alternating between silent ring and pointed barbs, Dad attempting desperately to Maintain normal conversation, me navigating the minefield with practiced ease. By dessert, I was mentally exhausted.

    "I''ve been thinking," Mom said as Helen served coffee, "about Camille''s journals."

    I froze, cup halfway to my lips. "Journals?"

    "She kept them since childhood. Hidden in that loose floorboard in her closet, though she thought I didn''t know." Mom''s eyes never left my face. "Interesting reading"

    Ice filled my veins. Camille''s journals. The private thoughts of a girl who saw more than she let on, who might have documented suspicions, patterns, maniptions over the years. Things I definitely didn''t want "Perhaps." Mom sipped her coffee, eyes never leaving mine. "But they''ve given me such insight into her state of mind in those final weeks. Her concerns about her marriage. Her doubts about certain rtionshi Dad shifted ufortably. "Margaret, is this appropriate dinner conversation?"

    "When is it appropriate to discuss our

    daughter''s death, Richard? When is it convenient to question why her body was never found? When should we examine why she drove to that bridge on a night she was supposed to be meeting you?" She poin There it was. The usation I''d been sensing. The dangerous question.

    "I told the police," I said calmly, "Camille canceled our dinner ns at thest minute. Said she wasn''t feeling well. I assumed she went home."

    "Yes, that''s what you told them." Mom''s voice was dangerously quiet. "But her journal entry that day says she was excited about your dinner. About reconnecting with her sister after all the ''misunderstandings'' a "People

    change their minds, Mom. Maybe she wrote that earlier in the day, before she started feeling unwell." "Maybe." Mom set down her cup with deliberate care. "Or maybe something else happened. Something that "Margaret!" Dad''s voice was sharp with warning. "You can''t possibly be suggesting..."

    "I''m not suggesting anything." She stood, swaying slightly "I''m simply a mother with questions about her daughter''s death. Questions our other daughter seems strangely reluctant to explore."

    With that parting shot, she left the dining room, her footsteps unsteady on the stairs. Dad and I sat in stunned silence for several long moments.

    "She doesn''t mean it," he finally said, running a hand through his thinning hair. "Grief makes people irrational. She''lle around."

    But we both knew she wouldn''t. The seed of doubt had been nted, and now it was growing, fed by newspaper articles and missing bodies and mysterious journal entries

    I left shortly after, pleading workmitments. In the car finally allowed myself to drop the mask, anxiety crawling across my skin like ants. This was bad, Worse that I''d anticipated.. Mom''s suspicions. The journals. The private investigator.

    Even Stefan might turn against me if he learned the full truth. He''d been increasingly distant these past weeks, withdrawing into grief and guilt over the divorce papers he''ll signed the day before Camille disappe I''d carefully nurtured that belief, of course. Better he me himself than look too closely at me. Better everyone think Camille had been driven to desperation by her failing marriage than suspect I''d arranged for I poured myself a drink as soon as I entered my apartment, mind racing through contingencies. First priority: find those journals and see exactly what Camille had written. Second: ensure my mother''s private investigator discovered nothing but evidence supporting the ident theory.

    And if that didn''t work? A chill ran through me, not fear, but cold determination. When I faced myself in the mirror, my expression was steady, certain.

    Then I''d create a new narrative. One where my grief-

    stricken mother, unable to ept the

    tragic loss of her daughter, became obsessed with conspiracy theories and wild usations.

    Yes, I''d discredit my own mother if necessary. I''d do whatever it took to protect what I''d built

    Tomorrow I would identify the shoe they found, with appropriate sisterly emotion. Then I''d visit Mom, see if I could locate those journals. The situation was still manageable, still within my control.

    Even Stefan, unwittingly useful in my ns, would continue ying his part, the grieving ex-

    husband who''d foundfort with his wife''s sister after an appropriate mourning period. He had no idea how I''d orchestrated everything, from the

    beginning of their rtionship to its tragic end.

    Men like Stefan were

    so easy to manipte. So eager to believe what you wanted them to believe. So desperate to be loved that they never questioned the convenient timing of your affections.

    If those journals contained what I feared, Camille''s observations of my maniptions, her documentation of our conflicts, her growing suspicions about my intentions, they could provide exactly the motive police And reopening the case was precisely what my mother seemed determined to achieve.

    The direct approach confronting Mom, demanding the journals, would only confirm her suspicions. Searching her house while they slept risked discovery. Having them stolen would raise obvious questions. No, I needed something subtler. A way to discredit

    the journals if they surfaced, or better yet, ensure they never

    did.

    By the time I reached my apartment, a n was forming. Mom''s drinking had increased

    steadily since Camille''s disappearance. Her behavior was bing erratic,

    her usations more pointed. With the right nudge, I could push her from grieving mother to unstable conspiracy theorist in the eyes of everyone who mattered.

    Entering my apartment, 1 kicked off my heels and poured a ss of wine. Tomorrow would begin with identifying a waterlogged shoe, continuing my performance as the dutiful, grieving sister. But behind that m I''de too far to be derailed now. My fashion line was talding off. My ce in society was secured. The family fortune would eventually be mine alone. Everything was proceeding ording to n, despite th As I prepared for bed, my phone pinged with a news alert. opened it, expecting more questions

    about Camille''s case.

    Instead, the headline made my blood freeze.

    **RECLUSIVE HEIRESS REVEALED: VICTORIA KANE INTRODUCES ADOPTED DAUGHTER AS COMPANY SUCCESSOR

    Beneath it, a photo showed Victoria Kane, tech Trillionaire, ruthless business titan, notorious recluse, standing beside a striking young woman with sharp cheekbones and prating eyes. The caption identified Something about the woman''s face tickled at my memory. Something familiar in the eyes, the stance, the subtle tilt of her chin. But different enough that I couldn''t ce it.

    The article detailed how this mysterious Camille Kane had been adopted as a child, educated at elite European schools, and was now stepping into the spotlight as Victoria''s heir apparent. A business prodigy w I skimmed the piece, irritated by the distraction. Some rich woman''s pet project had

    no bearing on my current problems. I closed the article and set my phone aside, returning to more pressing concerns.

    The shoe. The journals. My mother''s suspicions. Stefan''s weakness. All issues requiring immediate attention. Yet as I drifted toward sleep, the image of Camille Kane''s face floated in my mind. Those eyes. Whe A problem for another day. Tonight, I needed rest before

    tomorrow''s performance at the police station. The grieving sister, identifying a shoe

    that might have belonged to her beloved Camille. A heartrending scene in the ongoing tragedy.

    The show must go on. At least until I could ensure the final curtain fell exactly where and how I wanted it to.

 Chapter 19

    CAMILLE''S

    ''S POINT OF VIEW

    Four months into my new life as Camille Kane, I finally had a day to myself. Nobat training with Jason. No business lessons. No public appearances or meetings with Victoria''s corporate associates. Just tw four hours of unscheduled time stretching before me like an unexpected gift.

    I''d almost forgotten what freedom felt like.

    The morning sun streamed through my bedroom windows as I lingered over breakfast on my private balcony. Below, gardeners tended the immacte grounds of Victoria''s estate, a sprawling property that  But not today.

    I dressed casually in jeans and a sweater, clothes I rarely wore now that my wardrobe consisted primarily of designer business attire and

    formal wear. My reflection in the mirror still startled me sometimes, the sharper cheekbones, the more refined nose, the elegant bob that had reced my once-

    long hair. A woman designed for power rather than pleasing others.

    Victoria had left at dawn for a business trip to Tokyo, taking James and her usual security detail with her. The mansion felt different without hermanding presence, quieter, less intense, almost peaceful. "Ms. Kane?" A soft knock apanied the housekeeper''s voice. "Will you be needing anything before I leave for my sister''s wedding?"

    Mrs. Chen, the only staff member who lived off-

    premises, had mentioned the family event weeks ago. "No, thank you, Mrs. Chen. Enjoy the wedding."

    "There''s food prepared in the refrigerator. I''ll return tomorrow evening."

    Her footsteps faded down the hallway. Minutester, the distant sound of the service entrance closing left me truly alone in the massive house for the first time since my arrival. Completely alone. No Victoria. No staff. No security beyond the perimeter guards who monitored the property''s edges without entering the grounds.

    Perfect

    I''d been mapping the mansion in my head for

    months, noting areas I was subtly discouraged from entering, doors that remained locked, topics that caused Victoria to change the conversation. One section in particr had drawn my curiosity, the cast wing Today, I would solve that mystery.

    I made my way through the mansion''s main floor, footsteps echoing on marble and hardwood. How strange to walk these grand hallways without Victoria''s watchful eyes tracking my movements, evaluating my The main staircase swept upward in a graceful curve, its carved banister cool beneath my palm. Second floor, then third. The hallway branched in four directions, cach leading to a different wing. The corridor to the east wing ended in a heavy wooden door with an ornate handle, and as expected, it was locked,

    I examined it closely, remembering, Jason''s lessons about security and ess points. Not a keypad or electronic lock, but an old-

    fashioned key lock, the kind barely seen in homes of this caliber anymore. Deliberately old-

    fashioned. Deliberately personal.

    A key would be needed. But where would Victoria keep a key to a door she clearly wanted to remain closed? Her office seemed the logical ce to start. I made my way back down to the main floor, to the wood paneled room where Victoria handled matters too private for her corporate

    headquarters. The door was unlocked, a surprise given her usual caution, but then, she likely never expected me to explore while she was gone.

    Sunlight poured through tall windows, illuminating the space that perfectly reflected its owner: elegant, Intimidating, deliberately impressive. A massive desk dominated the center, its surface bare except for a I hesitated at the threshold. This felt different from my curiosity about the locked wing. This was a deliberate invasion of Victoria''s private space, a breach of the trust she''d ced in me. But wasn''t she invading Decision made, I crossed to the desk, immediately drawn to the framed photo. It showed a younger Victoria with her arm around a smiling young woman who could only be Sophia, tall, confident, with eyes that Happy. They looked genuinely happy.

    I set the photo down carefully, exactly as I''d found it, and began my search. The desk drawers yielded nothing of interest, business papers, correspondence, a spare pair of reading sses. No keys.

    Next, I examined the bookshelves lining the walls, looking for hiddenpartments or safes. Nothing. The elegant cab bar contained only spirits and crystal sses. The paintings, all originals by renowned I was about to give up when I noticed a small decorative box on one of the bookshelves, half-

    hidden behind leather -

    bound volumes. Made of carved jade with silver fittings, it seemed out of ce among the business books and historical biographies.

    Insidey a single brass key, antique and heavy in my palm. It looked exactly like what would fit the lock to the east wing.

    Heart beating faster, I returned to the third floor, key clutched tightly in my hand. At the locked door, I hesitated again, knowing I was crossing a boundary that might change my rtionship with Victoria forever. But I''de too far to turn back. I inserted the key, feeling the mechanism shift as I turned it. A soft click, and the door swung open into darkness.

    The corridor beyond was shadowed, curtains drawn over windows that would have illuminated it naturally. 1 fumbled for a light switch, finding one just inside the doorway. Soft lighting revealed a hallway lined w Sophia as a toddler in a frilly dress. Sophia in a cap and gown, proudly holding a diploma. Sophiaughing on a sailboat, wind catching her hair. In each image, her resemnce to me was undeniable, despite t No wonder Victoria had been drawn to me after seeing my photo. The resemnce was unsettling even to me.

    The hallway opened into a small sitting

    area, preserved like a museum exhibit. Magazines from ten years agoy on coffee tables. A half-

    finished chess game sat frozen in time, pieces dust less despite the years, suggesting regr cleaning. Two teacups rested on saucers beside the chess board, as if the yers had just stepped away momenta Victoria and Sophia''sst game together? The thought sent a shiver through me.

    Three doors led from the sitting area. I tried the first, finding

    a small study with a desk covered in engineering textbooks and mathematical journals. Notes in a neat, precise handwriting filled notebooks stacked beside aptop that looked ancient by today''s standards. A M Sophia''s study area. Preserved exactly as she''d left it a decade ago.

    The second door revealed a bathroom, everything feminine and elegant. Makeup still arranged on the counter, perfume bottles lined up precisely, a toothbrush in a holder beside the sink.

    The third door, slightly ajar, took my breath away.

    Sophia''s bedroom. Arge, beautiful space decorated in shades of blue and silver, dominated by a queen-

    sized bed with an intricate wrought iron headboard. Sunlight streamed through a gap in heavy curtains, illuminating dust mates dancing in the air.

    I stepped inside, feeling like an intruder in a sacred space. The room smelled faintly ofvender and something else, a lingering trace of perfume, perhaps. Everything was immacte, from the precisely made Photos covered one wall, Sophia with friends, with Victoria, with a handsome young man who must have been Oliver Preston, the fianc¨¦ whose family had arranged her fatal ˇ°ident." In many of the images,

    On the bedside table sat a framed photo of Sophia and Victoria, arms around each other, foreheads touching, smiling with such genuine joy

    that my chest ached looking at it. The kind of mother-

    daughter rtionship I''d never had, never even witnessed between Rose and my own mother.

    I picked up the photo, studying the happiness captured there. Victoria,cold, demanding, perfectionistic Victoria, looked transformed by love for her daughter. Softer. More human. "What are you doing in here?"

 Chapter 20

    Camille''s point of view.

    The voice behind me sent the frame tumbling from my hands. It hit the carpet with a muffled thud as I spun around.

    Victoria stood in the doorway, her expression a storm of fury and pain. Her usually perfect appearance was disheveled, clothes wrinkled from travel, hair slightly mussed, as if she''d rushed home unexpectedly. "L...I thought you were in Tokyo," I stammered, heart hammering against my ribs.

    "Flight canceled due to mechanical issues." Her eyes swept the room, cataloging any disturbance I might have caused. "You didn''t answer my question."

    I could have lied. Could have imed I got lost,

    identally found the key, had innocent reasons for snooping But something in Victoria''s face, the raw wound exposed beneath her anger, demanded honesty.

    "I was curious," I admitted, bending to retrieve the fallen photo frame. "About the locked wing. About why it was. off-

    limits."

    "So you invaded my privacy. Searched my office for the key. Entered a space clearly meant to remain closed." Each sentence fell like a judgment, cold and precise. "Yes." No excuses. No justifications.

    Victoria''s gaze settled on the photo in my hands. Something flickered across her expression, grief so intense it momentarily overwhelmed the anger.

    "Put that down," she said quietly. "And get out."

    I carefully returned the frame to its ce. "Victoria, I..."

    "Now."

    I moved toward the door, expecting her to step aside. Instead, she remained nted in the doorway, forcing me to squeeze past her, close enough to feel the rigid tension in her body, to smell the subtle scent of her perfume mixed with the staleness of long- haul travel.

    In the sitting area, I paused, turning back to find her still watching from Sophia''s doorway, one hand gripping the frame as if for support. "I''m sorry," I said softly. "I shouldn''t have..."

    "Do you know what today is?" she interrupted, voice unnaturally controlled.

    I shook my head, unease growing at the intensity of her gaze.

    "It''s her birthday." Victoria''s knuckles whitened on the doorframe. "She would have been thirty-

    three today."

    The revtion hit like a physical blow. Of all days to vite this sanctuary, I''d chosen the one when Victoria''s grief would be freshest, most raw,

    "I didn''t know," I whispered.

    "No." Something in her tone shifted, the cold fury giving way to something moreplex. "You didn''t. Because I never told you."

    She finally stepped away from the doorway, moving to the chess board in the sitting area. With careful precision, she adjusted one of the pieces, a knight moving to threaten a bishop. "Sophia loved chess," she said, not looking at me. "Insisted it helped her think strategically. We yed every Sunday morning. This was ourst game, the morning before she died."

    I remained motionless, afraid any movement might shatter this unexpected moment of vulnerability.

    me, I

    "I''ve kept it exactly as we left it. Sometimes I sit here and try to remember what move she was contemting" Victoria''s finger hovered over a white pawn. "She always took her time, considered every possibility The parallel to our rtionship, her aggressive molding of me, my attempts to anticipate her expectations, hung unspoken between us.

    "Ten years," Victoria continued, finally looking up at me. "Ten years ofing here on her birthday, sitting in her space, pretending for a few hours that she''s just stepped out. That she''ll return any moment with My chest tightened at the naked pain in her expression. Gone was the formidable businesswoman, the ruthless mentor, the demanding adoptive mother. In her ce stood simply a woman hollowed by grief, pr "She was more than my daughter," Victoria said, sinking onto the sofa beside the chess set. "She was the best of me. The kindness I couldn''t afford to show, the warmth I''d forgotten how to express, the hope l'' I cautiously sat opposite

    her, feeling the weight of the moment. Victoria had never spoken this openly before, never revealed so much of herself.

    "When she died, I wanted to die too." She touched a chess piece, the ck queen, with gentle fingers. "But then revenge became my purpose. Destroying the Prestons gave me a reason to continue. And when "Until you saw my photo," I said softly.

    Her eyes met mine, sharp with sudden intensity. "Do you know what I thought when I first saw you? Not just that you looked like her, though the resemnce was striking. I thought: here''s another bright young power over it."

    Victoria leaned forward slightly. "I recognized in you what the Prestons tried to stamp out in Sophia. Potential, Intelligence. A fundamental strength your family never nurtured."

    "But you barely knew me," I countered. "One photo in a society magazine...."

    "I had you investigated thoroughly," she interrupted. "Every aspect of your life examined. Your education records. Your medical history. Your social circles. The more I learned, the more clearly I saw the parallels "Differences?"

    "Sophia was loved. Cherished. Supported in all her dreams You were undermined at every turn, yet still fought to carve out your own space. Imagine what you might have be with proper nurturing instead of constant sabotage,"

    The observation stung with its uracy. All my life, I''d been swimming against the current of my family''s preferences, Rose''s maniptions, society''s expectations

    "That''s why I offered you this chance," Victoria continued. "Not just because you resembled her physically. Not just for revenge against those who hurt you. But because I recognized something worth saving. W of my value independent of my usefulness for revenge or my resemnce to Sophia. "When I saw you in here," Victoria said, gesturing toward Sophia''s bedroom, "my first thought wasn''t anger at the invasion o that you might damage something, change something, disrupt the preservation of her space."

    "I would never," I began, but she raised a hand to silence me.

    "I know. But grief isn''t rational. This wing has remained untouched for a decade, cleaned only by me, entered

    only by me. These rooms are all I have left of her physical presence in the world."

    She stood suddenly, moving back to the bedroom doorway staring inside with an expression of such longing it made my throat tighten,

    "She was brilliant," Victoria said softly. "Could have run thepany better than I ever did. Had this extraordinary ability to see connections others missed. But more importantly, she was kind. Genuinely kind, in I joined

    her at the doorway, following her gaze to the room bathed in afternoon sunlight. "Tell me about her," said. "Not just the facts I could find in news articles orpany biographies. Tell me who she really was." Victoria nced at me, surprise evident in her expression. Then something softened around her eyes.

    "She snorted when sheughed too hard. Couldn''t carry a tune to save her life but sang constantly anyway. Loved spicy food and old ck-

    and-

    white movies and thunderstorms." A small, genuine smile touched Victoria''s lips. She had this ridiculous collection of novelty socks, zombies and dinosaurs and

    mathematical equations. Said life was too serious not to have silly socks."

    Each detail built a picture of a real person, not just the perfect daughter of Victoria''s rare mentions or the tragic victim of a calcted ident. A young woman with quirks and passions and imperfections. "She sounds wonderful," I said sincerely.

    "She was." Victoria''s smile faded. "And I couldn''t protect her."

    The admission carried such weight, Victoria Kane, who controlled billion-

    dor deals and intimidated world leaders, acknowledging her ultimate failure at the one thing that truly mattered to her.

    "Is that why you''re training me so ruthlessly?" I asked, the connection suddenly clear. "To ensure can protect myself when you can''t protect me?"

 Chapter 21

    Camille''s point of view

    Victoria''s gaze sharpened. "Yes. Every lesson, every challenge, every seemingly excessive demand, they all serve that purpose. To make you stronger than Sophia was. More prepared for the dangers wealth a "That too," she acknowledged. "The people who hurt you must pay for what they''ve done. But beyond revenge lies something more important, your future. What you''ll build after justice is served."

    I considered her words, understanding for the first time that Victoria''s vision extended beyond my usefulness as an instrument of revenge. She was investing in me for reasons beyond my resemnce to Sophi "I still shouldn''t havee in here without permission," said after a moment. "This space is sacred to you. I vited that."

    Victoria sighed, tension visibly leaving her shoulders. "Perhaps it was inevitable. Perhaps it was even

    necessary." She turned fully toward me. "You cannot be who you need to be while seeing me as merely a mentor or benefactor. You need to

    understand who I am beneath the power and wealth."

    "A mother who lost her child," I said softly.

    "Yes." The simple acknowledgment carried volumes of pain. "A woman who built an empire, then watched it be meaningless in an instant when her daughter''s heart stopped beating."

    She stepped into Sophia''s room, beckoning me to follow. This time the invitation was deliberate, conscious. She moved to the closet, sliding open the door to reveal clothing still hanging neatly, designer dresses sweatshirts.

    "She was taller than you," Victoria observed. "More athletic build. Preferred blues and greens to the warm tone that suit your coloring."

    From a high shelf, she removed a small wooden box iid with mother-of-

    pearl. "Sophia''s jewelry. Things she cherished, mostly for sentimental

    rather than mary value."

    She opened the box, revealing an eclectic collection, some fine pieces but also quirky earrings, friendship bracelets, the kind of personal treasures that told a life''s story.

    Victoria selected something from the box, a delicate silver bracelet with a single charm, a tiny chess piece. A knight.

    "Her favorite piece," Victoria exined. "She said knights were the most interesting because they move differently than everything else on the board. Unconventional. Less direct but sometimes more effective." She held out the bracelet to me. "She would want you to have this."

    The gesture stunned me, Victoria offering

    something that had belonged to Sophia, inviting me to carry a piece of her daughter''s memory.

    "I couldn''t possibly."

    "You can," Victoria interrupted firmly. "And you will. Not because you''re recing her, no one could. But because you''re continuing something she valued, the courage to make in unexpected ways across the bo Victoria stopped walking, turning to face me fully in the grand hallway. Afternoon sun streamed through tall windows, highlighting the silver in her hair, the fine lines around her eyes, signs of humanity often obscured by her powerful presence.

    "What I see," she said carefully, "is someone finding her own path while carrying meaningful symbols from those who came before. Not a recement for my daughter. Not merely a vehicle for revenge. But a yo She touched the phoenix pendant at my throat lightly, then the knight charm on my wrist. "These are reminders, not definitions. You''ll forge your own symbols in time."

    As we continued walking, side by side through the mansion that had be my home, I felt a subtle but significant change in our rtionship. For the first time, Victoria had allowed me to see beyond her caref And for the first time, I wondered if revenge alone would satisfy either of us. If perhaps something moreplex, more healing might lie beyond the destruction we''d nned for those who had wounded us.

 Chapter 22

    ROSE''S POINT OF VIEW

    The shoe sat on Detective Ramirez''s desk between us. A woman''s size seven pump, once ck, now gray-

    green from three months underwater. The heel had broken off, but the designer''s red sole remained visible. Louboutin. Unmistakably Camille''s.

    "Is this your sister''s shoe, Ms. Lewis?" Detective Ramirez asked, his tired eyes watching my reaction carefully.

    I reached for it with trembling fingers, a calcted tremord practiced that morning. "Yes," I whispered, breaking on cue. "She wore these thest time I saw her. A gift from our parents for her birthday." The lie slid out smoothly. In truth, I''d given Camille those shoes when she

    me-downs.

    "Does seeing this personal item bring up any new thoughts about your sister''s state of mind before her disappearance?"

    An Interesting question. Not "ident" or "drowning," but "disappearance." The detective''s word choice revealed his lingering doubts.

    "Your parents mentioned Camille kept journals," he continued. "Have you had a chance to read them?"

    So Mom had spoken to the police about the journals. This was worse than I thought. voice

    "I... I couldn''t bear to read them," I said, looking away as if ovee. "Too painful. Mom mentioned she found some, but she''s been very private about their contents." "And your rtionship with Mr. Rodriguez? Your sister''s ex-husband?"

    "Stefan and I have foundfort in our shared grief," I said carefully. "We were friends before he and Camille dated. After a respectful period of mourning, we''ve... reconnected."

    After leaving the station, I called Martin Greene, the family''s trusted fixer. "I need everything you can get on Detective Ramirez. And I need to know exactly what my mother told the police about Camille''s journal Then I headed to my parents'' house. Mom was at her weekly therapy appointment, an engagement I''d encouraged to keep her sedated with grief counseling and

    antidepressants.

    The house was quiet when I arrived. I moved through Camille''s room methodically, checking obvious hiding ces. Nothing. The floorboard Mom had mentioned yielded nothing but an empty space. Mom''s private sitting room, then. The small sunlit space where she spent hours alone. On her writing desk sat a mahogany box with a brass lock.

    "Looking for something?"

    Mom''s voice from the doorway froze me in ce. Sh

    months.

    stood watching me, more sober and alert than I''d seen in

    "Mon," I said, forcing warmth into my voice. "I didn''t expect you back so soon."

    She moved to the box, unlocked it, and withdrew a journal. September 14th, ten years ago: ''Rose told Jason I stuffed ny bra before the dance. Now he won''t talk to me. She says she was just joking, but she sm

    My mind raced back. Jason Parker, Camille''s first crush. I''d spent weeks helping her get his attention, only to whisper that carefully crafted lie at precisely the right moment.

    "Teenage drama,ˇ± I said dismissively. "Camille was always sensitive."

    Mom took out another journal. "April 2nd, eight years ago Got my Stanford eptance today. Rose says it''s probably a mistake. Now I can''t stop worrying they''ll realize they didn''t mean to ept

    me."

    "I was trying to protect her from disappointment," I protested. "Stanford is highlypetitive."

    Mom mmed the journal shut. "You know what happened next? She called the admissions office to ''confirm'' they wanted her. They thought she was having a mental health crisis. When we decided she wasn''t Time for the nuclear option.

    Mom," I whispered, "I didn''t want to tell you this, but..: Camille had problems none of us understood. Thest time we spoke, she said things that frightened me."

    "What things?"

    "She talked about hearing voices sometimes. About feeling watched" The lies flowed smoothly, tailored to match symptoms I knew Mom feared. Her own mother had suffered from paranoid delusions. "That''s not possible," Mom said, but doubt had crept into her voice.

    "Would she write about it if she was hiding it? Mom, I''ve been carrying this guilt for months, wondering if I should have told someone. If I could have prevented what happened."

    "When her car went into the river," I continued softly, "I wondered if... if it wasn''t an ident. If maybe the voices told her to do

    it."

    Mom sank into her chair, face ashen. "I should have known A mother should know when

    her

    child is suffering." "You couldn''t have known," I soothed, watching my carefully crafted lies take root. "Camille was good at hiding things."

    "I need to tell your father. And the detective."

    "Are you sure that''s wise?" I asked gently. "Camille wanted this kept private. And mental health stigma is still so prevalent."

    "Perhaps wait," I suggested. "Read through the journals again, looking for signs you might have missed. Let me help you," I offered, reaching for the box. "Two sets of eyes might catch what one misses." She hesitated only briefly before nodding. The box of journals, the evidence I''d been desperate to secure, was now being handed to me willingly.

    When I left an hourter, Mom looked lighter somehow. The poison of suspicion had been drained, reced with a new narrative that absolved her of responsibility while redirecting her focus from me to Camille In the car, I immediately texted Martin: *Cancel the Ramic investigation. Situation contained.

    Looking at the mahogany box beside me, I felt

    a surge of satisfaction. By tonight, any evidence of my careful dismantling of Camille''s life would be ashes. And the official narrative would shift subtly, not an ident, not murder, but a troubled young woman''s Perfect Rose, the devoted sister, carrying her tragic secret protect her family''s peace of ˇŞ

    practically wrote itself. Mental illness was such a convenient exnation for inconvenient truths. Camille''s real voice had been silenced forever in that river. Now I would ensure that even her written words told t

 Chapter 23

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    The scream ripped from my throat before I was fully awake, my body jackknifing upright in bed. Sweat soaked through my silk nightgown, heart hammering against my ribs like it might break through. For a mom

    Rose''s face,

    smiling as I drowned. Stefan watching from the shore, doing nothing. Their fingers intertwined as they witnessed my death, as casual as if they were watching a sunset.

    "Ms. Kane?" A knock at my bedroom door. "Do you need assistance?"

    The night guard. New guy. Torres or Torrez. I couldn''t remember his name. Victoria rotated security personnel regrly, anotheryer of protection in her perfectly orchestrated world.

    "I''m fine." I called back, voice steadier than I felt. "Just a dream."

    "Yes, ma''am. Dr. Reed has been notified as per protocol."

    Of course she had. Everything in Victoria''s mansion was monitored, measured, reported. Privacy was a luxury I''d surrendered along with my old identity. I checked the clock 3:17 AM. Another night ruined by memories that refused to stay buried.

    Six months of training. Six months of bing someone new. Six months of Victoria''s relentless program to transform me from victim to avenger. And still, my subconscious betrayed me, dragging me back into My phone lit up with a text: My office. 15 minutes. -Dr. Reed*

    No sympathy. No option to reschedule. Just amand thinly disguised as a message. Typical of Victoria''s handpicked psychologist.

    I shuffled to my bathroom, sshing cold water on my face. The woman in the mirror had changed dramatically since Victoria had found me, cheekbones sharper from the surgical refinements, hair styled in an eyes harder from months ofbat training. But in the hours after a nightmare, I still saw traces of the old. Camille beneath the carefully crafted exterior. Vulnerable. Afraid. Weak.

    Dr. Reed would not approve.

    Hero

    office looked exactly as it always did, clinically organized, dimly lit, with two leather chairs facing each other across a ss table. No couch. No friendly nts of personal photos to soften the atmosphere. Dr. R surfaces matched her approach, precise, unforgiving, designed to cut through emotional defenses.

    "Same dream?" she asked, silver-

    streaked dark hair pulled back in a severe bun, eyes sharp as they assessed my disheveled state. Al fifty-

    something, she had the toned physique of someone half her age and the prating Paze of someone who regrly dissected minds for sport.

    "Yes" I sank into the leather chair, the cool surface a stark contrast to my overheated skin. "I''m in the car, Water rising Pose and Stefan watching from the bridge, smiling the door''s jammed. I scream for help, bu "Any variations from previous instances?"

    "Rose was wearing my wedding dress this time." The detail had twisted like a knife in my gut, even in sleep..

    Dr. Reed made a note on her tablet. "Six months of nightmares. Who told you stopping them was the goal?"

    "Isn''t that what therapy is for? Healing trauma?"

    "Conventional therapy, yes. But you''re not receiving conventional therapy, Camille. You''re receiving specialized psychological conditioning designed for Victoria Kane''s specific objectives."

    "Which are?"

    "To weaponize your trauma rather than heal it. Your pain is power if you control it instead of letting it control you. Do you think Victoria became who she is by processing her grief in healthy ways? By moving on The bluntness hit me like a physical blow. She moved to a cab, retrieving a virtual reality headset. State-

    of-the-art, probably custom-made. Nothing but the best in Victoria''s world.

    "Put this on," she instructed. "I think you''re ready for immersion therapy. Time to control the oue of your nightmare."

    My hands trembled as I took the headset. "You want me

    to relive drowning? Voluntarily?"

    "I want you to finish what your subconscious starts every night. You wake up at the moment of drowning. I want you to see what happens after."

    The simtion was terrifyingly real, the car interior, the rising water, Rose and Stefan watching from above. Initially, panic seized me, the memory of that night too vivid, too raw. But something shifted inside me through my terror. Hot, rifying rage.

    The water stopped rising. Began to recede. In my mind, I pushed against the car door. It opened. Not possible in reality, not with water pressure, but this wasn''t reality. This was my mind, my rules. I stepped out

    I emerged from the river like an avenging angel, dressed in a tailored power suit, hair perfectly styled, makeup wless, Rose''s smile faltered as I stood on the water''s surface. When I raised my hand, the bridg

    "Please!" Dream-

    Rose cried out as she fell, reaching toward me. ˇ°Camille, help us!"

    I watched, unmoved, as they plunged into the dark water. Dream-

    Stefan tried to swim toward the shore, abandoning Rose to save himself. Typical. Even in my imagination, he was a coward.

    "How did it feel?" Dr. Reed asked when I removed the headset, hands shaking.

    "Good," I admitted, shame and satisfaction warring inside the. "It felt good"

    "Then why are you crying?"

    I touched my cheek, surprised to find it wet. "Because the person who enjoyed that isn''t who I used

    to be."

    "No," she agreed. "She''s who you''re bing. Who you need to be."

    She pulled out a man folder filled with surveince photos-

    Rose and Stefan together

    over the past months. At restaurants. Shopping. Entering his apartment. Their happiness documented in cruel detall. One shot showed them at a jewelry store I recognized, another at the restaurant I''d always w "Study your enemy''s happiness," Dr. Reed said coolly. "It''what you''ll take from them first."

    I forced myself to look at every photo. Their casual intimacy. The way his hand rested at the small of her back. Her head tilted toward him inughter. The tender expression on his face as he brushed hair from h "What do you feel?" she asked.

    "Humiliation," I whispered, the truth finally breaking free. "That everyone can see I was just the ceholder. The practice wife before he got the

    one he really wanted. I knew, you know. Even before the divorce papers. Before I found evidence. A part of me always knew Rose was the one Stefan truly wanted."

    "And beneath that?"

    "I stayed because I couldn''t bear to admit Rose had won again. That even my marriage was just anotherpetition she''d bested me in without even trying" The bitterness coated my words. "I thought if I tried "But he never did," Dr. Reed said simply.

    "No. He only married me because he couldn''t have her. I was the constion prize. The easier option. The one who would say yes when Rose initially said no."

    "The nightmares persist because you''re still seeing yourself as their victim. Even in your dreams, they stand above while you drown below. The VR session showed progress, you reversed the positions. But you At the door, I paused, struck by a sudden curiosity. "What truth were you hiding? When you helped Victoria after Sophia died?"

    For the first time, Dr. Reed''s clinical mask slipped. "I was engaged to Victoria''s husband before she met him. He chose her instead. I introduced them. Watched their

    perfect life from the periphery. Was the first person Victoria called when the Prestons murdered Sophia."

    The confession stunned me. This cold, clinical woman had her own history of being second choice. Had watched from the sidelines as someone else lived the life that might have been hers. "Does she know you told me this?"

    "Victoria knows everything that happens in these sessions. Her gaze was steady, prating. ˇ°Because you''re ready to understand that the path forward isn''t about what was taken from you. It''s about what you With that, she closed her office door, leaving me alone in the dimly lit hallway, clutching the photos of my sister''s stolen happiness against my chest like a shield. Each image a reminder of what they''d taken from

 Chapter 24

    ROSE''S POINT OF VIEW

    Thew office of Berkman, Wade, and Associates smelled of leather, money, and superiority. I adjusted my ck dress and studied the others in the conference room. Mom dabbed at her eyes with a monogran All of us performing our assigned roles. The grieving family. The heartbroken ex-

    husband. A perfect tableau of loss.

    And why wouldn''t we? Camille was dead. I knew that for certain. The men I''d hired hadn''t just scared her as originally nned, they''d gone further, forcing her car off that bridge, watching it sink into the dark wa Martin Greene entered, carrying a leather portfolio. Dad''s longtimewyer looked appropriately grave as he took a Scal

    "Thank you all foring." he said. "With the court having legally dered Camille deceased in absentia, we can now proceed with herst will and testament."

    "Is this really necessary?" Mom asked, voice wavering. "It''s only been six months.ˇ±

    "In cases of drowning where no body is

    recovered, the court can grant a death certificate after reasonable search efforts have concluded," Martin exined.

    "As Camille had significant independent assets that require disposition, the judge approved the derationst week."

    I kept my expression neutral, though my mind raced. Independent assets? What independent assets?

    ˇ°?

    wasn''t aware my sister had estate nning," I said, injecting just the right note of confusion.

    twenty-fifths

    Martin opened his portfolio. "Camille updated her willst year, shortly after her As you may recall, that was when she received her inheritance from her grandfather."

    My blood froze. Grandfather Lewis. Dad''s father. The crusty old man who had doted on Camille, his only biological grandchild, whilergely ignoring me.

    "What inheritance?" I asked

    sharply, then immediately softened my tone. "I mean, she never mentioned receiving anything substantial,"

    Dad finally looked up. "My father left Camille a portion of his estate when she

    turned twenty-five. It was private, between them."

    "Howrge a portion?" The question escaped before I could temper it.

    Martin cleared his throat. ˇ°Mr. Lewis Senior established a trust for Camille valued at approximately thirty million dors, along with the Cedar Hill estate."

    The room spun around me. Thirty million dors. Plus a mansion on twenty acres of primend. And she had never said a word.

    "That''s impossible," I whispered "I would have known."

    "Camille wanted it kept quiet," Dad said. "She said money changes

    how people see you."

    Martin removed a document from his portfolio. "This is thest will and testament of Camille Elizabeth Lewis, revised and signed six months before her passing"

    I leaned forward. Whatever secret fortune she''d hidden, it would surelye to her family now. To me, her only sister.

    "To my parents, Richard and Margaret Lewis, I leave my collection of family photographs and my gratitude for the life they gave me."

    Martin paused, ncing at my parents. Dad nodded stiffly. Mom''s crying grew louder.

    "To my sister, Rose Lewis, I leave my journal collection, in hopes she maye to understand me better in death than she did in life."

    The journals. The ones I''d already taken and altered. A chill ran down my spine.

    "To my former husband, Stefan Rodriguez, I return the engagement ring that belonged to his grandmother, with the hope that next time he gives it, it will be with honesty and true devotion." Stefan flinched visibly. The ring had been a

    source of pride, a family heirloom that supposedly symbolized hismitment.

    "As to the remainder of my estate, including all financial assets, investment ounts, personal property not specifically mentioned, the Cedar Hill estate, and the entire bnce of the trust established by my gra Here it was. The thirty million dors and luxury estate that would surely be distributed among us.

    One hundred percent of said assets shall be donated to the Lighthouse Foundation for Abused and Abandoned Children, to establish the Camille Lewis Memorial Fund for the education and support of girls in th The silence that followed was absolute. Even Mom''s crying stopped abruptly.

    "I''m sorry," I said, my voice unnaturally high, "but could you repeat that?"

    Martin nced up. "The entirety of Camille''s estate, after specific bequests, is to be donated to the Lighthouse Foundation."

    "That''s not possible." The words burst from me. "There must be some mistake."

    "There''s no mistake, Ms. Lewis. The will is quite clear and legally binding."

    "But..." I struggled to maintainposure. "That''s thirty million dors and a prime piece of real estate. Going toplete strangers. While her family gets

    nothing but photographs and... and journals?"

    Martin withdrew an envelope. "She also left a letter to be read at this time, exining her decision

    Dad nodded his permission, his expression unreadable.

    Martin broke the seal on the envelope and unfolded the letter within.

    "To my family," he read. "If you''re hearing this, then I am gone, and you are now learning something I kept from all of you, that Grandfather left me a substantial inheritance when I turned twenty-

    five. I chose not to share this information, partly because I was still deciding how best to use such an unexpected blessing, but mostly because I needed to understand its power without influence from others."" I dug my fingernails into my palmus. Even in presumed death, Camille was judging us,

    "The money gave me

    freedom I never expected to have. Frodom to consider who I really was outside of other people''s expectations and maniptions. Freedom to make choices based on my own values rather than seeking approv My gaze flicked to Stefan, who looked physically ill. Had he known about the money when he signed those divorce papers?

    "I have chosen to direct my inheritance to help girls whock the family support structure I was fortunate enough to have. The Lighthouse Foundation specifically assists young women transitioning from foster c my parents, thank you for the security and opportunities you provided. This decision isn''t a rejection of you, but rather an attempt to extend simr advantages to those without your resources."

    Dad''s jaw tightened. Mom resumed her quiet crying

    ˇ°To Stefan, I''ve returned your grandmother''s ring not out of

    bitterness, but because family legacies should continue with truemitment.""

    "And

    to Rose, my sister by choice if not by blood, I leave my journals with hope rather than malice. In them, you''ll find the unfiltered thoughts of someone who spent years trying to understand you, to love you despite

    me to be

    The blood drained from my face. *Sister by choice if not by blood.* A pointed reminder of my adopted status.

    "I harbor no illusions that my modest fortune could

    have enhanced the lives of my already privileged family, but I believe it can transform the futures of dozens of young women who start with nothing. In this way, perhaps my departure might create meaning bey Martin folded the letter. "It''s signed, ''Withplicated love, Camille.""

    The silence felt charged with my unspoken rage. Thirty million

    dors. Gone. To strangers. To foster girls who would never appreciate it properly.

    "This can''t be legal," I finally said. "She clearly wasn''t in her right mind."

    Martin raised

    an eyebrow. "The will was properly executed with witnesses who attested

    to her mentalpetence. The charitable intent is quite clear and legally sound."

    But we''re her family," I insisted, looking to my parents for support. "Doesn''t that count for anything?"

    "Camille had every legal right to dispose of her property as she wished," Martin replied.

    "We could

    contest it," I suggested, turning to Dad. "Argue undue influence or something."

    Dad finally spoke, his voice tired. "Rose, enough. Camille made her choice. We will respect it."

    But Dad..."

    "I said enough. My daughter is dead. I won''t dishonor her memory by fighting over money none of us need." Mom reached for his hand. "Richard is right. This is what Camille wanted. Perhaps it will help us find

    her loss."

    I stared at them in disbelief. Were they seriously epting is?

    "Stefan?" I turned to him, seeking an ally. "Don''t you have anything to say?"

    He looked up slowly. "What is there to say? Camille made her wishes clear." He gave a bitterugh. "At least I get the

    ring back. Smallfort."

    Martin cleared his throat. The transfer process has already begun. The Lighthouse Foundation has been notified, though the public announcement will wait until the family has had time to process this privately." As we prepared to leave, I noticed Dr. Elena Reyes, director of the Lighthouse Foundation, waiting in

    the reception

    area

    "I won''t intrude on your family''s grief," she said softly, "I only wanted

    to express how Camille''s generosity will change lives. The girls in our program face nearly impossible odds, and this gift will provide opportunities they could never have imagined."

    Mom stepped forward, taking the woman''s hands in hers. "Would you tell me about your program sometime? I''d like to know more about what Camille was supporting"

    In the elevator, I maintained myposure with effort. "I still think we should consider contesting the will. For Camille''s sake. She clearly wasn''t thinking clearly."

    Dad''s expression hardened. "Drop it, Rose. The money and property were never yours to begin with. Camille made her choice, and we will honor it."

    "But-

    "I said drop it. I''ve lost my daughter. I won''t lose my integrity too by fighting over her wishes."

    The elevator doors opened, ending the conversation.

    I declined the offer to ride home with my parents. In my own car, with the privacy screen raised, I finally let my mask slip, mming my fist against the leather seat.

    Thirty million dors and the

    Cedar Hill estate. The amounts kept repeating in my mind like a taunt. Assets Camille had hidden from me. Wealth that should have been mine, Money now flowing to unwashed, uncultured foster brats who wo

    I, who had survived the system through cunning and determination. I, who had wed my way into the Lewis family through careful study and perfect performance. I, who had spent fourteen years proving my

    And now, the final insult, Camille''s money going to help girls from the very background I''d fought so desperately to escape and conceal.

    The journals sat beside me, a mocking reminder of her final message. *In hope rather than malice. As if she''d somehow known I would take

    them. As if she''d anticipated my every move.

    But she couldn''t have. The real Camille had been naive, trusting, easily manipted. This will had likely been written in a moment of misguided altruism, not calcted revenge.

    Unless....

    What if Camille had

    updated her will after discovering I and Stefan''s affair before her death? After beginning to see through

    my maniptions?

    What if the money had originally been intended for me, and she''d changed her mind upon discovering my betraval?

 Chapter 25

    ROSE''S POINT OF VIEW

    I mmed my apartment door so hard the walls shook. The sound echoed through the empty space, matching the thunder in my heart. My hands shook as I poured myself a drink, spilling expensive whiskey or "Damn you, Camille," I whispered, then screamed it: "DAMN YOU!"

    The crystal ss flew from my hand,

    shattering against the wall in a spray of amber liquid and broken dreams. Thirty million dors. The Cedar Hill estate. All of it gone to those worthless foster kids.

    My legs gave out and I slid to the kitchen floor, surrounded by the mess I''d made. Just like my life -

    everything perfect on the surface, chaos underneath. And now Camille, sweet, stupid Camille, had managed to ruin everything even from the grave.

    "You think you''re so clever, don''t you?" I spoke to

    the empty air, imagining her ghost watching me fall apart. Little Miss Perfect with her secret fortune. Did youugh about it? Did you enjoy knowing you had something I didn''t?"

    I grabbed another ss, hurled it across the room. The crash brought a sick satisfaction.

    "All those years I spent making you

    feel small," I continued, stalking through my perfect apartment like a caged animal. "Making you doubt yourself. Making you think you weren''t enough. And all along you were sitting on millions!" My reflection caught my eye -

    designer dress, perfect makeup, not a hair out of ce even in my rage. The mask I''d worn for so long it had be my face. With a cry of pure fury, I grabbed a decorative vase and smashed the

    mirror.

    The ss splintered, creating a dozen fractured versions

    of my face. Each one a different mask I''d worn. The perfect daughter. The loving sister. The secret lover. The hidden survivor of the foster system.

    "You knew, didn''t you?" I used my broken reflection. "That''s why you left the money to them. You figured out what I really was. Where I really came from."

    The thought sent me into a fresh frenzy. I tore through the apartment like a hurricane, destroying everything in my path. Ripped designer clothes from their hangers. Overturned furniture, Shredded the fancy art "I EARNED THIS!" I screamed, throwing a chair through my floor-to-

    ceiling windows. The ss cracked but didn''t break - safety-

    rated, of course. Even my destruction had limits. "I wed my way out of nothing! I made myself perfect! I deserved that money more than any of them!"

    My hands found a framed photo me and Camille at my fashion showunch. Her arm around my waist, both of us sailing. Both of us lying. I studied her face in the picture searching for signs she''d known her de

    "I didn''t

    mean for them to kill you," I whispered to her frozen smile. "Just scare you. Make you run away. Sign those divorce papers. But you had to be stubborn, didn''t you? Had to fight back. And now look what happen The Tome joined the pile of broken ss on my imported marble floors. Thousands of dors in destroyed luxury items scattered around me like fallen soldiers in iny private war.

    I found myself in my home office, yanking open drawers until I found what I wanted the stack of Camille''s journals. The ones I''d stolen and doctored after her "death, nting false entries about her depression a

    "To Rose, my sister by choice if not by blood," I mimicked her words from the will reading. "I leave with hope rather than malice.'' Hope for what, Camille? Hope I''d confess? Hope I''d feel guilty? journals

    1 flipped through the pages I''d so carefully forged, my handwriting a perfect match for hers. So many hours spent practicing her style, just like I''d spent years practicing being the perfect daughter, the perfect sis "You don''t know what it''s like," I told the journals, my voice breaking. "To have nothing. To be nothing. To know that one wrong move means going back to that ce."

    The memory o of the foster home rose up the smell of too many unwashed bodies, the sound of crying in the night, the constant fear of being sent somewhere worse. I''dpromised myself I''d never go back. I''d do "I did what I had to do," I said, but the words sounded hollow even to me. "I earned my ce here. Those other girls, they''re weak. They''ll never appreciate what you gave them. They''ll waste it, just like they wa But even as I said it, I knew it wasn''t true. I''d been one of those girls once. Before I learned to hide my past. Before I convinced the Lewis family to adopt me. Before I made myself into someone who belonged i My rage drained suddenly, leaving me empty. I looked around at my ruined apartment ¨C

    broken ss everywhere, furniture overturned, clothes scattered like fallen leaves. The perfect image destroyed, just like my perfect n. "You win, Camille," I whispered, slumping against the wall ˇ°Even in dea The journals fell from my limp fingers, pages spilling across the floor. My careful forgeries, my attempted maniptions of the truth, all useless now. The money was gone. The estate was gone. Everything I''d thought I deserved, given to the very people I''d spent my life trying to forget.

    But something else nagged at me, a worry I couldn''t shake Camille had been smarter than I''d given her credit for. She''d hidden her inheritance, updated her will, left those pointed messages in the legal docume The thought chilled me. I''d underestimated her before, thought her too naive to suspect my affair with Stefan, too trusting to fight back when I sent those men after her. I''d been wrong then. Could I be wrong no My phone buzzed-

    a text from Stefan: *We need to talk about what happened today.*

    1 ignored it. Stefan was a loose end I''d deal withter. Right now, I needed to think. To n. To figure out if Camille had left any other surprises waiting to explode in my carefully constructed life.

    "This isn''t over," I told the empty apartment, my voice steady again. "You might have won this round, sister dear, but I''m not finished yet. I''vee too far, fought too hard, to let your ghost destroy everything I''v I stood up, brushing ss from my dress. Time to call my cleaning service, erase the evidence of my breakdown. Time to put the mask back on, be perfect Rose again. But first...

    1 gathered the scattered journal pages, struck a match, and watched them burn in my marble sink. No evidence. No loose ends. No wealness.

    "Goodbye, Camille," 1 wispered as the mes consumed my forged confessions. "Thanks for teaching me onest lesson never underestimate the dead."

    As I watched the ashes swirl down the drain, a new thought struck me. If Camille had been clever enough to hide her millions, what else might she have hidden? What other secrets had my perfect, naive sister

    The question haunted me as I began cleaning up the mess I made. Each piece of broken ss felt like a fragment of my carefully constructed world, crumbling beneath the weight of Camille''s final revenge. And somewhere, in the back of my mind, a small voice whispered: What if she isn''t really dead at all?

 Chapter 26

    STEFAN''S POINT OF VIEW

    The bourbon burned down my throat, a wee fire against the cold emptiness spreading through my chest. I signaled the bartender for another. My fourth? Fifth? I''d lost count hours ago.

    "You sure about that, buddy?" he asked, eyeing the empty sses.

    "Just pour the damn drink," I growled,

    The alcohol couldn''t drown the words that had haunted me all day: Martin Greene reading Camille''s will, her final message cutting through me like a de.

    *"To my former husband, Stefan Rodriguez, I return the engagement ring that belonged to his grandmother, with the hope that next time he gives

    it, it will be with honesty and true devotion.

    The ring sat heavy in my pocket, retrieved from the safety deposit box this morning. Grandmother Rosa''s ring Three generations of Rodriguez women had worn it before I''d ced it on Camille''s finger, promisin Thirty million dors and the Cedar Hill estate. All of it to charity. Not a penny to her family. Nothing to Rose. Nothing to me. Everything to help girls who had no one else to turn to

    That was Camille. Always giving. Always thinking of others. Even in death.

    My phone vibrated again. Rose. Her sixth call tonight. I silenced it without answering. Couldn''t talk to her. Not after watching calction rather than grief cross her face at the will reading. All she cared about wa Had I really left Camille for that? For someone who couldn''t even fake proper sadness at her own sister''s generosity?

    The night air hit me like a p as I stumbled out of the bar. I started walking, no destination in mind, until I found myself at Riverside Park, where Camille and I had spent countless Sunday afternoons during our first year together.

    Before Rose came back from London. Before everything changed.

    I sank onto a bench overlooking the water, the same river that had swallowed Camille''s car. Her body never found. Just

    a shoe, monthster. A single, waterlogged reminder of the woman I''d discarded.

    From my pocket, I withdrew the ring box. The diamond caught what little light prated the park''s darkness, winking at me like it knew all my secrets.

    ˇ°I

    "I''m sorry," I whispered to the night, to Camille''s ghost."m so damn sorry."

    My phone buzzed. Rose again.

    "Where are you?" Her voice sharp with irritation..

    "Out"

    "You''re drunk. Come over. We need to talk about what happened today." "No." The

    word felt strange in my mouth. Had I ever denied Rose anything before?

    "She did it to spite us," Rose hissed. "To punish us from beyond the grave."

    Theugh that escaped me sounded more like a sob. "Is that what you think? She was your sister, Rose. She loved

    Chapter 26.

    you. Even after everything, she loved you."

    I ended the call and turned off my phone. The alcohol had reached that treacherous teau where emotions amplify rather than dull.

    A memory surfaced: Camille on our first date, describing her dreams of working with disadvantaged youth." Everyone deserves a chance," she''d said, eyes bright with conviction. "Especially kids who start with I''d nodded along, pretending her passion moved me when really I was just calcting how long until I could reasonably suggest we go back

    to my ce. God, I''d been shallow then. Had I ever truly seen her?

    The realization hit me with physical force. I''d left the one person who truly loved me for someone incapable of loving anyone but herself.

    Dawn found me at the Rodriguez family mausoleum. Inside, I traced the engraved letters of Camille''s memorial que, added despite my father''s objections that she wasn''t "blood."

    "I got your message," I said to the empty air. "With the ring. You''re right. I wasn''t honest. Wasn''t devoted. Never deserved you."

    I sank to the cold floor, grandmother''s ring clutched in my fist. "You gave everything

    to those girls. Never told anyone about your inheritance, just quietly nned how to use it to help others." My voice cracked. "That''s who you always were. And I threw you away for what? For Rose? For exciten Hourster, I found myself outside the Lighthouse Foundation. Camille''s charity. The organization she''d left her fortune to. Young women entered and exited, some with hard eyes and defensive postures, others Inside, I met Dr. Elena Reyes, the director. She showed me the ns for Cedar Hill ¨C

    a sanctuary for foster girls, carefully designed under Camille''s guidance before her death.

    "She wanted to create somewhere these young women could find not just practical help but emotional safety," Dr. Reyes exined. "Many of them have never known what that feels like."

    "I''d like to help," I heard myself say. "Financially. Professionally. However I can."

    "May I ask why?"

    The question stripped me bare. "Because it''s what Camille wanted. Because it matters. Because maybe I can do one thing right, even if it''s toote for her to see it."

    Dr. Reyes studied me carefully. "Camille spoke often about second

    chances. About how everyone

    deserves the opportunity to be their best self. I think that included you, even at the end."

    Outside again, my phone buzzed with messages from Rose and my father. The world I''d built, demanding I return to my ce in it. For the first time in my privileged life, I faced a choice that actually mattered.

    Return to the path I''d been

    walking, the path of least resistance, of shallow pleasures and empty achievements. The path that led to Rose, to bing my father, to living and dying without ever touching what was real. Or step off that smooth, well-

    lit road onto something unknown but meaningful. Something that honored the woman I''d discarded, the love I''d taken for granted.

    I couldn''t undo what I''d done to Camille. Couldn''t rewrite our ending. Couldn''t deserve, even in death, the love she''d offered in life.

    But maybe, just maybe, I could be someone who would have been worthy of her. Someone who gave instead. of took Someone who built instead of destroyed

    As I walked through the city that suddenly seemed full of possibilities I''d never considered, I made a silent promise to the woman I''d lost. The woman who, even in death, had shown me a better way to live.

    I would be someone she could have been proud of. Someone who deserved the ring in my pocket. Someone who understood, finally, what mattered.

    And I would start today.

 Chapter 27

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    "Neurix Technologies," Victoria said, sliding the folder across her desk. "Twenty-

    seven employees. Promising neural interface technology. Currently entertaining acquisition offers."

    "And?" I asked, waiting for the catch. With Victoria, there was always a catch.

    "And you''ll be handling the acquisition." She leaned back, expression unreadable. "Alone."

    My heart stuttered. After eight months of shadowing Victoria at Kane Industries, this was my first real test.

    "Their valuation?"

    "They''re asking ny million. They''re worth sixty-

    five, at most. I want them for fifty."

    "When do negotiations begin?"

    "Two hours. The meeting is set for eleven at our downtown offices."

    My head snapped up. "Today? You''re giving me two hours to prepare?"

    hall, cold smile yed at her mouth. ˇ°In business, opportunities rarely announce themselves weeks in advance. Besides, you''ve had eight months of preparation.

    "Who am I negotiating against?"

    "Marcus Whitfield."

    The name hit me like a physical blow. Whitfield, legendary venture capitalist, notorious for destroying less experienced negotiators.

    In my suite, I changed into a power suit, charcoal gray pinstripe, crisp

    white blouse, three-

    inch heels. The woman in the mirror looked confident, capable, born tomand respect.

    A perfect illusion.

    The executive conference room was

    already set up when I arrived. Through the ss walls, I saw the Neurix team and Whitfield-

    tall, broad-shouldered, emanating authority.

    The introductions

    blurred past. Dr. Morris, Neurix CEO. His team. And Whitfield, whose handshake came with assessing eyes that told me everything. He was surprised to see me, not Victoria. An easier target.

    For thirty minutes, I led a technical discussion about their patents and milestones, highlighting weaknesses. Morris and his team grew increasingly ufortable,

    Then Whitfield struck.

    "Axiom is offering eighty-

    five million," Morris blurted. "With twenty percent contingent on Phase II results." "We''re prepared to offer

    sixty-five million, all cash, no contingencies," I countered.

    Whitfield''s smile was thin. "Sixty-five versus eighty-

    five? No contest. And frankly, I''m surprised Victoria sent you with such an unprepared position."

    The mention of Victoria stung exactly as he''d intended. He was ying me now, not just the Neurix team. The situation spiraled Victoria''s target price seemed impossible. Even seventy million looked unrealistic "Wait," I said desperately. "Kane can offer seventy-

    five million. All cash. No contingencies."

    The words hung in the air. I had no authority to make that offer.

    "Eighty," I added, going all in. "Eighty million, final offer

    But it was toote. Morris signed with Axiom. Right there i Kane Industries'' own conference room.

    "Send Victoria my regards," Whitfield said quietly as he left "And a word of advice-

    next time, she might want to handle important negotiations herself."

    Four hourster, I stood in Victoria''s office, waiting for judgment.

    "Exin," she said.

    "I failed," I said simply. "Whitfield outmaneuvered me at every turn."

    "You offered eighty million for apany I valued at fifty.

    "Yes,"

    "Why?"

    "Because I panicked. Because I wasn''t prepared to walk away with nothing."

    "All true," she agreed. ˇ°And all inexcusable."

    The word cut deeper than any physical pain from mybat training,

    "I set you up to fail," Victoria continued, her tone unchanged. "Deliberately."

    I blinked. "What?"

    "I chose Neurix specifically because I knew Whitfield was representing Axiom''s bid. I gave you impossible parameters. I wanted to see how you would handle absolute failure."

    "This was a test?"

    "Everything is a test, Camille. I thought you understood that by now."

    "Then why?"

    "Because in real battle, you don''t get to choose your conditions. Rose won''t fight fair when the timees. She''ll use every advantage, every dirty trick. I needed to see how you perform when everything is aga The logic was brutally sound, but the humiliation remained burning in my chest.

    And how did 1 perform

    "Poorly," she said without hesitation. "You lostposure You made emotional decisions. You allowed Whitfield to manipte your fear of disappointing me."

    That''s

    "But," Victoria continued, "you didn''t break. You didn''t run. You came back to face the consequences. That''s something."

    She moved to the window. "When I first started building Kane Industries, I lost a major contract negotiation. My first real opportunity, squandered through Inexperience. "What did you do?"

    after the next opportunity with twice the preparation."

    "And did you seed?"

    "No. 1 failed again. But differently. New mistakes. More sophisticated errors. Until eventually, sess became the expectation, not the exception." Her gaze was measuring. "That''s what separates winners from Something shifted inside me. The humiliation was still then, but beside it grew something harder. A cold certainty that I would never allow myself to be outmaneuvered like that again.

    "What happens now?" I asked.

    "Now you document every mistake. Study them. Learn

    from them. And prepare for your next test."

    "Which is?"

    "Not yet determined. But rest assured, it wille when you least expect it. When you''re most vulnerable. Just like today."

    Just like life. Just like revenge.

    As I walked toward Dr. Reed''s officeter, something crystallized inside me. Victoria had engineered today''s failure as a forging fire, heating the metal of my character to shape it into something stronger, sharpe Rose had spent years undermining me, ensuring I remained weak and pliable. Today''s humiliation was just one more step in bing someone she would never recognize Someone she could never again ma handed. Next time, I would be the predator, not the prey. And there would

    be no mercy.

    The ss shattered against my bedroom wall, water sshing across expensive wallpaper. The sound wasn''t enough to match the storm inside me. I grabbed a crystal paperweight from my desk and hurled it a "Ms. Kane?" A knock at my door. Security staff, doing their rounds. "Is everything alright?"

    "Fine," I called back, voice steady despite the chaos surrounding me, "Just dropped something''

    "Do you need assistance?"

    "No. Leave me alone."

    I sank onto my bed, staring at the fractured mirror image. Not quite Camille Lewis anymore. Not fully Camille Kane yet. Caught between identities, between failure and redemption. The drive home from Victoria'' Victoria would still be at dinner with Barrett, smoothly negotiating the deal I''d destroyed. Showing him what real business acumen looked like while I hid in my room throwing things like a child.

    My phone buzzed Victoria: "Deal closed. Terms favorable. Full debrief tomorrow, 7AM."

    No mention of my failure. No reassurance. Just business, moving forward despite my misstep. The world continued turning, deals continued closing, money continued flowing. With or without my sessful

    I moved to my

    bathroom, studying myself in the unbroken mirror there. Eight months of training had transformed me physically. My

    body was lean

    and strong from Jason''sbat lessons. My face refined by Dr. Torres''s work. My appearance crafted to project power and authority.

    But none of it mattered if the woman beneath these changes remained weak. If I still retreated when challenged, still doubted myself when pushed, still buckded under pressure.

    A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Ms. Kane?" Mrs. Chen, the housekeeper. "I''ve brought your evening tea."

    1 hesitated, not wanting anyone to see the evidence of my outburst. But hiding the mess would be hiding from my failure.

    "Come in."

    Mrs. Chen entered, her eyes taking in the destruction before returning to professional neutrality. Eight months in Victoria Kane''s household had taught her discretion.

    "Your chamomile tea," she said, setting the tray down as if nothing were amiss. "With honey, as you prefer." "Thank you." I made no excuses for the mess. Just epted the service as my due. As Victoria would

    "If I may, Ms. Kane..." she paused at the door. "Even Ms. Victoria sometimes breaks things. The difference is, she makes sure to aim better next time."

    Thement jarred me from self-

    pity. Victoria Kane, breaking things? The woman who embodied control and precision? It seemed impossible.

    I moved to my desk and opened myptop. Time to shift from emotional reaction to analytical response. Victoria would expect myplete breakdown of the failed negotiation tomorrow morning. For hours I typed, capturing every moment of

    the meeting with Barrett. Where had I misread the situation? What signals had I missed? How had he seen through my careful facade to the insecurity beneath?

    By dawn, I''d finished two documents. The first: a clinical analysis of every business mistake. The second: a deeper examination of my emotional vulnerabilities during the negotiation. More honest. More revealin

    The broken ss remained untouched as I dressed for my meeting with Victoria. My reflection in the bathroom mirror showed dark circles under my eyes, carefully concealed. No physical evidence of weakness Victoria stood at her office window when I arrived, silhouetted against the morning light. She didn''t turn as I

    entered.

    "I reviewed your analysis," she said. "The second document was more

    interesting. More honest than I expected." "Lying to myself about yesterday''s failure would only guarantee its repetition."

    "Your assessment of your emotional state was particrly revealing. The way Barrett triggered your old Insecurities with a few carefully chosen words and expressions."

    "He read me too easily.

    "Because you still wear those insecurities like a second ski" Victoria''s voice was unsparing. "Eight months of training have changed your external presentation but not your internalndscape."

    "How do I change that?"

    Victoria studied me "You hamin bu

    points that shaped your perception. Your sister undermined you. Your husband betrayed you. Your parents. overlooked you. These experiences shaped how you see yourself, how you expect others to see you.'' "And I need to forget those experiences?"

    "No. You need to recognize they''re historical, not predictive." She leaned forward. "Barrett expected you to retreat because that''s what your history conditioned you to do. Your sister expects the same. The power lies in doing the unexpected."

    Victoria moved to a cab and withdrew a photograph, setting it between us.

    "My first major business failure," she said. "Thirty years ago. I lost a hundred- million-

    dor acquisition to apetitor because I miscalcted their financing capacity"

    The photo showed a younger Victoria beside William Hargrove, both smiling with champagne sses raised. "This was taken the day after that failure, when I secured a two- hundred-million-dor deal that made the previous loss irrelevant."

    "What happened between the loss and this victory?"

    "I spent one hour destroying my office. Broke every piece of ss. Threw a paperweight through my window." Her lips curved slightly. "Then I spent twenty-

    three hours creating a strategy that would make everyone forget my failure."

    The revtion stunned me, Victoria Kane, controlled, calcting, seemingly untouchable, had once demolished her own office in rage. Had channeled that fury into strategic brilliance.

    "That''s what I mean by aiming better," she continued. "Emotional

    reactions have their ce. But they must serve a purpose, not merely release tension."

    I straightened in my chair. "I want to set up a simtion room. Bring in professional actors to recreate high-

    pressure scenarios. People trained to use the same tactics Barrett employed."

    Victoria''s expression sharpened. "borate."

    "We use simted negotiations, but they''re too controlled. I need to be blindsided, forced to respond to unexpected psychological triggers. If I can maintain control when deliberately provoked, I can handle any "Your timing is premature. You''re not ready."

    "I wasn''t ready for Barrett either," I countered. "Yet you put me in that room, knowing failure was possible." Victoria fell silent,

    her expression unreadable. Finally, she reached for her tablet.

    "Three months," she said. "You''ll meet with Rose in exactly three months, after you''ve closed the Microlinkpetitor acquisition. The meeting will be strictly controlled. You''ll present as a minor associate from Kane Ventures."

    Relief and anxiety washed through me. She was agreeing with conditions, but agreeing.

    "By the time you sit across from your sister," Victoria contiqued, "you will be unrecognizable not just physically but fundamentally. The woman she knew will bepletely erased, reced by someone she can "What about Barrett? He''s already dismissed me as ipetent.ˇ±

    "You don''t handle it. You use it. His underestimation creates strategic advantage. When su naasispetit m

    She checked her watch. "Now you have fifteen minutes to prepare for your first modified training session with Jason. He''s incorporating psychological triggers into yourbat scenarios, as you suggested."

    I stood, recognizing the dismissal. "Thank you for seeing potential beyond my failure."

    Victoria looked up. "Failure is data, Camille. Nothing more Nothing less. How you use that data determines your future."

    As I moved toward the door, she added, "And have Maintenance repair your mirror. Broken reflections serve no purpose except to distort your self-

    perception. You need clear vision for the path ahead."

    The elevator descended to the training facility where Jason waited. Three months to prepare for two critical tests, the business acquisition that would redeem my professional reputation, and the meeting with Ro

    Three months toplete my transformation from victim to victor. From prey to predator. From broken to unbreakable.

    "Heard you had a rough day yesterday," Jason said as I entered.

    "Yesterday is data," I replied, stepping onto the mat. "Today is application."

    His eyebrow raised, but he nodded with approval. "Good. Because today''s going to hurt in ways you haven''t experienced yet."

    I smiled, a small, fierce expression that felt unfamiliar. "I''m counting on it."

 Chapter 28

    ROSE''S POINT OF VIEW

    "You''ve been distanttely," I said, stirring my coffee with

    practiced precision. Three clockwise turns, no more, no less. Morning sunlight streamed through the windows of Stefan''s penthouse, our penthouse now, though I maintained my own apartment for appearance'' Eight months since Camille''s "death." Eight months of nurturing

    Stefan through grief, providing just enoughfort to keep

    him dependent without allowing him to fully heal. A delicate bnce, but one I''d mastered through years of subtle maniption.

    Stefan looked

    from his newspaper, dark circles beneath his eyes betraying another sleepless night. "Have I? Sorry. Work''s been demanding."

    Alle. His familypany practically ran itself, generations of wealth ensuring he needed to do little more thah show up for board meetings and sign asional papers, No, what kept him awake wasn''t work but

    "I worry about you," I reached across the table, taking his hand in mine. "You''re still punishing yourself over things you can''t change."

    He flinched slightly at the gentle usation, eyes darting away from mine. "It''s not that simple, Rose."

    "Isn''t it? Camille is gone." I softened my voice, the perfect blend ofpassion and practicality. "She wouldn''t want you torturing yourself like this."

    Stefan pulled his hand back, jaw tightening. "You don''t know what she would want."

    Actually, I did. My pathetic sister had wanted precisely what

    I''d taken from her, Stefan, our parents'' approval, social standing, sess. But pointing that out wouldn''t serve my current purpose.

    "You''re right," I conceded, allowing a hint of hurt to enter my voice. "I just hate seeing you suffer."

    He sighed, immediately guilty for snapping at me. Predictable. Stefan''s need to be the good guy, the gentleman, made him so easy to steer. Show the slightest wound, and he''d bend over backward to heal it. "I''m sorry," he said, taking my hand again. ˇ°I know you''re trying to help. It''s just... hard sometimes."

    "Of course it is." I gave him the smile I reserved for moments like this, understanding, patient, supportive. The that said I would wait forever for him to heal, to be whole again. The smile that was the biggest lie o "I have an idea," I said, brightening as if the thought had just urred to me. In reality, I''d nned this conversation for weeks, waiting for the perfect morning to execute it. "Let''s get away this weekend. The Ha Stefan hesitated, and I could read his thoughts as clearly as if they were projected on his forehead. A weekend away meant Intimacy. Commitment. Moving forward. Steps he''d been reluctant to take despite our public rtionship.

    "I have that charity thing Saturday," he offered weakly.

    "Reschedule." I kept my tone light, but with a firmness that suggested disanneinemani se li

    children witis

    The jabnded perfectly. His face flushed with shame at the implied selfishness of choosing a charity event over quality time with me.

    "You''re right," he agreed, already reaching for his phone. Il have my assistant rearrange things."

    Victory. Small but significant. One more crack in the wall of guilt that had kept him emotionally distant these past months.

    "Perfect. I''ll pack for both of us." I stood, dropping a kiss on his forehead. "I have meetings all day, but I''ll be back tonight to help you finish those board reports."

    Another calcted move. Stefan hated the quarterly reports his father insisted heplete personally. By offering help, I reminded him of my value beyond the emotional. I was partner, assistant, lover, friend, e

    The

    afternoon brought a message from him: Ring is ready Don''t peek if you go by the jeweler''s

    The winking emoji, so unlike his usual formal texting style, confirmed my sess. He was feeling yful, romantic even. The emotional distance dissolving precisely on schedule.

    I replied with calcted enthusiasm: *No spoilers please! So excited for our weekend away

    Just enough girlish anticipation to tter him, not enough to seem desperate. The perfect bnce I''d maintained throughout our rtionship:

    The Hamptons house belonged to Stefan''s family, a sprawling beachfront property where we''d spent time together years ago, before I''d orchestrated his marriage to Camille. The ce held memories for us, ma

    I''d arranged everything, private chef for Friday night, horseback riding Saturday morning (Stefan''s favorite activity, one Camille had always been too afraid to join), sunset cruise

    that evening. Sunday would bring a carefully curated brunch followed by a walk on the beach where, if all went ording to n, Stefan would finally propose.

    The house looked perfect when we arrived, fresh flowers in every room, champagne chilling, gourmet snacks arranged artfully in the kitchen. Stefan whistled appreciatively as we entered the great room with its "They''ve outdone themselves," he remarked, setting down our bags. "Almost like they were expecting a special asion."

    I kept my expression neutrally pleased. "Your family always maintains impable standards. One of the things t love about the Rodriguez way."

    The afternoon passed infortable luxury, champagne on the deck, a walk along the private beach, preparations for the dinner I''d arranged. Stefan grew increasingly nervous as evening approached, checkin Dinner was served on the deck, ocean waves providing perfect background music, sunset painting the sky in colors that seemed arranged specifically for this moment. The chef had prepared all Stefan''s favorite "Shall we walk along the shore?" Stefan suggested afterward, voice slightly higher than normal. "Beautiful night for it."

    We strolled hand-in-hand down the wooden steps to the beach, shoes

    left behind, wavespping gently at our feet. The full moon created a silver path across the wate

    Stefan stopped at precisely the spot I''d anticipated, turning to face me. "Rose..."

    "Yes?" I kept my expression open, expectant.

    "These past months..." He paused, gathering himself. "These past months have been impossible in so many ways. Losing Camille. The guilt. The pain. I couldn''t have survived without you."

    I remained silent, allowing him his prepared speech. The moonlight cast half his face in shadow, making him look older, more serious than the boy I''d first targeted years ago.

    "I know it''splicated," he continued. "I know people will talk. But life is too short to deny what''s real. What''s always been real between us."

    He reached into his pocket, withdrawing the small

    velvet box. My heart quickened despite knowing exactly what wasing. Victory, atst.

    "I should have done this years ago," Stefan said, voice steadying as he dropped to one knee. "Before London. Before everything got soplicated. I should have followed my heart from the beginning." The box opened to reveal Grandmother Rosa''s ring, diamond catching moonlight in brilliant shes. Stefan had indeed

    had it sized, the band altered to fit my finger rather than Camille''s.

    "Rose Lewis," he said, looking up at me with an earnestness that almost, almost touched something in my carefully guarded heart. "Will you marry me?"

    The moment stretched between us, ocean waves punctuating the silence. I could practically hear the tumblers falling into ce, the locked door of my ambition finally opening to reveal the prize beyond.

    I allowed tears to fill my eyes, not difficult to manufacture given the magnitude of my achievement. Let my hands tremble slightly as they reached for his face.

    "Yes," I whispered. "Stefan, yes. Always yes."

    His smile zed with relief and joy as he slid the ring onto my finger. The weight of it, the tangible symbol of my victory, sent a rush of satisfaction through me.

    Later that night, as Stefan slept peacefully beside me, my phone lit up with a message from Jenny: "Confirmation

    from

    Kane Industries the meeting is for next Tuesday. Their representative, Her daughter Camille Kane, will not be in attendance so they sent another person instead, arrive at 2 PM sharp.

    I frowned slightly. Victoria Kane''s recently revealed adopted daughter. The mysterious heiress who had appeared out of nowherest year, featured in business publications but rarely photographed clearly. An u No matter. By Tuesday, I would be officially engaged to Stefan Rodriguez, wearing his grandmother''s ring, nning our life together. Whatever this Kane wanted to discuss about investing in my business would I returned to bed, curling against Stefan''s sleeping form, the ring catching moonlight as I settled possessively on his chest. Everything had gone ording to n. Everything had fallen into ce. my hand

    Why, then, did I dream that night of drowning? Of water filling my lungs as I sank into darkness? Of a familiar face watching from above, not with Camille''s usual forgiveness, but with something new, something Something that looked remarkably like vengeance.

 Chapter 29

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    The engagement party filled the screen before me, bright lights and beautiful people swirling in celebration. I sat motionless in Victoria''s guest suite, hands folded in myp breathing measured despite the storm Joy for them. Torture for me.

    The Rodriguez family estate had been transformed into a fairytale setting, white roses everywhere, crystal chandeliers hanging from pavilions, string quartet ying softly. Two hundred guests in designer forma And at the center of it all, Rose and Stefan. My sister and my ex-husband.

    "The engagement of the year," the entertainment reporter gushed. "Stefan Rodriguez, heir to the Rodriguez shipping fortune, and renowned fashion designer Rose Lewis have finally made their rtionship offic respectful period following the tragic death of Stefan''s first wife-

    Rose''s sister Camille."

    A "respectful period." Nine months. That''s all it took for my existence to be a footnote in their love story.

    The camera cut to my mother, diamonds glittering at her throat. "Of course we''re thrilled," she said, voice slightly too bright. "Rose and Stefan have always had a special connection. While we continue to mourn

    Would I? Would I want them to find

    happiness together? To build their life on the foundation of my destruction?

    A tear slid down my cheek before I could stop it. I wiped it away quickly, angry at this weakness. Eleven months of transformation. Eleven months of bing someone new. Someone stronger.

    The door opened silently. Victoria moved to stand beside my chair, her attention fixing on the television where Rose was now tossing her bouquet.

    "You requested the broadcast," Victoria said, her voice neutral.

    "I needed to see it," I replied, steadier than expected. "To understand what I''m fighting for."

    Victoria studied me, missing nothing, not the dried tears, not the tension in my shoulders. "And what did you discover?"

    "That I''ve been

    fighting the wrong battle," I said softly. "I''ve been preparing to take back what they stole from me. My husband. My family. My life."

    I turned to face her fully, something shifting inside me like tectonic tes rearranging. "But that life was never worth fighting for. Stefan never loved me, not really. My parents never saw me, not clearly. Rose ne considered me her sister, only an obstacle."

    I moved to the window overlooking Manhattan''s glittering expanse. A view fitting for who I was bing. Not Camille Lewis, forgotten daughter and discarded wife. But Camille Kane, heir to an empire, architec "Justice," I said, the word tasting new on my tongue. Not on

    cold, measured, inexorable. "I''m fighting to show them exactly who they are. To make them face the truth they''ve spent a lifetime avoiding."

    "And what truth is that?"

    "That Rose isn''t the golden child they think she is. That Stefan isn''t the honorable man he pretends to be. That parents chose wrongly when they favored her over me." My words emerged with quiet certainty. ˇ°T Victoria moved to the desk, opening folders, dossiers on Rose''s fashion business, Stefan''s role in his familypany, my parents'' social connections. Eleven months of intelligence gathering, creating a map of "The acquisition of TechVault goes public tomorrow," Victoria said. "Your redemption in the business

    world. Then we begin the systematic dismantling of their world. Not with a frontal assault, but with precision strikes they won''t recognize as attacks until it''s toote."

    She outlined the n. Acquiring Rose''s main fabric supplier through shellpanies, Creating subtle quality, issues. Financial pressure through carefully manipted loan terms. Contract interference with Rod Not revenge in the conventional sense. Not public humiliation or dramatic confrontation. But something far more devastating, the slow, inexorable erosion of everything they''d built. mando

    "When do we begin?" I asked, a strange calm settling over me.

    "The TechVault announcement goes live at 9 AM tomorrow Your interview with Fortune runs the following day. By week''s end, the business world will be discussing Camille Kane, not Rose Lewis and Stefan Ro Victoria poured two sses of scotch. "And next week, we close on Bertoli Textiles. The first domino falls."

    On screen, Rose threw her bouquet,ughing as eager women reached for it. She aimed directly at the camera, her expression triumphant.

    "Are you ready to begin?" Victoria asked quietly.

    I turned from the screen, something dangerous awakening in my eyes. "Burn it all down."

    Victoria touched her ss to mine. "Not burn," she corrected. "Burning is chaotic, emotional, easily traced. What we''re about to do is surgical. Precise. Untraceable."

    "Dismantle it all," I amended.

    "Piece by piece," she agreed. "Until nothing remains but the truth."

    Later, I stood before my mirror, studying the woman I''d be. The physical changes from Dr. Torres''s work, sharper cheekbones, refined features. But the most profound changes were in my eyes, steady, foo Rose wouldn''t recognize me if we passed on the street. Stefan would see a stranger in an elevator. My own parents would look right through me.

    Which made the justice toe perfect. I would move among them unrecognized. Would dismantle their world piece by piece without them suspecting the architect of the downfall.

    On my desky a small velvet box that hadn''t been there earlier. Inside, tinum phoenix earrings with diamond eyes, matching Victoria''s earlier gift.

    The card read simply. "For tomorrow''s rebirth. - V

    I touched the earrings gently, understanding the symbolism Tomorrow marked not just a business sess but my emergence from the ashes. My introduction to the world that had forgotten Camille Lewis, the w Let them celebrate tonight, I thought. Let them bask in the triumph, their perfect love story, their bright future together.

    Tomorrow belonged to me. And all the tomorrows after that

    What awaited them was far worse than fire, it was the precise, methodical deconstruction of everything they believed secure. The surgical removal of every support structure. The clean, untraceable dismantling Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not all at once in a satisfying explosion of vengeance.

    But inevitably. Inexorably. Piece by carefully extracted piece.

    Until nothing remained but truth.

 Chapter 30

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    "Five minutes until your entrance, Ms. Kane."

    I nodded to James, Victoria''s head of security who now shadowed me at all public events. My heartbeat quickened, but my face revealed nothing. One year of training had perfected my mask, the serene, confic

    From my position in the private antechamber above the grand ballroom, I could observe without being seen. The Kane Industries Annual Charity Ball spread below me in a glittering panorama of wealth, influenc All of them waiting for their first real glimpse of

    Victoria Kane''s mysterious adopted daughter. The woman who had appeared seemingly from nowhere, who had closed the TechVault acquisition that business publications called "the deal of the year," who had The woman I had be.

    "Are

    you ready?ˇ± Victoria appeared beside me, elegant in midnight blue, silver hair swept into a sophisticated updo. Nothing

    in her demeanor betrayed the significance of tonight, my official introduction to the social world that had once broken and discarded Camille Lewis.

    "Bom ready," I replied, smoothing the skirt of my gown, a custom creation in deep emerald that hugged my transformed body

    before flowing to the floor in liquid silk. The color had been Victoria''s suggestion. "Green for rebirth," she''d said. "For growth emerging from destruction."

    Victoria studied me with critical eyes, looking for ws in my presentation. Finding none, she nodded once. Remember, this isn''t merely a social event. It''s reconnaissance. Intelligence gathering. Every conversa "Identify allies, locate weaknesses, establish presence," I recited our agreed strategy. "I know my role."

    "Good." Victoria checked her diamond watch. "Three minutes. The announcement wille after my wee. speech."

    My fingers brushed the phoenix pendant at my throat, my talisman, my reminder of transformation through fire. Matching earrings caught the light as I turned to check my reflection

    one final time in the antechamber''s gilded

    mirror.

    The woman looking back bore no resemnce to the one who had signed divorce papers on her anniversary a year ago. Dr. Torres''s skilled alterations had given me sharper cheekbones, a more defined jawlin

    once-

    long brown hair now fell in a sophisticated bob, darker and more dramatic. Designer clothes draped a body transformed by Jason''s relentlessbat training, leaner, stronger, carrying itself with unconscious au But the most profound changes were in my eyes. No longer soft with seeking

    approval. No longer wounded by betrayal. Cool, assessing, confident in ways Camille Lewis had never been.

    Rose wouldn''t recognize me if we stood face to face. Stefan would see a stranger if we shared an elevator. My own parents would look right through me, not connecting this polished executive with their forgotte Perfect

    "Ladies and gentlemen," Victoria''s voice carried through the sound system as she took the stage below "Walco

    to the annual Kane Industries Charity Ball,"

    I moved to the top of the grand staircase, positioning myself just out of sight of the crowd below. From here, I could see everything, the raised stage where Victoria addressed the assembled guests, the dance fl delicacies, the bar areas where the real business of the evening would ur in quiet conversations lubricated by expensive alcohol.

    "As you know," Victoria continued, "tonight''s event benefits the Kane Foundation for Educational Excellence, which has provided over two billion dors in schrships and program funding since its inception." Polite apuse rippled through the crowd. These people hadn''te for charity, they''de for connections, for status, for the exclusive privilege of attending the most sought-

    after social event of the season. The millions raised were merely a convenient byproduct of theirworking.

    "Before we continue with the evening''s program, I''d like to make an introduction many of you have been anticipating." Victoria''s voice changed subtly, warming with what sounded to the uninitiated like maternal weed a daughter into my I life."

    A murmur ran through the crowd, spection finally about to be confirmed.

    "Though we''ve kept her identity private until now to allow her time to limate to her new role, many of you have already read about her business achievements." Victoria turned toward the staircase where I waited. "It gives me great pleasure to introduce my daughter and heir, Camille Kane."

    My cue. I stepped forward, emerging into view at the top of the staircase. Three hundred faces turned upward, scrutinizing every detail of my appearance, hungry for first impressions they could dissectter in p

    conversations.

    I paused for precisely three seconds, long enough to be noticed, not long enough to seem hesitant, before descending the stairs with practiced grace. The emerald gown whispered against marble steps, the slit designed to draw the eye without seeming ostentatious.

    Every eye tracked my progress. Every conversation halted. Even the serving staff paused in their duties, caught in the gravitational pull of a moment they sensed was significant.

    Victoria extended her hand as I reached the bottom step, a gesture both weing and possessive. I took it, allowing her to draw me forward into the spotlight.

    "Thank you, Mother," I said, the word still strange on my tongue despite months of practice. "I''m honored to join you tonight."

    Simple words, delivered with quiet confidence. Not overeager. Not nervous. The perfect blend of gratitude and self- assurance expected from someone worthy of the Kane name.

    Apuse broke out, polite at first, then warmer as Victoria smiled her approval. Not of me, but of their response to me. The room read her bodynguage, her facial cues, and adjusted their own reactions or "Please, enjoy the evening," Victoria concluded, dismissing the crowd with a regal nod. "Remember, every dor spent tonight benefits children who deserve educational opportunities regardless of economic ba "Senator Williams, how lovely to see you again," Victoria said to a silver-

    haired man with an ambitious wife half

    his age. "Have you met my daughter?"

    "Only by reputation," he replied, eyes assessing me with interest

    that wasn''t entirely professional. "Your TechVault acquisition was impressively executed. Especially for someone so new to the field."

    The slight condescension in his tone might have once made me shrink, apologize, exin. Now I simply smiled, meeting his gaze directly.

    "New perspectives often see opportunities others miss," I replied, the practiced line delivered as if it had just urred to me. "Though I certainly benefited from excellent guidance."

    The senator''s wife, Mnie? Melissa?

    touched my arm with false familiarity. "That gown is divine. Is it Valentino?

    "Custom Zac Posen," 1 corrected gently, noting how her fingers lingered on the fabric, assessing its

    cost, its exclusivity. "Your Dior is stunning as well. Spring collection?

    Her surprise at my urate identification flickered briefly before she recovered. "Yes! You have a good eye."

    "Camille has many talents," Victoria interjected smoothly, before guiding me away. "We must continue our rounds, but please enjoy the evening."

    As we moved through the crowd, she murmured, "Williams is facing an ethics investigation. His wife spends beyond their means to maintain appearances. Potentially useful information."

    I nodded, filing this away with all the other details Victoria shared about our guests. Every introduction came with subtext, every conversation containingyers beneath its surface pleasantries.

    For the next hour, I performed exactly as trained, charming but not effusive, intelligent but not intimidating, attentive but not overeager. The perfect heir to Victoria''s empire, raised in European privacy, now emer

    By the time Victoria released me to circte independently, I had identified three potential business allies, recognized two social climbers to avoid, and cataloged countless rtionships and rivalries that might "Don''t stay with any one group too long," Victoria advised before departing to speak with the mayor. "Circte. Observe. Remember why we''re here."

    As if I could forget. Every moment of this

    evening served ourrger purpose, establishing Camille Kane as a force in her own right, gathering intelligence on the social world Rose aspired to dominate,ying groundwork for the next phase of our n.

    I epted a ss of champagne from a passing waiter, sipping it slowly as I moved through the crowd. Women studied my gown, my jewelry, my hair, assessing my status in

    their private hierarchies. Men tracked my movements with varying degrees of subtlety, some professionally curious, others with more personal interest. None of them saw me. Not really. They saw what I wanted The irony almost made me smile.

 Chapter 31

    Camille''s point of view

    "Ms. Kane." A deep voice interrupted my thoughts. "Andrew Hargrove, Meridian Investments. I''ve been hoping to speak with you about your approach to the TechVault integration."

    I turned to find a middle-

    aged executive with expensive dental work and even more expensive cufflinks. One of many who had dismissed me during my first attempt at the MicroLink negotiation, now eager to discuss strategy with Victo "Mr. Hargrove," I replied, extending my hand. "I believe we met briefly at the Barrett negotiationsst year."

    His expression flickered with confusion, then embarrassment as he failed to recall our

    previous encounter. "Did we? I apologize for not remembering."

    "No apology necessary," I assured him, satisfaction warming my chest. "I was observing rather than participating at that point in my training."

    Training. As if I''d been Victoria''s prot¨¦g¨¦e all along, not a broken woman she''d rescued and transformed for mutual benefit.

    "Of course." Hargrove recovered quickly, ego soothed by my gracious handling of hispse. "I''d love to hear your thoughts on technology acquisition strategy

    when you have a moment. My firm is considering several targets in the same sector."

    "I''d be happy to share some general perspectives," I replied, maintaining the careful bnce between

    professional courtesy and strategic advantage. "Perhaps at the Kane Industries conference next month? I believe Meridian will be represented."

    The conversation continued in this vein, him fishing for insights, me providing just enough to seem helpful while revealing nothing of value. A dance I''d rehearsed countless times with Victoria, now executed w When Hargrove eventually excused himself, I resumed my circuit of the room, pausing asionally to exchange pleasantries with guests Victoria had identified as potentially valuable connections. Always movi top table. "You have her watchfulness."

    I recognized her from my preparation materials, Margaret Whitmore, society doyenne and longtime acquaintance of Victoria''s. Not quite a friend, Victoria didn''t have friends, but a respected equal in New York''s "High praise, Mrs. Whitmore," I replied. "Though I''ve much to learn still."

    ˇ°Hmm.ˇ± She studied me over her martini ss, "You move differently than most new money. More... contained. Like someone used to taking up less space who''s now allowing herself room to expand." The observation was ufortably perceptive. I maintained my pleasant expression, neither confirming nor denying her assessment,

    "Victoria never does anything without multiple reasons," she continued. "I''ve known her thirty five years, since before

    she was Victoria Kane. Back when she was just Victoria Reynolds from nowhere Pennsylvania, determined to conquer New York through sheer force of will."

    This was new information. Victoria rarely discussed her background before her marriage to William Kane.

    "She identified you for a purpose," Mrs. Whitmore said, eyes sharp despite her age.

    "I wonder what it might be." Before I could formte a response that would neither reveal nor deny too much, amotion near the entrance drew attention. Even the orchestra seemed to falter momentarily as the crowd.

    "Ah," Mrs. Whitmore smiled slightly. "Alexander has decided to grace us with his presence after all."

    I followed her gaze to the man now being greeted with particr deference by the event staff. Tall, dark-

    haired, impably dressed in a tuxedo that somehow looked more deliberate than those around him. His face

    wasn''t conventionally handsome, too intense, features too strong, butpelling in its intelligence and focus. Despite his youth, he couldn''t be more than twenty-

    eight or twenty-

    nine, he carried himself with the unmistakable authority of enormous power.

    "Alexander Pierce," Mrs. Whitmore exined, noting my attention. "Surely Victoria has mentioned him." The name sent a jolt through me. Alexander Pierce, the young trillionaire whose technological innovations "She''s mentioned him," I said carefully, watching as he moved through the crowd with a peculiar economy of motion. Unlike the other guests who performed for each other,ughing too loudly, constantly seeking uring too broadly,

    "They avoid each other generally," Mrs. Whitmore continued, clearly enjoying being the source of information I hadn''t anticipated. "Fiercepetitors, those two. Though I always wondered if there wasn''t more I kept my expression neutral despite my racing thoughts. Victoria had never suggested Pierce might attend tonight. Had never included him in our preparation discussions. An oversight unlike her usual thorough "Of course, dear. Doe find me againter. I have the most interesting gossip about that fashion designer everyone''s talking about, Rose something-

    or-

    other. Just became engaged her dead sister''s husband Stefan the Rodriguez shipping heir."

    My pulse jumped at the mention of Rose and Stefan, but I merely smiled politely before moving away. Now wasn''t the time to pursue that particr thread, not with Alexander Pierce''s unexpected presence dem

    assessment.

    I circted carefully through the ballroom, maintaining distance from Pierce while keeping him in my peripheral vision. He spoke little, listened intently, moved with purpose rather than social obligation. Several Victoria had also noticed his arrival. I caught her watching him with an expression I couldn''t quite interpret, not quite hostility, not quite concern. Something moreplex. When our eyes met across the room, s despite it.

    An hourter, as I conversed with the CFO of a major technology corporation about blockchain applications, Victoria appeared at my side.

    "Thomas, I need to borrow my daughter," she said smoothly. "Read

    +25 BON

    The CFO retreated with appropriate deference, and Victoria guided me toward a quieter corner of the ballroom.

    "Pierce," she said without preamble, "I didn''t anticipate his attendance. He rarelyes to social events, especially ones hosted bypetitors."

    "Should I be concerned?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

    Victoria''s eyes tracked Pierce across the room. "Uncertain. He''s brilliant but unpredictable. Hispanies have been aggressively moving into spaces adjacent to Kane Industries for the past three years."

    "You never told me much about him," I observed.

    "There''s not much to tell beyond what appears in business publications," Victoria replied. "He emerged from nowhere seven years ago with a revolutionary Al algorithm built an empire with remarkable speed, ar worth more than my worth."

    1 processed this information quickly. "How much does he know about me? About my background?"

    "Nothing," Victoria said firmly. "He''s been primarily in Asia for the past year, expanding his tech empire there. Has had

    minimal contact with my circles."

    Yet something in her tone suggested she wasn''t entirely confident of this assessment.

    "Should I avoid him?" I asked.

    1

    Victoria considered for a moment, then shook her head. "N. That would appear unusual, given your position. If he approaches, be cordial but brief. You''ve been well- trained for unexpected situations."

    With that advice, she departed to manage a minor crisis involving a drunk board member and an overly inquisitive journalist.

    I resumed my social circuit, hyperaware

    now of Pierce''s location in the room. For another hour, we conducted a strange dance of proximity without interaction, upying the same general spaces but never quite converging, likes in separate bu Until suddenly, inevitably, the orbits aligned.

    "Ms. Kane," a smooth voice said behind me as I refreshed my champagne at the bar. "I believe we''re the only two people in this room who haven''t been formally introduced)

    I turned to find Alexander Pierce standing closer than I''d expected, his height requiring me to tilt my head slightly to meet his

    gaze. This close, I could see his eyes were an unusual gray, not the t color of storm clouds but something moreplex, with hints of blue or green depending on the light. Eyes that studied me with unsettling intensity.

    "Mr. Pierce." I extended my hand, the gesture both defensive and weing, "I was beginning to think you were avoiding me."

    A small smile touched his mouth, not quite reaching those watchful eyes. "I was observing. A habit Victoria likely

    taught you as well."

    He took my offered hand, but instead of shaking it as expected, he brought it to his lips in an old-

    fashioned resture that somehow didn''t seem affecteding from hi

    As his mouth brushed my knuckles, le locked eyes with mine and murmured words that turned my blood to ice: Wee back to thend of the living, Ms. Kane, Or should use your previous name?"

 Chapter 32

    INT OF VIEW

    CAMILLE''S POINT OF VIEW

    His words hung in the air between us, dangerous and sharp. "Wee back to thend of the living, Ms. Kane. O should I use your previous name?"

    I kept my face still, fighting the storm that raged inside my chest. Years of practice hiding emotions from Rose. Months of Victoria''s merciless training. Everything in me focused on not revealing the bolt of fear th

    "I''m afraid you''ve mistaken me for someone else," I said, withdrawing my hand from his grasp. My voice stayed perfectly steady, cool and distant. "I don''t have a previous name."

    Alexander Pierce studied me with those unnerving gray eyes, a slight smile ying at the corners of his mouth. Too knowing. Too certain.

    "Is that so?" He tilted his head slightly, examining me as one might examine an interesting puzzle. "My mistake, then "

    But his tone made it clear he believed no such thing. He wasn''t backing down, merely shifting tactics.

    "First public appearance?" he asked, smoothly changing subjects while maintaining ufortable

    eye contact. Victoria has kept you well hidden until now."

    "Mother believed I needed time to adjust before facing the social spotlight," I replied, using the nd exnation we''d crafted for curious questions. "European privacy has its advantages."

    "European privacy," he repeated, the phrase clearly amusing him. "How... convenient."

    The way he stressed that word, convenient* made my stomach tighten. This man knew something. Or thought he did. Either way, he presented a danger I hadn''t prepared for

    "If you''ll excuse me," I began, seeking escape from this increasingly dangerous conversation. "I should..." "Should continue making the rounds?" he finished for me Of course, Victoria''s careful choreography mu The way he emphasized myst name carried volumes of unspoken meaning.

    "I look forward to it," I lied smoothly.

    He smiled then, a genuine expression that transformed his severe features, making him appear younger, almost boyish despite his imposing presence.

    "No, you don''t," he said quietly. "But you will."

    With that cryptic statement, he stepped back, offering a small bow that somehow managed to be both respectful and mocking simultaneously. "Until next time."

    I watched him move away through the crowd, people unconsciously shifting to make space for him. Despite his youthpared to most titans of industry in the room, Alexander Pierce carried an authority that My heart raced beneath my carefullyposed

    exterior. One year of transformation. One year of bing someone new. One year of building Camille Kane from the rains of Camille Lewis.

    And it had taken him exactly one minute to threaten everything.

    "I see you met Alexander."

    Victoria appeared beside me, materializing from the crowd with her usual perfect timing. Her expression revealed nothing, but I knew her well enough how to recognize the tension in her shoulders, the slightly to controlled quality of her movements.

    "He''s... not what I expected," I said carefully, aware of listening cars around us.

    "He rarely is." Victoria guided me toward the silent auction disys, creating a bubble of privacy amid the busy ballroom. "What did he say to you?"

    I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal in this public setting. "He implied he knew me. From before."

    Victoria''s face remained impassive, but I caught the brief tightening of her fingers on her champagne ss, the only sign of her surprise and concern.

    "Impossible," she said after a measured pause. "The surgical alterations are too good. Your public presence as Camille Lewis was minimal. And Pierce has been in Asia for most of the past year." "Nevertheless," I replied quietly, "he said something about

    weing me back to thend of the living and asked if he should use

    my previous name."

    Victoria''s eyes narrowed slightly, the only indication of the calctions happening behind her carefully maintained social mask.

    "It''s a fishing expedition," she decided. "A guess based on limited information. Pierce has always enjoyed psychological games, especially with those in my circle."

    Her exnation made logical sense, yet didn''t fully calm the unease growing inside me. Something in Pierce''s certainty had felt too genuine, too knowing.

    "Continue as nned," Victoria instructed. "The governor is waiting to meet you. Then the museum

    director, the foundation board members, and the Japanese investors at table twelve."

    Just like that, we moved on. Back to the carefully orchestrated evening, back to my debut as Victoria Kane''s heir, back to pretending Alexander Pierce hadn''t just threatened to unravel everything with a few well chosen words. For the next two hours, I performed wlessly. Charmed the governor. Discussed art acquisitions with the museum director, Impressed the foundation board with my knowledge of their programs, All while hyperaware of Pierce''s presence in the room, feeling his gaze on me at unexpected moments, catching glimpses of that knowing smile whenever our eyes identally met across the crowded ballroom By the time the event concluded and we were in Victoria''s private car heading home, exhaustion pressed down on me like a physical weight. Not the tiredness of working muscles, which Jason''s training had long ustomed me to, but the bone-

    deep weariness thates from maintaining perfect control under threat.

    "We need to address the Pierce situation," Victoria said once the privacy screen was securely in ce between us and the driver. "He''s more dangerous than I anticipated."

    "How could he possibly know?" I asked, finally giving voice to the question that had haunted me all evening. "The changes to my appearance are significant. Even Rose wouldn''t recognize me if we passed on th Victoria gazed out the window at the city lights, her profile sharp against the darkness. "Pierce has resources I can''t always track. Intelligenceworks beyond the usual corporate espionage. And an almost sup

    "That''s not an answer," I pressed, needing something more concrete than vague descriptions of Pierce''s capabilities.

    ˇ°No,ˇ± she agreed, turning back to me. "It''s not. The truth is, I don''t know how he identified you. But I intend to find out."

    The car moved through thete-night traffic, the silence between us growing

    heavier with unspoken concerns. Finally, as we approached the gate to Victoria''s estate, she spoke again.

    "Whatever Pierce thinks he knows, he can''t prove anything Your transformation is legally airtight. Camille Lewis is officially dead. Camille Kane has documentation going back decades."

    Her words should have reassured me, but something in her tone suggested she was trying to convince

    herself as much as me.

    Inside the mansion, Victoria retreated to her study with instructions not to be disturbed. I made my way to my suite, dismissing the staff who waited to assist with my evening routine. I needed solitude. Needed s In my dressing room, I stared at my reflection in the full-

    length mirror. The woman who looked back at me was undeniably elegant, poised, beautiful in a striking rather than conventional way. My emerald gown caught the light as I turned, the custom fabric moving like

    Not a trace remained of Camille Lewis. Not the softer face, not the hesitant posture, not the apologetic smile. Dr. Torres had seen to the physical transformation, Jason to the changes in how I carried myself, Vic "Wee back to thend of the living, Ms. Kane. Or should I use your previous name?"*

    I removed my jewelry, carefully cing each piece in its designated spot in my safe. The routine task did nothing to quiet my racing thoughts.

    Who was Alexander Pierce, really? The business publications described him as a wunderkind, a technological genius who had built a trillion-

    dor empire before his thirtieth birthday. Hispanies spanned artificial intelligence, biotechnology, space exploration, and media His personal life remainedrgely private, with asional appearances at hig profile events but few personal details shared with the press.

    A rival to Victoria in business, certainly. But something in their interaction tonight had suggested a history beyond mere corporatepetition.

    As I removed my makeup, anotheryer of Camille Kane washing away with each gentle stroke of the cleansing cloth, I found myself returning to the moment of our introduction. The Intensity in his gray eyes. T

    My

    hand tingled at the memory, an unexpected physical reaction that annoyed me with its adolescent quality Attraction had no ce in the life I''d built with Victoria. Emotional entanglements of any kind were distra

    Yet I couldn''t dismiss Alexander Pierce so easily. Couldn''t fe him away as merely another obstacle to ovee or strategic variable to ount for. Something about him had gotten under my skin in a way nothi

    my

    Perhaps it was the threat he represented. Perhaps it was the mystery of how

    he''d identified me. Or perhaps it was something more primal, the shock of being truly seen for the first time in a year.

 Chapter 33

    Camille''s point of view

    Everyone else saw what I wanted them to see. What Victoria had crafted me to show. Alexander Pierce had somehow looked past all of that to the woman beneath, the woman I thought was safely buried. I showered, letting hot water wash away thest traces of tonight''s performance, then changed into silk pajamas and

    moved to the sitting area of my suite. Sleep would be impossible with my mind in such turmoil. Instead, I poured a small ss of bourbon from the decanter on my side table, a habit adopted from Victoria, and overlooking the grounds.

    The estate spread below me, perfectly manicured gardens now shadowed in moonlight, security lights marking the perimeter in the distance. Beyond the gates, the city gloved against the night sky, millions of liv "I suspect we''ll be seeing more of each other, Ms. Kane."

    His words yed in my mind, the confidence in them suggesting he''d already decided our paths would cros again. Not a hope or a n, but a certainty. As if he knew something about the future that I didn''t. The bourbon warmed my throat as I sipped it, the expensive liquor tasting of oak and vani and something deeper, something that reminded me of how Pierce had smelled standing close to me, expensive col with notes of cedar and leather underlying it.

    I frowned, annoyed at myself for noticing such details, for remembering them, for finding them pleasant rather than irrelevant. Victoria had trained me better than this. Physical reactions were to be noted, cataloged, and dismissed if they served no strategic purpose.

    And yet.

    And yet, something about Alexander Pierce had awakened feelings I thought dead along with Camille Lewis. Not romantic interest, nothing so simple or benign. More a deep- seated curiosity, a pull toward something or someone who presented a genuine mystery in a world I''de to understand as ruled by patterns and calctions.

    My phone buzzed softly on the table beside me. A message from Victoria: "Security briefing, 7 AM, Research team gathering information on Pierce. Sleep if you can.

    The clinical tone was typical of her, emotions relegated to background noise against the forward march of strategic nning. I sent back a simple acknowledgment, then set the phone aside, returning my attenti What would Alexander Pierce do next? The question demanded

    consideration. If he truly believed I was Camille Lewis, resurrected and transformed, what purpose would that knowledge serve for him? Leverage against Victoria, perhaps? A business advantage of some kind Or was his interest more personal? I''d caught something in his expression beyond mere strategic calction. A curiosity that mirrored my own, perhaps. An interest that transcended whatever game he might be His words was it a promise, or was it a threat? lingered in my mind as I finished my bourbon and prepared for bed. Sleep would be difficult to find tonight, but tomorrow would demand full focus. Victoria would ha strategy against whatever threat Pierce presented She always did.

    As I slid between silk sheets, my mind refused to quiet, images from the evening ying behind closed eyelids. The glittering ballroom. The assessing eyes of the social elige. Victoria''s carefully orchestrated int And Alexander Pierce, looking at me with those prating gray eyes, seeing what no one else had managed to see beneath the careful construction of Camille Kane.

    Was it fear I felt at that prospect, or something dangerously close to relief?

    The question followed me into uneasy dreams where I ran through endless corridors, pursued by shadows with piercing gray eyes. Dreams where I stood before mirrors that reflected not my current face but the turned to face him, only to find myself waking with a start, heart pounding in the

    darkness of my rooni.

    Dawn found me at my window again, watching the first light touch the gardens below. I''d managed perhaps three hours of broken sleep, not nearly enough for the day ahead, but more than I''d expected given th I showered again, dressed in the power suitid out by my stylist, applied makeup with practiced precision. Each action a step in the daily transformation from private self to public persona. By the time I checkedposed.

    No trace remained of

    the confusion and uncertainty that had gued me through the night. No hint of the dreams that had disturbed my sleep. Just the woman Victoria had created, the heir to her empire, the instrument of justice. ag Yet as I moved through the morning routine, breakfast with Victoria, security briefing with James, review of press coverage from the previous night''s event, I found my thoughts repeatedly returning to Alexander despite the threat he represented.

    "The press coverage is universally positive," Victoria noted over coffee, scanning reports on her tablet. "Your debut is being hailed as the social event of the season. Several publications are already specting "And Pierce?" I asked, unable to keep the question contained any longer. "Any mention of our interaction?" Victoria''s eyes flicked up to mine, assessing. "Nothing specific. Though the business press notes his u an event hosted by his chiefpetitor."

    She set down her tablet, giving me her full attention, a rare urrence during morning briefings. "You seem.... preupied with Alexander Pierce."

    Not a question. An observation that demanded exnation

    "He threatened everything we''ve built," I pointed out, keeping my voice neutral. "Identified me despite all our precautions. That seems worthy of preupation." "Yes," Victoria agreed, studying me with the prating gaze that always made me feel transparent. "But there''s something more. Something you''re not sharing

    11

    Thesitated, unsure how to articte the strange pull I''d felt toward Pierce without sounding foolish. Without sounding like the old Camille, easily swayed by attention from confident men. "There was something familiar about him," I said finally. Not that I''ve met him before. But a sense that he understood something about me that others don''t Can''t"

    Victoria''s expression remained unreadable, but I sensed a shift in her attention, a sharpening of focus. "borate.

    "He looked at me and saw through the surface," I tried to exin. "Not just suspecting I might be Camille Lewis, but... seeing me. The person beneath the transformation."

    My words sounded ridiculous to my own ears, mystical rather than strategic, emotional rather than calcted. Everything Victoria had trained me to avoid.

    Yet she didn''t dismiss my observation. Instead, she seemed to consider it carefully, fingers tapping a slow rhythm on the polished table.

    "Alexander Pierce has always possessed unusual insight into people," she said after a moment. "It''s part of what makes him dangerous. He sees patterns others miss, connections others overlook."

    She rose, moving to the window that overlooked the front drive where her car waited. "Whatever connection you feel, whatever recognition you sensed, remember that it serves his purposes, not yours. Not ours

    "Of course," I agreed quickly, embarrassed to have revealed even that much vulnerability. "I''m not suggesting otherwise."

    Victoria turned back to me, her expression softening fractionally. "Pierce is brilliant, charismatic, and utterly ruthless in pursuit foals. Much like me, in that regard "A small, tight smile. "Perhaps that''s why we''ve b She gathered her things, preparing to depart for the office. The security team will have aplete dossier on his recent activities by this afternoon. Until then, proceed with today''s schedule as nned. The Tec With that, she was gone, leaving me with a strange sense of having revealed too much and learned too little all at

    once.

    The morning passed in a blur of meetings and conference calls, the business of Kane Industries demandingplete focus. Yet beneath the professional exterior I maintained, thoughts of Alexander Pierce con The way he''d looked at me. The certainty in his voice. The promise of seeing each other again.

    I found myself wondering what he was doing now. Whether he was thinking about our encounter as well. Whether he was already nning our next meeting, or

    if his attention had moved on to other matters, other adversaries.

    Thetter possibility bothered me more than it should have

    Byte afternoon, fatigue from the previous night''s broken sleep finally caught up with me. I retreated to my office, instructing my assistant to hold calls for thirty minutes while I reviewed documents that required window seat, allowing myself a rare moment of unguarded thought.

    Alexander Pierce had recognized me. Had seen throughyers of surgical alteration, physical transformation, and behavioral retraining to the woman I''d been before. The question that haunted me wasn''t how h Was it simple fear of exposure? Of having everything Victoria and I had built together threatened by one man''s dangerous knowledge?

    Or was it the vertigo-

    inducing sensation of being truly seen after a year of perfect disguise? The strange relief mixed with

    terror when someone looked past Camille Kane to the woman beneath, the woman I sometimes feared I''d lostpletely in the transformation.

    I closed my eyes, the afternoon sun warm on my face through the window ss. Whatever the reason, Alexander Pierce had disturbed something in me that had been carefully buried, carefully controlled. Some

    When we meet again, I would be ready. Would have answer to the questions he raised, both spoken and unspoken. Would understand the threat he presented and how to neutralize it.

    Would understand why, despite everything, I found myself

    Almost

 Chapter 34

    "You''ll attend the Bemy Gallery auction in my ce tonight," Victoria said, not looking up from the docume spread across her desk. The statement carried the weight ofmand rather than request. Camille paused by the doorway of Victoria''s home office. "The Bemy auction? Isn''t that where..."

    "Yes," Victoria confirmed, finally ncing up with calcting eyes. "ording to my sources, both Rose and Stefan will be in attendance. Rose has been desperately trying to secure a meeting with Kane Indust Camille''s heart quickened. "To see them?"

    "To observe their dynamics in a neutral setting. To understand exactly what you''re up against." Victoria rose fro her chair, moving to stand before Camille with critical

    assessment. "The question is whether you''re ready." "I''ve spent months preparing," Camille replied, steadying her voice. "I''ve changed everything about myself. The won''t recognize me."

    Victoria''s expression remained unconvinced. "Physical transformation is only part of it. Can you maintain yourposure when you see the man who abandoned you with the sister who betrayed you?" The question struck like a physical blow, but Camille didn''flinch. "Yes."

    "Even when anger threatens to overwhelm you? When every instinct screams to reveal yourself?"

    "Yes," Camille repeated, more firmly this time.

    Victoria studied her for a long moment before nodding once "The Dior in midnight blue. Simple diamond studs. Your hair swept back. You are Camille Kane tonight, confident, untouchable. Remember, you aren'' them. You''re there to remind yourself why all of this is necessary. Remember who you are now, Camille Kane. My daughter. My heir." With those words lingering in her mind, Camille prepared for the evening ah The evening at the gallery had drawn Manhattan''s elite like moths to me, their jewelry catching light beneath crystal chandeliers. Through the glittering crowd, Camille saw them first, Rose and Stefan enteringposed face.

    She kept her

    champagne ss steady, maintained her pleasant expression as she

    discussed uing exhibitions with the museum curator. But beneath that

    polished exterior, her pulse quickened with a mix of rage and anticipation. They moved through the room like they owned it, Rose''s practicedugh carrying over the general chatter, Stefan''s hand resting posse: When the curator excused himself, Camille knew what wasing. She watched Rose''s predatory gaze

    scan the room, noting faces, calcting connections. The moment her sister spotted her, those familiar eyes lit with Interest, registering the designer dress, the subtle jewelry, the way other guests deferred to h "I don''t believe we''ve been properly

    introduced," Rose pured, extending her hand with practiced grace. "Rose Lewis. And this is my fianc¨¦, Stefan Rodriguez."

    Camille epted the hand that had once straightened her wedding veil, fought back the urge to either crush it or recoil. "Camille Kane. A pleasure."

    She watched confusion flicker across Stefan''s face at her name, quickly masked but present. Rose''s smile

    +25 BON

    remained fixed, though calction sparked behind her eyes as she processed the surname. "Kate... any rtion to Victoria Kane?" The casual tone couldn''t hide her sudden intensity.

    "My mother," Camille replied simply, watching that informationnd. Rose''s smile widened fractionally, here was the

    connection she''d been hoping to make since her failed meeting

    with Kane Industries.

    "How fascinating!"

    Rose leaned in slightly, like sharing a confidence. "I''ve long admired your mother''s business acumen. In fact, I recently had the pleasure of meeting with one of her representatives about potential investment in

    Camille

    let her lips curve in the slight smile Victoria had taught her, one that offered nothing while suggesting everything "Yes, I believe I saw the proposal cross my desk

    Stefan shifted his weight, something about her clearly needling at his subconscious. "I''m sorry, but have we met before? Something seems familiar..."

    "I don''t believe so," Camille replied coolly, even as her heart thundered in her chest. "I''ve

    spent most of my life in Europe. Only recently returned to New York."

    "Of course," he said quickly, though doubt lingered in his expression. "My mistake. You just reminded me of someone for a moment."

    Rose shot him a quick, sharp look before turning back to Camille with renewed warmth. "We simply must have lunch soon. I''d love to hear your thoughts on the current fashionndscape, Perhaps next week?" "I''m afraid my schedule is quite full," Camille demurred, using the subtle dismissal Victoria had drilled into her." But do keep in touch with our investment team. I''m sure they''ll be in contact once decisions are ma She watched Rose''s smile tighten almost imperceptibly. Her sister wasn''t used to being the one seeking favor rather than granting it. The role reversal clearly unsettled her, though she recovered quickly. "Of course," Rose said smoothly. "We won''t keep you from your other guests. Stefan?"

    As they moved away, Camille maintained herposed expression while victory sang through her veins. They hadn''t recognized her. The woman they had methodically destroyed stood right before them, and She excused herself to the powder room, needing a moment to steady her racing heart. The private

    space offered brief sanctuary, allowing her to study her reflection, the sharp cheekbones that had reced solter features, the elegantly styled hair so different from her former length, the confidence in her postu But that woman''s emotions still raged

    beneath the surface memories of betrayal sharp as knives. Seeing them together, so casually content, so unburdened by their cruelty... it took every ounce of control not to reveal herself, not to show them exac The door opened and Camille instantly checked her expression. Rose entered, pausing briefly when she saw who upied the mirror.

    "Ms. Kane," she said warmly. "I hope you''ll forgive my persistence, but I simply had to try one more time. My line really is doing exceptional things with sustainable luxury fashion. Perhaps I could have my assist Camille met her sister''s eyes in the mirror, the same eyes that had watched Stefan sign divorce papers on her anniversary, that had feigned sympathy while stealing her husband, that had likely celebrated news "Ms. Lewis," Camille said quietly, savoring the small flinch Rose couldn''t quite hida -

    hidra

    everything. And I''m afraid your timing is... unfortunate."

    Rose''s smile faltered slightly. "I don''t understand."

    "The market is shifting Luxury fashion is a crowded space Camille turned to face her directly, allowing just a hint of the truth to color her words. "Sometimes no matter how hard we try, no matter how perfect our Something dark flickered in Rose''s eyes, a glimpse of the calcting

    predator beneath her polished smile." Everything works out exactly as it should," she said, her tone carrying an edge. ˇ°Eventually."

    "Perhaps,ˇ± Camille agreed smoothly. "But not always in the way we expect."

    She moved toward the door, pausing with her hand

    on the handle. "Congrattions on your engagement, by the way. Second chances are so rare, aren''t they?"

    The confused unease on Rose''s face was almost worth the years of pain that had led to this moment. Camille slipped out of the powder room, herposed exit masking the trembling in her hands. Her controlled departure ended abruptly as she collided with someone just outside the door. Strong hands steadied her before she could stumble, the touch sending an unwee shiver down her spine.

    "We meet again, Ms. Kane," Alexander Pierce''s voice held that same knowing tone that had haunted her since the charity ball. "Though perhaps we should stop running into each other quite so literally." His gray eyes studied her face with unsettling intensity, his hands lingering on her arms a moment longer than necessary. When he finally released her, that infamous smirk yed at his lips. "Mr. Pierce," she managed, fighting to keep her voice steady. "I wasn''t aware you frequented art galleries."

    "I go

    where my interests lead me," he replied, his gaze never leaving her face. The unspoken meaning behind his words hung heavy in the air between them.

    Across the room, Rose had emerged from the powder room just in time to witness their interaction. She drifted toward an elderly woman known for her encyclopedic knowledge of New York society, carefully pos ˇ°That''s Victoria Kane''s daughter with Alexander Pierce," the woman was telling another guest, her voice just enough to reach Rose''s ears. ˇ°The heiress to Kane Industries. Quite the story, adopted years ago bu Rose''s perfectly manicured nails dug into her palm as the information sank in. The woman she''d just practically begged for investment wasn''t merely Victoria''s daughter or a Kane Industries executive, she was Stefan appeared at her side, noticing her sudden tension. "What''s wrong?"

    "Do you realize who that is?" Rose

    hissed under her breath, watching as Pierce and Camille continued their intense conversation. "Victoria Kane''s daughter. Not just somepany representative, the actual heir to Kane Industries"

    Meanwhile, Camille felt caught between two fires, Pierce''s dangerous knowledge of her true identity, and Rose''s newly informed observation of their interaction. She could practically see the calctions happer "Having an interesting evening?"

    Pierce asked softly, clearly enjoying her difort. "Family reunions can be so...plicated."

    "I don''t know what you think you know," Camille replied quietly, "but you''re ying a dangerous game." His smile widened fractionally. "On the contrary, Ms. Kane or should I say Ms. Lewis? I think I''m the only being yed."

    Before she could respond, he stepped closer, his voice dropping to barely a whisper. "The question is, do understand what you''re really ying for?"

    you

    He moved past her then, leaving Camille with the unsettling sensation that she was missing something vital. Something that went beyond her carefully nned revenge Something that Pierce could see but she Across the room, Rose was already typing furiously on her phone, likely instructing, her assistant topile everything avable about Victoria Kane''s mysterious daughter. Her earlier dismissal clearly burned,

 Chapter 35

    ALEXANDER POINT OF VIEW

    The soft hum of my car''s engine fills the silence as I watch the gallery entrance. Rain taps

    against the windows, turning the city lights into blurred stars. My thoughts keep returning to her to the moment she collided with me outside that powder room, to the brief sh of raw emotion in her eyes before Camille. Even her name feels different on my tongue now.

    My security team thinks I''m obsessed. Maybe they''re right. I''ve spent a year tracking her transformation, gathering every scrap of information about who she was before Victoria Kane molded her into this new c I pull up an old photo on my phone. Camille Lewis at her engagement party, standing slightly behind Rose while Stefan''s attention clearly drifted toward her sister. Even then, something in her eyes spoke of qui But I see it. I''ve always seen it.

    The gallery doors open, spilling light andughter onto the wet sidewalk. The city''s elite emerge in their designer clothes, diamonds catching streetlight as they hurry to waiting cars. I watch them with the detach Movement catches my eye, a sh of emerald silk. Camille appears in the doorway, and my breath catches despite myself. She moves with deliberate grace, each step precisely ced. Victoria''s training shows

    But there''s something else. Something uniquely her own that shines through the polish and refinement. I lean forward slightly, studying

    how the rain mists her face. She declines her driver''s offered umbre, tilts her head back slightly to feel the water. Such a small act of defiance, but it reveals everything Victoria''s careful programming hasn''t erased.

    The

    real Camille still lives beneath the surgical alterations and social training. Still burns with a fire they couldn''t extinguish

    My mind drifts back to our encounter. The slight tremor in her hands when I steadied her. The sharp intake of breath when I mentioned family reunions. The way her eyes widened for just a moment when I hinte Rose and Stefan emerge shortly after, lost in their own world of smug satisfaction. They pass within feet of Camille, never recognizing the woman they destroyed. The woman who rose from their betrayal to bec

    My fingers tighten on the steering wheel. Their casual cruelty, their unthinking arrogance, it awakens something dark

    in me. Something that recognizes the wounds they

    inflicted because I carry simr scars. We''re alike in that way, Camille and J. We''ve both learned to transform pain into power.

    But Victoria doesn''t understand what she''s created. She thinks she''s crafting a weapon, an instrument of precise revenge. She doesn''t see that Camille is bing something far more significant. Something th I''ve built my empire watching people, reading the pattern others miss. Every facial expression, every gesture, every careful word tells a story if you know how to interpret it. Camille''s story fascinates me more th Chapter 35

    The way she maintains perfectposure while fire burns in her eyes. How she wields her new identity like armor while keeping her true self carefully guarded. The subtle tells that reveal her struggle between Her car pulls up to the curb. Through the rain-

    streaked window, I watch her check her surroundings onest time, a habit Victoria must have drilled into her. But there''s natural vignce there too, Instincts honed by betrayal.

    The society papers call her Victoria Kane''s mysterious heir, The business world spectes about her sudden appearance and rapid

    rise. They''re all missing the real story, Missing the strength that radiates from her like heat from a me.

    I saw it the first time I encountered her photo in the financial press. Something in her eyes called to me, recognition. I''ve spent months unraveling her mystery, understanding the intricate game Victoria ys. Bu awakened interest goes beyond professional curiosity now.

    Every report I receive, every detail my team uncovers, only deepens my fascination. She''s not just surviving the transformation Victoria forced on her, she''s reshaping herself into something extraordinary. Some The rain falls harder as her car pulls away from the curb. I start my engine but remain parked, watching the red taillights fade into the wet darkness. My security captain would disapprove of this behavior, this pe But he doesn''t understand. None of them do. They see surface details, the surgical changes, the careful training, the calcted revenge. They don''t recognize the woman beneath it all. The one who refused to Let Victoria y her games. Let Rose and Stefan celebrate their victory, thinking they destroyed her. They don''t realize what''sing. What Camille is bing

    But I do. And I''ll be there when she finally understands that revenge

    isn''t enough. That she''s meant for something greater than Victoria''s careful ns. Something, 1 glimpsed in her eyes tonight when our gazes met.

    The city blurs beyond

    my windshield, lights bleeding into shadows. In the quiet dark of my car, surrounded by the soft sound of rain, I make a promise to the woman who has awakened something long dormant in my soul. "I will protect you with everything that I have got, little Camille."

 Chapter 36

    Camille''s point of view

    There''s a particr satisfaction in watching something fall apart from a distance, in witnessing the precise moment when confidence shatters and

    reality crashes down Victoria had taught me that. "True power isn''t in the destruction itself," she''d told me once, "but in knowing you orchestrated it while they never saw youing." As I sat at the head of the under the weight of their impending ruin.

    I watched the numbers change on my tablet as Pacific Marline''s stock price plummeted. Each drop represented another piece of Stefan''s empire crumbling. Thepany''s board members sat across from me i "Yourpany lost forty percent of its value in thest hour," I said, my voice carrying through the silent room. In fifteen minutes, when the market fully reacts to the news about your ounting irregrities, tha Michael Chen, Pacific Maritime''s CEO, gripped his water ss so hard I thought it might shatter. "These usations are baseless."

    "Are they?" I slid a folder across the polished table. "Our audit team spent six monthsbing through your records. Every questionable contract, every hidden payment, every secret deal with Rodriguez Shipp it''s all there."

    The board members exchanged worried nces. They knew what this meant. Pacific Maritime controlled Stefan''s most important shipping routes. Without them, his entire operation would copse.

    "Kane Industries is offering to buy your remaining shares at thirty dors each," I continued.

    "Generous, considering they''ll be worth nothing by market close."

    "You can''t do this," Thomas Rodriguez, Stefan''s uncle and Pacific Maritime chairman, pushed back from the table. "Rodriguez Shipping will fight-

    "With what resources?" I cut him off. "The Rodriguezpany is already overextended. Three banks have quietly frozen there credit lines. And their uing wedding is draining what cash reserves remain.ˇ± My phone buzzed-

    a message from our source inside Rodriguez Shipping: Stefan just got the news. Complete meltdown in his office. Board calling emergency meeting.

    I allowed myself a small smile. Let him rage. Let him feel powerless. Let him understand exactly what it meant to watch everything slip through his fingers.

    "You have thirty minutes to ept our offer," I told the board. "After that, these findings go to the SEC and every major financial publication"

    "This is extortion," Chen protested weakly.

    "No, Mr. Chen. This is karma." I met his eyes steadily. "You chose to tie yourpany''s future to Rodriguez Shipping Now

    you pay the price for that choice."

    My phone lit up with updates from our trading desk. Pacific Maritime''s stock In free fall. Investors dumping shares in panic. The trap I''d spent months setting had snapped shut perfectly. Thepany''s chief counsel spoke up. "We need time to review."

    "Twenty-eight minutes now," I interrupted. "Tick tock."

    In my earpiece, Victoria''s voice: "Well done. They''re

    crumbling exactly as predicted."

    I kept my expression neutral as the board members whispered urgently among themselves. Six months of nning had led to this moment. Every detail mapped out, every weakness exposed, every escape route blocked.

    My tablet chimed again, Rodriguez Shipping''s stock starting to drop as news spread about Pacific Maritime''s troubles. The first domino falling exactly as nned.

    "This will destroy him," Thomas Rodriguez said quietly. "My nephew... his whole future depends on these shipping routes."

    "Perhaps he should have thought about his future before making certain choices," I replied, letting ice coat my words. "Actions have consequences, Mr. Rodriguez. Even for those who think themselves untouch Twenty minutester, they signed the papers. Kane Industries now owned controlling interest in Pacific Maritime. Stefan''s most crucial supply chain partner had fallen into enemy hands.

    In my private bathroom afterward, I finally allowed my hands to shake. Not from fear or doubt, but from the pure rush of power. I''d done it. Landed the first major blow in my campaign to systematically dismantle My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: *Impressive show. But what happens when winning doesn''t fill the void? -

    AP

    Alexander Pierce. Of course he''d been watching. He seemed to see everything these days.

    I ignored his message, focusing instead on the news alerts flooding my screen. Business publications already running stories about Pacific Maritime''s sudden takeover, Financial analysts specting about wha Victoria entered without knocking. "The board is pleased. Clean execution, minimal exposure, maximum damage.

    "Stefan''spany will lose forty percent of its shipping capacity overnight," I reported. "His stock is already down twelve percent."

    "And how do you feel?"

    I considered the question carefully. "Powerful. In control." paused. "Empty."

    "That passes," she said dismissively. "Focus on the next target. We move on Jensen Partners tomorrow-

    their infrastructure supports another thirty percent of his operations."

    But as she outlined the next phase of our n, I found myself wondering about Pierce''s question. What would happen when I''d taken everything? When Stefan''s empirey in ruins and Rose''s fashion dreams My reflection in the bathroom mirror showed nothing of these doubts. Just the polished exterior of Camille Kane, Victoria''s perfect heir, methodically destroying her enemies.

    I straightened my jacket and checked my lipstick. The afternoon would bring meetings with Pacific Maritime''s new management team. Orders to be given. Changes to be implemented. Each step carefully desig

    I gathered my papers and headed for the next meeting. There was more work to be done. More pieces to position. More

    of Stefan''s carefully built world to tear down.

    Tomorrow would bring new targets, new strategies, new vii

    And it was only the beginning.

 Chapter 37

    Stefan hurled his crystal tumbler against the wall of his home office. The sound of shattering ss matched the chaos in his mind. Forty percent. Hispany stock had dropped forty percent in a single day. Bil

    His phone kept buzzing, board members, investors, his father. All demanding answers he didn''t have. How had Kane Industries outmaneuvered them sopletely? The takeover of Pacific Maritime shouldn''t h Yet here he sat, watching his family''s legacy crumble through real-

    time stock updates on his phone screen. Each notification drove the knife deeper.

    "Darling?" Rose''s voice drifted through his office door. "Can we talk about the wedding ns? The nner needs final numbers for-"

    "Not now." His voice came out harsh, rough from hours of emergency calls.

    She entered anyway, dressed for the evening in a red designer dress that probably cost more than his employees made in a month. "The venue won''t hold our date forever. We need to confirm..."

    "The date? Stefan spun to face her, rage boiling over. "You want to discuss wedding dates while mypany burns? While everything my family built over generations disappears?"

    Rose stepped back, unused to seeing this side of him. "The business troubles are temporary. Your father will...ˇ±

    "My father?" Heughed, a bitter sound that scared even himself. "My father hasn''t returned my calls since the stock crash. The board is meeting tomorrow to discuss my removal as CEO. And you want to talk a "Stefan, please." She moved toward him, reaching for his arm. "We''ll figure this out. Kane Industries can''t..."

    "Kane Industries." The name tasted like poison on his tongue. "That woman...

    there''s something about her. Something familiar that I can''t ce."

    "Camille Kane? Don''t be ridiculous. She''s lived in Europe most of her life. We only met her recently at..."

    "I know what she told

    us!" His fist mmed the desk, making Rose jump. "But every time I see her, every time she speaks... it''s like a memory I can''t quite grab."

    Rose''s expression shifted, something calcting recing her previous concern. "Perhaps you''re attracted to ber? It would exin your obsession."

    The suggestion hit him like ice water. "This isn''t about attraction. This is about our entire future disappearing while you n parties and pick out china patterns!"

    "Our future depends on maintaining appearances," Rose snapped back. "The right wedding, the right guests, the right connections..."

    "Connections?" Stefan

    advanced on her, forcing her to step back. "Is that what I am to you? A connection? A stepping stone for your social climbing?"

    "Don''t be absurd. I love you. I''ve always..."

    "Always?" Another harshugh. "You mean since London Since you came back and found me married to your sister?

    The words hung between then, heavy with unspoken usations. Rose''s face paled slightly.

    "We agreed not to discuss Camille," she said quietly. "Not after... everything."

    "Everything." Stefan turned away, unable to look at her. "Such a nice, clean word for what happened. For what we did."

    His phone buzzed again. Another stock alert. Another drop. The numbers blurred before his eyes.

    "We should postpone the wedding announcement," he said

    finally. "Until thepany stabilizes." "Postpone?" Rose''s voice rose sharply. "We can''t postpone The society papers already..."

    "Damn the society papers!" He whirled back to face her. "Don''t you understand? I''m

    losing everything! My position, my family''s respect, my entire future! And all you care about is your precious social standing?"

    Tears filled her eyes, but Stefan had seen her cry too many times to trust them now. "That''s unfair. I''m trying to help..."

    "Help?" His voice dropped dangerously low. "Like you helped Camille? Is that the kind of help

    you''re offering?" The color drained from Rose''s face. For a moment, real fear flickered in her eyes. "You promised never to bring that up.

    "I''m breaking a lot of promisestely." Stefan moved to his bar, reaching for another ss. "Seems to run in our rtionship.

    Rose watched him pour, her perfectly manicured nails digging into her palms. "What do you want me to say? That I''m sorry? That I wish things had been different?"

    "I want you to care!" The words exploded from him. "Care about something real! Something beyond your next social event or magazine feature!"

    "I care about you," she whispered.

    "Do you?" He met her eyes in the bar''s mirror. "Or do you care about what I represent? The name, the position, the lifestyle?"

    She had no answer. Or perhaps, her silence was answer enough.

    "Go home, Rose." Stefan drained his ss in one swallow. I need to work. Need to find some way to save what''s left of mypany while I still can." "Stefan, please..."

    "Go." He didn''t turn around. Couldn''t bear to see whatever

    performance she''d prepared. "We''ll discuss the wedding...ter."

    Her heels clicked across

    his office floor, each step precise despite her emotional disy. At the door, she paused. "I do love you," she said

    "In my way."

    Stefan

    kept his eyes on the city lights beyond his window. Your way," he replied, equally soft. "That''s always been the problem, hasn''t it?"

    The door closed behind her with a quiet click. In the sudden silence, his phone buzzed one final time. After-

    hours trading In Asia pushing his stock even lower.

    He poured another drink, mind returning to Camille Kane. To that nagging sense of recognition. To the way she''d looked at him across the conference room, like she could see right through him Like she knew all his secrets.

    Like she knew him.

    The thought sent a chill down his spine that not even expensive scotch could warm.

 Chapter 38

    Camille''s point of view

    I sat in my private office at Kane Industries, watching; six screens track different aspects of my n to destroy Rodriguez Shipping. Each monitor told part of the story, stock prices, trading volumes, news alerts, media sentiment,petitor reactions, and internalmunications we''d managed to intercept. One year of meticulous preparation leading to this pivotal moment. The leather of my executive chair creaked so "Ready?" Victoria asked from the doorway, her tailored charcoal suit as impable as always. Her eyes gleamed with the predatory anticipation I''de to recognize over our months working together. "Everything''s in position." I pulled up the final numbers, watching as our algorithms predicted theing cascade. "Our traders are standing by in London, New York and Singapore. The evidence of Rodriguez three seconds."

    She moved to stand behind my chair, studying the screens with the careful attention of a general reviewing battle ns. Her subtle perfume, always jasmine with notes of sandalwood, filled the air between us. "Three different whistleblowers will contact financial reporters about questionable ounting practices at precisely staggered intervals. The evidence has already been nted in their internal systems, backdate written expos¨¦s. "If they somehow weather the safety scandal, the financial improprieties will finish them."

    My hands stayed steady as I typed finalmands into the trading system, muscle memory from countless simtions we''d run. Inside, emotions warred, satisfaction, pain, a strange kind of grief for thepa hand had been gone for months now, but sometimes I still felt its phantom weight.

    "First article just dropped," Victoria noted as alerts started shing across the primary monitor. "Wall Street Journal. ''Major Safety Concerns gue Rodriguez Shipping Fleet: Internal Documents Reveal Years I allowed myself a small, controlled smile as other notifications followed in rapid session. Reuters. Bloomberg. Financial Times. CNBC breaking news. Each one sharing damaging details we''d carefully leake "Trading volume spiking," my head trader

    reported through the speaker, his voice betraying the excitement he was trying to contain. "Up four hundred percent above normal. Major institutional investors starting to sell. ckRock just dumped twelve per On my main screen, Rodriguez Shipping''s stock chart turned bright red, the downward trajectory steepening with each passing second. Down five percent. Then twelve. Then wenty. A freefall gaining speed with frequency trading programs reacting to the negative press.

    My phone buzzed a message from our source inside thepany: Total chaos here. Stefan locked in emergency board meeting. Conference room screens showing stock copse. His father just arrived looking ˇ°Time for phase two,ˇ± Victoria said quietly, a manicured all tapping the edge

    of my desk in perfect rhythm with the declining stock ticker.

    I nodded, sending the encrypted signal to our trading team positioned around the globe. Kane Industries would start quietly buying shares through aplexwork of shellpanies, but only after driving th More alerts filled my screens in a

    cascade of digital destruction. Industry analysts questioning thepany''s future viability. Suppliers nervously reviewing contracts. Customers making backup ns with Credit agencies cing Rodriguez Ship "Thirty percent drop," Victoria noted with undisguised satisfaction, her reflection in my monitor showing the slight smile she reserved for victories. "The margin calls will start soon. Their creditors won''t wait." She was right. Rodriguez Shipping had leveraged their asses heavily for the

    Asian expansion Stefan had championed against his father''s wishes. As the stock price fell, their loan covenants would trigger, forcing immediate repayment. A cascade of financial disaster we''d carefully engine My phone buzzed again: *Stefan''s father just walked out

    of the board meeting. Never seen him so angry. Screaming about family legacy destroyed. Three generations of work ruined. Stefan looks shell-

    shocked. CFO in tears.*

    I should have felt only triumph. This was what I''d nned, systematic destruction of everything Stefan valued. But memories kept intruding unbidden. His father''s pride when giving me a tour of their gship ves receable.

    A notification from our banking contacts appeared: *Rodriguez seeking emergency credit line. Multiple rejections already.

    "Ms. Kane?" My assistant''s voice through the inte, professional

    as always despite the financial bloodbath ying out on our screens. "Mr. Rodriguez Senior is attempting to contact you directly. He''s called three times in thest five minutes." Victoria''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Desperation sets in quickly."

    "Block the calls," I replied, voice cool despite the turmoil inside. "And inform security that no Rodriguez family member is to be admitted to the building under any circumstances,"

    The financial carnage continued as more investors abandoned what was clearly bing a sinking ship. News channels began running special segments on the "Rodriguez Copse,ˇ± featuring experts we''d qu Fresh alerts flooded my screens. Rodriguez Shipping''s board had called an emergency session Rumors of Stefan''s possible removal as CEO spread through financial circles. Trading halts triggered then lifted, "Forty percent drop," Victoria announced with clear satisfaction, pouring two sses of the eighteen-

    year-

    old Macan she kept in my office for special asions. "Well done, Camille. Absolutely masterful execution."

    Lepted the ss but didn''t drink, watching instead as our source continued to provide real-

    time updates from Inside the Rodriguez headquarters.

    More messages appeared: Stefan''s office being

    cleared out Personal items in boxes. Security escorting him from building, Executive team inplete meltdown. Legal team preparing for shareholderwsuits.*

    I stared at the words until they blurred together. Remembered Stefan''s boyish pride in his family''s

    night talks about modernizing the fleet. The dreams he''d sharedte at night about expanding their legacy across new shippingnes, new countries, new possibilities. The way his eyes lit up when discussing th All ash now. All destroyed by my hand, methodically, deliberately, without mercy, just as he''d destroyed me. "Iing call from Margaret Lewis," my assistant announced through the inte, interrupting my th "Decline," I said sharply, watching Rodriguez stock hit another circuit breaker.

    Victoria sipped her whiskey, watching me over the rim of her ss with the calcting gaze that had first drawn me to her after my world copsed. "After this, there will be no going back. You understand that? "Those doors closed the moment Stefan and Rose decided to betray me," I replied, finally tasting the aged whiskey, letting it burn down my throat. "I''m simply making it official."

    "The market closes in ten minutes," Victoria said, ncing at her watch. "Tomorrow we start on their Asia division. By week''s end..."

    "By week''s end they''ll have nothing left," I cut in, watching each percentage

    point drop with a hollow satisfaction. "Isn''t that the point? Compl¨¦te annihtion?

    On screen, Rodriguez Shipping''s stock hit bottom again. Trading halted for the fourth time. Stefan''s legacy ended not with a bang but with a whimper and a lot of red numbers. The five- year chart showed a perfect cliff

    edge, everything before today rendered meaningless.

    My phone buzzed one final time. A photo from our source, Stefan being escorted out, box of personal items in his arms, face pale with shock and disbelief. The golden boy

    finally facing consequences. The heir apparent dethroned. The man who had promised me forever now facing his own sudden ending.

    I''d done this. Me. The woman he''d discarded like yesterday''s news. The wife he''d betrayed with her own sister. The inconvenient obstacle

    to his true desires.

    So why didn''t victory taste sweeter? Why did the whiskey turn bitter on my tongue? Why did the emptiness inside seem to grow rather than diminish?

    Victoria studied me carefully, her years of experience reading people picking up on my unexpected hesitation." You''re not having second thoughts, are you? After everything we''ve done to get here?" "Not second thoughts," I said, setting down my ss. "Just wondering whates after."

    "After?" Victoria raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "After this, we continue with the n. Rose''s fashion empire. Your mother''s social standing. One by one, we dismantle everything they value, everything, they Victoria''s sigh held years of experience, both professional and personal. "Just remember why we started this. What they

    did to you. What they deserve, How they would have continued using you if you hadn''t discovered the Truth"

    "I remember everything," I said softly, touching the screen where Stefan''s broken expression was captured forever. "That''s the problem."

    The final trading bell rang, the sound echoing through my office like a death knell. Rodriguez Shipping''s stock closed down sixty-

    two percent, the worst single-day performance in thepany''s century-

    long history. Headlines already proimed the death of a shipping dynasty that had survived wars, depressions, and global crises, but couldn''t survive my vengeance.

    I''d won. Thoroughly. Completely. Just as nned.

    My phone began buzzing incessantly, financial reporters

    seekingment, business associates offering congrattions, vultures seeking, to pick at the Rodriguez carcass, I silenced it without looking at the names

    Tomorrow would bring new targets, new strategies, new victories. But tonight... tonight I would sit alone with my thoughts, the taste

    of ash in my mouth despite the expensive whiskey, and consider what exactly came after revenge. When all the destruction wasplete, when everyone who had hurt me was brought low, what would I build f

    It was a question I hadn''t allowed myself to consider until now, focused solely on tearing down rather than building up. Perhaps it was time to start thinking beyond vengeance, beyond the all- consuming fire that had driven me these past months.

    Perhaps there was something waiting for me on the other side of revenge.

 Chapter 39

    Stefan stared at the empty boardroom seats, his hands shaking as he reached for another ss of water. The morning''s board meeting felt like a firing squad, twelve angry faces demanding exnations he did "The numbers are disastrous," Andrew Parker, head of the financemittee, sald coldly. "Sixty-

    two percent stock drop. Major contracts vanishing. Suppliers backing out. And you still can''t tell us what''s happening?" "I''ve had every analyst working around the clock," Stefan replied, hating the weakness in h multiple directions. Every time we plug one hole, three more appear.ˇ±

    "Attacks?" Parker''sugh held no warmth. "Or just ipetence?"

    Other board members muttered in agreement. Three hours of defending himself, showing reports, promising solutions ¨C

    none of it mattered. They wanted his head.

    "A vote has been called," Thomas Chen announced, his voice heavy with false regret. "On the immediate removal of Stefan Rodriguez as Chief Executive Officer of Rodriguez Shipping International."

    Stefan''s stomach turned to ice. This wasn''t happening. Thepany had survived world wars, countless crises. Now it was crumbling and he couldn''t even identify the enemy. "All in favor..."

    Cconomic crashes.

    The boardroom doors flew open. Eduardo Rodriguez filled the doorway,manding attention without speaking a word. Stefan had never been so grateful to see his father. "This meeting is suspended," Eduardo announced, moving to the head of the table. "By authority of the family''s controlling shares."

    Parker stood, face flushed. "Mr. Rodriguez, with respect, the board has authority to..."

    "The board has what authority I permit it to have." Eduardo''s voice could have frozen fire. "Right now, I''m permitting you all to leave while I speak with my son." Nobody moved.

    "That wasn''t a suggestion." Eduardo''s eyes swept the room "Out. All of you."

    They filed out slowly, Parker throwing Stefan a look that promised this wasn''t finished. When the door closed, silence fell heavy between father and

    son

    "You''re a disappointment." Eduardo''s words cut deep. "But you''re still my son Still a Rodriguez.ˇ±

    Stefan stared at his hands. "Someone''s targeting us. Every move we make, they''re three steps ahead. It''s like they know our ybook better than we do." "Because you''re too busy nning a wedding to see what''s right

    in front of you." His father moved to the window. "Too focused on that Lewis girl to protect what generations built."

    "Rose has nothing to do with "

    "Rose has everything to do with it." Eduardo turned, eyes hard. "Ever since you divorced Camille..."

    "Don''t." Stefan''s voice cracked. "Please don''t bring her into this."

    "Why not? She understood business. Understood loyalty. Then she has some convenient ident and suddenly

    you''re engaged to her sister?" His father''s eyes narrowed. Even I can see something wrong there."

    Stefan''s chest tightened. If his father knew the truth about Camille about what really happened that night... "The board wants you gone," Eduardo continued. "They''re not wrong. You''ve let someone gut this "I know." The words tasted like ash. "I''ll resign. Save everyone the trouble of voting"

    Stefan looked up, confused, "No?"

    "You''re my son." Eduardo''s voice softened slightly. "Despite everything, you''re my blood. I''ve convinced the board to give you one month."

    Hope flickered faintly. "One month?"

    "To find who''s behind this. To save what''s left. To prove you deserve the Rodriguez name." His father''s expression hardened again. "But there are conditions."

    Of course there were. There always were with Eduardo Rodriguez.

    "What conditions?"

    First, postpone this wedding circus. No distractions."

    Stefan nodded slowly, Rose wouldn''t like it, but she''d have to understand.

    "Second, you move back to the family estate. I want you focused, where I can watch you work."

    Another nod. Easier than the first condition.

    "Third," Eduardo paused, "you tell me the truth about Camille''s ident. Everything you know."

    Stefan''s blood turned to ice. "What do you mean?"

    "I''m not a fool, son. The timing was too convenient. The body never found. And now you''re marrying her sister?" Eduardo''s eyes bore into him. "What really happened to your wife?"

    The question that haunted his nightmares. The truth he''d buried under grief and guilt and Rose''s careful maniptions.

    "L... I don''t know everything," he said carefully. "There were things.. suggestions... but nothing certain." "Then you have one month to find certainty." Eduardo moved to the door. "The board returns in five minut The board members filed back in, taking their seats with obvious reluctance. Parker especially looked ready to object, but Eduardo''s presence kept him silent.

    "Gentlemen," Eduardo addressed them. "My son has thirty days to reverse our losses. If he fails, I''ll personally request his removal. If he seeds, we all benefit. Did you all agree?"

    One by one, they nodded. Not happy, but unwilling to fight Eduardo Rodriguez when he used that tone.

    "Thirty days," Parker said, ring at Stefan. ˇ°Not one day more."

    Stefan barely heard the rest of the meeting. His mind kept spinning with questions. Who had the resources and motivation to attack them so precisely? Why did every defensive move fall before it started? How And underneath it all, his father''s words about Camille kept echoing. About finding the truth. About connections he hadn''t let himself consider.

    His phone buzzed, Rose asking about wedding venue deposits. He ignored it.

    Thirty days to save his family''s legacy. To uncover the truth about his wife''s disappearance. To face whatever Rose had been hiding all this time. Somehow, he didn''t think he could do both.

 Chapter 40

    The morning sun painted golden streaks across Alexander office atop Pierce International. Sixty stories

    above Manhattan, the city stretched beneath him, a vast, glittering chessboard where every plece moved ording to unseen ns. From this height, everything seemed distant, almost insignificant, except for

    fates.

    Alexander sat back in his leather chair, adjusting his posture as he waited for his secretary''s daily briefing. The chair creaked softly under his weight, the only sound in the vast office aside from the faint hum of t precise knock on the door announced Sarah''s arrival. She was neverte. She stepped in, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor, holding her tablet in one hand.

    "Good morning, sir," she greeted professionally, stopping few feet from his desk.

    Alexander nodded, wordlessly gesturing for her to begin.

    Sarah had worked for him long enough to understand his moods. Some days, he wanted every detail; other days, he only wanted the highlights. Today, she could tell from his quiet, watchful expression that som She cleared her throat and nced at her notes. "Rodriguez Shipping''s board meeting just ended." Her voice was calm, but there was a slight pause before she continued. "Stefan received an unexpected repri

    Alexander''s fingers tapped a slow rhythm against his armrest. His gaze didn''t waver, but his mind was already calcting the consequences. "Details."

    Sarah swiped on her tablet. "Eduardo Rodriguez used the family''s controlling shares to force apromise. The board wanted Stefan out, but Eduardo

    gave him a final chance. He has one month to fix thepany''s problems, or he will be removed permanently.ˇ±

    Alexander let out a soft, knowing hum. "And the board agreed?"

    "They weren''t happy, but no one argues with Eduardo Rodriguez," Sarah replied. "Stefan''s position is weak. If he fails

    in the next thirty days, even his father won''t be able to protect him."

    Alexander leaned back slightly, contemting the situation Stefan was drowning, barely holding on, and the vultures were circling. Victoria Kane wouldn''t let this opportunity go to waste.

    "And Camille Kane''s next move?"

    Sarah''s lips curved slightly, almost in admiration. "Our sources say she''s nning another attack on their stock. Analysts predict she will target their Asian shipping routes, if she seeds, Rodriguez Shipping w

    It was an elegant move, brutal, effective, and perfectly timed. Camille had no intention of giving Stefan a chance to recover. She was

    determined to crush himpletely.

    Alexander nodded slowly, the pieces falling into ce. He had no personal interest in Stefan Rodriguez, but Camille, Victoria Kane''s so- called adopted daughter, was different. She was the only reason he was paying

    attention.

    He had seen something in her eyes that Victoria had missed Revenge could destroy a person from the inside out.

    "Have our team assist Kane Industries with their next market move," Alexander said atst. "Quietly. Make sure no connection can be traced back to us."

    Sarah looked up, clearly surprised. In five years working for him, she had never heard him suggest helping Kane

    Industries.

    "Sir?" She hesitated. "We''ve never involved ourselves in their operations before."

    "Times change," he said simply.

    He reached for his desk drawer and pulled out a small velvet box. It was old but well cared for, the edges slightly wom from years of handling. Insidey a delicate silver ne with a rose- shaped pendant. As the morning light touched it, the silver glowed softly.

    Sarah''s eyes flickered with curiosity. She had seen Alexander handle many rare, priceless items over the years, but this, this was different. There was something personal about it. "Keep this between us," Alexander said, his voice quieter now. "No paper trail. No electronic

    records."

    "Of course, sir." Sarah hesitated, then asked cautiously, "May I ask why we''re helping Victoria Kane? She has always been one of our strongest rivals."

    Alexander didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he lifted the ne, letting the pendant spin slightly between his fingers, catching the light.

    "We''re not helping Victoria," he finally said. His gaze remained fixed on the pendant. "We''re helping someone else."

    Sarah was sharp, one of the reasons he trusted her. She put the pieces together quickly. "Ms. Kane''s daughter?" she asked softly. "The one who appeared so suddenly?"

    Alexander didn''t reply. His mind was already elsewhere, six years in the past, in a hospital room filled with the scent of antiseptic and the low hum of machines.

    Pain. Darkness, Istion.

    He had been on the edge of death, abandoned

    by his family, left to rot. But then....

    A soft voice. A gentle touch. Someone carefully changing his bandages, reading to him when the pain made sleep impossible.

    She had never told him her real name.

    She had paid for his medical bills when no one else cared.

    And then, she disappeared.

    Now, she had returned, wearing a different name and face, Camille Kane. She burned with the need for vengeance,pletely unaware that the man she had once saved was watching over her from the shado "Send our best analysts to support Kane Industries'' next move," Alexander instructed. He carefully returned the ne to its box. "Whatever resources they need. Just ensure our involvement remains invisibl "Yes, sir." Sarali typed a final note before pausing at the door. "Anything else?"

    "That''s all."

    She nodded and turned to leave, but before she stepped out Alexander added, "And Saral??"

    She nced back.

    "If anyone asks why we''re suddenly interested in Rodriguez Shipping''s troubles..."

    "I''ll remind them that we never discuss your personal projects." A faint smille touched her lips. "Don''t

    worry, sir. Your secret is safe."

    The door closed behind her, leaving Alexander alone with the morning light and his memories.

    Slowly, he removed the ne from the box again, holding; it up to the light. The rose pendant spun gently, reflecting fractured sunlight across his desk.

    Six years. He had carried it for

    Six years, waiting for the moment to return it to its rightful owner.

    Waiting for the chance to repay a debt that went far beyond money.

    Now, she was Camille Kane, cold and ruthless, chasing revenge against those who had wronged her.

    But beneath that anger, beneath the walls she had built, hestill saw traces of the gentle soul who had once sat beside his hospital bed

    The girl who had saved him when he had no one else.

    The girl who had unknowingly be a piece of his past that he could never let go.

    "Little Camille," he murmured, watching the sunlight dance through the silver curves.

    His voice was barely a whisper, lost in the vast office.

    "I hope this path doesn''t consume you."

 Chapter 41

    Camille''s point of view.

    The Metropolitan Finance Summit filled the grand ballroom of the za Hotel, crystal chandeliers casting golden light over Manhattan''s elite. I moved through

    the crowd with practiced grace, my ck Dior dress drawing appreciative nces. Every step, every gesture, every smile carefully calcted to project the image of Victoria Kane''s perfect heir.

    Inside, though, my mind raced with numbers and ns. Rodriguez Shipping''s Asia divisiony vulnerable after ourst attack. Tonight''s event offered perfect hunting grounds, worried investors ready to jump sh "Searching for your next victim, Ms. Kane?"

    Alexander''s voice behind me sent

    an unexpected shiver down my spine. I hadn''t heard him approach, unusual for someone trained by Victoria to always track potential threats. But Alexander Pierce had a way of slipping past my defenses. "Mr. Pierce." I turned, finding him closer than expected. "I didn''t think finance summits were your preferred hunting ground."

    "They aren''t." His gray eyes held that knowing look that always made me feel exposed. "But I heard interesting rumors about Rodriguez Shipping''s stock taking quite a tumble. Tragic."

    His tone suggested he knew exactly how tragic it wasn''t. I kept my expression neutral despite my racing heart." The market can be unpredictable."

    "Can it?" He epted two champagne sses from a passing waiter, offering me one with elegant precision." Nothing about you seems unpredictable, Ms. Kane. Every move..." his eyes met mine over the rim The way he emphasized ''perfectly'' sent warning signals through my mind. How much did he really know? About my ns? About my true identity? About everything?

    "You seem very interested in my movements, Mr. Pierce."

    "Alexander," he corrected softly. "And yes, I find you... fascinating."

    Heat crept up my neck, and I silently cursed my body''s betrayal. This wasn''t part of Victoria''s careful programming. She hadn''t prepared me for the way Alexander Pierce could unsettle my walls with just a look, "Why fascinating?" I sipped my champagne, using the moment to steady myself.

    His eyes never left mine. "Because beneath all this..." he gestured to my designer dress, my perfect makeup, my polished manner, "there''s something real.

    Something true. Something that hasn''t forgotten how to feel."

    My hand tightened on the delicate champagne stem. "You presume a lot about someone you barely know."

    "Do I?" He stepped closer, his cologne teasing my senses. Tell me, when Rodriguez Shipping''s stock crashed today, did it satisfy the hunger inside you? Or did it just make you hungrier?"

    fce slid through my veins even as heat pooled in my stomach. He knew. Somehow he knew everything. But instead of fear, I felt... relief? Finally someone who saw through the mask, who understood the fire bu

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about."

    "No?" His smile widened slightly. "Then why is your pulse racing? I can see it..." his eyes dropped to my throat, right here."

    I forced myself to step back, to remember my purpose. Victoria''s training screamed at me to retreat, to maintain distance, to protect the mission. "You''re very forward, Mr. Pierce."

    "Alexander," he corrected again, following my retreat

    with fluid step forward. "And you''re very evasive, Camille. May I call you Camille?"

    The way he said my name... like a caress... like a secret... made my skin tingle. No one said my name that way anymore. Not since I''d buried Camille Lewis and risen as Camille Kane. "If you must."

    "I must." He nced around the crowded

    ballroom before leaning, close to whisper, "Just like I must warn you, revenge is a fire that burns both ways. Be careful you don''t lose yourself in the mes."

    Before I could respond, he disappeared into the crowd with the same silent grace he''d appeared. I stood frozen, champagne forgotten in my hand, his words echoing in my mind.

    The rest of the evening passed in a blur. I went through the motions,working, gathering information, nting seeds for our next move against Stefan''spany. But my mind kept returning to that moment w Later, in my private car heading home, I found myself smiling despite the seriousness of his warning. The way he''d teased me, challenged me, understood me... it awakened something I thought had died when My phone buzzed, a message from her confirming tomorrow''s strategy meeting about Rodriguez Shipping''s Asia division. I should have been focused on that, on the next phase of our n, on the systematic de Instead, I kept hearing Alexander''s voice: "Something real. Something true."

    When had anyonest seen me that way? Not as Victoria''s creation, not as Stefan''s ex-

    wife, not as Rose''s forgotten sister, not as the Lewis forgotten heiress. Just... me.

    My fingers touched my throat where he''d noticed my pulse racing. Even now, hourster, the memory of his gaze made my heart beat faster. The scent of his cologne lingered on my dress where he''d stood clos cedar and leather and something uniquely him.

    Dangerous, Victoria''s voice whispered in my mind. He''s a distraction. Aplication. Remember why we started this. Remember what they did to you.

    But for the first time since Victoria saved me, since I buried my old self and became her heir, I wondered ifplications might be exactly what I needed. If maybe, just maybe, there was more to life than reveng My phone buzzed again. Alexander this time: *Next time you n to crash a stock, warn me. I do so enjoy watching you work."

    I caught myself smiling again, and this time I didn''t try to stop it. Something warm

    unfurled in my chest, not the cold satisfaction of revenge, but something softer. Something that felt dangerously like hope.

    Tomorrow would bring more battles, more strategies, more steps toward destroying those who had destroyed me. But tonight... tonight I let myself remember how it felt to be seen. Really seen.

    My phone lit up with one final message from Alexander: *Sweet dreams, little warrior. Try not to topple any empires before breakfast."

    This time, myugh surprised even me.

 Chapter 42

    Rose stared

    at Stefan, the wedding invitation sample still clutched in her hand. The gold- embossed lettering seemed to mock her now.

    "What do you mean, postponed?" Her voice came out too high, too tight.

    Stefan loosened his tie, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. "Just what I said. We need to push the wedding back. Until things stabilize with thepany.

    "Push it back? Push it back?" The invitation crumpled in her grip. "We''ve sent save-

    the-dates to three hundred people. The venue is booked. The deposit is paid!"

    "I know." Stefan moved to the bar, pouring himself a drink without offering her one. "My father made it a condition of his help with thepany. No distractions. Full focus on saving what''s left."

    Rose watched him toss back expensive scotch like it was water. The careful control she''d maintained all these years

    began to slip."Your father doesn''t control our lives."

    "He controls the board. He controls the family shares. Right now, he''s the only thing standing between me andplete professional ruin." Stefan poured another drink. It''s just a few months. Once I save the c

    "If you save thepany," Rose corrected, her voiceced with venom. "Let''s be honest, Stefan. Your business is sinking, and you have no idea who''s behind it."

    He flinched as if she''d pped him. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

    "I''m being realistic." She advanced on him, the crushed invitation still in her hand. "We''ve nned this wedding for a year. A year!

    Everyone who matters in New York will be there. This is our moment, Stefan. Our time!"

    "Our time?" He turned to face her, something hardening in his expression. "Mypany is crashing. My family legacy is at risk. And you''re worried about a party?"

    "A party?" The words came out as a strangledugh. "Is that what you think this is? Just a party?" "Rose"

    She hurled the crumpled invitation at his head. It bounced harmlessly off his shoulder, but the action broke something loose inside her. All the careful nning, the years of maniption, the patient waiting, all th "Do you have any idea

    what I''ve done for this wedding? For is?" She grabbed a crystal vase from the side table, feeling its weight in her hands. "The people I''ve cultivated. The connections I''ve built. All to ensure our ce in society!"

    The vase shattered against the wall inches from his head, water and flowers exploding across imported wallpaper. Stefan stared at her, shock recing exhaustion. "Jesus, Rase! What''s wrong with you?" "What''s wrong with me?" She seized a framed photo of them, ripping it from the wall. "What''s wrong with you? First you let someone destroy yourpany piece by piece, and now you''re letting your father dict The frame joined the vase, ss flying across the room.

    "Stop it!" Stefan grabbed for her arms, but she twisted away, snatching a bottle from the bar.

    "After everything I did to have you," she hissed, "after everything, I sacrificed...."

    "What you sacrificed?" Stefan stepped back, something like suspicion dawning in his eyes. "What exactly did you. sacrifice, Rose?"

    The question hung between them, dangerous, unanswerable. For a moment, she froze, bottle raised mid-

    swing. Then the rage took over again. The bottle smashed against the marble firece, alcohol spraying across family photos, across the custom rug they''d chosen together, across his perfect white shirt.

    "I waited for you!" The words tore from her throat. "While you yed husband to my pathetic sister! While you built your little life with her! I waited!"

    Each usation apanied another act of destruction. A crystal paperweight through the television screen. A chair overturned, Books swept from shelves.

    Stefan backed away, watching her rampage with growing horror, "Rose, you need to calm down. This isn''t about Camille..."

    "Everything is about Camille!" she screamed, the name like poison on her tongue. "Poor, sweet Camille who everyone loved. Camille who got everything handed to her while I had to fight for every scrap!"

    "She''s gone, Rose." Stefan''s voice held an edge she''d never heard before. "She''s dead. And you''re destroying our home over a postponed wedding."

    Rose froze, breathing hard, surrounded by the wreckage of their perfect apartment. Something in his tone cut through her rage. Something knowing. Questioning.

    "She''s dead," Rose agreed, sudden caution threading through her anger.

    "And I''m your future. Not your father''spany. Not your family legacy. Me."

    She advanced on him again, broken ss crunching under her designer heels. "I''ve invested too much in us to postpone now. Too much time. Too much nning. Too many sacrifices." Stefan stood his ground, studying her with

    new eyes. "What exactly did you do, Rose? When Camille disappeared?"

    The question struck like lightning, unexpected and searing. Had he suspected all along? Had he seen through her careful maniptions?

    Rose forced

    her breathing to steady, her mind racing through the implications. "What are you asking me, Stefan?" "Nothing." He looked away, the moment breaking, "Nothing Just.. this isn''t the Rose I know." Sheughed, the sound brittle and sharp. "Maybe you never knew me at all."

    Silence fell between them, broken only by the sound of something expensive dripping onto the ruined carpet. Rose surveyed the destruction she''d caused, feeling no regret. Let him see this side of her. Let him "The wedding is postponed," Stefan said finally, his voice fat. "My father gave me one month to save thepany. After that, we can

    discuss dates again."

    "One month." Rose smoothed her skirt, stepping over broken ss toward him. "And if you fail? If thepany crashespletely?" "Then we start over." He met her eyes. "Together. If that''s still what you want."

    The question hung between them, unexpected and revealing.

    "Of course e it''s what I want." She reached for his face, cupping his cheek with one hand. "We''re meant to be together, Stefan. We always were."

    He caught her wrist, holding it just tight enough to be ufortable. "Then you''ll wait. One month."

    Something in his grip, in his eyes, warned her not to push forther. The Stefan she''d manipted so easily seemed suddenly absent, reced by someone harder, Someone watchful.

    "Fine." She twisted her wrist free. "One month. But when is is over, nothing stops our wedding. Not your father. Not yourpany. Nothing."

    "Agreed." He moved past her toward the door. "I''ll stay at the family estate tonight. Give you time to calm down.

    Rose watched him leave, not trusting herself to speak again When the door closed behind him, she surveyed the destroyed apartment, broken ss glittering like diamonds across every surface.

    Her phone buzzed, another message from the wedding ter asking about flower arrangements. With a scream of pure frustration, she hurled it against the wall, watching it shatter like everything else in her pe

    One month. She could wait one month. She''d waited years to have Stefan, yed a long, patient game. What was one more month?

    But as she stood amid the wreckage of their home, a new fear crept through her rage. The way Stefan had looked at her. The questions about Camille. The sudden hardening In his manner.

    For the first time since Camille''s "ident," Rose wondered if her carefully constructed world might be built on shifting sand.

 Chapter 43

    Camille''s point of view

    The Metropolitan Museum sparkled like a jewel box, transformed for the annual Children''s Hospital Benefit. Diamonds caught light from a thousand candles, champagne flowed in crystal flutes, and the wealthy

    I moved through the crowd in a midnight blue gown, Victoria''s careful training evident in every step. My hair swept up in an elegant twist, my makeup wless, my smile measured and controlled. Camille Kane, How different from thest charity g I''d attended as Camille Lewis. Then, I''d stood in Rose''s shadow, wearing a dress she''d "allowed" me to borrow, watching societydies air- kiss her cheeks while barely ncing my way.

    "Ms. Kane." The hospital director approached, practically glowing with anticipation. "Your mother''s donationl will fund our new pediatric wing. We''re beyond grateful."

    I nodded, epting her gratitude with the perfect blend

    of humility and confidence Victoria had taught me. Industries believes in investing in the future. These children deserve our best efforts."

    "Kane"

    Absolutely! Would you say a few words during the presentation? Having the Kane heir speak would mean so

    much"

    "Of course." I scanned the room, noting potential business connections, rivals, useful allies.

    Victoria''s voice whispering in my head: Always map the battlefield before engaging

    Then I saw them.

    Stefan and Rose stood near the bar, him ufortable in his tuxedo, her resplendent in red silk that probably cost more than most people''s monthly sry. They hadn''t noticed me yet, too busy arguing in fierc whispers behind stic smiles.

    The sight of them still hit like a physical blow. After everything I''d done to destroy their businesses, after the chaos I''d engineered in their lives, they still looked... intact. Together. Rose''s hand still possessively g Something ugly twisted in my chest. Not jealousy, I''d moved beyond wanting Stefan back. Something darker. More primitive. The need to see them truly suffer. To watch them crumblepletely. My opportunity arrived sooner than expected

    "Ms. Kane!" Rose''s voice, pitched to carry just the right distance. "What a pleasure to see you again!"

    I turned slowly, slipping on the mask of polite interest I''d perfected for such moments. "Ms. Lewis. Mr. Rodriguez. Good evening."

    They moved toward me with the desperate eagerness of drowning people spotting a lifeboat. Rose''s smile too bright, Stefan''s handshake too firm.

    ve been hoping to run into you," Rose

    gushed, positioning herself closer than social etiquette allowed. "Your charity work is so inspiring."

    "Thank you " I sipped my champagne, letting silence stretch ufortably, Victoria''s first lesson in power dynamics: Make them work for your attention. Stefan cleared his throat. ˇ°Ms. Kane, I wanted to apologize I seemed distracted when we met at the gallery opening Business concerns, you understand."

    "Of course." I studied him with cool detachment. "I''ve heard Rodriguez Shipping is facing... challenges." His face tightened. "Temporary setbacks. Nothing we can''t ovee with the right partnerships."

    Rose jumped in smoothly. "Which is actually something we hoped to discuss. Your mother mentioned Kane Industries might be looking for shipping partners in the Asian markets?"

    Their desperation was palpable, hanging in the air betweenus like cheap perfume. It took everything I had not to smile at the beautiful irony. Here they stood, begging for hep from the very woman they''d destroy

    "Kane Industries is always exploring new opportunities," replied, nomittal. "Though we have very strict criteria for potential partners."

    "Rodriguez Shipping has an impable reputation," Stefan insisted, leaning forward, eyes

    intense. The same eyes that had once looked into mine with false promises of forever. "Three generations of excellence."

    "Three generations," I mused. "Such a shame to see that legacy threatened."

    He flinched as if I''d struck him. "Thepany will recover With the right support."

    "And your fashion line, Ms. Lewis?" I turned to Rose. "I understand you''re also seeking investors?"

    Her perfect smile faltered slightly. "Word travels fast in New York. Yes, we''re in expansion talks with several interested parties."

    ˇ°How Interestingˇ± I took another sip of champagne. "Given the recent quality issues reported in fashion blogs.ˇ± ˇ°Malicious rumors.ˇ± Her voice hardened even as her smile remained fixed. ˇ°Competitors trying to d "Competitors can be so... ruthless." I let my gaze drift over her shoulder, dismissive. "The business world is unforgiving that way."

    Rose''s hand tightened on Stefan''s arm, her knuckles whitening. "Ms. Kane, perhaps we could meet privately? Discuss how Kane Industries and our businesses might benefit each other?"

    The sheer audacity nearly made meugh. After everything they''d done to me, they expected me to help them? To save them?

    "I''m afraid my schedule is quite full," I said, my tone cooling several degrees. "But you''re wee to submit proposals through our investment division."

    "We''ve tried." Stefan''sposure slipped, revealing the desperation beneath. "Your people won''t return our calls. If you could just put in a word..."

    "A word?" I raised an eyebrow. "From me?"

    "Your influence with Victoria Kane is well-

    known," Rose pressed, stepping closer. The

    scent of her perfume, the same one she''d worn whenforting me after Stefan became distance during our marriage, made my stomach turn. "Just a small rmendation. An introduction."

    I studied them both, savoring the moment. The great Rose Lewis and Stefan Rodriguez, reduced to begging for scraps of attention. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine telling them everything. Removing But the time wasn''t right. The game wasn''t finished.

    "I''ll consider it," I said finally. "Though I should warn you, my mother values loyalty above all else. She has little patience for those who... discard theirmitments when convenient."

    Stefan''s face paled slightly. Did he hear the usation beneath my words? Did some part of him sense who was really standing before him?

    "We

    understand," Rose said quickly. "Loyalty is everything to us as well. Family values are the foundation of both our businesses."

    The hypocrisy burned like acid. Family values? From the woman who had systematically destroyed her sister''s life? Who had likely arranged her "ident" when convenient?

    "How fortunate for you both." I nced past them, signaling; the conversation''s end. "If you''ll excuse me, the hospital director is waiting."

    "Of course." Rose reached for my hand, squeezing it with false warmth. "Thank you for considering our request. It means everything to us."

    I allowed the contact, though every cell in my body screamed to pull away. "I''m sure it does."

    As I moved through the crowd, their eyes followed me. I felt their desperate hope, their growing fear. I had be what they never expected, someone with power over them. Someone who could save or destr Victoria waited near the stage, regal in ck Chanel. "Productive conversation?" she asked, having observed the entire exchange.

    "Very." I epted another ss of champagne from a passing

    waiter. "They''re desperate. The Asian shipping routes copse hit them harder than we anticipated."

    "Good" Satisfaction glinted in Victoria''s eyes. "And your fashion line attack?"

    "Rose is panicking. Trying to hide it, but she''s losing clients. The quality control rumors we spread are gaining traction."

    "Excellent." Victoria''s smile held all the warmth of a predator spotting prey. "And your... personal reaction?" The question caught me off guard. Victoria rarely concerned herself with emotions, focusing instead o "They don''t recognize me," I said carefully. "Even up close. Even with time to study my face."

    "Of course they don''t. Dr. Torres'' work was impable." Victoria watched me closely. "But that wasn''t what I asked."

    I met her gaze directly. "It felt powerful. Seeing them beg for help from the woman they tried to destroy." She nodded, apparently satisfied. "Remember that feeling.''s why we''re doing this. Why all the preparation

    But as I followed her toward the stage for the evening''s presentations, I wondered if power alone was what I''d felt. Beneath the satisfaction, something else lurked. Something that had stirred when Stefan''s eye Not regret, exactly. Notpassion. But a shadow of the woman I''d once been. The woman who had loved without reservation. Who had believed in second chances.

    That woman was gone, I reminded myself. Transformed by betrayal and Victoria''s careful guidance into someone stronger. Someone who would never again be victim to their maniptions.

    As I took the podium to speak about Kane Industries''mitment to

    helping children, I spotted them watching. from the crowd. Rose''s calcting gaze. Stefan''s desperate hope.

    Neither of them would sleep well tonight, wondering if Camille

    Kane would throw them a lifeline or let them drown

    The thought brought a genuine smile to my face as I began my speech.

 Chapter 44

    Camille''s point of view

    The private investigation office smelled of coffee and secrets. I sat across from Martin Wells, retired NYPD detective turned high-

    end investigator, watching him spreid photos across his desk like ying cards.

    "Four affairs during her time in London," he said, tapping grainy Image of Rose entering a hotel with a man who wasn''t Stefan. "Two with married executives. One with a British lord. One with her fashion mentor

    Something cold settled in my stomach as I picked up the photo, Rose,ughing, hand tucked possessively into the arm of a silver-

    haired man twenty years her senior. The timestamp showed a date just three weeks after I''d married Stefan

    "You''re certain these are authentic?" I kept my voice steady, professional. Victoria had taught me never to show emotion

    during business dealings, even when the business was revenge.

    Wells nodded, sliding more photos toward me. ˇ°Verified by three different sources. Ms Lewis was... busy during her fashion apprenticeship.ˇ±

    And these men? They''ll confirm the rtionships if approached?"

    "Two already have." Wells handed me a sh drive. "Recorded statements. Nothing explicitly naming her, but enough detail to make identification obvious. The British lord refusedment, but his ex- wife was quite forting about why their marriage ended."

    I studied another photo, Rose leaving a London apartment at dawn, still wearing evening clothes from the night before. The man in the doorway behind her was recognizable as Jonathan Hayes, whose wife ha "Mrs. Hayes fired her a week after this was taken," Wellsmented. "Publicly imed it was due to ''creative differences.'' Privately told friends it was for sleeping with her husband."

    The revtion shouldn''t have surprised me. Rose had always taken what she wanted, regardless of who got hurt. Yet seeing actual evidence of her betrayals while I had remained loyal to Stefan sent a wave of

    Wells

    grimaced. "Harder to prove, but multiple sources confirm Rose borrowed'' design

    concepts from other. apprentices. Three designs she imed as her own match sketches that mysteriously disappeared from colleagues.

    workstations."

    The pattern was so familiar it made my chest ache. Rose had been doing this her entire life, stealing others'' work, others'' rtionships, others'' chances. Only now did I see how systematic it had been. "And her time after London? The gap year before she returned to New York?"

    Wells hesitated, shifting ufortably. "That''s where things get...plicated. She imed to be studying in Paris, but we can only ce her there for three months. After that, she surfaces in Monaco," He slid across several photos that made my breath catch. Rose, barely recognizable with tinum blonde hair, hanging on the arm of an older man whose face had been sshed across enough tabloids to be "Anton Bessonov. Russian businessman with questionable connections. Under investigation in three countries for moneyundering"

    I stared at my sister''s face in the photo. The calcting look in her eyes. The practiced

    smile. The careful positioning to ensure her best angle was captured.

    "How long?"

    "Six months. She lived on his yacht. Traveled with him to seven countries. Then disappeared from his life just as news of the international investigation broke."

    Another photo showed Rose back in Paris, hair returned to its natural color, shopping at exclusive boutiques. The timestamp indicated just two weeks before she''d returned to New York, before she''d reconnecte Before my life had begun unraveling.

    "Financial records?" I asked, my mouth dry.

    Wells nodded, pulling out bank statements. "Substantial deposits during the Bessonov period. Moved through three different shellpanies beforending in her main ount. ssicundering pattern.ˇ± I sat back, letting this new information settle. Rose, my perfect, polished sister, had been a kept woman for a suspected criminal. Had potentially helpedunder money, Had certainly been unfaithful to Stefan be "We''vepiled everything into aprehensive dossier, Wells handed me a thick envelope. "Photos, statements, financial records, timeline. Everything, verified by multiple sources."

    I nodded, clutching the envelope that held my sister''s secret

    life. "The second payment will be transferred today. Thank you for your discretion."

    "Ms. Kane." Wells hesitated as I

    stood to leave. "Forgive me for asking, but why dig into Rose Lewis''s past? What does Kane Industries gain from this information?"

    For a moment, I considered telling him the truth. That I wasn''t just Camille Kane, Victoria''s heir. That the woman in those photos had stolen my husband, possibly arranged my "death," certainly destroyed my life Instead, I gave him the practiced smile I''d perfected over the past year. "Due diligence, Mr. Wells. We investigate all potential business partners thoroughly."

    Outside in my waiting car, I finally allowed myself to process what I''d learned. The envelope sat heavy on myp, filled with evidence of Rose''s true nature. All those years I''d believed myselfcking

    Now I understood. Rose hadn''t been better, she''d simply been willing to do things I never would. Lie. Cheat. Steal. Betray. Sleep her way to opportunity.

    My phone buzzed Victoria checking on my progress.

    "Evidence collected? Her message was typically direct.

    "Yes. More than expected. I replied, fingers hovering over the keys before adding: She''s worse than we thought.

    Victoria''s response came immediately: "Perfect. Phase two begins tomorrow. Release the first photo to that fashion blogger who hates her."

    I stared at the message, something ufortable stirring beneath my satisfaction. This was what I wanted, Wasn''t it? To expose Rose''s lies? To destroy her reputation just as she''d destroyed mine?

    Yet part of me wondered what it said about me that I was now using the same tactics Rose had always employed. Maniption Secrets. Revenge

    Was I bing just like her in my quest to destroy her?

    The car stopped at a red light, and I caught my reflection in the window. The face looking back was still strange to me sometimes, sharper cheekbones, more defined jawline, eyes harder than they''d once been. But whose revenge, really? Hers or mine? And when it was over, who would I be?

    The light changed, and the car moved forward, leaving these questions answered. I opened the envelope again, spreading the photos across myp. Rose''s secret life. Rose''s hidden scandals. Rose''s true natu By this time tomorrow, the first domino would fall. The perfect

    image she''d constructed would begin to crack. The world would start to see what I''d always suspected beneath her polished exterior.

    I should have felt only satisfaction. Instead, a strange mix of emotions churned inside me, vindication, yes, but also sadness for the sister I''d once thought I had. The family I''d believed in. The love I''d trusted.

    All lies.

    My phone buzzed again, not Victoria this time, but Alexander.

    Hunting tonight?* His message asked, our code for discussing my revenge ns.

    1 hesitated before replying: *Found the prey''s weakness. Preparing the first strike.*

    His response made me pause: *Remember who you are beneath the hunter''s clothes.*

    Who was I beneath this new identity? Beneath the surgical alterations, the designer clothes, the careful training? Was anything left of the woman who had loved so openly, trusted sopletely?

    I gathered the photos, returning them to the envelope. Tomorrow they would be weapons in my war against Rose. Tonight, they were just reminders of how thoroughly I''d been deceived. By my sister. By my husband. By my parents.

    The car turned onto the private road leading to Victoria''s estate. Through the trees, lights glowed wee in the gathering dusk. My new home. My new life.

    I touched the phoenix pendant at my throat, Victoria''s gift symbolizing rebirth through fire.

    "Hunting tonight?" James asked as he opened my car door, using Alexander''s phrase with different meaning.

    I nodded, clutching the envelope of secrets. "Yes. And tomorrow, the hunt goes public."

    As I walked toward the house, I felt the weight of my choices pressing down. The evidence I''d gathered would destroy Rose piece by piece, just as she''d done to me. Would expose her lies just as she''d expose It was justice, I told myself. Not revenge. Justice for years of maniption. For stolen opportunities. For a life taken without remorse.

    So why did victory already taste like ashes in my mouth?

    Because deep down, beneath

    Victoria''s careful programming; beneath the hunger for revenge, a small voice whispered an ufortable

    truth: in destroying Rose this way, I was bing what I hated most about her.

    1 pushed the thought away, squaring my shoulders as I entered the house. Tomorrow would bring the

    first public blow against Rose''s carefully constructed image. The first crack in her perfect life.

    And nothing, not even my own doubts, would stop what I''d set in motion.

 Chapter 45

    Camille''s point of view

    Five screens glowed on the wall of Victoria''s private office, each disying a different fashion blog. The headline on Fashion Insider screamed in bold type: "ROSE LEWIS: FASHION''S FEMME FATALE?" Belov clock on her desk showed 9:07 AM. The story had been live for exactly twelve minutes, and already the view counter showed over three thousand clicks.

    "Perfectly timed," Victoria said, satisfaction evident in her voice. "The fashion industry wakes up, checks their morning feeds, and finds their darling, exposed.ˇ±

    I nodded, a strange mix of emotions washing through me. Satisfaction, yes. The first real blow against Rose''s carefully constructed image. But something else too, something I hadn''t expected. A hollow feeling Was this really victory? Releasing photos that had been easy to obtain, evidence of sins that seemed almost trivialpared to what she''d

    done to me?

    "Ms. Kane? Ms. Camille?" My assistant Reba knocked before entering, tablet in hand, excitement barely contained. "You wanted updates on the Rose Lewis situation?" Victoria motioned her forward "Report"

    "The story''s spreading faster than projected. It''s hit three major fashion blogs in thest five minutes. Social media engagement is exploding." Reba handed Victoria the tablet. "Her publicist has already issue Victoria''s lips curved into a rare smile as she scrolled through the data. "And the hashtag we nted?"

    "#Rose Thoms is trending in New York and Los Angeles." Reba couldn''t hide her admiration. "The influencers we prepped are amplifying exactly as nned."

    I leaned forward, scanning the social media metrics on the tablet. ˇ°Her brand partners?"

    "Panicking" Reba''s smile widened. "Three have already reached out to their legal teams about morality uses in their contracts."

    Victoria handed me the tablet, our eyes meeting; briefly. This moment, the first real strike against Rose, was what we''d been building toward for months.

    "I want to see her," I said suddenly. "When she gets the news."

    Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous. Unnecessary."

    "I''ll stay hidden. I just..." I struggled to exin the hunger inside me. "I need to see her face."

    Understanding dawned in Victoria''s eyes. "Not enough to destroy her. You need to witness it."

    She considered for a moment, then nodded. "Reba, have James position Ms. Kane near the Lewis boutique. The target has an investor meeting there at ten.ˇ±

    Thirty minutester, I

    sat in a darkened car across from Rose''s gship store in the Fashion District. Tinted windows ensured no one could see me, but I had a perfect view of the boutique''s ss front. Rose arrived at 9:50, looking i Then I saw it. The moment her assistant rushed out, phone extended urgently. The slight freeze in Rose''s perfect posture. The fractional widening of her eyes as she looked at the screen.

    Even from this distance, I could read the shock in her bodynguage. The momentary loss of control as her practiced mask slipped.

    The waiting photographers noticed too, cameras suddenly firing rapidly, capturing her unguarded reaction. Her hand clutched her assistant''s arm for bnce. Her mouth opened slightly before snapping shut. For ten glorious seconds, I watched genuine panic overtake my sister''s face. Then, like the performer she''d always been, she recovered, Smiled tightly, Waved off the photographers. Walked into her boutique w But I''d seen it. That moment of pure, unfiltered fear. That instant where her carefully constructed world began to crumble.

    It tasted like honey on my tongue

    Back at Kane Industries, Victoria and I tracked the story''s spread through more mainstream media. By noon, three major fashion magazines had picked it up. By two, entertainment news sites were running spe I nodded, scanning the reports. "And the investors?"

    "Postponed their meeting. Waiting to see how bad the damage gets."

    Victory. Clear and undeniable. The first true strike in my campaign against Rose.

    So why did part of me still feel empty?

    1 dismissed the feeling, focusing instead on the next phase. "When do we release the Russian connection?"

    Victoria consulted her watch. "Three days. Let this first scandal fully develop before introducing the next. Maximum damage urs when

    people are just beginning to recover from one blow before receiving another."

    Her cold precision should have bothered me. Once, it would have. Now I foundfort in her tactical approach, her emotional detachment. It made my own conflicted feelings easier to ignore.

    My phone buzzed with a text message. I nced down, expecting another update from our media team.

    Instead, Alexander Pierce''s name lit up my screen: Watching your sister''s meltdown on Page Six live updates. Remind me never to cross you, little phoenix. Though I must say, hotel security footage seems ben A*

    Heat crept up my neck as 1 quickly darkened the phone screen. How had he known? We''d been so careful, ensuring no connection between Kane Industries and the leaked photos.

    Victoria''s sharp eyes missed nothing "Problem?"

    "No," I replied, too quickly. "Just a market update."

    Her gaze lingered a moment too long, assessing, calcting, before she returned to the reports. "Tomorrow we''ll monitor the fallout and prepare for phase two. The British lord''s ex-

    wife has provided some exceptionally detailed revtions."

    I nodded, trying to focus on Victoria''s words while my mind kept returning to Alexander''s message. Little phoenix. The nickname no one else used. The teasing tone that somehow acknowledged both my streng And the unsettling realization that he knew what I was doing

    Later, alone in my suite, I stared at his message again. Should I respond? Ignore it? Report this development to Victoria?

    My finger hovered over the delete button. Alexander Pierce was dangerous, too perceptive, too knowledgeable, too interested in my affairs Victoria would see him as a threat to our ns.

    But something in his teasing words resonated with the emptiness I''d felt even as I''d watched Rose''s world begin to crumble.

    Without quite deciding to, I typed a response: *Quality improves with the next release. Though I''m curious how you identified my handiwork.*

    His reply came almost instantly: "The same way I know when a master painter has created a new work. The technique

    is unmistakable, even with different brushes. Sleep

    well, avenger. Tomorrow brings new battles.*

    I turned off my phone, moving to the window that overlooked

    Victoria''s immacte gardens. Tomorrow would bring more scandal for Rose, more destruction of her carefully built world.

    But tonight, for the first time since beginning this path of revenge, I found myself wondering if victory was supposed to feel this empty. If bing like those who had hurt me was truly the justice I sought. I touched the phoenix pendant at my throat, Victoria''s symbol of rebirth through fire.

    What kind of person was I bing in these mes? And would I recognize myself when the transformation wasplete?

 Chapter 46

    ?

    Rose point of view

    I stared at my phone screen until the words blurred, reading the same headline for the twentieth time. "ROSE LEWIS: THE PRIVATE LIFE SHE DIDN''T WANT YOU TO SEEˇ± Beneath it, that grainy photo of me How? How had anyone found this? I''d been so careful.

    My boutique office, normally my sanctuary, felt suffocating now. Outside, I could hear my staff whispering, their usual respectful silence reced by urgent murmurs. They''d seen the stories. Everyone had.

    Three major fashion sites had dropped my spring collection Five influencers had canceled promotional contracts. Two department stores had "postponed" their orders. All within twenty- four hours.

    My empire, built so carefully brick by brick, was crumbling beneath my feet.

    The phone on my desk rang again. My publicity team, no doubt, with another useless strategy. I''d already released three statements, first denying everything, then suggesting the photos were manipted, final I ignored the call, returning to my social media feeds. Thements cut like knives.

    "Always knew she was fake."

    "Poor Camille, no wonder she drove into that river."

    "#RoseThoms is right beautiful but toxic!"

    Tears stung my eyes. Not from shame, I''d never felt shame for taking what I wanted, but from rage. I''d spent years crafting the perfect image. The talented designer. The grieving sister. The devoted fianc¨¦e. All stolen moment captured on film.

    The office door banged open. Stefan stood there, still wearing his work suit, face thunderous. He held his phone in a white-

    knuckled grip.

    "When were you going to tell me?" His voice was dangerously quiet.

    I stood, smoothing my skirt, forcing my face into concerned lines. "Stefan, darling. I''ve been

    trying to reach you all day. These rumors are....ˇ±

    "Not rumors." He stepped inside, mming the door behind him. "Facts. With photographic evidence."

    "It was years ago. Before us. Before..."

    ˇ°Before us?ˇ± Heughed, a harsh sound I''d never heard from him. "ording to the date on this photo, you were sleeping with your mentor''s husband three weeks after I married your sister."

    Ice slid down my spine. I hadn''t noticed the timestamp. Hadn''t thought anyone would look that closely.

    "It wasn''t serious," I tried, moving toward him. "A mistake One night that meant nothing."

    He stepped back, avoiding my touch. "And the others? Lord Hartley? Anton Bessonov?"

    My stomach dropped. They knew about Anton too? How much had they uncovered? Chapter 46

    "Who''s feeding you these lies?" I demanded, offense as defense. "Who''s trying to

    destroy what we have?"

    "What we have.ˇ± Stefan ran a hand through his hair, disheveled in a way that would normally make me want to fix it. "What exactly do we have, Rose? A rtionship built on our maniption of Camille? A future "I never lied to you," I insisted. "I just didn''t share every detail of my past. Everyone has secrets."

    "Secrets." He stared at me like he''d never seen

    me before. "Like where you really were during your ''year in Paris''? Because ording to these new photos, you spent six months on a Russian oligarch''s yacht."

    More photos. More evidence. My mind raced, calcting damage, nning counterattacks. Who was doing this? Who had the resources and motivation to dig so deeply into my past?

    "It''s not what it looks like," I said, falling back on the most basic denial.

    "It never is with you, is it?" Stefan''s voice had gone t. "Nothing''s ever what it looks like. Not your rtionship with me while I was married to Camille. Not your convenient

    return from London just when our marriage was struggling. Not your sudden devotion after her ident."

    "How dare you," I hissed, genuine anger ring. "I loved Camille. Her death destroyed me!"

    "Did it?" He moved closer, eyes searching mine. "Because keep remembering your face that night. When they told us her car went off that bridge. You didn''t look surprised, Rose. You looked... relieved." My heart stuttered. Had he noticed? Had he seen through my performance even then?

    "That''s absurd. Grief affects people differently. You know that."

    "What I know," Stefan said slowly, "is that I''m beginning to wonder if I ever knew you at all."

    The door opened again before I could respond. This time my parents

    stood in the threshold, my mother''s eyes red- rimmed, my father''s face grim.

    "Rose." My father''s voice, usually so warm when addressing

    me, had gone cold. "We need to talk."

    Four people in my small office now, the walls closing in. I''d faced criticism before, weathered minor scandals, but never this coordinated attack from all sides,

    you can see.

    "Not now," I said, desperation leaking into my voice. "I''m dealing with a PR crisis, as you

    "A PR crisis?" My mother stepped forward, brandishing her phone. "Is that what you call sleeping with a married man while you were studying? Is that what you call lying about where you were during your ''fashiugh was sharp, almost cruel. ˇ°That''s not even the worst part. The worst part is that while I was being cold to Camille, having love for you and waiting for

    you toe back, you were busy messing around with these men."

    The raw pain in his voice shocked me. The betrayal in his eyes cut deeper than my parents'' disappointment. He truly had been waiting for me, just as I''d nned. But now be knew I hadn''t been doing the same "Stefan, please..."

    "All those times I was distant with Camille, all those nights you... and you were on some Russian''s yacht? In some lord worst husband imaginable to your sister while you were just

    stayedte at the office thinking about you, missing bed?" His voice broke slightly. "You made me the

    having fun?"

    The betrayal cut deep from all sides. My mother had always been my strongest advocate, always taken my side against Camille, against anyone who challenged me. And Stefan had been my sure thing, my fall Chapter 46

    man who would always want me.

    "Mom, please. These photos are being taken out of context,

    "Context?" She scrolled through her phone, cach swipe revealing another damning image. Me with Jonathan at a private dinner. Me with Lord Hartley at his country estate. Me boarding Anton''s yacht in Monaco

    "I made choices to advance my career," I said, drawing myself up. "Cholces men make every day without judgment."

    "Men don''t pretend to be working in Paris while lounging on criminal yachts," my father snapped. "Men don''t sleep with

    their mentors'' husbands while iming to be learning design skills."

    The united front stunned me. My parents had never confronted me this way, had always epted my exnations, my tears, my carefully crafted stories.

    "Who exactly are you?" My mother''s question sliced through my shock. "Because the daughter we thought we knew wouldn''t behave this way."

    "The daughter you thought you knew?" Iughed, bitterness finally boiling over. "The daughter you chose over your own blood! The daughter you let get away with everything because she was so special, so tal My voice had risen to a shout, years of resentment fueling my words. Yes, they''d chosen me, favored me, but always with conditions. Always expecting performance. Perfection. Sess.

    "We gave you everything," my father said, voice shaking. "Opportunities Camille never had. Support she never received. And this is how you honor that? By destroying your own reputation? By embarrassing thi "My reputation?" I grabbed a vase from my desk, hurling it against the wall. Water and flowers sprayed across my design sketches, ruining weeks of work. "My entire career is being dismantled by these stories, Stefan moved between me and my parents, hands raised as if calming a wild animal. "Rose, you need to pull yourself together. This isn''t helping"

    "Helping?" I seized a design award from my shelf, feeling its weight in my hand. "Nothing is helping! My business partners are abandoning me. My wedding ns are shelved. My own fianc¨¦ is questioning my c The award smashed against myputer screen, cracks spiderwebbing across the disy. The release felt so good I grabbed another object, a

    framed photo of me and Stefan, and sent it flying.

    "Stop it!" My mother tried to restrain me, but I pushed her away, sending her stumbling into my father.

    "Don''t touch me! None of you understand what I''ve built, what I''ve sacrificed, what I''ve done to get here!"

    "What exactly have you done, Rose?" Stefan''s quiet question froze me mid-

    destruction. "What sacrifices are you talking about?"

    His eyes held something new, not just anger or betrayal, but suspicion. Sharp and focused. As if pieces were finally clicking into ce.

    ˇ°Nothing,ˇ± I backtracked quickly. "Business sacrifices. Career choices."

    "No." He stepped closer, voice dropping. "I think there''s more. Something about Camille. Something you''re still hiding"

    For a terrifying moment, I thought he knew. About the men''d hired to frighten Camille that night. About how

    things

    had gone wrong. About the car plunging into the river instead of just delivering a warning. "You''re being paranoid," I whispered, suddenly aware I''d said too much.

    "Am I?" He held my gaze, searching "First these photos prove you were seeing me behind her back while we were married. Now your extreme reaction to simple questions. What exactly happened the night of h

    My father stepped forward, "What do you mean, you were there? You told us you were having dinner with her that night. That she canceled at thest minute."

    More mistakes. More cracks in my story. I needed control, needed to regain my footing in this rapidly deteriorating situation.

    "I misspoke." I said, forcing calm 1 didn''t feel. "This stress is making me confused. Of course I was supposed to meet her. She canceled. You know this." But Stefan was watching me with that same

    evaluating look, that same growing suspicion. "Your stories never quite added up about that night. And now all these other liesing to light..."

    "Get out." The words tore from my throat. "All of you, get out of my office."

    "Rose..." my mother began.

    "OUT!" I screamed, grabbing another object, a ss paperweight and hurling it at the wall above their heads.

    They retreated, Stefan shepherding my parents through the door, his final nce at me filled with something that looked like pity mixed with growing certainty.

    When they were gone, I copsed into my chair, surrounded by the destruction I''d caused. ss and water and flowers littered the floor. Myputer screen flickered with spiderweb cracks. Design sketches pristine desk.

    My phone buzzed with another notification. Another story breaking. Another piece of my past exposed for public consumption.

    Who was doing this? Who had both the resources to uncover my secrets and the motivation to destroy me so methodically?

 Chapter 47

    Camille''s point of view

    The

    -

    morning sun cast long shadows across my desk as I reviewed thetest reports on Rodriguez Shipping''s supply chain. Five of their key suppliers had abruptly terminated contracts in the past twenty- four hours. Two more were scheduled to announce their withdrawal by noon Each one citing "business concerns" or "strategic realignmentˇ± corporate speak for abandoning a sinking ship.

    What none of them mentioned was the quiet pressure from Kane Industries. The subtle threats about future business rtionships. The anonymous tips about Rodriguez financial instability. The carefully orches "Ms. Kane." My assistant Reba knocked before entering, tablet in hand. "Marunouchi Trading just announced their withdrawal. Their statement hit the financial press five minutes ago."

    I nodded, satisfaction warming my blood. Marunouchi was Stefan''srgest Asian supplier, ounting for nearly thirty percent of his Pacific shipping materials.

    "How did the market react?"

    Rodriguez stock dropped another eight points in pre-

    market trading" Reba couldn''t hide her admiration. "At this rate, they''ll be below their IPO price by next

    week."

    "And Stefan?"

    "Scheduled an emergency board

    meeting for tomorrow morning. His father is flying back from Europe tonight." Reba''s efficiency reflected the months of training Victoria had invested in all staff who worked directly with me.

    Good. Let him feel the walls closing in. Let him experience the helpless

    panic I''d felt when my own life crumbled beneath me.

    Victoria entered as Reba was leaving, impable as always in a tailored

    navy suit that conveyed power without effort. Her eyes took in the market data on my screens with evident satisfaction.

    "I see Marunouchi made their announcement," she said, moving to stand beside my desk. "Your strategy is working even better than projected."

    She studied me, head tilted slightly. "You''ve done exceptional work targeting his supply chain. Where did you. obtain such detailed knowledge of their dependencies?"

    I kept my expression neutral. ˇ°Research nning, Careful analysis."

    Not entirely a lie. But not the whole truth either. I didn''t mention the nights I''d spent listening to Stefan talk about hispany''s operations. The dinners where he''d exined supply chain dynamics to me, thinki "Well, your analysis was wless." Victoria

    nodded with genuine approval, rare from a woman who seldom offered praise.

    Reba knocked again, appearing in the doorway. "Ms. Kane, just a reminder that the second batch of Rose''s photos is scheduled to release at noon. Entertainment sites first, then fashion blogs, then mainstre My finger hovered over my keyboard, the finalmand queued and ready. These photos would hurt Rose far more than the first batch. Not just affairs and indiscretions, but evidence of her time with Anton Bes during negotiationster gged by international authorities,

    One keystroke would send her professional reputation from damaged to destroyed.

    I pressed enter.

    "It''s done," I said, a strange mix of emotions washing through me. Victory, yes. But also something darker. Something that felt ufortably like bing what I hated most about my sister.

    Victoria observed me with that prating, gaze that always seemed to see beneath my carefully maintained facade. "You hesitated before pressing enter. Having doubts?"

    "No," I replied, perhaps too quickly. "Just savoring the moment."

    She studied me for another beat before epting my answer with a slight nod. "I''ll be in strategic nning urttil

    La slight ned two. Have Reba update me on the public reaction as it develops."

    Reba appeared in the doorway again, as if summoned by her name. "I''ll have the media team monitor reaction and amplify key narratives, Ms. Kane."

    After she left, I pulled up the live feed from the security camera outside Rose''s boutique. We''d installed it weeks ago, ensuring I could witness her world unraveling in real time.

    It took exactly twenty-

    seven minutes for the news to reach her. I watched her assistant rush out to the waiting car, phone extended urgently. Saw Rose''s perfect posture crumple slightly as she read the headlines. Watched color drai

    For a brief, wonderful moment, pure panic overtook her features. Then, like the performer she''d always been, she recovered. Forced a smile. Waved off questions with practiced grace.

    But I''d seen it. That sh of genuine fear. That instant recognition that her

    carefully constructed life was truly falling apart.

    It should have felt sweeter.

    My phone buzzed with a text from Alexander: "The queen takes another piece from the board. Impressive moves, little phoenix.*

    How did he always know? Every strike against Rose and Stefan, every carefully orchestrated attack, somehow Alexander Pierce tracked them all,menting with his odd mix of admiration and concern.

    I pushed away the question, focusing instead on the financial terminals tracking Rodriguez Shipping''s continued decline. The stock had opened another six percent down. News alerts showed shipping custome My phone buzzed with a text from our source inside

    Rodriguez Shipping: *Complete chaos here. Stefan locked in emergency meetings all day. Board members threatening resignation. His father shouting about family legacy destroyed."

    1 smiled at the update. Let him feel the walls closing in. Let him experience the helpless panic I''d felt when my own life crumbled beneath me.

    On my screens, financial news channels were now covering Rodriguez Shipping''s crisis as breaking news. Market analysts questioning thepany''s survival. Industry experts specting about who might  "Should we prepare a statement about Kane Inchistries'' interest in certain Rodriguez assets?" Victoria asked, watching the coverage with satisfaction. "The

    market would respond well to hints we might acquire their Pacific routes."

    "Not yet," I replied, strategic even in my

    revenge. "Let the Value drop further before showing our hand."

    On my screen, financial news channels were now covering Rodriguez Shipping''s crisis

    as breaking news. Market analysts questioning thepany''s survival. Industry experts specting about who might acquire their routes once bankruptcy became inevitable.

    Reba returned, excitement barely contained beneath her professional demeanor.

    "Ms. Kane, the Rose photos are performing beyond expectations. Three major fashion houses have publicly severed ties with her brand. Her main manufacturing partner just announced they''re ''reevaluating the

    "And the Russian connection?"

    "Already picked up by mainstream news." Reba couldn''t hide her admiration for our strategy. "They''re asking if she helpedunder money through her early designs. If her current business was built on crimi Victoria entered as Reba was delivering her report, satisfaction evident in her rare smile. She nodded approvingly at the metrics disyed on my screens.

    I nodded, moving to

    the window overlooking Manhattan Somewhere out there, Rose was watching her career implode. Stefan was fighting to save his family legacy. Both experiencing the same helpless panic they''d once inflicted Justice, I reminded myself. Not revenge. Justice for years of maniption and betrayal.

    So why did victory taste increasingly bitter?

    "Stefan called me directly," I said, still watching the city below. "Begging for a meeting

    Victoria''s reflection in the window showed her sharp interest. "And you said?"

    "Next Tuesday. Fifteen minutes."

    "Excellent." She moved beside me. "The perfect opportunity to witness his desperation firsthand. To watch him beg without understanding who truly holds his fate."

    The thought should have thrilled me. Once, it would have. Now I felt only a strange hollowness.

    "What happens when it''s over?" I asked quietly. "When they''re both destroyedpletely?"

    Victoria studied me carefully. "We move forward. You take your rightful ce as my heir. We build something greater than either of us could alone."

    But that wasn''t what I''d asked. Not really. The question I couldn''t quite

    voice was simpler: Who would I be when revenge no longer defined me?

    My phone buzzed with another message from Alexander: When the game ends and all pieces are captured, what then for the queen? Perhaps we should discuss over dinner tomorrow,

    I turned away from the window, deliberately ignoring both Victoria''s questioning look and Alexander''s message. On my desk, reports showed Stefan''spany bleeding value by the minute. On my screens, en This was what I''d wanted. What I''d nned for months. What I''d changed my entire identity to achieve.

    Victory. Revenge, Justice.

    Reba locked before entering again. "Ms. Kane, the board is requesting your assessment of Rodriguez Shipping''s remaining assets. They''d like rmendations on which pieces might be worth acquiring or

    I nodded, returning to business. To the careful, methodical destruction of those who had destroyed me. To the path I''d chosen and could no longer deviate from.

    Yet as Victoria outlined our next moves against Stefan''s failingpany, part of me wondered if Alexander''s question deserved consideration

    When the game ends and all pieces are captured, what then for the queen?

 Chapter 48

    Rose point of view

    The showroom that had once been my pride now felt like a tomb, Silent. Empty. Abandoned. I moved between the clothing racks, touching fabrics that represented thousands of hours of work. My spring collecti pushing" and "career defining" just weeks ago, hung untouched, unsold,

    unwanted.

    My phone buzzed for the twentieth time that morning. Another cancetion, no doubt. Another buyer pulling orders. Another door mming shut.

    I ignored it, continuing my lonely tour through what remained of my empire. The front desk sat vacant, I''d had to let Jessica go yesterday, along with three other staff members. The remaining team worked from The quiet made the memories louder. Theunch party for this collection just two months ago. Champagne flowing. Music pulsing. Fashion editors praising my "visionary aesthetic." Buyers from luxury stores ar All gone.

    In the back office, financial reports covered my desk in a sea of red numbers. The phone rang again, mywyer''s name shing on the screen. I answered this time, bracing for more bad news.

    Rose, Mark''s voice carried the careful tone people use with the terminally ill. "Neiman Marcus just pulled their entire order."

    My fingers tightened on the phone. Neiman had been my biggest supporter from the beginning. Their spring order represented nearly a million dors in revenue.

    "They can''t do that," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. "We have a contract."

    "They''re invoking the morality use, Paragraph sixteen, section B. The same one Saks used yesterday."

    Another blow. Another cut. I sank into my chair, legs suddenly unable to support my weight.

    "What about Bergdorf?" I asked, though I already knew the answer from his silence.

    "Their email came five minutes ago. I was about to call you?

    Three major department stores in twenty-

    four hours. Each one citing the same "reputational concerns" after the photos of me with Anton Bessonov had spread through every fashion publication.

    "What about the spring production run?" I asked, mind racing to find some path forward. "We''ve already started manufacturing"

    Mark hesitated. "That''s the other thing. Ster Fabrics called this morning. They''re canceling delivery of the

    materials."

    The room tilted sideways. Ster was our main supplier. Without their specialized fabrics, we couldn''t produce anything, not the spring collection, not even basic pieces to keep cash flowing "They can''t back out!" My voice rose despite my efforts to remain calm. "We prepaid half the order!"

    "They''re refunding the deposit, but the contract has the same morality use as the others. Rose, someone went through your agreements very carefully. Every major partner has the same exit provision." Chapter 49

    Ice spread through my veins. This wasn''t bad luck or coincidence. This was nned. Executed with precision by someone who wanted to destroy mepletely.

    "Who would do this, Mark? Who wants to ruin me?"

    "It could be anypetitor in the industry. Fashion is..."

    "No," I cut him off. "This feels personal. The timing of the photo leaks. The coordination of the contract cancetions. Someone is orchestrating this."

    Mark sighed. "I''ve reached out to my contacts at the other fashion houses. No one seems to know where the photos originated. They just appeared simultaneously on multiple blogs, like they were seeded delib My mind raced through possibilities. Jealous designers? Industry rivals? Former lovers with grudges? The list of people I''d stepped on to reach the

    top wasn''t short.

    "Has anyone unusual been asking questions about me? Anyone new in

    the industry who might have something against me?"

    "Not that I know of. But Rose, we need to

    focus on saving what''s left of the business. If we can secure bridge financing

    "There won''t be a business left to save if we don''t identify who''s attacking us!" I mmed my hand on the desk, sending financial reports fluttering to the floor. "Someone didn''t just happen to find those photos. As if responding to my outburst, the office door opened. My assistant Michael stood there, face pale.

    "What now?" I demanded, already knowing from his expression it wasn''t good.

    "Vogue just pulled your feature." His voice trembled slightly. "And Harper''s

    Bazaar is asking forment about.... about the Russian moneyundering allegations."

    The room spun around me. The Vogue feature had been scheduled for months, a six-

    page spread celebrating my authentic creative vision." Now gone. And moneyundering? The usation felt like a physical blow.

    "What allegations?" Mark asked sharply.

    Michael handed me his tablet. On screen, a financial blog I''d never heard of detailed suspicious transactions between Anton Bessonov''s ounts and my early business funding. Transactions I''d thought were

    "This

    is insane," I whispered, scanning the article. "These records were private. How did anyone get ess?" But I already knew the answer. Someone with resources. Someone with connections. Someone determin Thendline phone rang... the private line that only went to certain clients and partners. I ced it on speaker, trying to gather myposure.

    "Rose Lewis."

    "Ms. Lewis, this is Maria Chen from Women''s Wear Daily. We''re running a story about your

    brand''s financial situation and wanted to offer you a chance toment."

    My heart stuttered. WWD was fashion''s bible. Their coverage reached every corner of the industry.

    "What exactly is your story about?" Lasked, fighting to keep my voice professional.

    "We''ve received information that several major retailers have canceled orders amid concerns about your past business associations. Sources also indicate Ster Fabrics has terminated your supply contract, a is suspending production."

    Every disaster I''d learned about this moming, wrapped into one neat package. How had they gotten this information so quickly?

    "We''re also including details about the Russian yacht photos and alleged financial irregrities," Maria continued. "Is there a statement you''d like to make?"

    Mark made frantic cutting motions across his throat. Don''tment. Don''t engage. Don''t make it worse.

    "This is a targeted campaign to destroy my reputation and business," I said, ignoring his warning. "Someone is deliberately spreading lies and manipting contexts to damage my brand. I categorically deny an The trap was obvious, but my anger overwhelmed my caution.

    "The photos are real. The rtionship was not what''s being implied. And my business dealings have always been legitimate."

    "Then how do you exin the three million dors transferred

    from offshore ounts into your initial business funding?"

    The specific amount sent ice through my veins. That

    number wasn''t public. Wasn''t even in my official records. Only two people knew that exact figure, me and Anton.

    "I have no furtherment," I said, ending the call before could say something worse.

    "Rose," Mark said quietly. "What offshore ounts?"

    I shook my head, unwilling

    to answer even mywyer. Some secrets had to remain buried, especially now. Michael hovered uncertainly by the door. "There''s one more thing. The factory in Mn called. They need to speak with you urgen Our main production facility. The backbone of the entire operation. If they pulled out too....

    "Give me

    five minutes," I said, needing a moment alone before facing the next disaster.

    When they left, I moved to the window overlooking the Fashion District. Justst year, I''d chosen this office specifically for this view, a constant reminder of the industry I was conquering. Now it felt like looking a a kingdom that had rejected me.

    My phone buzzed with a text from Stefan: *Are you seeing the news? We need to talk. Someone ising after both of

    us."

    So he''d made the connection too. Whatever was happening, we were both targets of the same enemy.

    The question was, who? And why?

    A notification appeared on myputer screen. An email from my bank. Subject line: URGENT ACCOUNT

    FREEZE

    Mynds shook as I opened it. The message was brief but devastating. Due to "ongoing financial investigations," all business ounts associated with my name were temporarily frozen. Effective immediately,

    No ess to operating funds. No way to pay remaining staff No ability to settle debts with the few suppliers still willing to work with me.

    Complete financial paralysis.

    I dialed Stefan immediately. "They''ve frozen my ounts, I said without greeting, "All of them."

    "Mine too," he replied, sounding as shaken as I felt. "Ten minutes ago. Right after I lost myst two major Asian shipping partners."

    "This isn''t coincidence."!

    "No," he agreed. "Someone''s targeting us both

    systematically. The question is who has the power and motivation to do this"

    "Who would hate both of us this much?" I whispered, genuine fear recing anger for the first time.

    "I don''t know. But whoever it is, they''re not stopping until we''repletely destroyed."

    After he hung up, I stood alone in my silent showroom. Beautiful clothes that no one would buy. A business ount with no money. A reputation in tatters.

    Everything I''d built, everything I''d schemed for, everything I''d sacrificed for, gone in a matter of days.

    The door opened again. Michael entered looking like he might vomit. "The factory in Mn has terminated our contract. And Women''s Wear Daily just published their article. It''s... it''s bad, Rose."

    I took the tablet he offered, scanning the headline: ˇ°ROSE LEWIS EMPIRE COLLAPSES AMID SCANDAL AND FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES,ˇ±

    The article wasprehensive, devastating, and filled with details no one should have known. Every financial vulnerability. Every contract termination. Every skeleton I thought safely buried.

    As I reached the end, something caught my eye that made my blood freeze.

    industry insiders

    note the curious timing that both Lewis and her fianc¨¦ Stefan Rodriguez are facing simultaneous

    business copses, leading to spection about possible connected financial improprieties."

    They were linking us together, suggesting our separate disasters were somehow connected to shared wrongdoing. Making us both toxic in their respective industries.

    I sank to my knees among the beautiful clothes no one would ever wear, surrounded by the dreams that were turning to dust before my eyes.

    Whoever was doing this had resources I couldn''t fight, connections I couldn''t match, and a determination I couldn''t ovee. They weren''t just attacking my business, they were systematically erasing everythi

    As I knelt there, a strange calm reced my panic. I''d fought my way out of nothing once before. wed my way up from the foster system. Reinvented myself as the perfect daughter, the talented designer, the

    I could do it again.

    I would do it again.

    But first, I needed to find out who hated both me and Stefan enough to orchestrate ourplete destruction

    Because this wasn''t just business. This was personal.

    And I would make them pay.

 Chapter 49

    The view from the seventy-

    eighth floor of Pierce Tower turned Manhattan into a miniature city, tiny lights flickering like stars below. Alexander stood at the floor-

    to-

    ceiling window, phone pressed to his ear, watching darkness spread across the skyline. His reflection stared back at him, perfectly tailored suit, carefully neutral expression, eyes that revealed nothing of the gar

    "I understand your interest in Rose Lewis''s fashion line, M. Hiroshi," he said, voice smooth as aged whiskey." But my analysis suggests it would be an unwise investment at this time. The brand carries significar The Japanese investor on the other end sounded disappointed. "Our research indicated solid growth potential despite recent... difficulties."

    "Your research is iplete," Alexander replied, moving to his desk where three monitors disyed financial data on Rose''s copsing business. "I''ve taken the liberty of sending you some additional informatic He''d spent hourspiling this dossier -

    rumors of design theft, details of canceled retail contracts, hints of connections to Bessonov''s questionable finances. All

    true, all damaging, all impossible to ignore for a cautious investor like Hiroshi."

    "This is... most concerning," Hiroshi said after a lengthy pause. "You''ve saved me from a significant mistake, Mr. Pierce. I owe you a debt of gratitude."

    "Not at all. That''s what friends do." Alexander kept his voice warm, collegial. "There will be better opportunities. Perhaps we could discuss

    the tech portfolio I mentionedst month?"

    After finalizing ns to redirect Hiroshi''s investment toward one of his ownpanies, Alexander ended the call and checked his list. Rose Lewis had approached nine potential investors since her business began copsing. He''d now intercepted and turned away seven of them.

    The phone rang again, his private line. Only three people had this number.

    "Sarah. Updates?"

    His secretary''s efficient voice filled the room. "Rodriguez Shipping approached Eastern Capital Partners this morning. They''re seeking hundred million in emergency financing."

    Alexander frowned slightly. Eastern Capital was one of the few major investment firms he didn''t have direct influence over.

    "Who''s handling their case?"

    "David Chen."

    Alexander smiled. David owed him a favor fromst year''s Hong Kong deal. "Connect me to him. And have the team prepare a detailed risk assessment on Rodriguez Shipping. Make sure it emphasizes their A "Already done, sir. The assessment is being delivered to Mr. Chen''s office as we speak."

    "Excellent." Alexander paused. "Any news from Kane Industries?"

    "Ms. Kane is scheduled

    to appear at the Metropolitan Museum fundraiser tonight. Our sources indicate she''ll be alone, Victoria is in Chicago for a separate engagement."

    Interesting. Camille attending a major event without Victoria''s watchful presence. An opportunity, perhaps.

    "Send flowers to her office. White roses. No card."

    "Yes, sir. Anything else?"

    Alexander moved back to the window, mind already calcting next moves.

    "Have we received the updated assessment on Sterling Financial''s exposure to Rodriguez Shipping debt?"

    "Yes, sir. They''re significantly overextended. If Rodriguez defaults on their existing loans, Sterling could face a liquidity crisis."

    ˇ°Perfect. Leak that information to the Wall Street Journal''s financial desk. Anonymously, of course."

    When Sarah signed off, Alexander remained at the window watching night fully im the city. In the distance, the lights of Kane Tower glowed steady and bright, Victoria''s empire, now Camille''s inheritance. Bet His desk phone buzzed again.

    "Mr. Pierce,

    William Gray from Morgan Stanley on line one. He''s asking about your interest in acquiring distressed fashion assets.ˇ±

    Alexander moved to his desk, a small smile ying at his lips. So Rose had reached out to Morgan Stanley as well. Desperate times indeed.

    "William, good evening." He kept

    his tone pleasant, interested. "What assets are we discussing?"

    "There''s a fashion brand facing some temporary difficulties. Strong fundamentals, excellent design team, just needs a capital infusion to weather current PR issues."

    "Rose Lewis''s line?" Alexander asked, though he already knew the answer.

    The pause on the other end confirmed it. "Yes. You''ve heard of the situation?"

    "I make it my business to stay informed." Alexander opened his

    11

    He had no intention of investing a penny in Rose''s failing business. But expressing interest would keep other potential rescuers waiting, watching, wasting precious time while her brand sank further into crisis. After ending the call, Alexander checked his other screen, where a different battle was being monitored. Three major shippingpanies were circling Rodriguez Shipping, vultures sensing a dying animal, His team had quietly reached out to each one, suggesting they wait for thepany''s situation to deteriorate further before making acquisition offers.

    Why rush in, his people had suggested, when patience would yield a much lower purchase price?

    His phone buzzed with an alert. Rodriguez Shipping stock had just hit

    another new low in after-

    hours trading. Eight percent down from yesterday''s close. Another sessful day in the systematic dismantling of Stefan Rodriguez''s life.

    Alexander should have felt only satisfaction. This was what he''d nned, helping Camille achieve her revenge while remaining invisible, repaying his debt to the woman who''d once saved him when he had noth Instead, something ufortable stirred beneath his calcted exterior. Doubt. Concern. Questions about what all this destruction was doing to Camille''s soul.

    He''d

    walked a simr path once. Knew the cost of revenge. The way it hollowed you out even as it satisfied your darkest hunger.

    His private elevator pinged, doors sliding open to admit his chief security officer, Marcus.

    "The surveince report you requested," Marcus said, cing a slim

    folder on Alexander''s desk. "Ms. Kane''s movements for the past week."

    Alexander nodded his

    thanks, waiting until Marcus departed before opening the folder. Inside, photos showed Camille at various business meetings, charity functions, private dinners with Victoria. In each image, she appearedpo Only someone who knew what to look for would notice the slight tension around her eyes. The carefully controlled movements. The practiced smiles that never quite reached her gaze.

    He recognized the signs because he''d once worn the same mask. The face of someone consumed by revenge, hollowed out by its demands, questioning what would remain when the fire of hatred finally burne Alexander moved to a hidden panel in his office wall, pressing his palm against the biometric scanner. The wall slid open, revealing a private

    safe. Inside, alongside documents worth billions and secrets that could topple governments,y a small velvet box.

    He removed it carefully, opening the lid to reveal the silver rose pendant. Four years he''d carried it, waiting for the right moment

    to return

    it to the woman who''d sat beside his hospital bed. Who''d paid his medical bills when his family abandoned him. Who''d shown kindness when he had nothing to offer in return.

    The woman who now walked a

    path of destruction, not knowing he followed behind, helping clear obstacles, ensuring her sess. Watching her transform from victim to avenger.

    His phone rang again, the secure line connected to his most sensitive operations.

    "Sir, Sterling Financial just announced an emergency audit of all shipping industry loans. Rodriguez Shipping stock is dropping in Asian markets."

    "Monitor the situation," Alexander instructed. "And prepare the acquisition documents we discussed. When they hit rock bottom, I want to be ready to move."

    Not to actually acquire

    anything, but to create the appearance of interest keeping other potential buyers away until Kane Industries could make their move. Another invisible thread pulled to aid Camille''s revenge.

    Alexander returned the pendant to its safe, closing the hidden panel before moving back to his desk. His screens disyed the ongoing destruction of two lives, Rose''s fashion empire in tatters, Stefan''s shippin

    He picked up his phone, fingers hovering over the keys. For weeks, he''d maintained a careful distance, offering only cryptic texts, watching Camille''s revenge unfold from afar. Perhaps

    it was time for a more direct approach. *The wolves circle the wounded prey. Both targets now seeking emergency financing,

    both being denied at every turn. Your move is proving most effective, little phoenix.*

    He hesitated before sending it, knowing Victoria would disapprove of his involvement. Knowing Camille herself might resent his awareness of her ns. Knowing he was crossing a line between observer and But something in him needed her to know she wasn''t alone in this battle. That someone understood the cost of what she was doing. That someone saw beyond the mask she wore.

    He pressed send, then turned back to the window, watching his

    reflection in the darkened ss. The man looking back was unreadable, controlled, powerful, everything he''d built himself to be after his own destruction and

    rebirth.

    pa

    But beneath that carefully constructed exteriory memories of a hospital room. Of gentle hands changing bandages. Of a quiet voice reading when pain kept him awake. Of kindness offered without expectation a response from Camille: *How do you always know?*

    Alexander smiled slightly, typing his reply: *The same way I know when the wind changes direction or the tide turns. Some forces can be felt rather than scen.*

    Her response came quickly: *You''re a mystery I don''t have time to solve right now.*

    *Yet solve me you will, one day. When your current quest isplete.*

    He waited, watching three dots appear and disappear several times before her final message arrived: *What makes you think it will ever beplete?

    *

    The question carried weight beyond its simple words. He''recognized the fear beneath it, the same fear he''d once faced. What

    happens when revenge is achieved? What remains of the person you were? What fills the void when hatred no

    longer drives every decision?

    *Because all fires eventually burn out, little phoenix. The question is what rises from the ashes.*

    No response followed. He hadn''t expected one. Some questions had no easy answers, especially for someone still consumed by the mes. Alexander returned to his desk, reviewing reports of the day''s

    sessful maniptions. Eastern Capital had declined Rodriguez Shipping''s loan application, citing "concerns about management stability." Three more investors had backed away from Rose''s fashion line afte All pieces moving exactly as nned. All contributing to the systematic destruction of two people who had once destroyed Camille Lewis.

    Tomorrow would bring more of the same. More blocked investors. More leaked information. More careful maniption of markets and opinions. All invisible, all untraceable, all designed toplement Camille''s His phone buzzed with a final text from Sarah: *Mission aplished. Morgan Stanley will dy response to Rose Lewis until after the weekend. By then it will be toote for her production deadlines.* Another victory. Another nail in the coffin of Rose''s fashion dreams.

    Alexander closed hisptop, gathering his coat to leave. Tonight he would attend the same Metropolitan Museum fundraiser as Camille, watching her from across the room, their shared secret a silent bond neith Tomorrow he would continue dismantling the financial foundations of her enemies, an unseen ally in her quest for justice. Or revenge. Or whatever she

    chose to call the fire consuming her.

    And when it was over, when Rose and Stefany broken beyond repair, he would be waiting. Ready to help her answer the question she wasn''t yet ready to face.

    What rises from the ashes when revenge is finallyplete

 Chapter 50

    The Metropolitan Museum glowed with old-world grandeur, transformed for

    the annual Children''s Heart Foundation g. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over Manhattan''s elite as they paraded in designer gowns and bespoke tuxedos, diamonds glittering like stars brought down to infested waters of high society alone. She wore a midnight

    blue gown that whispered over marble floors as she moved, her surgical alterations and months of training giving her the confidence to meet curious stares with cool indifference.

    "Ms. Kane," a silver-

    haired museum trustee approached, hand extended. "How wonderful to see you without your mother for once. She''s kept you quite close since your emergence."

    Camille offered the practiced smile Victoria had taught her, warm enough to seem approachable, reserved enough to maintain distance. "Mother had priormitments in Chicago. The Children''s Heart Founda "Indeed, indeed. Your donation was most generous."

    She nodded acknowledgment, already scanning the room for more strategic connections. The fundraiser''s guest list included three potential Kane Industries partners, two board members frompanies they Victoria had left detailed instructions on who to speak with, for how long, and what impressions to leave. Camille followed them methodically, moving from group to group with practiced grace. Yet beneath her p Justice, she reminded herself. Not revenge. Justice for years of maniption and betrayal.

    A subtle shift in the crowded room caught her attention, people turning, murmuring, parting like the sea before an approaching force. Alexander Pierce had arrived. Even among billionaires, Alexander cut a striking figure. Tall, broad-

    shouldered, with the lean build of someone who maintained physical discipline despite wealth that could afford any indulgence. His

    custom tuxedo fit like a second skin, emphasizing strength contained within civilization''s boundaries. But it was his eyes thatmanded attention, sharp gray that seemed to see through pretense, beyond soc Those eyes found her immediately, as if he''d been searching for her from the moment he entered. A slight smile curved his mouth when their gazes locked, not the practiced social expression others wore, but s Camille looked away first, unsettled by her reaction to him. She''d anticipated his presence tonight, of course. Alexander Pierce rarely missed major phnthropic events. But she hadn''t prepared for the quickeni She moved deeper into the crowd, resuming her carefulworking while maintaining awareness of his position in the room. He did the same, never approaching directly but remaining in her peripheral vision, th The museum director tapped a microphone, calling for attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, the highlight

    of tonight''s auction is about to begin. If you would kindly move to the east gallery..."

    The crowd flowed like an elegant current toward the auction area. Camille found herself positioned near the front, where a spotlight illuminated a ss disy case. Inside, a diamond ne caught and fract "The Heart of Eternity," the auctioneer announced once everyone had settled. "Fifty-

    seven perfectly matched blue -white diamonds surrounding a twelve-

    carat blue diamond centerpiece. This one-of-a-

    kind creation has been donated anonymously, with proceeds benefiting

    the Children''s Heart Foundation. We''ll start the bidding at twenty million dors."

    A forest of paddles rose immediately. Thirty million. Forty. Fifty. The room buzzed with excitement as Manhattan''s wealthiestpeted for the privilege of phnthropybined with acquisition.

    Camille observed without participating. The ne was stunning, certainly, but her focus tonight was business, not jewelry. She noted which financial titans bid, tracking alliances and rivalries through their participation or restraint.

    "Sixty-five million," called a tech mogul whose software

    "Seventy," countered a hedge fund manager whose wife already wore enough diamonds to sink a small boat.

    The room grew quieter as the price climbed, fewer paddles rising with each increment. At eighty-

    five million, only three bidders remained. At ny million, just two.

    "Ny-

    five million," said the hedge fund manager, confidence evident in his posture. Few people could surpass such an amount, even in this rarefied crowd.

    A moment of silence stretched. The auctioneer raised his gavel. "Ny-

    five million going once..."

    "One hundred million."

    The voice cut through the room like a de, quiet yet perfectly projected. Heads turned toward Alexander Pierce, who hadn''t bothered raising a paddle. He simply stood with hands in his pockets, expression re Murmurs swept the room. Not because of the amount, such sums were discussed daily in these circles, but because of who had offered it. Alexander Pierce, known for ruthless business acumen and technologi tax benefits.

    "One hundred million dors," the auctioneer repeated, poorly concealing his excitement. "Going once... going twice... sold to Mr. Alexander Pierce!"

    Apuse filled the gallery. Social media

    teams discreetly positioned throughout the event quickly sent alerts to their tforms. By morning, this would be headline news, the record- breaking donation, the mysterious billionaire stepping into the spotlight.

    Camille watched Alexander ept congrattions with minimal acknowledgment, his attention repeatedly returning to her location. What game was he ying? This performative generosity seemed unlike the Museum staff removed the ne from its disy, transferring it to a midnight blue velvet box that coincidentally matched her gown. After signing necessary paperwork, Alexander

    received the box with a quick nod of thanks.

    Then he turned and walked directly toward her.

    The crowd parted instinctively,

    sensing a moment unfolding. Camille stood her ground, though every instinct warned of danger approaching. Not physical threat, but something potentially more damaging to all she and Victoria had built, unpre

    "Ms. Kane," Alexander said when he reached her, voice pitched for her ears alone despite the crowd straining to listen. "I find myself with an acquisition that would look far better on you than locked in my safe." Before she could respond, he opened the velvet box. The ne caught light from overhead chandeliers, blue-

    white fire seeming to dance among the stones.

    "I couldn''t possibly," she began, the practiced response Victoria would expect.

    "Of course you can," he countered softly. "Consider it a loan for the evening. To benefit the children."

    His eyes held hers, challenging, teasing. Behind them, phone cameras discreetly captured the moment,

    society columnists watched avidly, witnesses to something unprecedented. Alexander Pierce offering a hundred- million-dor ne to Victoria Kane''s mysterious daughter.

 Chapter 51

    Camille turned to face him, found his eyes glinting with something that might have been admiration, might have been challenge, might have been something deeper neither of them was prepared to name. "The phoenix only rises through fire, Mr. Pierce," she replied quietly. "And fire is a dangerous element to y with."

    His smile deepened, genuine amusement recing careful social masks. "I''ve never feared burns, Ms. Kane. The most valuable things in life are often forged in me."

    Someone called for a photograph. The museum director, sensing promotional gold, encouraged them to stand together. Alexander ced his hand lightly at the small of her back, the gesture both possessive ar shes erupted around them. Tomorrow these images would appear in every social publication, generating exactly the kind of attention Victoria had warned against. Spection. Interest. Questions about the r most powerful young billionaires.

    "You nned this," Camille used under her breath, maintaining her public smile.

    "I seized an opportunity," he corrected. "There''s a difference."

    "Victoria won''t be pleased."

    "Victoria isn''t here." His fingers pressed slightly against her back, surprisingly warm through the thin fabric of her gown. "And it''s time you made decisions without her shadow over you."

    The presumption should have angered her. Instead, something rebellious stirred inside her, the first independent choice since epting Victoria''s offer of transformation and revenge. Not a strategic business m destroying Rose and Stefan. Just a moment of genuine connection with someone who seemed to see through all her carefully constructedyers.

    She smiled at him, not Victoria''s

    practiced social expression, but something real. Something that belonged to her alone.

    Camille recognized the trap. Refuse, and appear cold, ungracious, dampening the

    phnthropic spirit of the evening. ept, and create exactly the kind of public spection Victoria had carefully avoided around her adopted heir.

    "The children," she repeated, finding her answer. "How could I refuse such a worthy cause?"

    She turned slightly, presenting her back to him in silent permission. Alexander removed the ne from its box and stepped behind her. The crowd fell into breathless silence.

    His fingers brushed the nape of

    her neck as he positioned the ne, the touch sending an unexpected shiver down her spine. The weight of diamonds settled against her skin, cool at first, then warming. His hands lingered perhaps a mom "The phoenix rises," he whispered, words meant only

    for her. "And looks more magnificent with each transformation."

    The watching crowd stirred in response, For months they had observed the Kane heiress at various events, always perfect, always controlled, always slightly unreachable. This smile transformed her from beaut More photos captured the moment. More spective nces exchanged between witnesses. More messages

    discreetly sent from the event, spreading news of what was unfolding.

    Alexander''s expression softened in response, his own mask slipping to reveal something unexpected, tenderness beneath the power, warmth beneath the controlled exterior For a brief moment, they weren''t tw Then the spell broke as the museum director approached, effusive with gratitude for Alexander''s donation. Camille used the interruption to step away, one hand rising unconsciously to touch the fortune now add For the remainder of the evening, they circled each other likes in separate but intersecting orbits. Never directly engaging again, but always aware of the other''s location. Always feeling the pull of connec Near midnight, as the event wound down, Camille''s security team approached to escort her to her waiting car. She reached back to unfasten the ne, intending to return.

    Alexander materialized at her side. "Keep it tonight. My security will coordinate with yours for its return tomorrow."

    "I couldn''t possibly..."

    "You can and you will." His voice carried no arrogance, just calm certainty. "It looks

    like it was made for you."

    Before she could protest further, he leaned closer, his lips nearly brushing her ear. "Besides, little phoenix, what better way to celebrate your victory today? While you dazzled in diamonds, your sister lost hers Camille froze, shock recingposure. How did he know? How did he always know?

    "Don''t look so rmed," he continued softly. "Your secrets remain safe with me."

    "What do you want?" she whispered. "Why are you doing this?"

    He stepped back, his public mask returning seamlessly. "That''s a conversation for another time. Good night, Ms. Kane. You''ve made a dull charity event unexpectedly memorable."

    With a slight bow that managed to be both formal and intimate, he

    walked away, leaving her standing with a hundred million dors around her neck and questions burning in her mind.

    In her car, Camille studied her reflection in the privacy screen, the elegant gown, the perfect makeup, the ne that outshone everything else. But it was her eyes that held her attention, something awakenin Her phone buzzed with an iing message. Alexander, she thought with unexpected anticipation.

    But it was Victoria''s name that appeared on the screen: *What have you done? The photos

    are already online. Call me immediately.*

    Camille touched the diamonds at her throat, remembering Alexander''s fingers against her skin, his whispered words in her ear. For

    the first time since agreeing to Victoria''s n, since burying Camille Lewis and bing Camille Kane, she felt something beyond the cold satisfaction of revenge:

    She closed the message without responding.

    Victoria could wait until morning.

 Chapter 52

    Victoria Kane''s hotel suite in Chicago offered a panoramic view of Lake Michigan, a vista most would stop m admire. She noticed none of it. Instead, her attention remained fixed on the tablet in her hand, finger "BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR ALEXANDER PIERCE GIFTS $100M NECKLACE TO MYSTERIOUS KANE HEIRESS"

    "POWER COUPLE ALERT: PIERCE AND KANE SEND SOCIAL MEDIA INTO FRENZY"

    "FROM RECLUSE TO ROMANCE: HAS THE COLD-

    HEARTED TECH GENIUS FINALLY MET HIS MATCH?"

    Each article featured the same photographs, Alexander cing the diamond ne around Camille''s throat, his hands lingering at her neck. Camille''s genuine smile as she looked up at him, a softness in her

    own.

    Victoria''s manicured nail cracked the screen protector as she pressed too hard, swiping to the next tabloid story. This one included quotes from "anonymous attendees" describing how the normally reserved Ca "Fifteen months of meticulous nning," Victoria said to the empty room, voice dangerously quiet. "Fifteen months creating the perfect story. The perfect appearance. The perfect heir. All potentiallypromise She stood, moving to the window with controlled fury emanating from

    her rigid posture. The breakfast tray

    sat untouched on the nearby table. Sleep had been impossible after seeing the first alerts about the fundraiser. By dawn, the story had exploded across traditional and social media, analysts and

    gossip columnists alike specting about the potential alliance between two of the world''s most powerful young business figures.

    Precisely the kind of attention they had carefully avoided. Precisely the visibility that could threaten everything they''d built.

    Her phone rang.... her assistant calling from New York.

    "Tell me," Victoria demanded without greeting.

    "It''s worse than we thought," Reba said, her usuallyposed voice tight with tension. "Every major news outlet is running the story. Financial publications are

    analyzing potential business implications of a Pierce-Kane alliance. Social media

    engagement has increased seven thousand percent around Ms. Kane''s name sincest night.

    11

    Victoria''s fingers tightened around the phone. "And Camille?"

    "Not responding to messages. Her security detail reported she returned safely to the mansion at 12:47 AM. The ne remains in her possession. Mr. Pierce''s security team is scheduled to retrieve it at noon Another point of contact. Another opportunity for photographs. Another chance for Alexander to further whatever game he was ying.

    "Cancel that retrieval," Victoria ordered. "Have our security return the ne directly to Pierce Industries. Camille is not to have any further contact with Alexander Pierce or his people." "Yes, Ms. Kane."

    "What about the Pierce team? Any official statement from them aboutst night?"

    "Nothing yet," Reba replied. "Though their stock opened four percent higher this morning, apparently on spection about potential coboration between yourpanies."

    separate

    The market implications hadn''t escaped Victoria''s notice. Her own analysts had already sent three reports about how Kane

    Industries stock was responding to the rumors. Under different circumstances, she might have considered the business advantages of a strategic alliance with Pierce''s tech empire.

    But these weren''t different circumstances. This was a direct threat to her carefully constructed n. To Camille''s revenge. To everything they''d spent over a year building toward.

    "Prepare the jet," Victoria said, decision made. "I''m returning to New York immediately."

    "Already done, Ms. Kane. The pilot filed a flight n twenty minutes ago when I saw the Good Morning America segment about the g."

    Victoria almost smiled at her assistant''s efficiency. This was why she kept loyal people close, they anticipated needs, solved problems before they fully materialized, protected her interests without requiring expl Unlike her adopted daughter, who had apparently abandoned all caution for the attention of Alexander Pierce.

    "Have the car ready in fifteen minutes."

    Victoria ended the call and moved to her closet, selecting a charcoal gray suit that projected authority without ostentation. As she dressed, her mind raced through the potential damage Alexander could cause. He was dangerous in ways few people recognized. Not just for his wealth or business acumen, though both were considerable. Not just for his technological innovations, though they had disrupted multiple indu missed. Connections hidden beneath surface appearances. Motivations disguised behind careful social masks.

    If anyone could pierce the veil they''d created around Camille''s true identity, it would be him.

    The question was, did he already know? Had he somehow uncovered the truth about Camille Lewis bing Camille Kane? Wasst night''s public disy a message to Victoria that

    he held information that could destroy everything they''d built?

    As her security team escorted her to the waiting car, Victoria scrolled through more

    news alerts. Entertainment Tonight was now running a feature on "Alexander Pierce: The Man Behind the Mystery,"plete with archive footage of his rare public appearances over the years. CNN Business a # PierceKane¨Cthat was already trending worldwide.

    Victoria closed

    the alerts, jaw tight with controlled fury. In one evening, one impulsive decision, Camille had generated exactly the kind of

    attention they had carefully avoided for fifteen months. Attention that could lead to questions. To investigations. To someone making connections they couldn''t afford.

    The car moved smoothly through Chicago

    morning traffic toward the private airfield where her jet waited. Victoria used the time to review what she knew about Alexander Pierce... informationpiled long beforest night''s incident.

    Thirty-four years old. Fortune estimated at $180 Trillion, primarily from

    revolutionary artificial intelligence technologies. Notoriously private. No known serious rtionships since a broken engagement six years ago. Rumored to have an intelligencework that rivaled some govern Chapter 52

    What she didn''t know, and what troubled her most, was why he had suddenly taken such public interest in Camille.

    Men like Alexander Pierce didn''t make impulsive gestures. They didn''t spend one

    hundred million dors on spontaneous gifts. They didn''t

    risk their carefully maintained public image without substantial reason.

    Which meantst night was calcted. nned. Executed with specific intent.

    But what intent? A business alliance? A personal connection? Or something more troubling, knowledge of who Camille really was and where she hade from?

    Victoria''s security opened her car door as they reached the airfield. Her Gulfstream waited on the tarmac, engines already warmed, stairs extended in anticipation of her arrival.

    "Ms. Kane," the pilot greeted her at the stairs. "We''re cleared for immediate departure. Flight time to New York approximately one hour forty minutes."

    She nodded acknowledgment, mind already rushing ahead to the confrontation waiting in New York. To the damage control needed. To the careful recalibration of their n in light of this unexpected development.

    On board, her phone rang again, Reba with another update.

    "A package just arrived at the mansion for Ms. Kane," she reported. "From Pierce Industries."

    Victoria froze halfway to her seat. "The ne being returned?"

    "No. Security scanned it, appears to be a small jewelry box, but notrge enough for the ne. There''s a handwritten note attached."

    Of course there was. Another move in whatever game he was ying.

    "Don''t allow Camille to open it," Victoria instructed. "Secure it in

    my office safe until I arrive."

    "Yes, Ms. Kane. Also, Page Six just published what they''re calling an ''inside scoop'' on Ms. Kane and Mr. Pierce''s history. They''re iming the two have been secretly meeting for months." Victoria''s fingers tightened around the phone. "That''s impossible. We monitor her schedulepletely. Every minute is ounted for."

    "The article suggestste-

    night meetings after official events. Quotes an anonymous source saying they''ve been observed in ''intense conversation'' at several functions over the past three months."

    Because they had been. Victoria had noticed their brief interactions at various events, had questioned Camille about them. Had epted the exnation that Pierce was merely another business connection wo Clearly, she had been too trusting. Too willing to give her adopted daughter the freedom to manage certain social rtionships independently. A mistake she wouldn''t repeat

    "Continue monitoring media coverage," Victoria instructed. "Have the PR team prepare three different statement drafts one business-

    focused, one dismissing the spection entirely, one acknowledging a professional rtionship but nothing more."

    The jet elerated down the runway, pressing Victoria back into the leather seat. As they lifted into the morning sky, she stared out at the shrinking city below, mind turning over possibilities, threats, countermo Alexander Pierce wouldn''t interfere with their ns. Wouldn''t derail Camille''s revenge with whatever game he was ying. Victoria had invested too much, emotionally, financially, strategically, to allow an outsid When the ne reached cruising altitude, she opened herptop to review thetest media coverage. What troubled her most was Pierce Industries''plete silence. No denials. No rifications. No attempt to This was calcted.

    Deliberate. His silence allowed rumors to grow unchecked, creating a narrative he could have easily dismissed with a simple press statement.

    Even more disturbing was Camille''s simr silence.

    No message to Victoria exining her actions. No attempt

    to control the story. Just eptance of the public attention they

    had so carefully avoided for fifteen months.

    Victoria refreshed the news feed again. Still nothing from Pierce''s team -

    just more analyst spection about what the "obvious personal connection" between the two might mean for future business alignments. His silence spoke volumes about his intentions, whatever they might be Victoria closed theptop, a rare disy of emotion as she struggled to contain her rage. In eighteen hours, Alexander Pierce had done more to threaten their carefully constructed n than Stefan and Rose''s This wasn''t just about unwanted publicity now. This was direct interference in

    their operation. In their rtionship. In the revenge n they''d spent over a year executing with meticulous precision.

    As the jet began its descent toward New York, Victoria made her decision. The time

    for subtle countermoves had passed. Alexander Pierce needed to understand exactly

    who he was dealing with, and what happened to those who threatened Victoria Kane''s ns.

    She would protect what was hers. Would secure Camille''s focus on their original goal. Would eliminate the distraction Pierce represented before he could furtherplicate their carefully orchestrated destructio Looking out at the Manhattan skylineing into view, Victoria felt her determination harden into resolve. Pierce Tower stood among the skyscrapers, a gleaming monument to one man''s technological empire. An empire that had just made a serious miscalction by targeting her daughter.

 Chapter 53

    Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Camille''s private suite, warming the polished wood floors and catching the fire of diamonds still resting on her dressing table. She hadn''t returned the ne to it Her phone lit up with another notification. The fifth news alert in twenty minutes. She reached for it, already knowing what she''d find. Another article. Another photo. Another round of spection about her and A

    This one came from the Business Insider: "WALL STREET ABUZZ: KANE-

    PIERCE CONNECTION SENDS MARKETS SOARING." The photograph showed them standing together beneath the museum chandeliers, Alexander''s hand resting lightly at the small of her back, her face tur Camille scrolled through the article, noting the financial analysis buried beneath the romantic spection. Kane Industries stock up seven percent in pre-

    market trading. Pierce Technologies up nearly nine percent. Investors apparently enthralled by the possibility of connection between two business empires previously seen as potential rivals.

    She set the phone down, gaze returning to the ne. One hundred million dors in diamonds, casually ced around her neck by a man who treated the extraordinary amount as if it were nothing more tha Her fingers rose unconsciously to her throat, remembering the moment. The hushed crowd watching. The slight pressure of Alexander''s hands at her nape. The warmth of his breath near her ear as he whispere "The phoenix rises. And looks more magnificent with each transformation."

    No one had spoken to her that way

    since her rebirth as Camille Kane. Most people approached with cautious deference, aware of her wealth and Victoria''s protection. Business associates maintained professional distance. Social contacts remain Only Alexander seemed to see beyond the careful facade, beyond Victoria''s creation, to something she herself sometimes forgot existed. The real woman beneath the surgical alterations and practiced manneri Her phone buzzed again. A

    text this time, not a news alert. Alexander''s name appeared on the screen, sending an unwee flutter through her chest.

    *Good morning, little phoenix. I trust the diamonds made it home safely with you.*

    She hesitated, knowing Victoria would disapprove of encouraging further contact. Knowing everything they''d built could bepromised by connection to someone as perceptive as Alexander Pierce. But Victoria wasn''t here. And something about Alexander''s attention made her feel alive in ways she''d almost forgotten.

    She typed a response: *The diamonds

    are fine. When should I expect your security to retrieve them?*

    His reply came immediately: *Keep them.*

    She stared at the two simple words, sure she''d misunderstood. Keep a hundred-

    million-dor ne? Impossible.

    *I can''t ept such a gift, she wrote back.

    *Not a gift. A loan. Until our next meeting.*

    The implication that there would be a next meeting sent another flutter through her chest, anticipation mixed with caution.

    *And when might that be?

    * she asked, abandoning pretense that she wasn''t interested.

    *Sooner than Victoria would prefer. Later than I would like.

    The

    mention of Victoria brought reality crashing back. The carefully constructed n. The systematic revenge against Rose and Stefan. The identity she''d built under Victoria''s guidance. All potentially threatened by Before she could respond, another text appeared: *The phoenix looks toward the sun, not back at the ashes it rose from. Remember that when Victoria returns with her warnings about me.*

    How did he know Victoria was returning early? How did he always seem to know things he

    shouldn''t?

    *What are you really after, Alexander?

    * she typed, needing to understand his motivations.

    Three dots appeared as heposed a response. Disappeared. Appeared again. Whatever he was writing, he kept revising.

    Finally: *The same thing you are, beneath your quest for revenge. A second chance at living, not just surviving.*

    The words struck deeper than she wanted to admit. Beyond her careful ns

    with Victoria, beyond the systematic destruction of Rose and Stefan''s lives, had she considered what came after? What she would be when revenge no longer defined her?

    Her bedroom door opened without warning. Victoria stood in the threshold, still wearing her travel clothes, face tight with controlled anger.

    "I see you''re awake," Victoria said, gaze immediately finding the

    ne on the dressing table. "And still in possession of Pierce''s... gesture."

    Camille set her phone down, screen darkened to hide Alexander''s messages. "I was about to arrange its return." "That''s being handled. My security team will deliver it directly to Pierce Industries this afternoon.'' The direct confrontation was unusual. Victoria typically employed more subtle methods of expressing disapproval, pointed questions, carefully chosen silences, implied disappointment rather than direct usat "And epting it has created exactly the kind of attention we''ve carefully avoided for fifteen months." Victoria moved to the windows, adjusting the blinds to soften the morning light. A small action that asserted "I didn''t anticipate the level of interest."

    "No," Victoria agreed, turning back to face her. "But

    he did. This was calcted, Camille. nned to create precisely this oue."

    Camille felt a re of defensiveness, surprising in its intensity. "Not everything is a strategic move. Perhaps he simply...."

    "Men like Alexander Pierce do nothing without

    multiple motives," Victoria cut her off. "Everything is calcted, Everything serves a purpose. The question is not whether he had reasons forst night''s disy, but what those reasons might be."

    The statement carried ufortable echoes of Alexander''s own words about Victoria. Everyone ying chess while others yed checkers. Everyone seeing moves ahead while maintaining their carefully con Camille asked, genuinely curious about Victoria''s assessment.

    "Business advantage, most likely," Victoria said firmly. "Pierce Technologies and Kane Industries have several ovepping interests. An alliance, even one rumored rather than formalized, could position him fav

    Victoria

    moved to the dressing table, studying the ne without touching it. "This was a message. To the business world. Topetitors. A deration of interest that forces

    everyone to specte, driving up both our stock prices while giving him time to position his next move."

    "And how should we respond?"

    "We return the ne. We ignore the spection. We focus on our n." Victoria''s voice hardened. "Rose''s fashion empire is copsing. Stefan''s shippingpany teeters on bankruptcy. We are weeks away fromplete victory. This is not the time for distractions."

    The word "distractions" carried weight beyond its surface meaning. Victoria wasn''t just concerned about media attention. She was worried about Camille''s focus. About emotional entanglements that mightp

    "Alexander

    Pierce is dangerous," Victoria continued. "Not just because of his resources or intelligence. But because he makes you forget who you are and why we started this."

    The usation stung because it contained truth. Last night, standing close to Alexander, feeling

    his attention focused solely on her, Camille had forgotten about Rose and Stefan.

    Had thought only of the connection forming between them, unexpected and unexinable.

    "I haven''t forgotten anything," Camille said, more

    sharply than intended. "One evening doesn''t erase a year of nning. One ne doesn''t change who I am or what I''m doing."

    Victoria studied her with that

    prating gaze that always made Camille feel transparent. "Doesn''t it? I saw the photographs, Camille. I saw your expression when he ced that ne around your throat. That wasn''t Camille Kane, heir to my empire. That was someone I don''t recognize."

    "Perhaps that''s because you''ve never allowed me to be anyone but who you created," Camille replied, the words escaping before she could contain them.

    Silence fell between them, heavy with implications. This was new territory, Camille pushing back, questioning Victoria''s control, suggesting there might be identity beyond the one they''d carefully constructed tog Before Victoria could respond, a knock came at the door. Reba entered, tablet in hand, expression professionally neutral despite the tension evident in the room.

    "Forgive the interruption," she said. "The

    PR team haspleted their analysis of this morning''s media coverage. They believe an immediate response is necessary."

    Victoria held out her hand for the tablet. "I''ve already decided our approach. We''ll issue a statement thanking Mr. Pierce for his generous donation to the Children''s Heart Foundation while making it clear that ar "Actually," Reba interrupted, a rare

    urrence that dr rmends against dismissing the spection."

 Chapter 54

    Victoria''s eyebrows rose slightly. "Exin."

    "Kane Industries stock is up nearly eight percent

    since market opening. Pierce Technologies up over nine percent. The market clearly approves of the perceived connection." Reba scrolled through her notes. "Social media sentiment analysis shows ny- three percent positive reaction to the pairing. The PR team believes this presents a unique opportunity to strengthen both the Kane Industries brand and Ms. Kane''s personal public image"

    Victoria''s expression remained unchanged, but Camille caught the slight tightening of her fingers on the tablet, the only outward sign of her displeasure.

    "Public perception is notoriously fickle," Victoria replied. "Today''s approval can be tomorrow''s scandal. We built Camille''s image on foundations of dignity, intelligence, grace and appropriate distance. Not t "With respect," Reba continued, clearly aware she was treading dangerous ground, "the team believes this development humanizes Ms. Kane in ways fifteen months of careful image management never ach Camille watched the exchange with growing interest. Reba making a direct case against Victoria''s preferred approach was unprecedented. The PR team risking Victoria''s disapproval suggested they truly be "And what exactly are they rmending?" Victoria asked voice deceptively mild.

    "Neither confirmation nor denial. Allow the spection to continue. Maintain normal business operations while permitting

    the narrative to develop organically." Reba nced briefly at Camille before continuing. "They''ve prepared three potential public appearances where Ms. Kane might be seen without directly addressing the

    rumors."

    Victoria handed the tablet back to Reba. "Tell them I''ll consider their rmendations and provide direction this afternoon."

    When Reba departed, silence filled the room again. Victoria moved to stand near the windows, back straight, hands sped behind her. Her thinking pose, one Camille liad observed countless times during "The PR team makes valid points from a business perspective," Victoria said finally. "The market reaction is significant. The public engagement metrics show clear advantages."

    Camille waited, knowing there was more.

    ˇ°But they don''t understand what''s truly at stake." Victoria turned to face her. ˇ°This isn''t just about stock prices or public perception. This is aboutpleting what we starter. About justice for what was done to yo The reminder sent memories flooding back, Rose''s betrayal, Stefan''s abandonment, her parents'' blindness to maniption happening before their eyes. The

    systematic destruction of Camille Lewis''s life, orchestrated by those who should have protected her.

    "Pierce is aplication we didn''t anticipate," Victoria continued. "A variable that could disrupt everything we''ve built. Whatever his motives, whatever his interest in you, we cannot afford the distraction he repre Camille looked down at her phone, remembering Alexander''sst message. The phoenix looks toward the sun, not back at the ashes it rose from

    "What if..." she began carefully, "what if we could use this to our advantage? The attention. The connection people believe exists between Pierce and me." Victoria''s eyes narrowed slightly. "How?"

    "Rose and Stefan monitor business news obsessively now that theirpanies are failing. They''ll have seen this morning''s coverage. The spection about Pierce and Kane Industries potentially aligning" Can Understanding dawned in Victoria''s expression. "You''re suggesting we allow the spection to continue. Not for public rtions benefits, but as another weapon in our arsenal against them.'' "Exactly." Camille lifted the ne, diamonds catching morning light. "Let them see me not just taking everything they valued, but gaining things they never had. Power. Connections. Potential alliance with the Victoria considered this, head tilted slightly. "An interesting approach. Psychological warfare beyond mere financial destructionˇ±

    "It adds another dimension to their defeat," Camille agreed, "Not just losing everything they built, but watching me potentially gain everything they could never achieve."

    For several moments, Victoria said nothing, clearly weighing the proposal against her concerns. Finally, she nodded once, decision made.

    "We''ll dy returning the ne. Allow the spection to continue for now. But," her voice hardened again," we maintain control of the narrative. No unnned interactions with Pierce. No statements withou "Of course," Camille agreed, relief washing through her for reasons she wasn''t ready to examine too closely.

    Victoria moved toward the door, pausing before leaving. "One more thing, Camille. Do not trust Alexander Pierce. Whatever his interest in you appears to be, remember that men like him always have deeper m After Victoria departed, Camille returned to the window, ne still clutched in her hand. Outside, spring had transformed the mansion''s gardens, new growth pushing through soil that had been frozen just we Her phone buzzed with another text from Alexander: *Has the storm arrived yet? Victoria''s nended twenty minutes ago."

    She smiled despite herself, typing back: *Storm weathered. The ne stays, for now.

    His response came quickly: The phoenix gains wisdom. Looking forward to our next encounter, little warrior. Camille traced the diamonds with her fingertip, remembering the weight of Alexander''s hands at her on executing Victoria''s careful n for justice through systematic revenge.

    Now, for the first time, she found

    herself looking beyond that single goal. Wondering what might exist after revenge wasplete. Who she might be when hatred no longer defined her purpose.

    The phoenix looks toward the sun, not back at the ashes it rose from.

    Perhaps Alexander Pierce wasn''t just a something else entirely, a glimpse of possibility beyond the single-

    minded focus on revenge that had consumed. her since the night she''d signed those divorce papers.

    The thought should have frightened her. Instead, she found herself smiling as she slipped the diamond ne back into its velvet bax

    Victoria was right about one thing, Alexander Pierce was dangerous. But not perhaps in the

    way she believed.

    The real danger wasn''t to their revenge n, but to the walls Camille had built around her heart since the night she''d died as Camille Lewis and been reborn as Camille Kane Walls that, for the first time since her transformation, showed signs of beginning to crack.

 Chapter 55

    The morning light poured through the floor to ceiling windows of Alexander''s office, turning the polished wood of his desk golden. He stood with his back to the room, hands sped behind him, watching the city Behind him, Sarah cleared her throat softly. She had perfected the art ofmanding

    his attention without seeming to demand it

    "The morning briefing is ready," she said, tablet poised in her hands. At thirty-

    two, Sarah Matthews maintained. the efficiency that had made her invaluable to Alexander''s rise. Brown streaked her dark hair, but her mind remained razor-

    sharp, her loyalty unquestioned.

    Alexander turned from the window. "Begin with the market response."

    "Pierce Technologies

    stock opened at a record high this morning. Up twelve percent since yesterday''s close." Sarah''s voice held the faintest hint of approval. "Financial analysts are attributing the jump to spection about potential Alexander''s lips curved slightly. Disy. Such a careful choice of words. Sarah had watched him maintain perfect emotional distance from the world for years. His public gesture toward Camille Kane represented a deviation from pattern that she was too diplomatic to directly question.

    "And Kane Industries?"

    "Simr gains. Nearly ten percent increase in pre-

    market trading.ˇ± Sarah swiped to the next screen on her tablet. "Social media metrics show unprecedented engagement around bothpanies. The hashtag PierceKane is trending globally, with sentiment ana six percent positive reactions."

    Alexander moved to his desk, lifting a small silver frame that had appeared there this morning. Inside, a photograph fromst night, himself cing the diamond ne around Camille''s throat, her face turned "Media coverage?" he asked, setting the frame back on his desk

    "Extensive. Every major news outlet, financial publication and social tform is running the story." Sarah''s efficiency never wavered, even when delivering information she knew would displease him. "Your office three media requests forment in the past four hours. The PR team is awaiting your direction on how to respond."

    Alexander nodded, unsurprised. The public gesture had been calcted to generate precisely this reaction. Not for the publicity itself he had always avoided the spotlight when possible, but for the specific effec What''s the current messaging rmendation from PH?"

    Sarah consulted her tablet again. "They''ve prepared three options. First, noment at all, maintaining your usual privacy. Second, a brief statement confirming your attendance at the fundraiser while declining Alexander moved back to the window, considering Each option carried different implications, different

    potential. oues, different effects on Camille''s position with Victoria. The chess game required careful moves,

    particrly now that Victoria had returned early from Chicago, another development his sources had confirmed an hour ago

    "None of those will suffice," he said finally. "Draft a new statement."

    Sarah''s pen hovered over

    her notepad, she still preferredndwriting; for direct dictation. "Your preferred approach?"

    Alexander turned, decision made. "Positive acknowledgment. Express that I was honored to ce the ne on a woman whose intelligence and beauty would capture any man''s attention. Note my admiratio her business acumen. Mention hope for future coborations that would benefit both ourpanies."

    Sarah wrote quickly, but her eyebrows lifted slightly, the most surprise she would ever show in his presence. That''s considerably more personal than your usual statements."

    "It needs to be." Alexander picked up the photograph again studying Camille''s expression. The vulnerability beneath her carefulposure. The genuine emotion breaking through Victoria''s programming. "Mak "The board won''t like it," Sarah noted, ever practical. "Mr. Harrington specifically has expressed concern about media spection affecting the Anderson merger negotiations."

    ˇ°The board''s concerns are noted. Remind them that Pierce Technologies stock is up twelve percent due to this " distraction."" Alexander set the photograph down again. ˇ°Have the statement emphasize my resp focused image."

    Sarah finished writing, then looked up with the directness that made her invaluable. "Is there anything else you''d like included? Perhaps regarding the ne itself?"

    Alexander considered the question. The hundred-million-

    dor diamond piece now rested with Camille, despite Victoria''s likely insistence on its immediate return. His sources confirmed that Kane

    Industries'' security had not yet moved to deliver it back to Pierce Tower, suggesting either ongoing internal debate or, more promisingly, Camille asserting independence from Victoria''s control.

    "Add that the ne was intended as a gesture of appreciation for Kane Industries'' charitable contributions, but that seeing

    it on Ms. Kane convinced me it had found its rightful home." He paced slowly across his office. "Imply, without directly stating, that the piece was always meant as a gift rather than a temporary loan.ˇ±

    This would force Victoria''s hand. Either allow Camille to keep a hundred-million-

    dor gift from Alexander Pierce, creating ongoing connection between them, or insist on its return despite

    public perception that doing so would appear ungracious. Either oue served his purposes.

    "Will that be all for the statement?" Sarah asked, finishing her notes.

    "One final addition." Alexander stopped pacing, turning to face her directly. "Express hope that Ms. Kane and I might coborate on future phnthropic endeavors, as we seem to share simr values regarding Sarah nodded, making the final notation. "I''ll have this drafted and ready for your approval within the hour. When would you like it released?"

    "Time it to coincide with the New York market''s lunch hour. Maximum visibility without appearing rushed to respond." Alexander returned to his desk, mind already moving to the next phase of his strategy. "And Her pen paused above her notepad. "The rose pendant?"

    +35 BONUS

    "No." Alexander opened his desk drawer, removing a small blue velvet

    box. Inside, nestled on white silk,y a pair of sapphire earrings, modestpared to the ne, but exquisitely crafted and perfectly

    matched to its blue diamonds: "These. To be delivered personally, not through our usual couriers. Marcus should take them directly. to Ms. Kane with a handwritten note."

    Sarah epted the box, tucking it carefully into her portfolio. If she had questions about this unprecedented level. of personal attention toward anyone, her professional demeanor revealed nothing. "The note is in the top drawer," Alexander continued. "Sealed envelope with Ms. Kane''s name."

    Words he''d spent hours craftingst night, long after returning from the museum. Words chosen carefully to speak to the woman beneath Victoria''s creation. To the phoenix rising from ashes not of her own making To Camille Lewis, hidden beneath Camille Kane''s perfect exterior.

    Sarah slipped the envelope into her portfolio alongside the earrings. "Delivery timing?

    "Two hours after the press statement goes live. Let the media narrative develop first."

    She nodded, making note of the instruction. "Will there be anything else?"

    Alexander hesitated, then moved to the hidden safe behind his office artwork. Opening it with practiced movements, he withdrew a slim folder marked only with a date, four years earlier. Insidey hospital recor Including one image he had looked at countless times over the years, himself in

    a hospital bed, barely conscious, and

    beside him a young woman reading from a dog-

    eared paperback. Her face in partial shadow, but her kindness evident in every line

    of her body. In the gentle way she held the book. In how she''d sat with him through the darkest hours when his family had abandoned him to his fate.

    "One more thing," he said, closing the folder without removing the photograph. "Schedule a donation to Boston Memorial Hospital''s volunteer program. Ten million. Anonymous."

    Sarah raised an eyebrow but made the note withoutment. She had long ago learned not to question the seemingly random charitable donations Alexander made throughout the year. Each had purpose, tho their significance.

    "That''s all for now," he said, returning the folder to his safe.

    After Sarah departed, Alexander returned to the window, watching clouds cast moving shadows across the city below. His phone buzzed with an iing message, another update from his source in Kane Indu Just as he''d anticipated. Just as he''d nned. Each move in theplex game unfolding exactly as projected. But games implied winners and losers. This was something else entirely. Something less strategic and more... personal than he typically allowed himself.

    His phone buzzed again. Private line this time. Camille.

    "Victoria wants the ne returned today. I''ve convinced her to dy. For now.*

    Alexander smiled slightly, typing his response; The phoenix learns to navigate storms. Tell me, did she mention concern about my motives?

    Camille''s reply came quickly: "She believes it''s about business advantage. Pierce Technologies seeking alliance with Kane Industries through personal connection.*

    Not entirely wrong, but nowhere near theplete truth. Victoria Kane, for all her strategic brilliance, had missed the most important piece of the puzzle. Had failed to recognize what had brought Alexander into Camille''s orbit in t

    first ce.

    Had not yet realized that her carefully constructed heir had crossed paths with Alexander long before bing Camille Kane.

    "An interesting

    theory," he replied. "Let her believe what she findsfortable. The truth will reveal itself int time!

    He set the phone down, returning to the window and his contemtion of the city spread below. Somewhere out there, Rose Lewis watched

    her fashion empire crumble. Stefan Rodriguez struggled to save his family''s shipping legacy Both experiencing the systematic destruction Camille had engineered with Victoria''s guidance.

    Both unaware that their doom had been hastened by his invisible hand, blocking potential investors, spreading damaging information, elerating their downfall through means they would never trace back to h

    All to help the woman who had once shown him kindness when he had nothing to offer in return. The woman who now wore a different face but whose essential nature remained unchanged beneath Victoria''s c His phone rang the secure line connected directly to his chief intelligence officer. "Report," Alexander answered without preamble.

    "Victoria Kane has just authorized a statement from their PR department," came the response. "Release scheduled for 11 AM. Content suggests they''re taking a neutral approach, neither confirming nor denying Interesting. Not an outright rejection of connection, as Victoria would have preferred. Notplete embrace of the spection, as might benefit their stock prices. A careful middle path that allowed them to obse "Forward me the full statement when it goes live," Alexander instructed before ending the call.

    His press release would follow two hourster, more directly positive about Camille, more openly appreciative, more clearly suggesting possibility beyond mere business alliance. The contrast would fuel anothe Alexander sat at his desk, opening the dossier his team hadpiled on Camille Lewis before her "death" and transformation into Camille Kane. Photos showed a softer face, longer hair, less confident posture The same eyes that had watched over him during his hospital recovery. That had seen value in him when his family saw only failure and disappointment.

    Eyes he would never forget, regardless of what facial alterations might surround them.

    His phone buzzed with another message from Camille: "You never answered my question yesterday. What exactly are you after, Alexander?

    +

    He considered his response carefully, fingers hovering over keys. How much to reveal? How much to withhold? The bnce between truth and strategy required delicate calibration.

    "Justice, he typed finally. The same thing you seek, though perhaps through different methods.*

    Her response showed the sharp mind that had captured his attention from the beginning; Justice for whom? And against whom?

    +

    More than he was ready to reveal. More than she was ready to hear.

    *All in good time, little phoenix. For now, know that your path

    and mine align more closely than Victoria would ever believe possible.*

    Setting his phone aside, Alexander returned to preparing for his next move in theplex game surrounding Camille Kane. The press statement would go out at noon. The sapphire earrings would arrive at two And beneath it all, the truth waited to be revealed when the moment was right. When Camille was ready to hear it. When Victoria''s influence had weakened enough for Camille to make truly independent choices

    The truth that Alexander Pierce had been helping her revenge from the shadows all along. Had been protecting her, supporting her, clearing obstacles from her path without revealing his presence or his motives Had been repaying a debt of kindness

    with a dedication that went beyond mere obligation, beyond strategic alliance, beyond anything that could be exined through business logic alone.

    A dedication that had grown from gratitude into something deeper, something more dangerous, something he had not allowed himself to feel in the years since his family''s betrayal had taught him the cost of em Something that looked ufortably like hope.

 Chapter 56

    Rainshed against the penthouse windows, matching the storm brewing inside. Rose stared at Stefan across the living room, his posture rigid as he clutched his phone in a white knuckled grip. The text messa "That''s the third cancetion today," Rose said, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Bergdorf ims ''brand association concerns. As if they''ve suddenly developed a moral conscience."

    Stefan didn''t look up. "Did you sleep with him too?"

    "What?"

    "The Bergdorf buyer." His voice held a coldness she''d never heard before. "Did you sleep with him like you did with Jonathan Hayes? Like you did with Lord Hartley? Like you apparently did with half of London Rose flinched as if he''d pped her. "That''s not fair."

    "Fair?" Stefan finally looked up, eyes red-

    rimmed fromck of sleep. ˇ°The photos are everywhere, Rose. The financial records linking you to Bessonov. The evidence keeps piling up, and every time I think I''ve seen the worst, something new emerges.ˇ± She moved to the bar, pouring herself a drink with hands that trembled slightly. Three weeks since the first scandal photos had emerged. Three weeks of constant new revtions, each one more damaging tha "Those photos are from years ago," she said, the defense sounding weak even to her own ears. "Before us. Before...

    "Before us?" Stefanughed, a harsh sound devoid of humor. "The timestamps, Rose. Did you think no one would notice the timestamps? You were on that yacht with Bessonby the same week you called me from ''Paris'' to say how much you missed me. The same month you told me you were focusing on your fashion education."

    Rose drained her ss, the alcohol burning a path down her throat. Outside, lightning shed, briefly illuminating the rain- drenched city below.

    "Everyone has a past," she tried again. "Things they''re not proud of. Things they''d rather forget."

    "A past is one thing. Lies are another." Stefan moved to the window, putting distance between them. "I could have epted mistakes, Rose. I could have understood poor choices. What I can''t ept is that eve The truth of his words stung more than she wanted to admit. Her entire life had been a series of careful calctions, strategic moves to achieve the position, the power, the prestige she''d always craved. "That''s not true," she said, voice smaller than intended. "My feelings for you were real. Are real "

    "Were they?" He turned to face her again. "Or was I just part of your n? A stepping stone to the life you wanted? The same way mypany was a stepping stone for your fashion line''s shipping needs?" Rose set down her ss with more force than necessary, "That''s not fair. My business sess came from talent, from hard work, from....."

    "From sleeping with your mentor''s husband to steal design concepts?" Stefan cut in. "From using Bessonov''s money to fund your first collection? From manipting fashion editors into featuring your work?" Each usation Landed like a physical blow. All the carefully hidden truths, all the meticulously buried secrets, exposed for everyone to see. For Stefan to see

    "You

    don''t understand,ˇ± she said, desperation creeping into her voice. "I did what I had to do. Coming from nothing, having nothing you can''t judge me for fighting my way up."

    "Coming from nothing?" Stefan''s expression shifted from anger to confusion. "Your parents are wealthy. You grew up with every advantage."

    Rose froze, realizing her mistake toote. Another calction error in a month filled with them. Another slip that revealed more than intended.

    "I meant... professionally," she backtracked quickly. "In the fashion world, no one takes you seriously without the right connections. I had to make my own way."

    Stefan studied her, suspicion recing confusion. "You''ve never talked about your life before the Lewises adopted you. Not once in all the years I''ve known you."

    Because it doesn''t matter." Rose turned away, reaching for the bottle again. "That was a different life. A different person."

    "Was it?ˇ± Stefan moved closer, his voice softening dangerously. "Or is this just another story you''ve constructed? Another maniption to get what you want?"

    Rose''s hand tightened around her ss. "You don''t know what you''re talking about."

    "I think I''m finally starting to." He picked up his phone again, swiping through more headlines about her scandals. "All these photos. All these stories. They''re not just about affairs or business dealings. They''re s "And who is that?" she demanded, anger ring to mask the fear beneath.

    "Someone who takes what she wants, regardless of who gets hurt." Stefan''s voice was steady now, his initial rage" cooling into something more dangerous, rity. "Someone who sees people as stepping stone so long she''s forgotten there was ever anything genuine underneath."

    The assessment hit too close to truth. Rose switched tactics,

    moving toward him with practiced vulnerability, eyes softening in the way she knew had always worked on

    him before.

    "Stefan, please. This is all just a misunderstanding. A smear campaign by someone who wants to destroy me. Destroy us." She reached for his hand. "We can get through this together. Save both our businesses, Show everyone they can''t tear us apart."

    He pulled away from her touch. "That''s just it, Rose. I don''t think there''s an ''us'' to save. I''m not sure there ever

    The rejection staggered her. Stefan had always been her safety. Her sure thing. The man who would stand by her no matter what, who had carried a torch for her even through his marriage to Camille. "You don''t mean that," she whispered.

    "I wish I didn''t." He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "You know what keeps me awake at night? Not thepany copsing. Not my father''s disappointment. It''s thinking about how I treated Camille. How I was cold to her, distant, alwaysparing her to some idealized version of you I''d created in my head."

    Rose felt the conversation sliding into dangerous territory, Camille is gone, Stefan. We''ve both mourned her.

    This isn''t about her."

    "Isn''t it?" His eyes

    locked with hers. "I left a good woman who loved me genuinely for... what? The fantasy of you I''d been carrying since college? A woman who doesn''t actually exist?"

    "Lexist." Rose snapped, anger sparking again "Tim standing right here, fighting for us while you throw away everything we''ve built because of some old photos, some business mistakes..

    "It''s not about the photos!" Stefan''s voice rose, startlingr into silence. "It''s about the pattern they reveal. It''s about realizing that the woman I''ve spent years pining for is a construction. A carefully calcted im "That''s not true," she insisted, but the protest sounded hollow even to her own ears,

    "Isn''t it?"

    Stefan picked up the society pages from the coffee table, where their engagement photo had once been prominently featured. Now reced by coverage of her scandals and hispany''s financial troubles. ˇ°T "I love you," she said finally, voice small. "That''s real."

    Stefan studied her face for a long moment. "Maybe you do. In your way. But I don''t think your

    version of love looks anything like mine."

    He moved toward the door, picking up the overnight bag he''d packed earlier. The sight sent panic coursing through Rose''s veins.

    Where are you going?" she demanded.

    "My family''s estate. Father thinks we need to present a united front during thepany crisis." Stefan''s voice was t, emotionless. "But the truth is, I need space to think. About the business. About us. About w Rose moved quickly, blocking his path to the door. "You can''t leave. Not now. Not when both our businesses are under attack. Don''t you see? Someone is targeting us. The same person who''s going after your "Maybe." Stefan gently moved her aside. "But right now, I''m not sure I know who I''d be standing with."

    The words cut deeper than any usation about her past. For years, Rose had maintained perfect control over how others perceived her. Had crafted an image so wless, sopelling that even her indiscre Now that carefully constructed fa?ade was crumbling, reveing the emptiness beneath. And for the first time in her adult life, Rose felt real fear.

    Not fear of financial ruin, though that loomed everrger with each canceled order. Not fear of social humiliation, though the society pages now painted her as a pariah rather than a darling.

    But fear of losing the one person who had wanted her, or at least, the version of her she''d presented, consistently for years. The one person whose devotion she''d counted on as a constant in her calcted rise "Stefan, please." She abandoned pride, abandoned calction, abandoned the careful masks she''d worn for so Jong "I need you."

    He paused at the door, his back to her. For a moment, hope red in her chest. Then he spoke, voice quiet but firm.

    "The problem is, Rose, I don''t think you need anyone. Not really, Not in any way that matters."

    The door closed behind him with a soft click that somehow hurt more than if he''d mmed it. Rose stood frozen in the entryway, the sound of rain against windows the only noise in the suddenly empty penthou Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, another news alert, no doubt. Another scandal unearthed. Another piece of her carefully constructed life exposed for all to see.

    She moved to the window instead, watching Stefan emerge from the building below, overnight bag in hand. Even from this height, she could see the slump of his shoulders, the defeat in his posture as he climbe Something tightened in her chest, an unfamiliar ache she couldn''t immediately identify. Was this what real pain felt like? Not the calcted shows of emotion she''d performed throughout her life, but genuine los The irony wasn''t lost on her. After years of taking what she wanted, of manipting situations and people to achieve her goals, she might have finally developed genuine feelings for Stefan just in time to lose hi ce despite the emotional storm that had just torn through the apartment. The perfect exterior hiding the growing panic beneath.

    Her phone buzzed again. This time she picked it up, expecting, another media alert about her scandals. Instead, a new headline made her blood run cold:

    "TECH TRILLIONAIRE ALEXANDER PIERCE AND KANE HEIRESS CAMILLE: POWER COUPLE IN THE MAKING?"

    Below it, photos from a charity g showed the notoriously private Alexander Pierce cing a diamond ne around the neck of Victoria Kane''s mysterious adopted daughter. The woman looked radiant, ge Rose stared at the image, something nagging at the edges of her consciousness. Something about the woman''s profile, about the way she tilted her head slightly as Pierce caned close. Something hauntingly familiar that she couldn''t quite ce.

    As she studied the photo, her mind racing to identify the sense of recognition, another alert appeared. Her fashion line''s main manufacturing partner had just pulled out of their contract, citing "irreparable brand The final nail in her professional coffin.

    Rose sank onto the sofa,

    phone still clutched in her hand, the rainshing the windows matching the storm inside her. Everything she''d built, everything she''d schemed for, everything she''d sacrificed others to achieve, all crumbling arou And for the first time in her carefully calcted life, Rose Lewis had no contingency n.

 Chapter 57

    Camille''s point of view

    The afternoon

    sun warmed my office, casting golden light across the polished mahogany of my desk. I twirled the small blue velvet box between my

    fingers, savoring the moment before opening it. Alexander''s security chief had delivered it personally twenty minutes ago, his professional demeanor never slipping as he handed over both the box and a sealed envelope.

    "Mr. Pierce sends his regards, Ms. Kane," was all he''d said before departing

    Now, alone with this unexpected gift, I found myself hesitating. The diamond ne still rested in my personal safe upstairs, Victoria had reluctantly agreed to dy its return after our PR team''s insistence tha no intention of letting our connection fade quietly away.

    I opened the envelope first, sliding a finger beneath the seat. The handwritten note inside showed confident strokes, Alexander hadn''t delegated this task to an assistant. strong,

    *For the phoenix who rises higher with each flight. These reminded me of your eyes, seeing what others miss, reflecting depths

    others fear to explore. The ne was for the world to witness. These are for you alone. Until our paths cross again.-

    A*

    Heat crept up my neck as I read the words twice more. In fifteen months as Camille Kane, I''d received countless professionalpliments, careful social tteries, and calcted business overtures. None had Because none had seemed to see me. Not Victoria''s creation Not the polished heiress. But something beneath all the

    carefulyers, something I sometimes feared had died along with Camille Lewis.

    I opened the velvet box slowly. Inside, nestled on white silky a pair of sapphire earrings. Not ostentatious like the diamond ne, but elegant in their understated beauty. The deep blue stones caught the a These are for you alone.

    My fingers touched one earring gently, feeling its weight. Unlike the ne, which had clearly been chosen for both its dramatic public impact and its business implications, these seemed genuinely personal. Without fully deciding to, I moved to my private bathroom, removing my current earrings and recing them with Alexander''s gift. The sapphires hung perfectly, their color bringing out something in my eyes I ha

    "Ms. Kane?"

    Reba''s voice through the inte startled me from my reflection. I returned quickly to my desk, pressing the response button.

    "Yes"

    "The financial team haspleted their analysis of Rodriguez Shipping''s vulnerabilities. They''re ready whenever you''d like to review the next phase."

    Business. Reality. The reason

    for everything I''d be over the

    past fifteen months.

    "Send them in," I replied, tucking Alexander''s note into my desk drawer.

    Reba entered first, tablet in hand, followed by two members of our financial team. All three stopped short when they saw me, eyes going to the sapphire earrings I''d forgotten to remove in my haste. New essories, Ms Kane?" Reba asled, her professional tone not quite hiding her curiosity.

    I touched one earring briefly, then lowered my hand. "Just trying something different. The report?"

    Reba handed me her tablet, but not before I caught the sh of understanding in her eyes. The sapphires weren''t public knowledge yet, but Alexander''s press statement about the ne had been release minutes.

    The addition of sapphire earrings

    would generate another round of spection when eventually noticed, which Reba undoubtedly realized.

    "As you can see on page one," our chief financial analyst began, ˇ°Rodriguez Shipping''sst potential lifeline disappeared yesterday when Eastern Capital Partners declined their emergency funding request."

    I scrolled through the report, satisfaction warming my blood as I reviewed the numbers. Stefan''spany was now functionally insolvent. Their stock had dropped seventy percent in three weeks. Major clients

    Their cash reserves?" I asked.

    "Depleted," the analyst replied. "They can''t make payroll next week without selling assets. The banks have frozen their credit lines pending financial review."

    "And the Rose Lewis situation?"

    Reba took ov

    cover, swiping to a different section of the report. "Her fashion line is effectively finished. All major retailers have canceled orders. Her manufacturing partners have terminated contracts. Most telling, her biggest I nodded, feeling the familiar mix of satisfaction and emptiness these reports always brought. Victory, yes. Justice for what they''d done to me. But the hollow feeling afterward grew stronger each time. "So we''re ready for phase three," I said, setting the tablet down.

    Reba nodded. "The acquisition team is prepared to offer twenty cents on the dor for Rodriguez Shipping''s Asian routes. Given their financial situation, they''ll have no choice but to ept whatever we offer

    "And for Rose''s business?"

    "Nothing worth salvaging" Reba''s assessment was clinical, detached. "The br¨˘nd is toxic now. Better to let it copsepletely than associate Kane Industries with it in any way."

    I stood, moving to the window to hide the conflict I feared might show on my face. Outside, spring had transformed the mansion''s gardens, new life emerging after winter''s dormancy. Much like I had emerged af But into what?

    "Ms. Kane?" Reba''s voice pulled me back. "Do we proceed with the Rodriguez acquisition offer?"

    The question deserved more consideration than my automatic yes. Acquiring Stefan''s shipping routes made good business sense for

    Kane Industries. Victoria had outlined the strategic benefits months ago, nning for the moment hispany would be vulnerable enough for hostile takeover.

    But something in me hesitated now. Not frompassion for Stefan, he deserved every bit of the destruction raining down on him. The man who had handed me divorce papers on our anniversary, who had be

    No, my hesitation came from a different source. A growing sense that revenge, however sweet, wasn''t filling the emptiness inside me the way I''d expected. That systematically

    destroying Rose and Stefan''s lives wasn''t healing the wounds they''d inflicted on mine.

    Alexander''s words from his note floated back to me: The phoenix who rises higher with each flight.

    Was this rising? Or was I still circling the same ashes, unable to truly leave them behind?

    "Ms. Kane?" Reba prompted again, her voice gentle. "Your decision?"

    1 turned back to face them, decision made. "Proceed with the offer, but at thirty cents on the dor, not twenty."

    Surprise flickered across the analysts'' faces. Reba''s expression remained neutral, though I sensed her curiosity at my slight show of mercy.

    "May I ask why?" she inquired carefully.

    "Because twenty cents would be driven by emotion, by desire to humiliate himpletely," I replied, surprising myself with my honesty. "Thirty cents makes better business sense. It''s still a brutal lowball offer he Reba nodded, making notes on her tablet. "And the timing?"

    "Tomorrow morning, immediately after their board meeting votes on his removal as CEO, When he''s at his most vulnerable."

    The team departed with their instructions, leaving me alone once more with thoughts I couldn''t quite organize. removed Alexander''s sapphires from my ears, returning them to their velvet box while struggling to Fifteen months of single-

    minded focus on destroying Rose and Stefan. Fifteen months of bing someone new, someone stronger, someone incapable of being hurt the way Camille Lewis had been hurt. All leading to this moment oplete victory.

    Yet something had shifted inside me. Some perspective I hadn''t anticipated.

    My phone buzzed with a text from Victoria: *Pierce''s press statement has generated another wave of media interest. Our stock is up nearly fifteen percent today. The PR team suggests we consider a joint chari The suggestion would have been unthinkable from Victoria three days ago. Alexander''s careful chess moves were reshaping the board, influencing even Victoria''s strategic calctions.

    Before I could respond, another text appeared: *However, remind you that

    our primary focus remains thepletion of our

    n. The Rodriguez acquisition is the priority. Don''t allow distractions, however financially beneficial they might appear *

    Distractions. Victoria''s code for Alexander and whateverplicated emotions he stirred in me. Emotions that threatened the single-

    minded focus on revenge she''d cultivated since pulling me from the

    wreckage of my former life.

    I started to type a response, then stopped as my private literang, The number disyed made my

    heart beat faster despite my efforts at control.

    "Alexander," I answered, keeping my voice nentral despite the flutter in my stomach.

    "Sapphires have historically symbolized rity of thought, he said without greeting. "The ability to see through illusion to truth. They seemed appropriate for a woman standing at a crossroads."

    I nced at the blue velvet box, wondering again how he always seemed to know any mind, my situation, my inner conflicts.

    "What crossroads would that be?" Lasked.

    "The one where you decide if revenge is enough to build a life upon. Or if perhaps something more awaits the phoenix once the fire burns out."

    His insight

    sent a chill down my spine. Had I been so transparent? Had my growing doubts about Victoria''s carefully orchestrated revenge somehow be visible to his perceptive eyes?

    "The fire is still burning," I said, moving to the window again. "Rose and Stefan aren''t quite destroyed yet."

    "And when they are? What then for Camille Kane?"

    The question echoed my own thoughts so precisely I nearly gasped. "I haven''t decided," I admitted, surprising myself with the honesty.

    "Perhaps that''s the real purpose of the sapphires," Alexander said, his voice softening slightly. "To help you see beyond the mes to what awaits after."

    "And what might that be?"

    "That, little phoenix, is something only you can determine. I heard him shift, imagined him standing at

    his own window in Pierce Tower, looking out over the same city from a different vantage point. ˇ°Though I would be honored to help you discover possibilities beyond Victoria''s carefully scripted revenge.ˇ± The offer hung between us, loaded with implications neither of us had directly voiced.

    "Victoria wouldn''t approve," I said finally, knowing it was an understatement.

    "Victoria sees only the path she''s designed for you. The role she''s created. The revenge she''s orchestrated." His voice remained gentle but firm. "I see the woman beneath all that. The one who rises not just fro My free hand touched the sapphire earrings in their velvet box. "You say that as if you know me. The real me." "Perhaps I do," he replied. "Better than you might expect."

    Before I could question this cryptic statement, he continued, "I have a meeting I can''t postpone. But consider having dinner with me tomorrow. Seven o''clock. The rooftop at Meridian. No press, no public eyes, j guess." The invitation should have been simple to decline. Victoria would expect nothing less. Our careful n allowed no room for personal connections, especially not with someone as perceptive and unpredi me to deliver. "That''s all I ask." I could hear the smile in his voice. "Until tomorrow, perhaps."

    After hanging up, I returned to my desk, mind spinning with possibilities I hadn''t allowed myself to consider before. Tomorrow morning, Stefan would be removed as CEO of his family''spany. By afternoon, h Victory. Complete and total Justice for what they had done to Camille Lewis.

    Tut what then? What would remain for Camille Kane once revenge was achieved?

    Who would I be when hatred no longer defined my purpose?

    My finger hovered over Victoria''s text, still awaiting response. The path forward she offered was clear, familiar, safe in its controlled precision. The continued execution of our n. The final destruction of those w Instead of replying;, I opened my desk drawer and removed Alexander''s note again. The phoenix who rises higher with each flight

    Maybe there was something beyond revenge. Something beyond the careful script Victoria had written for my rebom life. Something I couldn''t yet define but felt drawing me forward nheless.

    My phone buzzed with another message from Victoria: *Your decision on the Rodriguez offer?

    *

    This time I responded: Proceeding tomorrow morning at thirty cents on the dor. More strategically sound than Twenty.

    Her reply came immediately: *I agree. Well reasoned. Dinner at seven to discuss final details?

    *

    I stared

    at the invitation, knowing that epting would mean refusing Alexander''s. Choosing Victoria''s path over the undefined possibilities he represented.

    The sapphires caught afternoon light, their blue depths seeming to hold questions I wasn''t

    yet ready to answer. Questions about who I was bing About whaty beyond revenge. About the woman emerging from the ashes of Camille Lewis who might want more than Victoria''s carefully orchestrat My fingers hovered over the keyboard, poised between two futures I couldn''t fully see.

 Chapter 58

    Stefan stared at the offer letter on his desk mitil the words blurred together. Thirty cents on the dor. For shipping routes his grandfather had established. For contracts his father had nurtured. For a legacy thre Thirty cents on the dor. A number designed to wound as much as to acquire.

    Behind him, the Rodriguez Shipping headquarters

    buzzed with the frantic energy of a dying animal. Staff packed personal

    belongings into cardboard boxes Security escorted tearful employers to the elevator. Phones rang unanswered throughout the building as news of their financial copse spread through the industry.

    Three hours earlier, the board had voted to remove him as CEO. Only his father''s intervention, and their family''s controlling shares, had prevented hisplete dismissal. Now he clung to the title of "Executive "They''re waiting for your answer," Eduardo Rodriguez said from the doorway. At sixty-

    two, his father looked a decade older than he had a month ago, Lines of worry had carved themselves permanently into his face. The proud posture that had intimidated

    boardrooms for forty years now showed the slight curve of defeat.

    "Kane Industries can keep waiting," Stefan replied, crumpling the offer letter in his fist. "I won''t sell our Asian routes. Not to them. Not at any price."

    Eduardo moved into the office, closing the door behind him "It''s not about pride anymore, son. It''s about survival. Without those routes, we lose ess to ourrgest markets. Without the

    cash from selling them, we can''t make payroll next week."

    "We''ll find another way." Stefan stood, moving to the

    window that overlooked the harbor where Rodriguez ships had once dominated the skyline. Now only three vessels bore their g, the rest sold or repossessed in desperate attempts to generate operating capi "What other way?" Eduardo''s voice held no anger, only exhaustion. "Eastern Capital passed on our loan request. Banks have frozen our credit lines. Suppliers demand payment in advance for fuel and materials "We still have friends in this industry. Rtionships built over decades."

    "Friends?" Eduardo

    forehead against the cool ss. Below, workers streamed from the Rodriguez building, carrying boxes of personal items, years of service ended with impersonal severance papers and security escorts.

    "Someone is behind this," he said quietly. "Someone with resources and motivation to destroy us systematically." "Does it matter? The result is the same."

    Stefan turned to face his father. "It matters if we can identify them. Fight back. Expose whatever game they''re ying."

    Eduardo sank into a visitor chair, suddenly looking every year of his age and more. "This isn''t a conspiracy, Stefan. It''s business. We overleveraged our Asian expansion. We didn''t diversify our client base prope The timing is too perfect," Stefan insisted. "Every attack precisely when we''re most vulnerable. Every blow calcted for maximum damage."

    His father studied him with eyes dimmed by fatigue. "And who would have both the resources and motivation for

    +25 §Ó§ŕ§ß§Ú

    such a campaign?"

    "I don''t know" Stn moved back to his desk, staring at the crumpled offer from Kane Industries. "But this offer it feels personal, Deliberately insulting Designed to bumiliate as much as to acquire" "Victoria Kane is a ruthless businesswoman. Nothing

    "It''s not Victoria." Stefan smoothies the letter, studying the signature at the bottom. Not Victoria''s

    familiar scrawl but a different hand. Elegant, precise, somehow familiar though he couldn''t ce it. "It''s her daughter, Camille Kane

    Eduardo''s expression shifted slightly. "The girl who appeared out of nowhere a year ago? The one in the news with Alexander Pierce?"

    "Yes." Stetan picked up the tablet on his desk, pulling up a photo from the charity g where Pierce had ced that diamond ne around Camille Kane''s throat. The image had been everywhere for days, t Why would she target us specifically?" Eduardo asked, leaning forward to see the tablet screen

    "I don''t know." Stefan studied the woman''s face, feeling that strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu he''d experienced since first seeing her in person at the Metropolitan Museum fundraiser months ago. "But something about He left the thought unfinished, unable to articte the nagging feeling that he should recognize Camille Kane That beneath her perfect exteriory something, someone, he had encountered before. ˇ°You''re grasping at shadows,ˇ± Eduardo said gently. ˇ°Looking for conspiracies instead of epting hard truths.ˇ±

    Perhaps his father was right. Perhaps the systematic destruction of Rodriguez Shipping was simply bad luck, bad timing, bad management decisionsing home to roost all at once. Perhaps the insulting offe But Stefan''s instincts screamed otherwise. The same instincts that had guided him through countless negotiations, that had warned him of hidden agendas and unspoken motivations across boardroom tables a Someone wanted Rodriguez Shipping destroyed. Wanted the Rodriguez family humiliated. Wanted Stefan himself to experience

    the special pain of watching, everything he valued being stripped away plece by piece.

    His phone rang, the fourth call in an hour from Rose. He ignored it again, unwilling to deal with her increasingly desperate attempts to reconcile. Her own empirey in ruins, her fashion line destroyed by scanda rebuild

    her

    But he needed distance. Space to think without her maniption clouding, his judgment. Time to understand what had happened to their lives in such a short, brutal span

    "The Kane offer expires at five," Eduardo reminded him, ncing at his watch. "That''s thirty minutes from now." "Then they''ll have their answer in thirty minutes." Stefan straightened his shoulders, decision mad Eduardo''s eyes widened. "That''s financial suicide. Without that cash infusion..."

    "We find another way." Stefan''s voice hardened

    with determination that surprised even him. "Thispany survived the Depression. Survived two world wars. Survived the 2008 crash. It will survive this too."

    "How?"

    "I don''t know yet." Stefan moved to the credenza where three model ships stood in ss cases, replicas of the

    first vessels his grandfather had purchased to start Rodriguez Shipping. "But I won''t surrender my grandfather''s legacy for thirty cents on the dor, Not to Kane Industries, Not to anyones.

    For the first time in weeks, a shadow of pride crossed Eduardo''s face. "You sound like him now. Stubborn. Determined. Perhaps a little foolish "

    "Foolish enough to start a shippingpany during the Great Depression with a single boat and more courage than capital?" Stefan managed a small smile. ˇ°I''ll take thatparison."

    Eduardo stood, moving to join his son by the family heirlooms. "If we reject Kane''s offer, we''ll need to take drastic measures. Sell the headquarters building Liquidate the pension fund. Possibly even sell our fam The suggestions hurt physically-

    each one removing another piece of what had made Rodriguez Shipping special. What had made it theirs. But Stefan nodded, epting the harsh reality.

    "Whatever it takes," he agreed. "But we do it on our terms. Not with a gun to our head from Kane Industries." Eduardo squeezed his shoulder, a silent gesture of support that meant more than words. Then he let Alone, Stefan returned to the window, watching darkness fall over the harbor. Lights began appearing on the remaining ships, pinpricks of brightness against the gathering gloom. Like hope in the face of overwh Another text followed from the CFO: *Without the Kane money, we default on loans tomorrow. Complete copse within 72 hours.

    Stefan silenced his phone, turning back to the model ships that represented the beginning of Rodriguez Shipping His grandfather had started with nothing

    but determination and a single cargo vessel when everyone said he would fail.

    Perhaps it was time to return to those roots. To strip away everything but the core of what had made thepany great. To rebuild from foundation rather than try to save a structure that might be too damaged His inte buzzed, his father returning from the meeting with Kane Industries representatives. "They''re gone," Eduardo reported, voice tight with controlled emotion. "Their lead negotiator seemed almost... pl "Of course she was," Stefan replied bitterly. "Now they

    can wait a week and offer fifteen cents instead of thirty." "Perhaps." Eduardo paused. "But she said something strange as she was leaving Asked me to give you a personal message.

    Stefan''s attention sharpened. "What message?"

    "She said, "Tell Mr. Rodriguez that some losses can''t be measured in dors and cents. Some debts can''t be paid with anything butplete surrender.""

    The words sent an unexpected chill down Stefan''s spine. Not a businessmunication. A personal one. Confirmation of what he''d suspected, this wasn''t just predatory acquisition. This was targeted destructio "Did she say anything else?" he asked.

    "No. Just smiled in a way that.." Eduardo hesitated. "In a way that reminded me of someone, though I can''t ce Who"

    The nagging sense of familiarity struck Stefan again. Camille Kame. The mysterious heiress who had appeared. from nowhere. Who now seemed determined to destroy Bocipuez Shippingpletely. Who was she really? And why did she seem to hate his family with such personal intensity?

    His desk phone rang, the head of HR needing approval for the next round ofyoffs. As Stefan took the call, his mind continued toiming over the puzzle of Camille Kane. The strange familiarity. The targeted atta Something was missing Some connection he couldn''t quite make. Some truth hiding just beyond his grasp.

    By the time he finished the call, night had fallenpletely. The office building stood nearly empty, most employees already departed, many never to return. Just a skeleton crew remained, those essential to ke His office door opened again, his father returning with their remaining executive team. Five

    people where once thirty had filled the boardroom. Five grim faces prepared for the hard decisions ahead.

    The banks are calling their loans tomorrow," the CFO reported without preamble. "We have approximately three million in

    liquid assets against thirty-seven million in immediate obligations."

    "Options?" Stefan asked, all emotion set aside for the cold mathematics of survival.

    "Bankruptcy protection buys us time but destroys client confidence," the legal counsel replied, "Selling hard assets might generate ten million at fire-

    sale prices. Seeking private equity would mean surrendering control." The bleak assessment hung in the air like smoke. Stefan studied the faces around him, men and women who had stood by Rodriguez Shippany enough to risk going down with it.

    "What about our Pacific Northwest operations?" he asked suddenly. "The routes Kane Industries didn''t offer to buy?"

    The team exchanged nces, the CFO answering hesitantly. "They''re our least profitable division. Aging vessels, thin margins, heavypetition."

    "But they''re debt-

    free," Stefan pressed. "And not encumbered by the bank loans, correct?"

    "Technically, yes." The CFO shuffled through papers, brow furrowed. ˇ°They operate under a separate corporate structure for tax purposes.ˇ±

    "Then that''s our lifeboat." Stefan moved to the map on his office wall, tapping the Seattle hub that had been thepany''s first location. "We transfer what liquid assets we can to the Northwest division. Let the Silence greeted his suggestion, broken finally by the legal counsel. "You''re talking about deliberately sacrificing eighty

    percent of thepany to save twenty percent."

    "I''m talking about saving what we can rather than losing everything," Stefan corrected. "A strategic retreat, not a surrender."

    His father studied him with new respect in his tired eyes. "Your grandfather would approve. He always said sometimes you have to burn the fields to save the farm.

    The team began discussing logistics, legal implications, financial arrangements to shield what assets they could before tomorrow''s bank reckoning. As they worked, Stefan felt something unexpected bloom in hi He wouldn''t save Rodriguez Shipping in its current form. Wouldn''t preserve the global empire his father had

    built. But he would save its heart, its original core, the

    humble beginnings his grandfather had established with nothing but stubborn determination

    And from that seed, he would rebuild. Without Rose''s mardtion clouding his judgment. Without his father''s expectations weighing on his shoulders. Without the crushing burden of maintaining appearances a His phone buzzed with a news alert: "KANE INDUSTRIES AND PIERCE TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIN.

    The apanying photo showed Victoria Kane and Alexander Pierce at a press conference, Camille Kane standing slightly behind them, poised and perfect in a blue dress that matched the sapphire earrings Those earrings. Something about them struck Stefan as significant, though he couldn''t ce why.

    Another puzzle piece that didn''t quite fit. Another connection hovering just beyond recognition.

    His CFO''s voice pulled him back to

    the crisis at hand. "If we move quickly, we might save the Seattle operation. But everything else, the Asian routes, the European contracts, the headquarters, all of it will be lost."

    Not lost," Stefan corrected, a new determination hardening his voice. "Surrendered temporarily. There''s a difference."

    For the first time in weeks, his path forward seemed clear. Not easy. Not guaranteed. But clear.

    He would retreat to Seattle, to thepany''s roots, to the single port where his grandfather had started with nothing but determination and a second-

    hand cargo ship.

 Chapter 59

    Camille''s point of view

    "They rejected our ofter,"

    Reba''s words hung in the air between us, impossible, unthinkable. The folder in her hands contained the formal response from Rodriguez Shipping, a single page declining our "generous proposal" with diplo "That''s not possible," I said, my voice too quiet even to my own ears. "They''re broke. Desperate. Days fromplete copse"

    Mr. Rodriguez was quite firm." Reba set the folder on my desk, her expression professionally neutral despite delivering news she knew would infuriate me. "Their lead negotiator said the family would rather Heat rose from my chest to my throat, a burning tide of rage I hadn''t felt since the night Stefan had handed me divorce papers on our anniversary. Since the night Rose had smirked at my pain while pretending concern. Since the night I''d walked away from the ruins of a life they''d systematically destroyed.

    "Pride," I spat the word like poison. "Always his weakness. His father''s too."

    I moved to the window, needing space to contain the fury threatening to crack my carefully constructedposure. Outside, spring rain fell on the Kane estate gardens, each drop hitting leaves and petals with

    Until now.

    "The financial team has updated projections." Reba''s voice remained steady, a reminder of the professional fa?ade I needed to maintain. "Rodriguez Shipping will default on their major loans tomorrow. Their "Then why reject our offer?" I turned back to face her, struggling to understand "Thirty cents was insulting, yes, but it would have given them operating capital. Time to reorganize. A chance to salvage something Reba consulted her tablet. "Our analysts suggest it may be a negotiating tactic. Rejecting our first offer to push for better terms."

    I shook my head, knowing Stefan better than any analyst ever could. "No. It''s principle. Family pride. The Rodriguez name."

    Three generations of shipping legacy. The grandfather who''d started with a single vessel during the Depression, The father who''d expanded globally during the shipping boom. And Stefan, who''d inherited it all Just as he''d taken me for granted.

    "What do they hope to gain?" I asked, more to

    myself than Reba. "They must know they can''t survive without selling something"

    ˇ°Our intelligence suggests they may be consolidating their Northwestern operations." Reba scrolled through her notes. "Moving liquid assets to their Seattle division before the banks seize everything else." A strategic retreat. Smart, actually, Salvaging the one piece of thepany structurally protected from the banks'' reach. The original

    hub where Rodriguez Shipping had began three generations ago.

    Starting over from nearly nothing

    My fingers curled into fists, nails digging half-

    masons intumy palms. This wasn''t how it was supposed to go. Stefan was supposed to surrenderpletely. Was supposed to experience the total loss of everything he valued. Was supposed to feel the helple

    "The banks move tomorrow?" I asked.

    Reba nodded. "First thing in the morning Our sources say they''ll foreclose on outstanding loans and seize all coteralized assets"

    "And the board meeting?"

    "Emergency session scheduled for nine AM. Likely to ept the chairman''s resignation and approve bankruptcy protection filing"

    I moved back to my desk, finger tapping against the polished mahogany as I thought. Stefan was slipping through my fingers. Finding a way to survive when he should

    be experiencingplete destruction. Holding onto a scrap of his family legacy when he should be losing everything.

    "Call Matthew Chen at First National," I instructed. "Tell han Kane Industries will purchase Rodriguez Shipping''s debt at eighty cents on the dor. All of it, the secured loans, the operating lines, the equipment le Reba''s eyes widened slightly, the only indication of her surprise at this unexpected move. "That''s over forty million dors in bad debt, Ms. Kane. The financial team hasn''t analyzed...."

    "I don''t care what it costs,"I cut her off, voice sharp with determination. "If Stefan won''t sell to us directly, we''ll own his debt instead. Every dor he owes, every asset securing those loans, every piece of paper She made quick notes on her tablet. "And after we acquire the debt?"

    "We call it immediately. All of it. No extensions, no refinancing, no mercy." My voice sounded foreign to my own ears, cold and hard in a way I barely recognized. "If he wants to save his precious Seattle operatio Reba nodded, professional mask firmly in ce despite what must have seemed like irrational business decisions. Spending forty million to acquire bad debt made no financial sense, But this wasn''t about fi was about justice. About making Stefan feel theplete helplessness I''d experienced when he''d discarded me like yesterday''s trash.

    "There''s one more thing," I added. "The Rodriguez family estate. The banks don''t hold that mortgage, Sterling Trust does. I want it too."

    This time Reba couldn''tpletely hide her shock. "The family home? Ms. Kane, that''s not a business asset. That''s their private residence."

    "I know exactly what it is." Three years I''d lived in that mansion as Stefan''s wife. Three years of trying to please his family, of attempting to belong in spaces where I was merely tolerated. Three years of memori "May Task why

    The estate has no strategic value to Kane Industries."

    The question deserved a business answer, a rational exnation. Something that would make sense in tomorrow''s executive briefing when Victoria questioned this decision

    Instead, I gave the truth. "Because it will hurt him more than losing thepany. Because the Rodriguez estate

    represents five generations of family history. Because it''s the one thing Stefan believes can never be taken from him

    Understanding dawned in Reba''s eyes, not judgment, not concern, just recognition of the personal motivation. driving these business decisions Victoria had trained her well to ept without questioning. "I''ll make the calls immediately," she said, moving toward the door.

    Once Reba had gone, I moved to the hidden wall safe bnd my office artwork. Inside, nestled beside

    the diamond ne Alexander had given the,y a small photo album, one of the few possessions I''d kept from my lite as Camille Lewis. I removed it carefully, opening to thest pages.

    My wedding to Stefan. Me in an ivory gown his mother had selected because "white would wash out yourplexion, dear." Him handsome in his tuxedo, the smile that had once seemed genuine now revealed

    Rose stood beside me in the photos, maid of honor in a dress carefully chosen to outshine the bride. Her arm around my waist, her smile perfect, her eyes already calcting how to take what wasn''t hers. I mmed the album shut, returning it to the safe

    before the memories could weaken my resolve. This wasn''t about pain anymore, wasn''t about heartbreak or betrayal. This was about justice. About consequences for actions carelessly taken. About making Ste anniversary.

    My phone buzzed with a text from Victoria: Heard about the Rodriguez rejection. Your next steps?

    *

    I replied quickly. Acquiring all debt through bank purchases. Foreclosing immediately. Taking the family estate

    as well.

    Her response came instantly, approval evident even in text form: *Excellent. Total control rather than partial acquisition. More thorough destruction.

    I set the phone down, strangely unsettled

    by her enthusiasm. Once, her approval had been everything I sought. Her strategic guidance the foundation of my reborn existence. Her careful mentoring the framework for my transformation from victim to ave But recently, something had shifted. Some small, persistent voice questioning whether Victoria''s vision of justice throughplete destruction was truly what I wanted. Whether bing as cold and calcting Alexander''s words floated back to me: "The phoenix rises not just from ashes, but toward something greater."

    I pushed the thought away. Now wasn''t the time for doubt. For questioning the path I''d followed for sixteen months. Stefan had rejected the lifeline I''d offered, insulting though it had been. Had chosen family pri My phone buzzed again, Alexander, not epting my assistant''s message as final.

    *The phoenix makes her choice. Today revenge, perhaps tomorrow something more. When you''re ready to discuss possibilities beyond Victoria''s script, I''ll be waiting message,

    I started to delete the then stopped, rereading his words. How did he always seem to know my thoughts? To understand the conflict beneath my carefully maintained exterior?

    More importantly, how did he know about Victoria''s "Script? About her careful orchestration of my revenge? About the

    n we''d developed together over sixteen months of meticulous preparation?

    The questions added to my unease, to the growing sense that Alexander Pierce knew far more

    about me than should be possible. That he somehow saw beyond the surgical alterations and behavioral training to the woman beneath.

    To the woman I sometimes feared no longer existed.

    Tomorrow would bring the next phase of Stefan''s destruction. The irrevocable foreclosure on his family''s shipping empire. The beginning of the end for the Rodriguek legacy.

    But somewhere beneath my fury at his rejection, beneath my determination to make him suffer as I had suffered, a small voice whispered ufortable questions.

    What happens after revenge isplete? Who will you be when hatred no longer defines your purpose? What rises from ashes when the fire finally burns out? Questions I pushed aside, focusing instead on the justice

    tomorrow would bring. On the satisfaction of watching Stefan finally understand what it meant to lose everything that mattered.

    On the moment when he would finally pay the debt he owed for destroying Camille Lewis without a second thought.

 Chapter 60

    Morning sunlight cut through Bodriguez Shipping headquarters, harsh and unforgiving. The building felt like a tomb, employees moving like ghosts, their futures evaporating with each passing hour. Stefan stood The grandfather clock, a family heirloom, ticked mercilessly in the silence. Each sound a heartbeat closer to the end

    Two floors below, Camille Kane sat watching security feeds, her pulse quickening as she found him. Stefan, standing alone, shoulders unnaturally straight despite everything crumbling around him. That damne His phone lit up: Eduardo Rodriguez calling again. Four desperate calls already this morning. Overnight, the family estate''s mortgage had been sold. Seattle ounts mysteriously frozen. LastˇŞ minute financing arrangements copsed without exnation

    A cold smile spread across Camille''s face, savage satisfaction coursing through her. No escape routes. Nost-

    minute rescues. Just methodical, absolute destruction.

    Maria appeared in Stefan''s doorway, eyes swollen and red-

    rimmed. Fifteen years of loyalty, about to end in unemployment.

    "Mr. Chen from First National Bank is asking to see you," she said, voice breaking "He says it''s urgent."

    Stefan nodded. "Send him to the small conference room."

    After she left, he straightened his tie with trembling fingers he couldn''t quite control. What would his grandfather think? The man who started with one small cargo boat during America''s darkest economic times- what would he say about the grandson who lost everything?

    Matthew Chen''s normally friendly face was now a mask of professional detachment. The handshake between them felt foreign, distant.

    "I wanted to

    speak with you privately," Chen said, pity flickering in his eyes. "Before the official notifications."

    Stefan''sugh held only pain. "To soften the blow? Let me gave you the trouble. I know the banks are calling in the loans."

    "It''s worse." Chen''s voice dropped. "The loans weren''t foreclosed by banks. They were purchased outright. All of them. By Kane Industries."

    The name hit Stefan like a physical blow, driving the air from his lungs. "That''s impossible."

    "They found a loophole in your financing agreements." Chen slid a document across the table. "As of this morning, every dor Rodriguez Shipping owes is owned by Kane Industries."

    Stefan stared at the elegant cursive signature swimming before his eyes. Not Victoria Kane''s signature. Her daughter''s. Camille Kane.

    "The family estate?" he asked, voice barely audible.

    ˇ°Also purchased. I''m sorry, Stefan. This isn''t standard practice anymore. This is..." Chen hesitated, "personal."

    In her hidden room, Camille leaned closer to the screen, pulse hammering in her ears as she watched color drain from Stefan''s face. This was the moment she''d dreamed of for so long. The realization dawning "Victoria Kane?" Stefan asked, confusion etched in the lines of his face. "Why would she target my family?"

    Chen shook his head. "All I know is they said it was precisely the point to be unnecessarily destructive."

    After Chen left, Stefan sat alone, nausea rising in his throat. His phone buzzed

    again with his father''s name. This time he answered

    "They''ve taken the house." Eduardo''s voice cracked

    with argquish Stefan had never heard before. "Our home. Five generations. They want us out in thirty days."

    "I know."Stefan closed his eyes, chest so tight he could barely breathe. "Kane Industries

    bought all our debt. Every penny"

    "But why? Victoria Kane never showed interest in shipping

    "I don''t know," Stefan whispered, "but this feels personal, not just business."

    Two floors below, Camille watched Eduardo on screen-the once-

    powerful patriarch suddenly looking old and broken. Something unexpected twisted in her chest. Eduardo had always been kind to her during her marriage to Stefan. Had defended her when Stefan''s mother ma She pushed the feeling away, anger rising to drown it out. Eduardo had raised the man who discarded her so easily. Had taught

    Stefan that Rodriguez men always got what they wanted, consequences be damned.

    At five minutes to mine, Stefan entered the boardroom where the remaining executives waited, faces etched with fear, anger, and resignation.

    "I won''t waste time with false hope," Stefan began, voice steady despite the storm raging inside. "Kane Industries has acquired all outstanding Rodriguez Shipping debt and intends to call in these loans immedia "That''s not possible," Thomas Wagner protested, the oldest board member.

    "Then we file for bankruptcy protection," Elena Vasquez suggested.

    "They''ve blocked that avenue too." Stefan''s voice remained clinically detached while his world disintegrated. They''ve already filed injunctions preventing bankruptcy protection."

    In her hidden room, Camille watched their faces as understanding dawned. Not just business failure-

    absolute. destruction. She had expected triumph in this moment, had nurtured this fantasy through sleepless nights. But the hollow feeling in her chest refused to fill with the joy she''d anticipated.

    A knock interrupted. Three people entered, led by Reba Porter, Camille''s assistant.

    "Mr. Rodriguez,"

    Reba said coolly. "I''m here to deliver formal notification of loan acquisition and immediate demand for payment in full.!

    "The loans total $157 million dors," Reba continued. "Payment is required within 72 hours or Kane Industries will begin asset liquidation.ˇ±

    "That''s more than double our current valuation," Wagner whispered, the color draining from his face.

    "Additionally, as the new holder of your family estate mortgage, Kane Industries is exercising

    its right to call that loan as well."

    The estate. Five generations of Rodriguez history. The final twist of the knife.

    "Why?" The question escaped Stefan, raw and desperate. "Why is Kane Industries doing this? We''re notpetitors"

    "Ms. Kane anticipated your request." Reba removed an envelope, "She asked me to deliver this personally. For your eyes only"

    Stefan took the envelope, his name written in elegant handwriting that stirred something in his memory. The paper felt heavy, like a tombstone in his hands.

    After the Kane representatives left, silence descended. The board members looked to Stefan with devastation in their eyes

    "This meeting is adjourned," Stefan

    said quietly. ˇ°HR will prepare separation packages. Legal will handle the wind

    down procedures" His voice caught. "It has been an honor working with each of

    you."

    One by one they filed out, some stopping to shake his hand, others too overwhelmed to manage more than a nod When thest had gone, Stefan remained alone in the boardroom where generations of Rodrig Camille watched him on her screen, her heart thundering against her ribs. This was the moment she''d nned so meticulously. The message that would begin to unravel the mystery for him. That would start hi Stefan opened the envelope with trembling fingers, removing a single sheet of heavy cream paper. The message was brief:

    *Some debts can''t be measured in dors and cents.

    Some losses can''t be repaid with anything butplete surrender.

    Ask yourself what you took that was beyond price."

    Confusion gave way to dread, a cold sweat breaking across his forehead. Not a businessmunication. A personal one. This wasn''t just acquisition. This was targeted revenge.

    But for what? Against whom?

    His phone buzzed with a news alert: "KANE

    INDUSTRIES ACQUIRES RODRIGUEZ SHIPPING ASSETS IN HOSTILE TAKEOVER.

    The apanying photo showed Camille Kane touring properties. Something about her profile, about the way she tilted her head slightly, sent an electric shock of recognition through him. A memory trying to s He stared at her image, the elegant woman with the sharp cheekbones and confident stance. Something about her eyes...

    Camille watched his face, saw the moment confusion began shifting toward suspicion. Not full understanding yet, the surgical changes to her appearance prevented that. But the first seeds of recognition. Of qu Her phone vibrated with Victoria''s text: *Is it done?*

    "Yes, she replied, hands shaking, slightly. "Complete financial ruin. He just received my note."

    Victoria''s response: Perfect. The first phase of justice isplete.*

    Camille returned her attention to the screen where Stefan sat alone, head

    in his hands, the carefully maintained facade finally cracking. The sight should have filled her with joy. Should have satisfied the hunger for justice that had defined her existence since the night Stefan had hand papers on their anniversary.

    Instead, watching him break apart in private brought a hollow ache to her chest. This man had destroyed her without reinorse, Had discarded luer for her sister. He deserved this pain. This loss. So why did victory taste so bitter?

    Stefan suddenly looked up, gaze sweeping the room, pausing at the security camera. For a moment, it felt as though he was looking directly at her.

    "Victoria Kane," he whispered, voice raw with confusion "What did we do to you?"

    Vet something in his expression suggested that deep in his mind, something was stirring. Not understanding, not yet. But the faintest echo of recognition, burled too deep for him to grasp. Camille switched off the tablet, hands unsteady. Her phone buzzed.... Alexander this time.

    "The phoenix strikes, but finds the fire burns both ways. When you''re ready to discuss whates after revenge, I''ll be waiting"

    How did he always

    know exactly what she was feeling, when no one else could see beneath her carefully constructed facade?

    Camille gathered her things, preparing to slip away unseen, Victoria would be waiting, eager to hear every detail of Stefan''s suffering

    But something had changed inside her. Some shift she hadn''t anticipated.

    Stefan Rodriguez was broken. Hispany destroyed. His family legacy erased.

    Complete victory.

    So why did she feel so empty?

    As she moved toward the door, Camille caught her reflection, the perfect exterior of Camille Kane, Victoria''s heir, avenger.

    But beneath that polished surface, something of Camille Lewis remained. Something that whispered ufortable questions about what came next. About who she would be when revenge no longer defined h Yet as she slipped from the building, his

    confused question echoed in her mind, haunting her moment of triumph with unexpected doubt.

 Chapter 61

    Rose paced her parents'' living room, each step calcted to disy distress. Tears streaked her makeup, deliberately mined before her arrival. The afternoon sum highlighted her red eyes and trembling hands

    "I don''t know what else to do," she sobbed. "Stefan barely talks to me. He sleeps at his family home every night."

    Margaret Lewis watched with exhaustion. The past weeks bad stripped years from her face, first Camille''s death, now Rose''s rtionship troubles,

    "Maybe he just needs time," Margaret suggested wealdy, The Rodriguezpany''s copse is a terrible shock."

    "Time?" Rose''s voice

    cracked perfectly. "He talks about canceling the wedding, Mom! Everything we''ve

    nned!"

    Richard Lewis sat with newspaper forgotten, expression guarded. Since the scandal photos emerged, he''d grown quieter around Rose.

    "Stefan''s lost everything," he said finally. "Hispany, his estate, his reputation. Perhaps a wedding isn''t his priority."

    Rose knelt before her father, grabbing his hands-

    a rehearsed move that looked spontaneous.

    "Daddy, please, I can''t lose him. Not after Camille." She pressed her face against his hands. "I can''t bear another loss."

    Richard stiffened at the mention of Camille, but his fingers curled around Rose''s hands.

    "What do you expect us to do? Kane Industries bought their debt. The Rodriguezpany is finished."

    Rose looked up hopefully. "You could invest enough to save the Seattle branch. That''s all Stefan needs, just enough to keep that plece alive." Margaret gasped. "Richard, you can''t possibly..."

    "It would take millions," Richard interrupted, though he didn''t immediately refuse. "Eor what? A struggling shipping

    route that''s barely profitable?"

    "For family, Daddy, Stefan would be family once we''re married. Rodriguez and Lewis, joined through us."

    She watched her father calcting behind his eyes.

    "Even if I wanted to help, Stefan doesn''t seem eager to marry you. Why would I invest without guarantee?"

    Rose''s heart beat faster. This was her opening "Make it a condition. Help save the Seattle branch if Stefan agrees to the wedding. This fall, as nned." Margaret stood. "Outrageous! You can''t buy yourself a husband, Rose!"

    "It''s not buying," Rose protested. "It''s saving what matters to both of us. Our future. Thepany his grandfather built."

    "And when he resents you for forcing his hand this way?"

    Rose turned, real anger shing. "Forcing? He loves me! He''s always loved me, even when he was with..." She stopped abruptly.

    Silence filled the room. Camille''s ghost hovered between them.

    "Even when he was with Camille," Margaret finished softly, "Is that what you meant?"

    Rose looked away. "That''s not what I meant."

    "Sometimes I wonder if you ever truly mourned your sister at all."

    For a moment, genuine emotion broke through, not grief, at fury at being questioned.

    "How dare you? I loved

    Camille more than anyonel Larranged her memorial service. I established the foundation in her name. I''m the one who "

    "Who started dating her husband when she was still married to him? And who announced the rtionship to the world after her death?," Margaret said quietly,

    Rose stepped back as if pped. This wasn''t how the conversation was supposed to go.

    "That''s not fair," she whispered, real tears recing manufactured ones. "We foundfort in shared grief."

    Richard moved between them. "Enough. This isn''t helping anyone."

    Rose copsed into her father''s arms. "I can''t lose him too, Daddy. Sometimes I think about joining Camille, about ending this pain..."

    Margaret gasped. "Rose! Don''t say such things!"

    It was her ultimate maniption, the suggestion of suicide, implied clearly enough to horrify them.

    "We''ll figure something out," Richard soothed, stroking her hair. "No one''s going to lose anyone else."

    Rose continued sobbing, but inside, triumph bloomed. Her father''s resistance was crumbling.

    "I just want to be happy,"

    she whispered. "To be Stefan''s wife. To give you grandchildren someday."

    Rose let her sobs subside, then looked up with swollen eyes "Will you talk to Stefan? Tell him Lewis Industries can help save what''s left of hispany? Richard exchanged a look with Margaret. "I''ll speak with him. But I''m not promising anything yet. I need to see the numbers."

    "And the condition?" Margaret asked. "That he marry you is exchange for financial rescue?"

    Rose straightened her shoulders. "Not that crudely. Just understanding that joining our families would be part of the arrangement. A business marriage." Richard nodded. "I''ll speak with him tomorrow."

    As Rose prepared to leave, her mother touched her arm. "Do you truly love Stefan? Beyond his name, his connections, his standing?"

    The question caught Rose off guard. Did she love Stefan? Had she ever loved anyone beyond what they could do for her?

    "Of course I do," she replied easily. "Why else would I fight so hard?"

    Margaret''s eyes lingered "Make sure you''re not confusing possession with love, dear. They''re not the same thing.

    Outside in her

    car, Rose''s facade crumbled. She mmed her hands against the steering wheel, frustrated. Her mother''s questions had unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.

    "It doesn''t matter," she muttered. "As long as Daddy talks to Stefanˇ±

    Her phone buzzed with Stefan''s text: Noting home tonight. Staying at the office.

    Not "our home" or "the apartment," just "home." As if he was already nning his exit.

    Fear gripped Rose. She was losing him, desplie everything she''d done, manipting Camille''s marriage, orchestrating opportunities tofort him when her sister "disappeared," building a narrative of fated lo

    And Rose Lewis did not lose. Ever.

    She dialed Stefan repeatedly until he finally answered.

    "What is it, Rose? I''m busy."

    "Daddy''s going to help," she blurted. "Lewis Industries can invest in the Seattle branch. Save what''s left of the Rodriguez legacy."

    A long silence followed.

    "And what does your father want in return?"

    Rose gripped the phone tighter. "Just family loyalty. The wedding to proceed as nned"

    Another silence.

    "So that''s it. A business transaction.

    Your father saves mypany, I marry his daughter."

    "It''s not like that..."

    "Isn''t it?ˇ± His bitterugh cut through. "Tell me, Rose, was any of it ever real?"

    Genuine panic welled up in Rose, not grief, not love, but fear of losing her prize.

    "All of it," she insisted. "Every moment. I love you, Stefan. I always have, even when...."

    "Even when I was married to your sister," he finished tly

    "So meet with Daddy," she pressed. "Tomorrow. Hear what he''s offering."

    "And if I refuse? If I''d rather lose mypany than marry you this way?"

    The question hit like a p.

    "You don''t mean that," she whispered "You''re upset. Confused "

    "Not as shocked as discovering the woman I

    loved would try to buy me through her father''s money.ˇ±

    "I''m not buying you!" Rose''s control slipped. "I''m saving you! Saving us!"

    "Tell your father I''ll meet him," Stefan said finally. "But I not promising anything"

    He ended the call. Rose stared at the phone, rage and fear battling inside her. Stefan was supposed to

    be grateful, not disgusted.

    "He''lle around," she told herself. "Once he sees there no other way...''

    But doubt crept in. What if Stefan refused? What if all her careful nning had been for nothing?

    By the time Rose reached her apartment, a new determination had hardened. If Stefan wouldn''t willingly ept, she would force his hand directly

    She studied her tear-

    stained reflection and took photos of herself looking distraught. Then she drafted a message: I can''t do this anymore. Can''t keep fighting for someone who doesn''t want me. Maybe everyone would be better off

    Her finger hovered over the send button. The message was

    explicit enough to frighten him, vague enough for deniabilityter.

    But something stopped her. Some voice whispering that this was too far, even for her.

    Rose deleted the draft message. Not yet. That cand would remain in reserve

    Instead, she removed her makeup, wiping away the deliberate distress. As the tears disappeared, her true face emerged, calcted, controlled, determined."

    Her phone buzzed with a message from her father: *Arranged meeting with Rodriguez tomorrow, 10 AM. Numbers look workable if structured as joint venture.*

    Rose smiled at her reflection, triumph recing doubt. Her father was already preparing the financial rescue.

    Stefan would resist. His pride was wounded, his trust shake. But men like him were predictable, Family legacy mattered more than personal feelings. The Rodriguez name would ultimately outweigh his doubts about her methods.

    And if not... Rose nced at her phone, remembering the deleted message. There were always other ways to ensurepliance. Other buttons to push.

    "Game on, Stefan," she whispered. "Let''s see how much your pride is really worth."

 Chapter 62

    The charity auction for the Children''s Medical Research Foundation had transformed the Westmore Hotel''s grand ballroom into a glittering showcase of wealth. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light over Manhat Camille stood near the silent auction disy, maintaining the practiced smile Victoria had taught her. Her midnight blue gown and Alexander''s diamond necldacepleted the image of Camille Kane, heiress to Inside, her nerves twisted like live wires. The event coordinator had just informed her that Richard and Margaret Lewis had arrived, her parents, though they had no idea their "dead" daughter stood in the same "Ms. Kane," Reba murmured, appearing at her side. "They''ve been seated at table twelve, directly across from the stage. Would you prefer to move your cement?"

    Camille sipped champagne, buying seconds topose herself. "No. Victoria would want me to remain as nned "

    "Victoria would want you to avoid unnecessary risks," Reba countered.

    "Perhaps. But Victoria isn''t here."

    Reba nodded. "I''ll stay close, just in case."

    As her assistant moved away, Camille allowed her gaze to drift across the room, finding her parents. The sight hit harder

    than expected. Neen months since she''dst see them, the night she''d confronted Rose about Stefan. Her mother looked older, shadows beneath her eyes that makeup couldn''t conceal Her father stood str backed as always, but new lines marked his face. Was it grief that had aged them? Or Rose''s scandals?

    A waiter passed with champagne. Camille exchanged her empty ss for a full one, steadying her trembling hands. She should move away. Should minimize the risk of direct interaction. Should protect the reve Instead, she drifted closer, drawn by something stronger than caution. Not love, that emotion had burned away months ago. Not forgiveness, that was beyond her now. Perhaps simply curiosity about what had I She hadn''t counted on her mother''s uncanny ability to sense when someone was watching. Before Camille could retreat, Margaret turned, eyes sweeping the crowd before settling directly on her. Their gazes lo No recognition showed in Margaret''s face, only polite interest. But as Camille held her stare a heartbeat too long, something shifted in her mother''s expression. A slight furrowing of her brow. A tilt of her head. T Camille turned away first, pulse racing. Too much risk. She moved toward a disy of artwork, absorption in andscape painting she barely saw.

    pretending

    "Beautiful brushwork," a voice observed beside her. "The artist captures light in a way that reminds me of Turner.

    Camille''s blood froze. Her mother''s voice. So achingly faminar. She turned slowly, faceposed in a mask of polite interest.

    "You have a good eye," she replied, amazed at how steady her voice remained.

    Margaret Lewis stood closer than Camille had realized, elegant in a navy dress that brought out her blue eyes, eyes that had once looked at Camille with love, then disappointment, then grief. "Margaret Lewis," her mother introduced herself, extending a hand. "I don''t believe we''ve met, though you look remarkably familiar "

    Camille epted the handshake, the brief contact sending lightning through her body.

    "Camille Kane," she responded, the name strange on her tongue when speaking to someone who had once known her by another name entirely.

    "Ah! I''ve seen your photos in the business journals. You''ve made quite an impression since your public debut."

    Camille smiled, Victoria''s coaching allowing her to maintain the conversation while emotional earthquakes shook her internalndscape. "I''ve had excellent guidance."

    "Your mother is certainly a force of nature. My husband and I have admired her business acumen for years, though we''ve never had

    the pleasure of working directly with Kane Industries."

    The mention drew Camille''s gaze past her mother''s shoulder. Richard Lewis was watching them, expression unreadable from this distance.

    "Perhaps that will change in the future," Camille said carefully. "Kane Industries is always seeking new partnerships."

    Margaret tilted her head slightly, that puzzled look returning. "Forgive me for saying so, but you remind me of someone. I can''t quite ce who."

    Danger. Victoria''s voice echoed in her memory: "If anyone from your

    past life shows unusual interest or mentions simrity, end the interaction immediately."

    But some reckless part of her couldn''t resist pushing further.

    "I''ve been told I have one of those faces," Camille said lightly. "Familiar without being recognizable."

    "No, it''s more specific than that." Margaret studied Camille''s features. "Something about your expressions. The way you tilt your head when listening. It''s quite striking

    Camille''s heart pounded loudly. Dr. Torres had changed her appearance, sharpened cheekbones, refined her nose, altered her jawline, but no surgeon could change the mannerisms engrained since childhood. "Love." Richard Lewis appeared beside

    his wife. "The Hendersons are looking for us."

    His eyes met Camille''s briefly, recognitionpletely absent. The man who had taught her to ride a

    bike, who had checked her homework, who had walked her down the aisle, looked at her as if she were a perfect stranger.

    It cut deeply.

    "Richard Lewis," he introduced himself with a quick handshake. "I see you''ve met my wife."

    "Ms. Kane is Victoria Kane''s daughter," Margaret exined, still studying Camille. "The one everyone''s been talking about."

    "Ah, of course. Your work with the TechVault acquisition was impressive. Quite a debut into the corporate world."

    "Thank you," Camille responded, grateful for the shift to professional territory. "Though much of the credit belongs to the team behind the scenes."

    "Modest as well as aplished," Margaret observed with smile that didn''t quite reach her eyes. "A rarebination

    these days."

    Something in het mother''s tone raised warning gs. That wasn''t social pleasantry, it was assessment. Margaret might not recognize her daughter, but something about Camille Kane had triggered her curiosity. Reba materialized at Camille''s side. "Ms. Kane, Mr. Harington is asking about your bid on the Wyeth painting. He seems quite determined to outbid you."

    ?

    A perfect exit. Camille turned to her parents with her practiced

    smile. "Duty calls. It was a pleasure meeting you both"

    "The pleasure was ours," Richard replied automatically, already scanning the room.

    But Margaret caught Camille''s arm lightly. The unexpected contact sent a shock through Camille''s system, how many times had her mother reached for her exactly this way?

    "I hope we''ll have a chance to speak again," Margaret said quietly. "Perhaps

    at the Metropolitan Museum g next month? I believe Kane Industries usually sponsors a table."

    Not social politeness but a deliberate attempt to establish another meeting. Another opportunity to solve the puzzle Camille repr¨¦sented.

    "Perhaps," she managed, withdrawing her arm. "Though my schedule stays rather unpredictable."

    Margaret nodded, apparently satisfied. "Until next time, then "

    As Camille walked away, she felt her mother''s gaze following her. Reba kept pace beside her, murmuring low. "That was dangerous, Victoria would not have approved." "Victoria isn''t here," Camille repeated, though her earlier confidence had faltered. "And sometimes risks yield valuable information."

    "What information did you gain besides confirming they don''t recognize you?"

    "My mother senses something, Not recognition, exactly. More like... familiarity she can''t ce."

    "All the more reason to avoid further contact," Reba pointed out. "If she begins asking questions..."

    "She already has questions," Camille interrupted. "The question is what she''ll do with them."

    The evening continued, Camille performing her role wlessly, bidding on auction items, making small talk

    with business contacts, donating an additional fifty thousand dors. Throughout it all, she maintained awareness of her parents, careful to keep adequate distance.

    They left early, her father checking his watch with familiar impatience. As they made their way toward the exit, Camille saw her mother pause, turning to scan the room onest time. Their eyes met briefly across the crowd. Margaret offered a small, puzzled smile before allowing her husband to guide her out. That smile, so familiar, so maternal despite the absence of recognition, sent unexpected pain throu "Are you alright?" Reba asked, noticing the momentary slip in Camille''s expression.

    "Fine," Camille replied automatically. "Just tired."

    Later, in her private car, Camille finally allowed herself to process the emotions she''d carefully contained. Seeing her parents up close. Hearing their voices. Speaking with them as a stranger while memories of

    It should have felt triumphant, standing before them as Camille Kane, wealthy and powerful. They hadn''t recognized the daughter they''d sacrificed for Rose''s happiness. Hadn''t seen past the surgical alterations Instead, she felt hollow. Empty in a way that Victoria''s coaching hadn''t prepared her for

    Her phone buzzed with a text from Alexander: 1 heard the Lewis family attended

    tonight. Are you okay?

    How did he always know? How did he always sense exactly what was happening beneath her controlled exterior?

    *Fine, she texted back, the lie automatic. Then, surprising herself: No. Not really.

    His response came immediately: "Sometimes the most painful wounds are the ones that don''t bleed. I''m here if you need to talk.

    Camille stared at the message, throat tight with emotions she''d thought safely buried. Her parents hadn''t recognized her. Had spoken with her, and seen only Camille Kane, Victoria''s mysterious daughter, a bus

    It should have hurt less than Stefan''s destruction or Rose''s betrayal. They were her parents, but they''d made their choice long ago, chosen the daughter who yed their social games perfectly over the one who never quite fit their expectations.

    So why did this cut so deeply? Why did her mother''s puzzled almost-

    recognition hurt more than if she''d shown no interest at all?

    The car

    approached Victoria''s mansion, security lights illuminating the manicured grounds. Inside the massive entry hall, silence greeted her. Victoria was in Tokyo. The house staff had retired. For the first time in month She moved to the study, pouring herself a measure of expensive scotch. The familiar burn helped steady her nerves as she sank into

    a leather chair, kicking off her heels with relief.

    Victoria would be furious about tonight''s interaction. Would see it as an unnecessary risk to their carefully constructed narrative. To the revenge n they''d executed with precision

    But something about seeing her parents about her mother''s puzzled scrutiny had awakened questions Camille had

    buried. What

    was she really achieving with this borate revenge? Was destroying

    Stefan''spany and Rose''s reputation truly healing the wounds

    they''d inflicted? Or was she simply creating new scars toyer over the old ones?

    Her phone buzzed again. Alexander: *Sometimes returning to who we were means facing those who knew us then. It doesn''t mean you''re weak. It means you''re human.

    Camille set

    down her ss, his words touching something raw inside her. Victoria had trained her to be perfect, untouchable, a weapon of precise destruction. Alexander seemed to see the human beneath, the woman still She scrolled through her phone to the secret album she rarely viewed. Photos from before, Camille Lewis smiling, with highschool friends. Camille Lewis on her wedding day, Camille Lewis with her parents at h A family that no longer existed. Parents who now chatted politely with the stranger their daughter had be. Margaret''s words echoed: "You remind me of someone. I can''t quite ce who." What would happen if her mother did ce it? If she looked at Camille Kane one day and suddenly saw Camille Lewis beneath the surgical alterations? Would there be joy at discovering her daughter lived? Hu Camille closed the photo album. Tonight had opened doors better left shut, awakened questions she wasn''t ready to answer. Victoria would say she was losing focus, allowing sentiment to cloud their revenge s Perhaps she was right.

    But as Camille moved through the silent mansion toward her suite, she couldn''t shake the image of her mother''s puzzled expression. The feeling that somewhere, buried beneath years of maniption and favo In her bathroom, Camille removed her makeup, studying her transformed features in the mirror. Dr. Torres

    had done masterful work, the changes

    subtle enough to appear natural while significant enough to create a new identity.

    And yet

    As she removed thest traces of mascara, Camille could almost see Camille Lewis peering through Camille Kane''s eyes. The woman she''d been still lived somewhere inside the woman she''d be.

    She pulled out her phone again, staring at Alexander''s message. He alone seemed to understand the war raging beneath her carefully maintained fa?ade.

    *You were right, she texted finally. *Facing the past is harder than I expected.*

    His response came immediately: The phoenix rises from

    ashes, but first it must acknowledge what burned. Sleep well, Camille. Tomorrow brings

    new choices."

    As she slipped into bed, Camille wondered what choices tomorrow might bring. Whether the glimpse of her parents would strengthen her resolve for revenge or weaker it. Whether her mother''s puzzled recognit

    And what she would do if Margaret Lewis looked at her someday and said the words that would

    shatter everything: "Camille? Is it really you?"

    Sleep imed her before she found an answer, dreams filling with her mother''s searching eyes and the whispered question that followed her into darkness: "Why do I know you?"

 Chapter 63

    Camille''s point of view

    The morning sun filled my home office, bathing the pristine white furniture in golden light

    that should have been soothing Instead, I stared at my tablet screen, my chest so Eight I could barely breathe. The headline of the Wall Street Journal''s business section screamed at me in hold ck letters:

    **LEWIS INDUSTRIES TO RESCUE RODRIGUEZ SHIPPING WITH $100M INVESTMENT**

    The subheading twisted the knife deeper:

    **Wedding Bells to Follow: Rodriguez-

    Lewis Union Cements Business Partnership**

    My coffee cup crashed to the floor as I stood abruptly, hot liquid sttering across imported marble tiles. I didn''t care. The words on the screen burned through my mind, erasing months of careful nning, of sy "No," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion I rarely

    allowed myself anymore. "No, no,

    NO!!!

    I scrolled through the article, each paragraph feeding the fire growing inside me.

    *In a surprising turn of events, Lewis Industries has announced a $100 million investment in Rodriguez Shipping''s Seattle operations, rescuing the century-

    old family business fromplete copse following Kane Industries'' recent debt acquisition.*

    "Sources close to both families confirm that the business alliance will be strengthened by personal ties, with an October wedding nned between Stefan Rodriguez and Rose Lewis, sister of thete Camille Le Rodriguez. "This partnership represents not just a business opportunity, but the joining of two family legacies," Richard Lewis stated in this morning''s press conference. "Sometimes tragedy can lead

    to unexpected new beginnings."* The tablet flew from my hands before I realized I''d thrown it, shattering against the far wall in a spray of ss and electronics. The destruction wasn''t enough. Nothing could qui After everything I''d done. After buying hispany''s debt. After taking his family home. After systematically destroying everything the Rodriguez name stood for.

    Stefan was still choosing Rose. Still moving forward with the life they''d nned while I was supposedly dead at

    the bottom of that river.

    And my parents - MY PARENTS were funding it all.

    My inte buzzed, Reba''s voice careful and measured

    "Ms. Kane? I assume you''ve seen the news. Victoria is on the secure line."

    I forced myself to take three deep breaths before responding. "Send the call through."

    Victoria''s face

    appeared on my wall screen, her expression controlled but fury evident in the tightness around her eyes. She was in her Tokyo hotel suite, the skyline visible behind her through floor- to-ceiling windows.

    is uneptable," she said without greeting. "All our careful work, undone by a simple investment deal." "They can''t do this," I replied, pacing the length of my office. "We own the debt. We control the assets. Ho "They''re not buying thepany," Victoria

    interrupted. "hey''re creating a new entity, using the few assets we couldn''t touch, primarily the Seattle operations we thought were too worthless to bother with. Your father has found a legal workaround that kee The word "father" sent fresh pain shooting through me. Richard Lewis was funding the revival of Stefan''s business, cementing Rose''s triumph, all while having no idea he was destroying his supposedly dead da "The wedding announcement wasn''t coincidental," Victoria continued, her analytical mind already dissecting the strategy. "It''s a deliberate message to investors and clients, a statement of confidence in the new "I want it stopped." My voice came out harder than I''d ever heard it. "All of it. The investment. The business alliance. The wedding. I want it all burned to the ground."

    Victoria studied me through the screen, her gaze softening slightly, a rare glimpse of the maternal concern she typically kept hidden beneath her formidable exterior. "This is why I''ve always cautioned against er "Of course I''m taking it personally!" I mmed my hand against my desk, weing the physical pain. "It 15 personal. It''s MY revenge they''re unraveling. MY justice being denied."

    "Your revenge isn''tplete, "Victoria sald calmly. "This is merely an unexpected development requiring tactical adjustment."

    Tactical adjustment?" Iughed, the sound sharp and bitter even to my own ears. They''re getting MARRIED, Victoria. With my parents'' blessing and financial support. After everything they did to me. After every ˇ°And they will still pay. Perhaps morepletely than before.ˇ± Victoria leaned closer to the camera, her expression intensifying. ˇ°This development presents new opportunities. They''re rebuilding, investing emot Her logic should have calmed me. Should have helped me see past the raw hurt to the strategic implications. Instead, I felt something crack inside, some final piece of the woman I''d once been breaking away "I feel like everything we''ve done was for nothing," I said, copsing back into my chair. "They still win in the end"

    Victoria''s expression shifted, calction recing concern. "Perhaps we''ve been too... indirect in our approach." A small, dangerous smile curved her lips. "We need to create a scandal that willpletely destroy your sister Rose."

    I looked up sharply. "What kind of scandal?"

    "The kind that would make your parents reconsider their support. The kind that would make Stefan question his choice." Victoria tapped her fingers against her desk, a habit I knew indicated she was carefully c

    next words.

    My breath caught. "That is a good n"

    Recently, I acquired proof and witnesses of all of Rose scandals" Victoria''s expression was unreadable. ˇ°I held it in reserve, uncertain if such a personal attack would serve ourrger goals. But now..." "Now it''s exactly what we need," I finished, a cold rity recing the emotional turmoil I''d felt moments before. "Evidence that Rose is not a saint."

    "Show me," I demanded, leaning toward the screen. "Show me what you have."

    "When I return tomorrow. This isn''t something to discuss over even our most secure channels." Victoria''s expression softened again, nearly imperceptible but there for those who knew how to read her. "For now "I''m not in the mood for smiling at socialites. "

    "Nevertheless, you will attend." Victoria''s tone brooked no argument, maternal authority oveying businessmand. "Now more than ever, Camille Kane must appear unaffected by Rodriguez Lewis affairs. A After ending the call, I showered and dressed mechanically, donning a pale blue suit that Reba had selected for the luncheon. My outward appearance perfectly matched what was expected of Victoria Kane Inside, I was burning

    My car was waiting when I descended the mansion''s grand staircase. James stood by the open door, his expression professionally nk as always.

    "The Botanical Gardens, Ms. Kane?"

    "No," I decided suddenly. "Take me to the Rodriguez estate first."

    James hesitated, unusual for him. "Ms. Kane, the property is no longer.

    "I know it''s no longer in Rodriguez hands. I know we own it I just... need to see it."

    He nodded, closing my door before sliding into the driver''s seat. As the car wound through exclusive

    neighborhoods where Manhattan''s elite maintained their familypounds, I stared out the window without really seeing the passing scenery.

    The Rodriguez estate had been in their family for five generations. I''d lived there for three years as

    Stefan''s

    wife, trying desperately to fit into spaces that had never truly weed me. Now it stood empty, another asset in Kane Industries'' portfolio, another piece of the Rodriguez legacystripped away.

    Except now Stefan was rebuilding that legacy. With Rose by his side. With my parents'' money and blessing.

    The car slowed as we approached the private road leading to the estate. James paused at the security gate, showing identification to the guard Victoria had stationed there.

    "We''re just driving past," he exined, "Ms. Kane wanted to view the property."

    The guard nodded, raising the barrier to allow us through.

    The driveway curved through manicured grounds, revealing the mansion gradually as we approached. Colonial architecture, white columns, windows

    gleaming in the morning sunlight. It looked exactly as I remembered from my years living there, except for the stillness. No staff moving about the grounds. No cars in the circr drive. Just empty perfection, pre "Stop here," I instructed as we reached the front of the house.

    "Would you like to go inside, Ms. Kane? I have the ess codes."

    "No." I wasn''t ready for that, wasn''t sure I''d ever be ready to walk through rooms filled with memories of my failed marriage. "This is close enough."

    Through the car window, I studied the home that had never truly felt like mine despite my best efforts. Stefan''s mother had

    made sure of that, with her constant remarks about traditions I didn''t understand and standards [ couldn''t quite meet. Even the furniture had belonged to previous Rodriguez wives, selected and arranged Came generations before I arrived.

    Rose would fit perfectly here. Would know exactly how to y the role of Rodriguez wife, just as she''d always excelled at being the perfect Lewis daughter.

    The thought sent fresh pain spiraling through me.

    "They''re not moving back here," I said aloud, decision crystallizing

    as I spoke "Even if the new business seeds. Even if the wedding proceeds. They will never live in this house again."

    James met my eyes in the rearview mirror, "What would you like done with the property, Ms. Kane?"

    Tconsidered the question, looking at the grand house that represented everything the Rodriguez name stood for, tradition, wealth, unbroken lineage.

    "Sell it,ˇ± I said finally, "Not to another family. To developers, I want it torn down, thend divided into smaller lots "

    James nodded, making a note on his phone. He didn''t question the decision that would erase a historic property, didn''tment on the destructiveness of the order. Victoria hired people who followed instructio "Now the Botanical Gardens," I said, turning away as we pulled back down the driveway. "I have a charity luncheon to attend."

 Chapter 64

    Camille''s point of view

    For the next three hours, I performed wlessly. Smiled at the right people. Made appropriate small talk. Donated a generous sum when the fundraising total was announced. No one looking at Camille Kane woposed exterior.

    No one except Alexander Pierce, who appeared at my elbow as I waited for my car afterward.

    "You''re not as good at hiding your feelings as you think," he said quietly, falling into step beside me.

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about."

    "The Rodriguez Lewis announcement." He studied my profile as we walked. "It wasn''t part of your n."

    I stopped, turning to face him fully. "How do you always know? What''s happening in my life, what I''m feeling, how do you always seem to be one step ahead?"

    Instead of answering, he offered his arm. "Walk with me. The gardens are beautiful this time of year."

    Against my better judgment, I epted, allowing him to guide me along a stone path that wound through flowering shrubs and carefully tended beds.

    "I had a sister once, she is not my biological sister but my nanny''s daughter who i took like a kid sister," Alexander said after several minutes of silence. "Younger. Brilliant. Full of life and promise."

    The unexpected personal revtion caught me off guard. Alexander Pierce rarely spoke

    about himself, his past a carefully guarded mystery despite his public business sess.

    "What happened to her?" I asked, curiosity momentarily discing my own troubles.

    "She married a man who seemed perfect. Handsome. Wealthy. Well-

    connected." His voice remained casual, but I felt tension in the arm linked with mine. "He was also controlling. Maniptive. Eventually abusive, though she hid it well,"

    We reached a secluded bench overlooking a pond. Alexander guided me to sit, then took the space beside me, close but not touching

    "When she finally tried to leave him, his family closed ranks. Used their connections to freeze her assets. Threatened to destroy her professionally if she went public with abuse allegations. Offered a settlementpared to what she was entitled to

    The story resonated ufortably with my

    own experience, not the abuse, but the sense of powerful families protecting their own, of money and influence used as weapons.

    What did she do?" I asked softly.

    Alexander''s s eyes fixed on the distant water. "She took the settlement. Started over. Built her own sess, piece by careful piece." His mouth curved in what might have been ride. "She''s running a techpa "You helped her."

    "Every way I could." He turned to look at me directly, his gaze more intense than usual. "I understand the need for justice, Camille. The hunger to make those who hurt you pay for what they''ve done."

    The simple acknowledgment of my feelings unlocked something inside me. With Victoria, emotional reactions. always had to be channeled into strategic advantage. Alexander simply epted the raw hurt drivi "They''re getting everything they wanted," I said, the words spilling out before I could contain them. "The business alliance. The society wedding. My parents'' blessing. It''s like I never existed at all." "You exist." Alexander''s hand covered mine on the bench between us. "More powerfully than they could possibly imagine."

    "But they don''t know that!" The frustration that had been building all day finally broke through. "They think they''ve won. Think they''ve ovee every obstacle I put in their path. Rose gets to wear white and pro husband while my parents watch proudly from the front row."

    "And what would change if they knew?" Alexander asked gently. "If Victoria revealed Rose''s secrets tomorrow, what would truly change?"

    The question stopped me short. I''d been so focused on the idea of revtion, of seeing their faces when they realized who had been orchestrating their destruction, that I hadn''t thought beyond that moment "Stefan might still choose Rose," Alexander continued when I didn''t answer. "Your parents might find ways to justify their support. The question isn''t just what secrets Victoria has discovered, but how to use ther "So I just watch them celebrate? Let them build this future together while I hide in the shadows?"

    "No." Alexander''s voice hardened slightly. "You use every advantage Victoria Kane''s daughter possesses to ensure that future never materializes. Not through obvious attacks they can defend against, but throu His understanding of my situation, of theplex emotions driving me, was uncanny.

    "Why do you care?" I asked suddenly. "About me. About my revenge. Why involve yourself in this at all?"

    Alexander was silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Let''s just say I recognize someone fighting their way back from destruction. Someone refusing to let others define their story,"

    It wasn''t aplete answer, but something in his tone warned against pressing further. Besides, my phone was vibrating with a message from Victoria:

    *Seattle property records pulled. New venture filing discovered. Wedding details beingpiled. Return tomorrow 0800. Prepare forplete strategic overhaul."

    I slipped the phone back into my pocket, a calm certainty recing the earlier chaos of my emotions. Victoria had never failed me, not since the day she''d found me clinging to life and offered me a path to rebirt

    "I should go,ˇ± I said, rising from the bench. "Victoria returns tomorrow. We have ns to make." Alexander stood, studying my face with an intensity that should have been ufortable but somehow wasn''t." V "I''ve already lost everything once," I replied, meeting his gaze steadily. "There''s nothing left they can take from

    His expression suggested he disagreed, but he merely offered his arm again to escort me back to the main path. As we walked, I found myself wondering what Alexander Pierce really wanted, why this sessf For now, though, I had more pressing concerns. Rose and Stefan had celebrated prematurely. Whatever

    happiness they''d found would be short-lived.

 Chapter 65

    The breakfast tray sat untouched on Rose''s nightstand, fresh fruit and pastries growing stale in the morning air. She hadn''t moved from the edge of her bed for nearly an hour, eyes fixed on the television screer "Fashion designer Rose Lewis faces new allegations today, the entertainment reporter said, her expression a mask of professional concern that barely concealed her delight in the scandal "Former associates h Rose''s fingers dug into her silkforter until her knuckles turned white. This wasn''t happening. Not now. Not when everything was finallying together.

    The reporter continued, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Most damaging are ims from British fashion executive Jonathan Hayes, who alleges Lewis used their affair to gain industry ess while simul The screen filled with Jonathan''s face, older now, silver threading through the dark hair she remembered running her fingers through in London hotel rooms. His expression held no remorse as he detailed their "She was calcting even then," he said, eyes meeting the camera directly. "Everything was transactional. An affair for introductions. Intimacy for opportunities." Rose grabbed the remote, hurling it at the screen with a scream of frustration. It bounced harmlessly off the ss, the reporter''s voice continuing uninterrupted.

    "These allegationse at a particrly sensitive time for Lewis, whose fashion line has been struggling with production dys and canceled orders from major retailers.

    The doorbell rang, its cheerful chime a jarring contrast to the destruction ying out on the screen, Rose ignored it, pulling her knees to her chest as more evidence of her past appeared in professionally edited Lord Hartley, silver-haired and aristocratic, seated in his

    country estate library: "She made me believe I was special, that our connection was unique. Later I

    discovered he was seeing my colleague simultaneously, leveraging both rtionships for fashion world introductions."

    The former assistant to Anton Bessonov, her eyes hard with old resentment: "She lived on his yacht while his wife believed she was attending design conferences. When international authorities began investiga Photos shed across the screen, Rose entering hotels with different men, Rose

    boarding the infamous yacht in Monaco, Rose at industry events on the arm of designers three times her age. Each image more damning than thest, each time- stamped to create aprehensive timeline of calcted ambition.

    The doorbell rang again, more insistent this time. Rose buried her face in her hands, tears streaming between her fingers. How had they found these people? Who had convinced them to speak after all these y Until now.

    Her phone buzzed with messages from her publicist, herwyer, her business manager, all demanding to speak with her, all wanting direction on how to handle the crisis, Rose ignored them all, her eyes returni

    television where her carefully constructed life continued to disintegrate.

    "Former ssmates from Lewis''s fashion program have alsoe forward," the reporter was saying, clearly enjoying each new revtion. "They allege systematic theft of design concepts thatter appeared in A photo appeared, Rose''s award-

    winning graduation piece juxtaposed with a nearly identical sketch from a ssmate''s portfolio, dated months earlier. Side by side, the theft was unmistakable, the minor alterations insufficient to hide the original source.

    "No, no, No!" Rose screamed, grabbing a crystal vase from her nightstand and hurling it against the wall. The ss shattered, water and

    flowers spraying across imported wallpaper. The destruction wasn''t enough to ease the panic rising in her chest.

    The reporter was

    now discussing financial connections between Rose and Anton Bessonov, suggesting that her early design

    collections had been funded through questionable sources.

    ˇ°Banking records obtained exclusively by our investigative team show substantial deposits to Lewis''s ounts during her time with Bessonov," the woman exined as graphics appeared on screen. ˇ°These de experts describe as consistent with moneyundering techniques."

    The doorbell rang a third time, followed by heavy knocking. Rose pulled herself from the bed on unsteady legs, moving to the window to peer through the blinds. Reporters. At least

    a dozen of them crowded her building''s entrance, cameras ready, faces eager for a glimpse of the fallen fashion darling.

    Her phone rang again, her publicist for the fifth time. Rose finally answered, her voice tight

    with barely controlled fury.

    "What the hell is happening, Melissa? How did they get all this? Who''s behind it?"

    "I don''t know," her publicist replied, professional calm cracking under

    pressure. "It''s coordinated, that''s all I can tell you. Multiple outlets receiving the same evidence simultaneously. Former associates contacted by someone offering significant money for exclusive interviews. It''s.. "Make it stop!" Rose demanded, pacing her bedroom like a caged animal. "That''s what I pay you for!"

    "It''s toote for containment. We need to issue a statement immediately. Something addressing

    the allegations directly while...."

    "No! Absolutely not!" Rose cut her off. "We deny everything. Every single thing. Call it a smear campaign by jealouspetitors."

    "Rose, there are photos. Time-

    stamped, authenticated photos. There are bank records. There are multiple credible witnesses all

    telling consistent stories. Denial will make this worse."

    Rose swept her arm across her vanity, sending perfume bottles and makeup crashing to the floor. "I don''t care! Find out who''s behind this. Someone orchestrated it. Someone with resources and connections. I The knocking on her door grew louder. Rose ended the call, moving to the entry and peering through the peephole. Her assistant, Michael, stood there looking terrified.

    "Ms. Lewis, please, I need to speak with you." His voice carried through the door, high with arcxiety. "Vogue just pulled your featurepletely. Neiman Marcus is invoking the morality use in their contract. Y Rose yanked the door open, pulling Michael inside before mming it shut again. "Tell me something I don''t

    CHUM¨ŞN 15

    know!"

    He flinched at her tone but continued. "Your investors are calling an emergency meeting this afternoon. The bank froze your business ounts pending review of the moneyundering allegations." "They can''t do that!" Rose grabbed his arm, fingers digging in hard enough to make him wince. "That''s my money! My business!"

    "The freeze is temporary, but... with the production timeline for your fall collection..." Michael trailed off, not needing to finish the thought. Without ess to funds, without fabric suppliers, without retail partners, Rose released him, moving back to the window where the crowd of reporters had grown. Someone must have tipped them off that she was home. The thought sent fresh rage coursing through her. "Who did this?ˇ± she whispered, more to herself than Michael. "Who has enough power to coordinate something thisprehensive?"

    "I don''t know, but there''s something else." Michael held out his tablet, disying another news site. "They''re reporting that an anonymous source provided evidence that some of your early designs weren''t original. That you appropriated them from other designers who never received credit."

    Rose snatched the tablet, scanning the article with growing horror. There, disyed side by side, were sketches from her most celebrated collections alongside nearly identical drawings from other designers'' p process.

    "These are lies," she hissed, throwing the tablet onto the sofa. "Distortions. Simr designs happen in fashion all the time. It''s called inspiration!"

    Michael looked unconvinced but knew better than to contradict her directly. "What do you want me to do? The press is demanding a statement."

    Rose paced the length of her penthouse, mind racing through options, through damage control scenarios, through ways to salvage what remained of her reputation and business. Someone had orchestrated thi "Find me a list of enemies," she said suddenly, turning to face her assistant. "Everyone I''ve crossed in the Industry. Everyone who might have resources to do this. Everyone who might want to destroy me." "That... might be a long list," Michael said carefully.

    Rose moved to her dressing room, scanning her

    clothing options with frantic energy. If she had to face this storm, she would at least look impable doing it.

    ˇ°Tell him to focus on the coordinated nature of the attacks. Make it clear this is a deliberate takedown by unnamedpetitors threatened by my sess. Deny any financial improprietypletely. For the affai and has no bearing on my professional contributions."

    "And the design theft allegations?"

    Rose yanked a crimson dress from its

    hanger, the color perfect for projecting confidence and defiance. "Simr aesthetic sensibilities aremon in creative industries. I was influenced by many designers, as they were by me. Icategorically deny st As she dressed, applied fresh makeup, and prepared to face the media circus outside her building, Rose''s mind continued turning over possibilities. Who had the reach to find people from her London and Paris The answer remained elusive, but the question burned with obsessive intensity. Someone had dered war on Rose Lewis. Someone with resources and motivation she couldn''t identify. Someone who knew ex "Your car is waiting at the service entrance,ˇ± Michael reported, ending a call with building security. "They''ve cleared a path, but there are still reporters. Do you want to make a statement or go straight to yourv Rose checked her reflection one final time, smoothing her hair and straightening her shoulders. The woman in the mirror looked nothing like the panicked, raging figure who had been throwing objects minutes e It was the greatest performance of her career.

    "No statement yet," she decided. "Let them specte. Let them wonder. I won''t give them the satisfaction of seeing me break"

    As she gathered her purse and phone, another alert appeared on Michael''s tablet. He tried to shield the screen, but Rose caught the headline: "EXCLUSIVE: Rose Lewis''s Former Mentor Reveals Pattern of De Her mentor. Eliza Winterbourne. The woman who had taught her not just design but strategy. The woman who had trusted herpletely. The woman whose private collection of vintage couture Rose had care "I want a full report on who''s talking by this afternoon," Rose instructed Michael, her voice cial with suppressed fury. "Every name. Every allegation. Every connection between them. Someone orchestrated th In the elevator descending to the service level, Rose caught her reflection in the polished metal doors. The perfect image of sess she''d cultivated so carefully, showing nothing of the ruins beneath. As the doors opened and she prepared to face the waiting cameras, a single question burned through the shock and rage: who had the power and motivation to destroy her sopletely? Who hadpiled e The answer waited somewhere beyond the shbulbs and shouted questions. And Rose Lewis would find it, even if she had to burn what remained of her world to the ground in the process.

 Chapter 66

    Camille''s point of view

    I stood by the floor-to-

    ceiling windows in Victoria''s penthouse office, watching the city lights flicker to life as dusk settled over Manhattan. Rain tapped against the ss, a gentle percussion apanying the victory drumming throug On six massive screens behind Victoria''s desk, Rose''s destruction yed out in real-

    time. Every major news channel, every entertainment show, every social media feed, all consumed with the spectacr downfall of fashion''s rising star.

    "More champagne?" Victoria asked, appearing at my side with the bottle of Dom P¨¦rignon we''d opened when the first reports broke this morning. Her smile, rare and genuine, made her look younger. "Please," I said, holding out my crystal flute.

    Victoria clinked her ss against mine. "To justice," she said, voice warm with satisfaction. "Long overdue." "To justice," I echoed, turning back to the spectacle on the screens.

    A reporter stood outside Rose''s apartment building, rain dampening her hair as she struggled to maintain her professional demeanor despite the obvious joy in delivering the news.

    "Fashion designer Rose Lewis remained inside her penthouse apartment all day as more allegations surfaced about affairs with married men, stolen designs, and

    questionable financial ties to figures under investigation for moneyundering, Sources close to Lewis say she is ''devastated'' by what her legal team is calling a "coordinated character assassination.""

    I couldn''t help butugh. "Devastated. I wonder if that''s how she described me to Stefan when they were nning my recement."

    Victoria squeezed my shoulder. "This is only the beginning. By tomorrow, every major retailer will have canceled their orders. By next week, her investors will pull outpletely. By next month, Rose Lewis will The satisfaction I felt should have been pure and sweet. This was what we''d worked toward for nearly two years, the systematic destruction of the woman who had stolen my husband, my life, my identity. The w So why did victory taste soplex? Why did the champagne feel both sweet and slightly bitter?

    On the renter screen, footage yed of Rose leaving her building through a service entrance, head high, crimson dress a sh of defiance against the gray day. Even in her downfall, she performed the role of wronged innocent perfectly.

    "Look at her," I said, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. "Still ying to the cameras. Still manipting perceptions."

    Victoria moved to her desk, pressing a button that muted the screens. "That performance won''t save her. Not this

    time

    I turned away from the windows, studying the woman who had rescued me, rebuilt me, guided me through the transformation from broken victim to powerful avenger.

    "How did you find them all?" I asked, settling into a leather chair facing her desk. "Jonathan Hayes, Lord Hartley,

    Anton Bessonoy''s assistant.. they all disappeared from her life years ago."

    Victoria''s smile tumed almost predatory. "Money opens mamy doors, but information is the true currency of revenge. For nearly one years, I''ve had investigators tracking down everyone Hose ever used, betraye "And the banking records? The evidence of money Laundering?"

    "More challenging, but nothing is truly hidden from those who know where to look." Victoria studied me over her ss. "You''re troubled. Why? This is what we''ve worked toward "

    I sighed, frustrated by my ownplicated emotions. "I should feel only happiness seeing her suffer. Only satisfaction watching her world crumble. But there''s something else... something I can''t quite name." Victoria leaned forward, her expression turning serious. "Don''t confuse justice with vengeance, Camille. What we''ve done isn''t about making you feel better. It''s about bnce. About consequences for actions. "I know," I said, standing to

    pace. ˇ°But part of me expected to feel... more. Some profound sense of closure or healing."

    "Healing doesn''te from what happens to others," Victoria said quietly. "Ites from what happens within you, Rose''s destruction is simply the external manifestation

    of justice. Your healing is a separate journey."

    Her words settled over me, wisdom I hadn''t expected from a woman whose focus had always been strategic rather than emotional. Perhaps there were depths to Victoria Kane I still hadn''t fully discovered.

    My phone buzzed. Alexander''s name appeared on the screen, sending an unexpected flutter through my chest. "The lioness watches her prey fall. Satisfaction or emptiness? Perhaps both. Call when you''re rea How did he always know my mind so precisely? I slipped the phone back into my pocket without responding, not ready to examine what Alexander Pierce represented in my life,

    Victoria watched me with that prating gaze. "Alexander?"

    1 nodded, not bothering to deny it.

    "He remains aplication," she observed, her tone neutral but her eyes sharp. "A variable we didn''t ount for in our nning"

    "He''s not a threat to what we''ve aplished," I said, more defensively than intended.

    Perhaps not. But his interest in you goes beyond business. He wants something from you, Camille. Something he hasn''t yet revealed."

    Victoria pressed another button, switching thergest screen to a financial news

    channel. The analyst was

    cussing the impact of Rose''s scandal on the fashion industry, specifically how several designers'' stock prices had jumped as retailers looked to fill the gap left by her toxic brand.

    "We should consider acquiring her manufacturer in Mn, Victoria said. "With their contracts canceled, they''ll be desperate. We could get their facilities and workforce for pennies on the dor."

    The suggestion was perfect Victoria, seeing opportunity in destruction. Yet something in me r¨¦sisted.

    "Let someone else have it," I said, surprising both of us. "We''ve taken enough."

    Victoria''s eyebrows rose slightly. ˇ°That''s... unexpected. I thought you

    wantedplete dismantling of everything she built."

    "I did. I do." I struggled to articte my shifting emotions. But there''s something about picking through the remains that feels... beneath us."

    A small smile yed at Victoria''s lips. "Us. Not me, Us. You''ve truly be a Kane."

    The observation should have pleased me. For months, bing Victoria Kane''s daughter had been my focus, my purpose, my new identity. Yet something about it now felt constricting, as if the perfect vengea Who was 1, when not defined by revenge? What would drive me, when Rose and Stefan had been thoroughly destroyed? What filled the void when hatred no longer consumed every thought? Victoria joined me by the windows again, her reflection appearing beside mine in the darkened ss.

    "You''re evolving," she said, her voice gentler than usual. ˇ°That''s natural. For months, every decision has been filtered through the lens of justice for what they did to you. Now that justice is being served, you''re "Whates next?" I asked, the question directed partly at her, partly at myself.

    "That depends entirely on you." Victoria turned to face me directly. "When I found you half-

    dead on that garage, 1 offered you a choice, disappear into a new life somewhere far away, or rise from the ashes transformed. You chose transformation. Now you face another choice." "Which is?"

    "Whether Camille Kane exists only as an instrument of revenge, or as someone with a future beyond it."

    Her words struck deep, touching uncertainties I''d been avoiding since our n began yielding results. Since the single-

    minded focus on destruction began making room for other possibilities.

    "I don''t know who I am without this," I admitted, gesturing toward the screens. "Without the goal of making them pay."

    Victoria studied me, her gaze thoughtful rather than calcting. "Perhaps that''s the next chapter of your journey. Discovering Camille Kane beyond revenge. Beyond the past Beyond even my careful molding." The suggestion surprised me. Victoria had always been directive, strategic, clear about who I should

    be. This open-

    ended possibility, this freedom to define myself beyond our shared

    purpose, was unexpected.

    "You would support that?" I asked carefully. "Even if it meant choices you didn''t n for?"

    Something flickered in Victoria''s eyes, an emotion I couldn''t identify. "I saved you, Camille. Rebuilt you. Gave you the tools to achieve justice. But I never intended to own you"

    She moved back to her desk,

    picking up a thick folder I hadn''t noticed earlier. "Which brings me to something I''ve been considering"

    I followed her, curiosity momentarily discing my existential questions. Victoria handed me the folder, its weight substantial.

    "What is this?"

    "Open it," she said simply,

    Inside were legal documents. I flipped through them, understanding dawning slowly.

    "You''re giving me controlling interest in Kane Industries'' Tech division," I said, looking up in shock. "Thirty percent ownership. Board chairmanship. Final approval on all acquisitions."

    Victoria nodded. "Consider it your graduation present. You''ve learned everything I can teach you about business, strategy, and power. Now it''s time for you to build something of your own." I stared at the documents, their implications staggering. This wasn''t just a gift, it was independence. Authority Identity beyond being Victoria Kane''s creation or Rose Lewis''s destruction. "Why now?

    "Because revenge is ending," Victoria said simply. "And your life needs to be beginning. Rose Lewis built her career stealing from others. I want you to build yours creating, something uniquely yours." Emotion tightened my throat, unexpected gratitude mixing with something like awe. For all her calcted coldness, Victoria Kane had given me more than tools for revenge. She had given me a future. "Thank you," I said, the words inadequate for the gift she was offering.

    Victoria waved away my gratitude. "Don''t thank me. Show me what you''ll build. Show me who Camille Kane bes when not defined by her past."

    My phone buzzed again. Another message from Alexander: Dinner tomorrow? Something to celebrate your victory, and perhaps discuss whates after.*

    This time, I found myself smiling as I typed: "Yes. 8pm. You choose the ce.*

    Victoria noticed, of course. "Alexander Pierce represents a choice too," she observed. "One I hope you''ll make with your eyes fully open."

    "Meaning?"

    "Meaning he has his own agenda, as everyone does. Including me." Victoria''s honesty was refreshing and slightly rming. "Just be certain you understand what you''re choosing before you choose it."

    On the screens, a new headline scrolled: "DESIGNER ROSE LEWIS: FORMER EMPLOYEES ALLEGE TOXIC WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT." The destruction continued its inexorable march, gathering mom

    "I believe I''ll

    understand my choices better now," I said, looking at the documents in my hands. "Now that I have something to look forward to, not just something to avenge"

    Victoria raised her champagne ss. ˇ°To the future, then. And to the woman you''re bing

    "To the future," I echoed, clinking my ss against hers.

    As night settled over Manhattan, the city lights zed against the darkness. I studied my reflection in the window, Camille Kane looking back at me, Victoria''s creation but increasingly my own as well. The surgi I was transforming internally too. Bing someone

    neither Camille Lewis nor Victoria''s carefully crafted heir, but someone new. Someone undefined by either past trauma or present revenge.

    My phone buzzed one final time. Alexander again: *Looking forward to tomorrow. The phoenix rises not just from asties, but toward something greater.*

    For the first time since the Rose''s men had nearly imed my life, I found myself genuinely curious about what that "something greater" might be.

 Chapter 67

    Stefan Rodriguez stared into his whiskey ss, watching the amber liquid catch the dim

    bar light. This was his fourth drink of the night, or maybe his fifth. He''d lost count somewhere between the endless news alerts about Rose''s scandal and the memories that wouldn''t stop haunting him. The bar was nearly empty on this rainy Tuesday night. Just him, the tired-

    looking bartender who had stopped trying to make conversation hours ago, and a couple in the far corner who seemed too wrapped up in each other to notice anything else. Perfect. Thest thing Stefan wante letting the burn travel down his throat. The television above the bar yed footage of Rose leaving her apartment building, surrounded by reporters shouting questions about her affairs, her stolen designs, her denials, her careful performance of wronged innocence.

    "Turn that off," he muttered to the bartender, who nced up at the screen and reached for the remote without

    The sudden silence felt heavier somehow. Without the distraction of Rose''s public disgrace, Stefan was left alone with thoughts that had been circling his mind for days. How had he been so blind? So easily ma The bartender set another whiskey in front of him without being asked. "On the house," he said, his eyes reflecting something that might have been understanding. You look like you need it." Stefan nodded his thanks, too exhausted for words. The past week had hollowed him out. First the copse of his family''s shipping empire, then the discovery of Rose''s deception, and now this public spectacle deep weariness that no amount of alcohol seemed to touch.

    His phone buzzed on the bar top. His father, again. The third call tonight. Stefan silenced it without answering. What could he possibly say to the man whose legacy he had failed to protect? Whose family name The small Rodriguez Shipping operation in Seattle was still functioning, but barely. The employees who had remained loyal deserved better than a broken man drowning his failures in whiskey. They deserved a Stefan ran a hand through his disheveled hair, remembering when he had been that man. When he had believed himself worthy of the Rodriguez name. When he had thought himself in love with a woman who No, not a stranger. A predator.

    The emails the investigator had uncovered had

    revealed the truth with brutal rity. Rose wasn''t a kind

    and good wornan. She had been plotting, manipting, calcting for years. The calls from London. The "chance" encounters when she returned to New York. The perfectly timedfort offered when his mar All deliberate. All strategic. All focused on achieving what she wanted, regardless of who suffered in the process. Including Camille.

    Stefan closed his eyes as memories of his wife flooded back Camille, with her gentle smile and quiet determination Camille, who had loved him despite his ws, despite his family''s cold wee, desnit

    Charter K

    distance he had ced between them as Rose''s influence grew.

    Camille, whose car had gone off that bridge two nights after he had asked for a divorce. The night after he had chosen Rose.

    The guilt was a physical pain in his chest, sharper than any business failure, any public humiliation. The knowledge that he had thrown away something genuine for a carefully crafted illusion felt like swallowing

    "You

    okay, buddy?" the bartender asked, pausing in his task of wiping down sses.

    Stefan opened his eyes, surprised to find his vision blurred. "Fine," he managed. "Just... thinking,"

    "Dangerous activity after midnight," the bartender said, not unkindly. "Especially with that much whiskey Involved"

    Stefan attempted a smile that felt more like a grimace. "Some thoughts follow you no matter how much you drink.

    The bartender nodded knowingly. "Those are the ones worth listening to, usually''

    The simple wisdom hit harder than it should have. Stefan had spent nearly two

    years not listening to his thoughts, not about his failing marriage, not about Rose''s convenienttiming, not about the business decisions that had left Rodriguez Shipping vulnerable to

    hostile takeover. He had silenced every warning, ignored every red g, dismissed every instinct that might have saved him from where he sat now.

    His phone buzzed again, not a call this time, but a news alert. Stefan knew he should ignore it, spare himself whatever fresh humiliation the media had uncovered about Rose or their rtionship. But some mas

    "ROSE LEWIS SCANDAL DEEPENS: FORMER CLASSMATE PROVIDES EVIDENCE OF DESIGN THEFT"

    Apanying the headline was a photo of Rose from her fashion school days, standing proudly beside what had been her breakthrough design, a design that, ording to the article, had been stolen from a fe Stefan scrolled through the story, a strange numbness spreading through him. Every new revtion about Rose should have shocked him, but instead, each one simply confirmed what he now understood. The And what was most disturbing wasn''t how thoroughly she had fooled him, but how easily he had allowed himself to be fooled

    When had he be this man? This gullible, shallow person who had discarded a genuine wife for the shier, more calcted attention of her sister? When had ambition and appearance begun to matter more than substance

    and truth?

    The questions burned through the alcohol haze, demanding answers he wasn''t ready to face.

    Stefan signaled for another drink, needing to dull the sharp edges of his self-

    recrimination. The bartender hesitated, clearly weighing his professional responsibility against the desperation in Stefan''s eyes.

    "Lasi one," he said firmly, pouring a smaller measure than before. "Then I''m calling you a car."

    Stefan didn''t argue. He had lost the right to make good decisions for himself somewhere between signing divorce papers on his anniversary and watching Kane Industries systematically dismantle his family con Kane Industries. The name triggered something in his fog mind. A connection he had been trying to make for

    days now. Victoria Kane had no history in shipping, no previous interest in Rodriguez Shipping assets. Yet herpany had moved with surgical precision to acquire their debt, seize their assets, and block ever

    recovery.

    Why? What had prompted such targeted destruction?

    And more puzzling was her daughter, Camille Kane. The mysterious heiress who had appeared less than two years ago, with no background information beyond

    vague references to a European education. The woman whose dark eyes had seemed almost familiar when they had briefly meat that charity function months ago.

    There was something there, some connection he couldn''t quite grasp through the whiskey fog. Some exnation for why bane Industries had singled out Rodriguez Shipping for suchplete destruction "Time to go, Mr. Rodriguez."

    Stefan looked up, surprised to find the bartender standing before him with his coat. The bar was empty now, the couple in the corner long gone, the night pressing dark against the windows. "What time is it?" Stefan asked, voice rough from whiskey and silence.

    "Nearly two. And you''ve had enough."

    Stefan nodded, not trusting himself to stand without assistance. The bartender''s steady hand helped him to his feet, guided him into his coat, and steered him toward the door. "Your car''s outside. Already paid for."

    "Thanks," Stefan managed, fumbling in his pocket for his wallet. "Let me...."

    "It''s covered." The bartender waved away his attempt to pay. "Someone called. Said to put it on their ount." Stefan frowned, confused. "Who?"

    "Didn''t say. Just that you shouldn''t be driving"

    The mystery benefactor was probably his father, still monitoring him despite being ignored all evening. The thought should have annoyed him, but instead, it simply added to the weight of failure pressing down Outside, rain fell steadily, turning the city streets into rivers of reflected light. A ck town car waited at the curb, driver standing patiently beside the open rear door. Not his father''s usual service, Stefan noted d "Mr. Rodriguez," the driver said with a slight nod. "Where can I take you tonight?"

    Stefan hesitated. Not back to the empty penthouse he had shared with Rose, still filled with her things despite her hasty departure days ago. Not to the family estate that now belonged to Kane Industries. Not to "Just drive," he said finally, sliding into the car''s leather interior. "Anywhere."

    The driver nodded again, closing the door and returning to the wheel without further

    questions. The car pulled smoothly into the rain-

    slicked street, wipers creating a hypnotic rhythm against the windshield.

    Stefan leaned back against

    the seat, letting exhaustion and alcohol pull him toward unconsciousness. The car moved smoothly through nearly empty streets, wipers still keeping their steady beat. Stefan felt consciousness slipping away d s sleep fing

    As sleep finally imed him, his mind still wrestled with

    unanswered questions. Why had Kane Industries targeted him so precisely? What had triggered such a thorough destruction of everything he valued? And why did

    he still

    el there was something important he was missing some connection just beyond his grasp?

    The car continued its journey through the rain-

    washed city, carrying its unconscious passenger toward a destination neither of them yet knew.

 Chapter 68

    The executive boardroom of Kane Industries buzzed with restrained energy as financial analysts and legal experts gathered around the massive oak table. All eyes focused on the presentation screen where Fa Victoria Kane sat at the head of the table, silver hair swept

    into her signature severe bun. To her right, Camille Kane studied the financial projections, asionally making notes on her tablet.

    "Mr. Howard, please begin," Victoria said, nodding to the bead of acquisitions.

    Daniel Howard cleared his throat. ˇ°Moretti Global Logistics is the primary shipping partner for Rose Lewis Designs, or what remains of it. They handle eighty-

    seven percent of the brand''s global transportation needs, plus warehousing and fulfillment."

    He clicked to the next slide showing a world map dotted with distribution centers. "Moretti has built impressive infrastructure across twenty-

    three countries, specializing in high-end fashion logistics. Their client list includes

    Chanel, Versace, and numerous luxury brands."

    "And their financial situation?" Victoria prompted.

    "Overleveraged," Howard replied, advancing to a declining profit graph. "They expanded aggressivelyst year, taking on significant debt. With Lewis Designs'' copse, they''ve lost thirty percent of expected rev

    Victoria turned to legal. "Ms. Chen, the ownership structure?"

    Eleanor Chen opened her folder. "Fifty-

    one percent owned by Fabio Moretti himself. Twenty-

    two percent public shareholders. The remaining twenty-

    seven percent held by various private investors, including a fifteen percent stake belonging to Rose Lewis, who joined their boardst year."

    A murmur ran

    through the room. Victoria silenced it with a nce before turning to her daughter.

    "Camille, your assessment?"

    All eyes shifted to the younger Kane, who set down her tablet with deliberate care.

    "Moretti Global represents a strategic opportunity on multiple levels," Camille began coolly. "First, their infrastructureplements our existing holdings. Second, their client rtionships give us immediate entry their vulnerability makes this the optimal moment to acquire them below market-

    value."

    She passed, meeting her mother''s gaze. "And fourth, Fabio Moretti is Rose Lewis''s godfather and most loyal business ally. Thest person still standing beside her."

    The significance settled over the room. Everyone understood this wasn''t purely business. This was personal, another calcted move in the systematic dismantling of Rose Lewis''s world.

    "Thank you, Camille," Victoria said. "Mr. Howard, the takeover strategy?"

    Howard clicked to a flowchart. "We''ve prepared a two-

    pronged approach. First, quietly acquire avable public shares through subsidiaries. Simultaneously, approach private investors, excluding Ms. Lewis, with offers fifteen percent above current value."

    "And Moretti himself?" Victoria asked.

    "That''s where

    we''ll face resistance," Howard admitted. "He''s known for loyalty. His connection to the Lewis

    family goes back decades. He''s unlikely to sell willingly."

    Victoria turned to research. "Dr. Patel, what vulnerabilities have you identified?"

    Dr. Patel touched her tablet, bringing new information to the screen.

    "Fabio Moretti has three pressure points. First, his son Marco''s struggling startup has been kept afloat through his father''s cash infusions. Second, Moretti Global''s expansion into South America encountered re season and needs manufacturing and distribution partners."

    "Excellent," Victoria said. "Leverage without anything too aggressive."

    "Implementation timeline?" she asked Howard.

    "We could have controlling interest within thirty days."

    II

    Victoria shook her head. "Too slow. Rose Lewis resigned yesterday. The embezzlement evidence bes public tomorrow. Moretti will be preparing contingency ns. We need to move faster." She turned to Chen. "Legal implications of an immediate tender offer?"

    "We''d pay a premium and telegraph our intentions, but there''s no legal obstacle."

    Victoria nodded. "Prepare the offer at twenty percent above current value, contingent on eptance within forty-

    eight hours."

    She looked around the table. "Any other considerations?"

    Camille spoke. "Fabio Moretti has been a

    second father figure to Rose since childhood. Taking hispany will hit her differently than other business losses. This is personal for her."

    Victoria studied her daughter. "Does that concern you?"

    "No," Camille replied steadily. ˇ°Just an observation. We should prepare for a more emotional response than her previous losses triggered."

    Victoria stood. "I want the tender offer ready by market close. And ensure Ms. Lewis''s stake ispletely isted in the new structure. I want her investment rendered worthless."

    The executives filed out, leaving Victoria and Camille alone,

    "You''re quiet,ˇ± Victoria observed. ˇ°Having second thought?"

    Camille shook her head. "No. Just appreciating the precision of it all. How each piece fits so perfectly into therger strategy."

    Victoria smiled slightly. ˇ°Like chess. The key is thinking multiple

    moves ahead while your opponent is still reacting to yourst action."

    "And Rose Lewis is definitely reacting now," Camille said with satisfaction. "Her public statement yesterday was a disaster. All that talk about "industry norms'' made her soundpletely unrepentant." "As expected," Victoria replied. "Rose Lewis has never taken responsibility for anything in her life.ˇ±

    Camille gazed out at the city. "After Moretti Global, what''s left? What else does she have to lose?"

    Victoria joined her at the window. "Her penthouse. Her investments. The remaining shreds of her social standing. But those are merely material losses. The real victorye when she finally understands."

    "Understands what?"

    "That someone deliberately orchestrated her destruction. That it wasn''t bad luck or media bias. That someone with patience, resources, and intimate knowledge of her weaknesses methodically took everything "And when will we reveal that someone was us?"

    Victoria smiled with genuine pleasure. "When it will hurt the most. When she has nothing left but questions about who destroyed her and why."

    The inte buzzed "Ms. Kane, Mr. Moretti is on line one. He''s asking about unusual trading activity in hispany''s stock"

    Victoria and Camille exchanged nces, showing slight surprise.

    "Tell him I''ll speak with him shortly," Victoria replied.

    "He suspects already," Camille observed. "Thatplicates things."

    Victoria shook her head. "It

    elerates things. Suspicion creates anxiety. Anxiety leads to poor decisions."

    You want him to panic," Camille realized admiringly.

    "Fear makes the simplest solution more attractive, Victoria confirmed. "In this case, epting our offer before he fully understands our intentions." They moved to Victoria''s office for

    the call. As Victoria settled behind her desk, Camille took the chair beside her.

    "Remember," Victoria said, "this is business. Not personal. At least as far as Fabio Moretti knows.

    Camilleposed her features as Victoria initiated the video call. Fabio Moretti appeared, a distinguished Italian man in his sixties with worried eyes. "Victoria," he began without preamble, "what are you doing with mypany''s stock?"

    Victoria remained pleasantly neutral. "Good afternoon, Fablo. I see

    news travels quickly."

    "Don''t y games," he replied, ent thickening with emotion. "Three banks have called about unusual trading patterns. Are you behind this?"

    "Kane Industries is always exploring acquisition opportunities inplementary sectors," Victoria replied smoothly. "Yourpany''s recent expansion aligns with our interests." Moretti''s eyes narrowed. "This isn''t about strategic interests. This is about Rose Lewis."

    Victoria raised an eyebrow. "I''m not sure I understand the connection."

    "You understand perfectly," Moretti countered angrily. "First Rodriguez Shipping. Then

    the Lewis brand. Now mypany. You''re systematically

    destroying everyone connected to Rose."

    Camille leaned forward. "Mr. Moretti, business isn''t personal. Our interest in yourpany is based on infrastructure and client rtionships, not personal connections."

    Moretti studied her with sudden intensity. "You''re Victoria''s daughter. The one who appeared so suddenlyst year."

    "Camille Kane," she confirmed. "I''ve been overseeing our expansion into luxury retail distribution."

    Something flickered in Moretti''s eyes, a sh of recognition quickly masked. "And now you want mypany."

    "We want to discuss a mutually beneficial arrangement," Victoria interjected. "Yourpany faces significant challenges after the Lewis brand copse. We''re prepared to offer stability and growth opportunities.

    Moretti''s face hardened. "My family''s interests include supporting my goddaughter during the worst crisis of her life."

    "Again, you misunderstand our intentions," Victoria replied cooling. "But since you''ve raised the subject, what do you n to do with Rose Lewis''s fifteen percent stake now that her business has copsed and

    Visible shock crossed Moretti''s face. "Embezzlement? What embezzlement?"

    "It hasn''t hit the news yet," Camille said, almost sympathetically. "But financial irregrities at Lewis Designs. have been discovered. Significant funds diverted to personal use. The board will announce tomorro Moretti seemed to age before their eyes. "I don''t believe it. Not Rose"

    "The evidence is quite clear," Victoria said with falsepassion. "I understand this puts you in a difficult position. Your goddaughter''s reputation in tatters. Her stake now a liability. And Kane Industries making i She paused. "Perhaps we should discuss how to move forward in a way that protects what matters most to you."

    Moretti''s expression showed the beginning of resignation.

    "What are you offering?" he asked finally.

    "A premium on current share values. Continued operational autonomy. And a special consulting contract that would allow you to step back while maintaining influence and ie." Victoria outlined efficiently. "Plus a guaranteed position for your daughter''s new fashion line in our retail distributionwork."

    The mention of his daughter''s business caught Moretti''s attention, exactly as intended.

    "And Rose''s shares?" he asked, voice heavy with conflicted loyalty.

    "We would purchase those at the same premium as all other shares," Victoria replied, not mentioning how that payment would be structured to trigger immediate tax liabilities for Rose while limiting her ess t

    "I need time to consider," Moretti said, though his tone suggested defeat.

    "Of course," Victoria agreed. "However, our offer is time-

    sensitive. The formal details will be delivered within the hour, with a forty-eight-

    hour eptance window."

    Moretti nodded distractedly. "I''ll review it with my board."

    After ending the call, Victoria turned to Camille with satisfaction. "He''ll ept within twenty-

    four hours. The daughter''s fashion line was the key. He won''t risk her future even for Rose."

    Camille nodded, impressed by Victoria''s ability to exploit emotional vulnerabilities. "He suspected a connection. between our actions and Rose''s troubles."

    "Of course he did," Victoria replied. "He''s known Rose since childhood. What he doesn''t know is that her downfall Isn''t random justice but calcted destruction."

    She sent a quick message to the acquisition team. "Proceed with the formal offer immediately. Emphasize the benefits to Moretti''s daughter.''

    Camille watched afternoon light glitter against Manhattan''s towers. "Rose will contact him the moment she hears about our offer." "Undoubtedly," Victoria agreed. "But by then, it will be toote."

    "And Rose loses another person who might have helped her rebuild," Camille said with satisfaction tinged withplexity "Another pir knocked away."

    Victoria studied her prot¨¦g¨¦e. "Does that trouble you? The systematic istion?"

    Camille met her mentor''s gaze directly. "No. It feels like justice."

    Victoria nodded, pleased. "Precisely. This isn''t merely revenge. This is the universe rebncing. Every person enabled Rose Lewis''s deceptions, who helped her build sess on lies, they all face consequences now."

    "Including Fabio Moretti," Camille concluded.

    who

    "Especially Eabio Moretti," Victoria

    confirmed. "He knew exactly who Rose Lewis was, yet gave her legitimacy. Made her theft and deception possible through his support.

    She nced at her watch. Rose Lewis will have lost her godfather''s support, both emotional and financial."

    this time tomorrow, we''ll own controlling Interest in Moretti Global Logistics. And

    Camille moved toward the door. "Should I prepare a statement for when the acquisition is announced?"

    Victoria smiled slightly. "Yes. Something about strategic synergies and expanded opportunities. Nothing that mentions Rose Lewis."

    "And when she realizes what we''ve done?"

    "She''ll rage. She''ll threaten. She may even try to fight back, Victoria''s smile widened. "But with what resources? With what allies? With what reputation or credibility?"

    The answer hung unspoken between them. Rose Lewis had nothing left. Nopany. No supporters. No credibility. Nothing but the growing realization that her destruction had been meticulously nned by so

    "I''ll draft the statement," Camille said, "and prepare

    for tomorrow''s announcements about the embezzlement evidence."

    As the door closed behind her, Victoria turned back to the Manhattan skyline, satisfaction evident in her posture. Another piece in ce. Another connection severed. Another blownded against the woman wh

    Until now.

 Chapter 69

    Rose point of view

    I paced my penthouse living room, plone clutched so tightly in my hand that my knuckles turned white. The news notification still glowed on the screen: "Kane Industries Acquires Moretti Global Logistics in Surp Uncle Fabio''spany. Myst financial lifeline. Gone,

    The vodka bottle on the bar called to me, promising temporary relief from the suffocating pressure

    crushing my chest. Three weeks of systematic destruction had left me raw, exposed, and increasingly desperate. First mypany. Then my reputation. Now my godfather''s business

    The doorbell rang, its shrill tone slicing through my spiraling thoughts. I ignored it, just as I''d been ignoring most intrusions from the outside world. Probably another reporter hoping to document my "fall from gra The bell rang again, followed by pounding that made the door shake.

    "Rose! I know you''re in there!"

    Stefan. I froze, ss halfway to my lips. I hadn''t seen him since the embezzlement news broke, since he''d looked at me with such disgust in my father''s office.

    The pounding continued. "Open this door, Rose! We need to talk!"

    His voice held something I''d never heard before, not just anger, but a dangerous edge that sent shivers down my spine. Against my better judgment, I moved to the door and pulled it open.

    Stefan looked terrible. His normally perfect appearance had deteriorated into something almost unrecognizable, wrinkled shirt, dark circles under bloodshot eyes, hair ubed. But it was his expression that tr "Why aren''t you answering my calls?" he demanded, pushing past me into the apartment.

    "Hello to you too," I said, trying for sarcasm but achieving only a thin, brittle tone. "Please,e in."

    "This isn''t a social visit." He spun to face me. "I just got off the phone with your father."

    My stomach dropped. "And?"

    "He wanted to warn me that you were being difficult about the joint statement. Said you were refusing to sign the paperwork canceling our wedding ns."

    I crossed my arms defensively. "Why should I? This will all blow over eventually. The media will find someone else to destroy. We can postpone the wedding, not cancel it Stefan stared at me like I''d grown another head. "Are you serious? After everything that''s happened? After the lies, the affairs, the stolen designs, you still think there''s a future for us?" "Of course there is," I insisted, moving toward him. "People have short memories, Stefan. In six months, no one will care about these ridiculous scandals."

    "Ridiculous scandals?" He backed away from my approach You stole other designers'' work. You slept with married men to advance your career. You embezzled from your ownpany!" "Those are just business realities!" Frustration made my voice rise. "Everyone does these things! They only look

    BONUS

    badd when someone packages them in the most negative light possible!"

    Stefan shook his head, disgust in on his face. "I don''t even know who you are anymore. The woman I thought I was going to marry wouldn''t recognize these things as ''bustness realities.ˇ°ˇ± "The woman you thought you were going to marry never existed!" I snapped, anger suddenly boiling over. "She was a character I yed because that''s what men like you want, some perfect, supportive ess

    "That''s not fair...

    "Fair?" Iughed, the sound verging on hysterical. "None of this is fair! Someone with unlimited resources has systematically destroyed everything I''ve built! Mypany, my reputation, my financial security, all "Maybe you do," Stefan said quietly.

    The simple statement stopped me cold. "What?"

    "Maybe you deserve exactly what''s happening," he repeated, voice hardening. "Maybe these ''ridiculous scandals" are just your past catching up with you. Maybe this is what justice looks like." "Justice?" The word tasted bitter on my tongue. "Is that

    what you think this is? Someone appointed themselves judge and jury of my life because they decided I needed punishment?"

    "I don''t

    know what else to call it," Stefan replied. "Every revtion seems perfectly calcted to expose exactly who you really are. Someone who takes what they want regardless of who gets hurt."

    "You''re one to talk about hurting people!" The words burst from me as my control finally shattered. "You were married when we started sleeping together again! You signed divorce papers on your anniversary! Y future!"

    Stefan stepped back as if I''d physically struck him. "That''s different. I never...

    "Never what? Never lied? Never manipted? Never caused pain?" I advanced on him, years of carefully hidden resentment suddenly pouring out. "You were so eager to believe the worst about your marriage. it and you epted it as truth!"

    "Stop it," Stefan warned, his expression darkening. "Don''t try to make this about our past. This is about who you are now. What you''ve done." "Who I am?" Iughed, the sound sharp and bitter. "I''m exactly who I''ve always been! The only difference is that now everyone knows it!"

    "That not true," Stefan said quietly. "The Rose I thought I knew wouldn''t have stolen designs. Wouldn''t have embezzled money. Wouldn''t have..."

    "Wouldn''t have what?" I challenged, stepping closer until we were inches apart. "Wouldn''t have done everything necessary to get what she wanted? Wouldn''t have removed obstacles in her path? Wouldn''t have The words hung in

    the air between us, impossible to retract Stefan''s face drained of color as he stared at me, horror gradually recing anger in his expression.

    "What did you just say?" he whispered.

    Too

    "I didn''t mean... that came out wrong...." I stammered, cold fear recing hot anger.

    "Her ident," Stefan repeated, backing away from me. "You said her ident cleared the way. Like

    you knew it would happen. Like you arranged it."

    "No! That''s not...."

    "Did you have something to do with Camille''s death?" His voice was barely audible, but each word struck like physical blows.

    "It wasn''t supposed to be death!" The truth burst from me before I could stop it, the pressure of weeks of destruction finally breaking my controlpletely. "He was

    just supposed to scare her! To make her understand she needed to leave! To give up the life that should have been mine!"

    Stefan looked at me as if seeing a stranger, or worse, as if seeing a monster wearing the face of someone he thought he knew.

    "You" he whispered, horror evident in every syble. "You arranged the ident that killed her?"

    "He went too far," I said desperately, reaching for him. "It wasn''t supposed to happen that way! She was just supposed to be frightened enough to leave New York, leave you, leave the fashion world I belonged Stefan recoiled from my touch, stumbling backward until he hit the wall. "You had your own sister run off the Toad?"

    "She was ordinary!" The words tore from somece dark and ugly inside me. "She didn''t deserve you! Didn''t fit into your world! She was holding you back, making you settle for less than you were meant for!"

    "Less than I was meant for," Stefan repeated, his voice hollow. "And who decided what I was meant for? You?" "We belonged together!" I insisted, desperation making me reckless. "We always did! Everything I his face. "There is no ''us'' There never will be again."

    He moved toward the door, each step putting more distance between us.

    ˇ°Stefan, wait!ˇ± Panic overwhelmed me. "You can''t just leave! We need to talk about this!"

    "There''s nothing to talk about," he replied, not looking back "Our engagement is over. Whatever connection we had died the moment you admitted what you did."

    "Please," I begged, all pride abandoned in the face of

    Stefan paused at the door, turning to look at me onest time. The expression

    on his face would haunt my nightmares for years toe, not anger, not hatred, but something worse. Something like pity mixed with profound disgust.

    "Love?" he said quietly. "You don''t know the meaning of the word."

    The door closed behind him with a soft click that somehow hurt more than any m would have. I stood frozen in the middle of my beautiful penthouse as the full impact of what had just happened crashed over I had admitted my role in Camille''s ident.

    Thad lost Stefan forever.

    And whoever was systematically destroying my life now had the final piece they needed toplete my ruin.

 Chapter 70

    Camille''s point of view

    I stood in Victoria''s darkened office, staring at the files spread across her massive desk. The penthouse windows behind me reflected my silhouette against Manhattan''s nighttime skyline, a solitary figure surrou I''d never suspected.

    Victoria was in Tokyo closing the Moretti Global acquisition, leaving me alone with ess to her private servers, supposedly to prepare for my new role heading Kane Industries'' fashion division. Instead, I''d stur Now my world was tilting on its axis.

    The first document had seemed innocent enough, a standard background report on Alexander Pierce and his business holdings. But the next had stopped my breath in my lungs: detailed ounts of Alexander the-

    scenes maniption of markets to prevent Rose''spany from securing emergency financingst month.

    And it didn''t stop there.

    Email exchanges between Alexander''s chief of security and private investigators tracking down Rose''s former lovers in London. Financial records showing how Alexander''s shellpanies had purchased cont For more than a year, Alexander Pierce had been secretly advancing our revenge n, removing obstacles, closing escape routes, ensuring that Rose and Stefan''s destruction was absolute and inescapable.. All without ever telling me.

    My hands

    trembled as I picked up the most damning document of all, a detailed memo from Alexander to his chief financial officer, dated three weeks after I''d first appeared publicly as Camille Kane.

    "Proceed with liquidation of all Rodriguez Shipping stock," it read. "Strategically release holdings to drive share price down. Coordinate timing with Kane Industries'' debt acquisition n. Maintain maximum deni I sank into Victoria''s chair, mind spinning with implications. Had Alexander been using me? Had his apparent interest been just another maniption, another way to advance his own agenda? Or was there som My fingers hovered over my phone, torn between fury at his deception and a strange, growing warmth at the thought of what his covert assistance might truly mean.

    Before I could decide how to respond, the office door swung open.

    "I see you found my Alexander file."

    Victoria stood in the doorway, coat still on, clearly just returned from the airport. Her face revealed nothing as she moved into the room, setting her bag on a side table with deliberate calm. "You''re supposed

    to be in Los Angeles," I said, not bothering to hide the evidence spread across her desk.

    "The Moretti signing finished early. I took thepany jet back." She

    poured herself a scotch from the bar cart without offering me one. "So. Now you know."

    "Know what exactly? That Alexander Pierce has been secretly helping destroy Rose and Stefan? That he was the mysterious benefactor closing financial doors and buying up their business connections? That h alongside us this entire time without either of you telling me?"

    Victoria sipped her drink, studying me over the rim of her ss. "All of that, yes. The question is what you n to do with this information"

    I stood, gathering the documents into a neat pile. "I don''t know yet. Depends on why everyone''s been lying to me."

    "Not lying," Victoria corrected. "Selectively withholding."

    "Exin the difference," I challenged, anger finally breaking through my shock.

    Victoria moved to the windows, looking out at the city spread beneath us. "When I proposed our n to destroy Rose and Stefan, you agreed under one condition, that it would be strategic, not emotional. Busin

    "I remember."

    "Alexander Pierceplicated that clean narrative."

    Victoria turned back to face me. "His involvement wasn''t part of our original strategy. His assistance, while valuable, introduced variables I couldn''t fully control."

    "So when he suddenly appeared at that charity g..."

    "It wasn''t sudden at all," Victoria finished for me. "He''d been monitoring your progress for months. Watching Rose and Stefan''s destruction

    from a distance. Helping elerate it in ways I couldn''t track until recently."

    I sank back into the chair, trying to process this new reality. "Why? What does he get out of this?" Victoria''s expression softened almost imperceptibly. "That''s a question better asked directly to Alexander." "Did y Victoria shook her head. "Not until three months ago. His security is remarkably thorough, but my people are better. Once I discovered his assistance in our project, I confronted him directly." "And?"

    "And we came to an understanding " Victoria finished her scotch. "His help was valuable. His resources extended our reach. His motivation, while personal, didn''t interfere with our objectives." "His motivation," I repeated. "Which was?"

    "As I said, that''s his story to tell." Victoria moved toward the door. "I''ve arranged for James to drive you to Pierce Tower tomorrow evening at eight. Whether you go is your choice."

    She paused, hand on the doorknob. "For what it''s worth, Camille, Alexander Pierce is perhaps the only person I''ve ever met whose strategic thinking matches my own. But his actions regarding our n, regard "Which is?"

    "Genuine." Victoria''s mouth curved into a brief, almost sad smile. "Now that is truly valuable. Far more than revenge."

    She left me alone in her office, surrounded by evidence of Alexander''s secret assistance, a partnership that had beer advancing my goals without my knowledge or consen

    My phone buzzed. Alexander,

    as if summoned by my discovery: "Dinner tomorrow? I have news about our Rose situation

    Our Rose situation. As if we''d been partners all along. As if he hadn''t been secretly orchestrating her downfall without ever mentioning his involvement.

    I stared at the message, tom between the sense of betrayal at being manipted yet again and the undeniable truth that Alexander hadmitted extraordinary resources to advancing my revenge against Ros I typed back: We need to talk. I know everything."

    His reply came immediately: *1 expected you would, eventually. Would you like to hear my side of the story?"

    *Tomorrow. Spm. Your ce.

    As I gathered the documents into Victoria''s confidential file box, one thought kept circling in my mind: Why would Alexander Pierce, one of the world''s wealthiest and roost powerful men, secretly dedicate a year Tomorrow night, I would finally get my answers.

 Chapter 71

    The elevator climbed toward the penthouse of Pierce Tower, each floor ticking by on the digital disy as my stomach tightened with a mix of anger and nervous anticipation. I wore a simple ck dress, nothing

    revenge.

    When the doors opened, I stepped into a space unlike anything I''d expected. Not

    the

    cold, modernist showcase typical of billionaire penthouses, but a warm, wood- paneled sanctuary with floor-to-

    ceiling bookshelves andfortable leather furniture. ssical music yed softly in the background. The wall of windows offered a breathtaking view of Manhattan at sunset, the city transformed into gold and shadow.

    Alexander stood by a small bar cart, his back to me. He''d removed his suit jacket and rolled

    up his shirtsleeves, looking more approachable than I''d ever seen him.

    "Scotch? Wine? Something else?" he asked without turning

    "Answers," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt.

    He turned then, a slight smile on his face that didn''t

    quite reach his eyes. "Straight to business. One of the many things I admire about you."

    I tossed the folder onto his coffee table. Papers spilled out, financial records, surveince reports, market maniption evidence, all documenting his shadow campaign against Rose and Stefan. "Exin this," I demanded, remaining standing even as he gestured toward a seat. "Exin why you''ve been secretly helping destroy Rose and Stefan for the past year without telling me." Alexander studied me for a long moment, then moved to a bookshelf and pulled out a small wooden box. "Perhaps we should start at the beginning."

    He ced the box on the table between us and finally, I sat down across from him. He opened it carefully, removing what looked like a hospital ID bracelet, faded and worn. "Boston Memorial Hospital. Five years ago." He set the bracelet gently on that changed everything."

    What

    top of the red papers. "The night

    s have to do with Rose and

    I stared at the stic band, confusion recing some of my anger. does Stefan?ˇ±

    "Everything." Alexander sat opposite me, his eyes never leaving my face. "Five years ago, I was in a car ident on the Massachusetts Turnpike. Multiple vehicles. Three fatalities. I was trapped in the wreckag A chill ran through me as fragments of memory stirred, a rainy night, shing emergency lights, a medical conference in Boston I''d attended alone because my parents was too busy with work and perfect Rose. "I was bleeding internally," Alexander continued. "The doctorster said I had minutes left, at most. Until someone insisted they check the less damaged vehicles. Someone who refused to leave until every pers My breath caught. "That was you? In the ck sedan?"

    Alexander nodded, something soft and vulnerable crossing his face. "That was me. And you were the one who found me. Who rode in the ambnce. Who gave her information as emergency contact when no family came forward."

    The memory crystallized, the barely conscious man, face bloody and unrecognizable. The hospital forms I''d filled out while waiting for news of his condition. The nurses telling me he had no visitors, no one asking about him.

    "I stayed in Boston three extra days," I whispered, the past rushing back. "I visited your room. Read to you while you were unconscious."

    "RISING EX WIFE: Love Me Again Mrs Graves," Alexander said softly. "You said it was your favorite and the Author Annypen, was also your favorite"

    Tears stung my eyes unexpectedly. "I never knew your name. The hospital just had a case number. And when I had to return to New York, to my family, I..."

    "You left flowers. And a note." Alexander reached into the box again, removing a faded piece of hospital stationery. "Whoever

    you are, I hope you healpletely. Someone is thinking of you, even if you''re alone right now.''!!

    My throat tightened at the sight of my own handwriting from years ago. "I don''t understand. If that was you, why didn''t you tell me when we met?"

    Alexander moved to the window, gazing out at the darkening city. "After I recovered, I tried to find you. All I had was a name, Camille Lewis, and the knowledge that you''d attended a medical conference in Bosto

    He turned back to

    me, his expression both tender and pained. "I came to New York, intent on thanking

    the woman who''d saved my life. But when I arrived..."

    "I was married," I finished for him, understanding dawning.

    "To Stefan Rodriguez. Living what seemed to be a perfect life with a sessful husband and budding design career." Alexander''s smile held no bitterness, only a gentle resignation. "It didn''t seem right to intrud "So you left?" The thought of how different things might have been made my heart ache.

    "I left. But I kept track of you from a distance. Just... checking asionally to make sure the woman who''d shown such kindness to a stranger was happy." His voice dropped lower. "Until I started noticing things A cold realization washed over me. "You knew. Before it happened. You knew Stefan

    was betraying me with Rose." Alexander nodded, regret clear in his eyes. "I was making arrangements to return to New York, to somehow warn you, when news broke about your ident. Your car going off tha He moved back to the sofa, sitting closer to me this time. "I didn''t believe it. Couldn''t ept it. I

    hired investigators, had them looking into every aspect of that night. But then, A weekter, I discovered something unexpected. You were alive."

    My head snapped up. "What do you

    mean? How could you possibly have known?"

    "I have resources that most people can''t imagine," Alexander said simply. "My security team tracked you and Victoria leaving the

    cementry, after seeing the pictures i was relieved that you were alive."

    Shock rippled through me. "You knew? Before Victoria ever presented me as her daughter? Before the surgeries wereplete?"

    Alexander nodded. "I knew Victoria had found you. Saved you. Was helping you recover and transform. But I didn''t know why, or what you nned to do with your new identity." Chapter 71

    "So all this time," I said slowly, trying to process what he was telling me, "you''ve known exactly who I was. Even through the surgical changes. The new identity. Everything." "Yes," he admitted. "From the beginning."

    "And

    you said nothing. For fifteen months." Anger briefly red again. "You watched

    me build this new life, n my revenge, and said nothing."

    "What should I have said?" Alexander asked quietly. "When Victoria finally

    introduced you as her daughter, when you emerged with a new face and a new purpose, it was clear you''d chosen a specific path. It wasn''t my ce to interfere with that choice."

    "Until you did interfere," I said, gesturing to the evidence on the table. "Until you started manipting events behind the scenes, helping destroy Rose and Stefan without my knowledge."

    "Not interfere," Alexander corrected gently. "Support. Remove obstacles. Ensure your n seeded." He leaned forward, his eyes intent on mine. "I saw what they did to you, Camille. Watched helplessly as y The raw sincerity in his voice made it impossible to maintain my anger. He had helped advance my revenge without seeking credit. Had used his considerable resources to ensure Rose and Stefan''s destruction without revealing his involvement until I discovered it myself.

    "Whye forward now?" I asked. "Why let me discover your involvement?"

    "Because revenge is ending," Alexander said simply. "Rosepany is destroyed. Stefan''s shipping empire is in ruins. The justice you sought hasrgely been served."

    He reached across the

    table, not quite touching me. "And because I couldn''t bear to remain in the shadows any longer, watching you wonder whates next without offering another possibility." "Which is?"

    "A future not defined by vengeance. By destruction." Alexander''s gaze held mine steadily. "A

    future built on creation instead. On moving forward rather than looking back."

    I studied him, this man who had known my true identity all along, who had silently supported my quest for justice without ever revealing his own connection to my past.

    "Why would you help me like

    this?" I asked, needing to hear it directly. "Commit resources, time, influence, all to help someone take revenge?"

    Alexander''s expression softened. "Because five years ago, a stranger showed kindness to a broken man when no one else bothered. Because I watched from afar as that same woman''s life was torn apart by tl The simple sincerity in his voice broke through defenses I hadn''t even realized I''d constructed. For neen months, Victoria had been my only ally, her strategic brilliance guiding my transformation from victim benefit analysis, with emotional distance. Alexander offered something different, support without agenda, alliance without conditions.

    "I don''t know whates next," I admitted, surprised by my own vulnerability. "For neen months, revenge has been my only purpose. I never nned for after."

    "Then perhaps we figure it out together," he suggested, his voice gentle. "One day at a time."

    As thest rays of sunlight faded from the sky, casting the room in soft shadows, I realized something had fundamentally shifted inside me. For neen months, my world had contained only destruction, taking A future defined by what I might build, not what I had torn down.

    "Why now?" I asked softly. "Why reveal yourself at this moment?"

    "Because I see you standing at a crossroads," Alexander replied. "Victory achieved, revenge nearlyplete. And I wanted you to know that when you decide whates next, you won''t be facing it alone. Unl offer hung between us, unspoken but clear. Partnership. Support. Perhaps something more, if I chose it.

    "Tell me more," I said softly, "about this future you imagine."

    Alexander''s smile reached his eyes this time, warm and genuine. "How about over dinner? I happen to know an excellent chef who prepares meals in that kitchen over there."

    For the first time in longer than I could

    remember, I smiled without calction, without strategy, without performance.

    "I''d like that," I said.

    As Alexander led me toward the kitchen, his hand lightly touching the small of my back, I realized I was taking my first step into the unknown territory of after.

 Chapter 72

    Camille''s point of view

    I stood in Victoria''s office, staring at the meticulously crafted guest list on the desk between us. Names neatly typed in three columns, people whose lives would forever change in exactly two weeks'' time. Rose.

    "Are you certain about this?" Victoria asked, her voice carrying none of its usualmanding certainty. "Once we take this step, there''s no going back."

    I traced my finger down the list, stopping

    at Richard and Margaret Lewis. The parents who had raised me, then forgotten me when Rose''s maniption had proven morepelling than their love.

    "I''m certain," I said, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. "It''s time for everyone to know the truth."

    After two years of careful nning, of strategic destruction of watching from the shadows as Rose''s empire crumbled piece by methodical piece, the moment had arrived for the final revtion. Camille Lewis wa Victoria studied me, her sharp eyes missing nothing. "And your motivation? Is this

    about justice, or is it personal satisfaction?"

    The question hung between us, more significant than it might seem. For

    two years, Victoria had guided my transformation from broken victim to powerful avenger with one consistent warning: emotion clouds judgment. Strategic revenge required cold calction, not heated passion. "Both," I admitted, honesty winning over performance for perhaps the first time since my rebirth. "I want justice. But I also want to see their faces when they realize what''s happened. Who''s been behind their des Something like approval flickered in Victoria''s eyes. "At least you''re honest about it. That''s progress."

    I moved to the windows overlooking Manhattan''s skyline. Somewhere in that sprawling city, Rose was hiding in her penthouse, her fashion empire destroyed, her reputation in tatters, her fianc¨¦ gone, her godfat "Alexander thinks I should reconsider," I said, still facing the window.

    Victoria''s reflection appeared

    beside mine in the ss. "Does he now? And what are his reasons?"

    "He believes revealing myself will give Rose power she currently doesn''t have. Knowledge of who''s been orchestrating her downfall." I turned to face Victoria. "He thinks it''s smarter to let her suffer without ever "And what do you think?"

    I considered the question carefully. Alexander''s concern wasn''t groundless. Rose was dangerous, maniptive, ruthless. Giving her information was giving her a weapon. But something in me needed this final her, unveiled, and im responsibility for her destruction.

    "I think some victories need to be witnessed to beplete" I said finally. "Some truths need to be spoken aloud.

    11

    Victoria nodded, moving back to her desk to review the event ns. ˇ°Then we''ll proceed. The Phoenix G, two weeks from tonight at the Kane mansion. Ostensibly to announce your appointment as president of our new Tech division."

    "And actually to reveal that Camille Lewis has returned from the dead," I finished, a shiver running through me despite my resolve.

    Victoria''s hand paused over the

    papers. "There''s another factor to consider. Once your true identity is revealed, there will be questions. Investigations. Legalplications. The narrative we created about your ''drowning'' will undergo intense scrutiny."

    I''d thought about this, of course. The police would want statements. Lawyers would raise questions about identity fraud, about insurance ims processed after my ˇ°death," about the legality of assuming a new identity.

    "I''m prepared for that," I said, more confidently than I felt. "The truth about Rose hiring someone to run me off the road will redirect most of the attention. And you have enough legal influence to handle the rest." Victoria''s slight smile acknowledged the truth of this. With her resources and connections, any legalplications would

    ultimately be managed, if not eliminated entirely.

    "Then there''s only one question remaining," she said, fixing me with her prating gaze. "After the reveal. After the satisfaction of seeing their faces. After justice is served. What then?"

    The question hit harder than I expected. For two years, every thought, every action, every decision had been filtered through the lens of revenge. I had be Camille Kane for the sole purpose of destroying F "I don''t know," I admitted, the vulnerable truth surprising us both.

    Victoria rose, moving to stand directly before me. "Two years ago, I found you in that parking garage. Beaten. Bleeding. Those men Rose had hired to ''teach you a lesson had nearly killed you."

    I nodded, remembering that night with painful rity. The brutal attack that Rose had arranged after I''d confronted her about Stefan. Victoria appearing like some avenging angel, her driver scattering my attacke "I offered you a choice," Victoria continued. "Disappear into anonymity and lick your wounds, or rise transformed and im justice."

    "I chose transformation," I said softly. "I chose

    strength over victimhood. Strategy over emotion."

    "We created the drowning story together," Victoria reminded me. "A way to exin your disappearance while giving us time for your recovery, for the surgeries, for your training. No one ever questioned it because no one was truly looking for you."

    The painful truth hung between us. No search parties. No desperate appeals from my parents. No reward offered for information. Just a tasteful memorial service and life continuing for everyone who should have cared that I was gone.

    "The drowning story served its purpose,ˇ± I said, pushing away the hurt that still lingered beneath my carefully constructed exterior. "And now the truth will serve an even greater one." Victoria touched my shoulder briefly, a rare physical gesture from a woman who typically maintained careful distance. "Don''t lose your strength now that victory is within reach."

    "I won''t," I promised, drawing myself straighter. ˇ°But I need to

    figure out who Camille Kane bes after revenge isplete."

    Victoria returned to the guest list, studying the names with calcting eyes. "Each person on this list will react differently to your revtion. Rose with fury and denial. Stefan with shock and guilt. The business c "And my parents?" I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it.

    Victoria''s expression hardened slightly. "They forfeited any right to your consideration when they epted your death so easily. When they didn''t question the convenient story. When they embraced Rose as the She was right, of course. Among all the betrayals, my parents'' easy eptance of my disappearance had cut perhaps the deepest. Their grief had been real but brief, their focus quickly returning to Rose''s achi "They''ll be there," I said, studying the guest list again. "Front row seats to understand exactly what their choices cost."

    Victoria nodded approvingly. "The event nning team needs final approval on the stage design. I''ve scheduled them for three o''clock."

    "Perfect. I want everything exactly right." I moved toward the door, then paused. "Victoria? Thank you. For finding me that night. For offering me a choice when I had none."

    Something almost soft flickered across her typically impassive features. "We all deserve the chance to write our own endings, Camille. Even if that means first tearing apart someone else''s carefully constructed I left her office with renewed determination, the guest list for the Phoenix G burning in my mind like a promise. Two weeks. Two weeks until masks fell away. Until truth emerged from carefully crafted lies. Unt The elevator carried me down to the design department, where samples of invitation designs awaited my approval. I studied each option, finally selecting a sleek ck card with a single gold phoenix rising from "Perfect," I told the waiting designer. "Send these out immediately. Priority delivery to everyone on the approved list."

    As the designer hurried away to execute my instructions, I allowed myself a rare, genuine smile. In two weeks, society''s elite would gather, expecting anothervish Kane industry announcement. Instead, they w Rose would understand atst who had systematically destroyed everything she valued. Stefan would finally face the consequences of his betrayal. And the world would learn that sometimes, the dead don''t stay buried. Sometimes, they rise from ashes, transformed into something more powerful than anyone could have imagined.

    The Phoenix G wouldn''t just be a revtion. It would be my deration of existence. My reiming of a life

    that others had tried to erase. And

    perhaps, though I wasn''t ready to admit it even to myself, the first step toward discovering who I might be when revenge no longer defined my every thought and action. Two weeks. The countdown had begun.

 Chapter 73

    Camille''s point of view

    The Kane mansion gleamed like a jewel against the night sky, every window aze with light, every entrance adorned with arrangements of fire lilies and ck orchids. Limousines lined the circr driveway, de I watched it all from Victoria''s private study, a closed-

    circuit feed showing me every entrance, every reaction, every whispered spection about why Kane Industries had gathered such an illustrious crowd on this particr evening.

    "They''re calling it the event of the season," Victoria said, adjusting the

    diamond clip in my hair. "Everyone who matters in New York is

    here, wondering what magnificent announcement Camille Kane ns to make."

    I barely heard her, my eyes fixed on the feed showing the main entrance. Rose had just arrived, looking thinner than I remembered but still maintaining that perfect poise that had once made me so jealous. Her dress, likely one of the few remaining from her copsed fashion line, was a study in understated elegance. No one watching her would guess that herpany had failed, her reputation was in tatters, and her Only I could see the strain around her eyes, the slightly too-

    tight smile, the carefully hidden desperation of a woman clinging to thest threads of her social standing.

    "She almost didn''te," Victoria noted, following my gaze. "The invitation was returned twice before being finally epted yesterday."

    "Pride," I said softly. "She couldn''t bear being excluded

    from an event everyone would be talking about. Even if it meant facing the woman she believes orchestrated her downfall."

    Victoria nodded. "And Stefan?"

    I switched to another camera feed, scanning the growing crowd until I found

    him. Stefan Rodriguez stood near a pir, looking ufortable in

    his tuxedo, a ss of champagne untouched in his hand. The past months had aged him visibly, his once confident posture now slightly stooped, his face lined with stress and failure, "Southwest corner," I said. "Alone. Watching.

    11

    Victoria studied the feed, a small smile of satisfaction curving her lips. "Perfect positioning for what''s toe." She turned to me, her expression growing serious. "Are you ready?"

    Was I ready? After two years of nning, of careful transformation, of systematic revenge, was I ready for the moment when everyone would finally know the truth?

    "Yes," I said, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. "It''s time."

    Victoria nodded

    once, then moved toward the door. "I''ll make the introductory remarks at nine o''clock precisely. You''ll enter from the left side of the stage. Everything is prepared exactly as we discussed." After she left, I stood before the full-

    length mirror, taking in my appearance one final time. The woman who Jooked back at me was both familiar and strange, Camille Kane''s surgically perfected features oveying Camille Lewis''s expressions. My Chapter 73

    "Ready or not," I whispered to my reflection.

    The hidden door connecting Victoria''s study to the backstage area of the ballroom opened silently. I moved through the passage, hearing the murmur of three hundred voices growing louder with each step. At th The crowd quieted immediately, all eyes turning to the woman whose business acumen and ruthless strategies had built an empire few dared to challenge.

    "Distinguished guests," Victoria began, her voicemandingplete attention without apparent effort. " Thank you for joining us on this special evening. For those who know Kane Industries'' history, you und I watched the crowd from my hidden position, noting how they leaned forward slightly, anticipation building. My eyes found Rose again, standing

    now near the bar, her expression a careful mask of polite interest that couldn''t quite hide her resentment at Victoria''s sess contrasted with her own recent failures.

    "Two years ago," Victoria continued, "I made a decision that would transform not only Kane Industries but my personal life as well. Tonight, we celebrate not just a business evolution, but a more meaningful tran A murmur rippled through the crowd. This wasn''t the standard corporate announcement they had been expecting. "Most of you know my daughter, Camille Kane," Victoria said, her voice warming slightly. "Since The murmuring grew louder. I saw confusion on many faces, calction on others. Rose had gone perfectly still, her champagne ss frozen halfway to her lips. "Tonight," Victoria said, her voice dropping to ensureplete attention, "the maskse off. The truth emerges. And justice, long deferred, is finally acknowledged." She turned toward where I stood waiting. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you not Camille Kane, but Camille Lewis."

    My cue. I stepped onto the stage, the spotlight finding me instantly, three hundred faces turning in perfect unison to stare in my direction. For a moment,plete silence filled the ballroom, a collective intake of breath as the implications of Victoria''s introduction registered.

    Then chaos erupted.

    Gasps. Exmations. The crash of a dropped champagne ss. Voices rising in shock and disbelief. Through it all, I walked calmly to center stage, taking my ce beside Victoria, epting the microphone sh

 Chapter 74

    The ballroom fell

    silent as Camille stepped onto the stage. The crystal chandeliers above cast a glow that seemed to highlight her transformation, her posture straight and confident, her chin raised, her eyes clear and focused. G

    She took the microphone from Victoria, her fingers steady despite the hundreds of wide eyes fixed on her. Whispers

    rippled through the crowd: "It can''t be..." "She''s dead..." "How is this possible?"

    The faces that mattered most to her stood frozen in shock. Her mother clutched her father''s arm, her mouth hanging open. Stefan had gone deathly pale, as if seeing a ghost. And Rose.... Rose''s face had drain "Thank you all foring tonight," Camille began, her voice carrying across the stunned silence. "Some of you knew me as Camille Lewis. Others havee to know me as Camille Kane. The truth is, I am bot She paused, allowing her words to sink in. Camera phones were raised throughout the ballroom, recording every moment. This was not just a private revtion; it would be public knowledge within minute "Eighteen months ago, I discovered divorce papers on my anniversary. My husband, Stefan Rodriguez..." she gestured toward him, and the crowd''s eyes followed ".....had decided our marriage was over becau Stefan flinched visibly, taking a half-

    step back as if trying to disappear into the crowd.

    "What I didn''t know then was that this wasn''t a recent development. You see, Rose and Stefan had a rtionship for years before I ever met him. I was simply a ceholder, a convenient detour on their path to "On the night I signed those divorce papers, something inside me broke. I thought I had lost everything. Little did I know that loss was just the beginning."

    She looked directly at Rose now, whose face had shifted from shock to something darker, a mixture of rage and fear.

    "After I left, I was attacked in a parking garage. Men who were hired to deliver a message. They beat me until I could barely stand. They told me to leave New York and nevere back, that I wouldn''t survive a

    11

    Her mother let out a low moan, covering her mouth with trembling hands.

    "I would have died that night if Victoria Kane hadn''t found me." Camille turned to Victoria, who stood like a sentinel at the side of the stage. "She saved

    me, not just by stopping the attackers, but by showing me that I could transform my pain into power."

    Victoria gave her a subtle nod, her face showing rare public emotion.

    "The question, of course, is who would want me gone so badly? Who would pay to have me attacked? Who would benefit most from my disappearance?"

    All eyes shifted to Rose, who had begun to back away, looking for an exit.

    "Rose Lewis arranged my murder," Camille stated, her voice cutting through the room like a de. "My sister,

    the person who imed

    to love me, orchestrated an attack meant to frighten me into leaving or.... if necessary... ensure I never spoke again.ˇ±

    The crowd erupted in murmurs. Security guards subtly moved to block the exits.

    "I have evidence," Camille continued once the noise died down. "Bank transfers, phone records, testimony from the men who were hired. Everything has been provided to the district attorney''s office." Rose lunged forward suddenly, her mask of sophistication entirely gone. "You lying bitch!" she screamed, her voice raw with fury. "You had everything! Everything was handed to you while I had to fight for scrap Security moved toward Rose, but Camille raised a hand to stop them. This confrontation had been years in the making. She wouldn''t cut it short now.

    "I never wanted to hurt you," Camille said, keeping her voice steady. "But you plotted against me my entire life. You manipted everyone around me. You took joy in my pain."

    "I only wanted what should have been mine!" Rose shouted, tears streaming down her face now, smearing her perfect makeup. "Do you know what it''s like to watch someone else live the life you deserved? I wa The ballroom was utterly silent now, the crowd watching the scene unfold with horrified fascination.

    "So yes, I arranged for those men to scare you," Rose continued, past caring about the consequences of her confession. "You were supposed to run away, not die. And when your car was pulled from the river, I "You thought your n had worked too well," Camille finished for her. "You thought I was dead, and you celebrated while pretending to mourn."

    Her mother stepped forward then, her face ashen. "Rose... tell me this isn''t true. Tell me you didn''t try to hurt your sister."

    Rose''sugh was hollow. "Sister? She was never my sister. She was an obstacle, a roadblock standing between me and everything I wanted."

    "And what exactly did you want, Rose?" Camille asked, though she already knew the answer.

    "Everything that was yours," Rose spat. "Stefan, your family, your social standing. I deserved it all more than you ever did."

    Stefan finally found his voice, stepping away from Rose as if she were toxic. "You told me Camille left because she couldn''t handle us being together. You said she ran away...

    "And you believed me because it was convenient," Rose shot back. "Don''t pretend you''re innocent in this, Stefan. You were all too happy to move on with me the minute she was gone."

    Camille watched the man she had once loved crumble under the weight of his guilt. There was a time when she had dreamed of this

    moment, of seeing him broken. Now, she felt nothing but a distant pity.

    Her father approached the stage, his shoulders hunched with shame. "Camille, my God... we didn''t know. We should have known, but we didn''t see..."

    "No, you didn''t see," Camille agreed, her tone gentle but firm. "You never saw me. Not really. And you certainly never saw who Rose truly was, despite all the signs."

    Her mother was weeping openly now. "Please, Camille. Please forgive us. We can be a family again. We can make this right."

    For a moment, Camille felt a flicker of her old self, the young woman who had always sought approval, who had always tried to keep the peace. But that woman was gone, burned away in the transformation tha

    was now.

    "I''m afraid that''s not possible," she said. "Camille Lewis died that

    night in the parking garage. The woman who stands before you is Camille Kane. Victoria has

    legally adopted me, and I am her heir. That chapter of my life is closed forever."

    "You can''t just erase us!" her mother cried, desperation in her voice. "We''re your parents!"

    "You stopped being my parents the moment you chose to believe in Rose''s lies rather than seeing the truth that was right in front of you," Camille replied, sadness coloring her words

    despite her resolve. "I don''t hate you. I simply don''t need you anymore."

    Stefan moved toward the stage, his eyes pleading. ˇ°Camille, I know I can never undo what I did. But I''ve changed. Seeing what Rose really is, understanding what happened to you, it''s opened my eyes. Please Camille studied his face, remembering how she had once

    thought he was the center of her world. How small that world had been.

    "I forgive you, Stefan," she said finally. "Not because you deserve it, but because I refuse to carry the weight of hating you any longer. That forgiveness doesn''t mean reconciliation. It means freedom, my freedo anger. "You think you''ve won?" she hissed. "You think this grand disy changes anything? This isn''t over. You took everything from me, and I''ll make you pay for it."

    Camille met her gaze evenly. "No, Rose. I took back what was mine.... my dignity,

    my power, my life. Everything else, you lost all on your own."

    Rose looked around wildly, seeing all eyes on her, seeing her carefully constructed world copsing. Her face contorted with rage as she pointed a trembling finger at Camille.

    "This isn''t over," she hissed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "You think you''ve won? You think you can juste back from the dead and destroy everything I''ve built? I''ll make you pay for this, Camille. You h With that, Rose stormed toward the exit, shoving past guests who quickly moved out of her way. The heavy doors mmed behind her with an echoing finality.

    As Rose disappeared, Camille felt a peculiar lightness spreading through her chest. This moment that she had imagined for so long... it wasn''t bringing the savage triumph she had expected. Instead, there was Victoria joined her on stage, cing a steady hand on her shoulder. "You did well," she said quietly.

    "Is it over?" Camille asked, suddenly uncertain.

    "The revenge is over," Victoria replied. "But your life..... your real life....... is just beginning."

    Camille turned back to face the crowd, many of whom were still recording every moment on their phones. The story would be everywhere by morning. There would be legal battles, public scrutiny, endless quest "Thank you foring tonight," she said to the crowd, her voice strong and clear. "This event marks not just the revtion of the truth, but the beginning of something new. The phoenix doesn''t rise from the ash

    She felt Alexander Pierce''s eyes on her from somewhere in the crowd, and for the first time, she allowed herself to acknowledge the possibility of a future beyond this moment, a future not defined by the past bu "The Phoenix Foundation will provide support for victims of domestic abuse and those who have been betrayed by the people closest to them," she continued. "Sometimes the deepest woundse from those As she stepped away from the microphone, the room erupted in apuse..... whether from genuine support or simply the spectacle of it all, she couldn''t tell. But as Victoria led

    her from the stage, Camille knew that whatever came next, she would face it not as the woman who had been discarded and betrayed, but as someone entirely new.

    Camille Kane had risen from the ashes of Camille Lewis''s destruction. And unlike the old fairy tales, this phoenix wasn''t interested in happy endings with false princes or fractured families. She was interested in The revenge story had ended. Her real story was just beginning

 Chapter 75

    Rose mmed her apartment door with such force that a framed photo crashed to the floor, ss shattering across the marble entryway. She didn''t bother to pick it up. Instead, she kicked off her heels, sending the pristine white carpet.

    She didn''t care. Nothing mattered anymore.

    Her hands shook as she poured herself a drink, missing the ss entirely on the first try. Amber liquid pooled on the counter, but she ignored it, finally managing to fill the tumbler on her second attempt. She dra "She''s alive," Rose whispered, her voice raspy and strange to her own ears. "All this time... she''s been alive."

    The reality of what had happened at the g crashed over her in waves. Camille, her pathetic, weak, doormat of a sister, had orchestrated her downfall. Camille, who had always been the good daughter, the pe Rose hurled her empty ss across the living room where it exploded against the wall, leaving a dark stain on the cream-

    colored paint like a Rorschach test of her rage.

    "AAAGGHH!" The scream that tore from her throat sounded animal, primal. Rose grabbed the nearest object, a ss paperweight, and smashed it into the mirror above her firece. Her reflection fractured into

    Better. That felt better.

    She moved through her apartment like a tornado, destroying everything in her path. Photo frames, vases, dishes, all shattered against walls, floors, windows. She tore designer clothes from her closet, ripping fa thousands, snapping heels off shoes, pulling jewelry apart until beads and gems scattered across the floor like tiny marbles.

    When she reached the bedroom, she froze. There on the nightstand sat a photo of her and Stefan, happy, smiling, victorious. She had won him. She had taken him from Camille. He was supposed to be her priz Rose lifted the frame with trembling fingers. Stefan''s face stared

    back at her, the face

    she had desired for so long, the man who had been part of her meticulous n.

    "You let her do this to us," she hissed at his image. "You coward. You stood there and let her destroy everything!" She smashed

    the frame against the edge of the marble nightstand, ss cutting into her palm. Blood dripped onto the photo, staining his face red. Perfect. That''s what he deserved.

    Rose sank onto the edge of her bed, suddenly exhausted. Her anger momentarily gave way to the crushing weight of what she had lost. Her business. Her reputation. Stefan. Even her ce in the Lewis family She had spent years carefully building this life, crafting her image, positioning herself at

    the top of New York society. And in one night, Camille had taken it all away.

    Rose pulled her knees to her chest, a sob rising in her throat. But no, she

    wouldn''t cry. Crying was weakness, and she wasn''t weak. She had survived foster homes where no one wanted her. She had fought her way into the Lewis family. She had built a fashion brand from nothing. She was Rose Lewis. She didn''t break. She got even.

    Rising from the bed, Rose went to her closet and pulled out the one box she hadn''t destroyed. Inside was a burner phone, cash, a passport with a different name, and ount numbers for money she had hidde

    her emergency escape n. She had always been prepared for disaster, always had a backup n. That''s how she had survived.

    But she wasn''t going to run. Not this time.

    Rose walked to her bathroom, ignoring the trail of destruction behind her. Blood still dripped from her cut palm, but she paid it no mind as she turned on the cold water and sshed her face. Mascara ran down She stared at herself in the mirror, water dripping from her chin.

    "This isn''t over,ˇ± she whispered, echoing her words from the g. "Not by a long shot."

    The shock was wearing off now, her mind

    beginning to work again, analyzing, calcting. Camille had help, that much was obvious. Victoria Kane. The powerful billionaire had taken Camille in, trained her, given her the resources to carry out this revenge.

    Roseughed, a harsh sound in the quiet bathroom.

    "So that''s who you are now, Camille? Victoria Kane''s pet project? Her weapon against me?" She shook her head. She doesn''t know who she''s dealing with."

    Rose wrapped a towel around her bleeding hand and returned to the living room, stepping over broken ss and torn fabric. She found herptop buried under a pile of shredded documents and opened it. First, she needed to understand how bad the damage was. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she checked news sites, social media, financial reports. It was worse than she thought. #Camille Returns was Her fashion line was officially dead. Her remaining business partners had all issued statements distancing themselves from her. Her bank ounts were indeed frozen pending investigation.

    She had nothing left. Almost nothing.

    Rose clicked on a news

    story about Victoria Kane. The woman was powerful, yes, but not untouchable. Everyone had weaknesses. Everyone had secrets.

    Including Camille.

    11

    Rose leaned back, her mind racing. Camille had faked her death. There would be legal implications to that. Insurance fraud, perhaps? And what about Victoria''s role in the deception? There had to be something She pulled out a notebook and began to write, ignoring the blood that asionally smeared the page. She listed everyone connected to Camille and Victoria. She noted possible vulnerabilities, potential allies. S By dawn, Rose had filled dozens of pages. Her eyes burned fromck of sleep, her hand throbbed where

    the ss had cut her, but her mind was clear. The path forward was taking shape.

    She stood and

    stretched, surveying the destruction of her apartment in the gray morning light. It looked like a war zone, which was fitting, because that''s exactly what this was now. War.

    Rose walked to the window and looked out over the Manhattan skyline, the sun

    just beginning to rise behind the skyscrapers. Somewhere out there, Camille

    was celebrating her victory, thinking she had won.

    "Enjoy it while itsts, sister," Rose whispered against the ss. "You took everything from me. Now I''m going to take everything from you. And this time, I won''t fail.ˇ±

    She turned from the window, a cold calm settling over her. The initial storm of rage had passed, leaving behind something more dangerous, calcted, patient vengeance,

    Rose stepped over the broken ss and torn fabric without backward nce. She needed a shower, fresh clothes, a new phone. She needed to contact

    the few people who might still be loyal to her. She needed to start rebuilding.

    Because this wasn''t the end of her story. It was merely the beginning of a new chapter, one where she would no longer be fighting for Stefan or social status or a fashion empire. Now, she was fighting for pure survival. And there was nothing more dangerous than a woman with nothing left to lose.

    Rose smiled as she stepped into the shower, letting hot water wash away the blood and tears and makeup. Let Camille think she had won. Let Victoria Kane believe they had destroyed herpletely. They had no idea what she was capable of.

    As steam filled the bathroom, Rose struggled to formte a n. She had no leverage against Victoria Kane or Camille. She had no hidden information to use as a weapon. Her finances were frozen, her reputa defeat.

    She shut off

    the water and wrapped herself in a towel, suddenly feeling more energized than

    she had in months. There was rity inplete destruction. Freedom in having nothing left to protect.

    Rose looked at herself in the mirror, her appearance disheveled but her eyes burning with determination. She sshed cold water on her face again, washing away thest traces of mascara.

    "This isn''t finished," she whispered to her reflection. "Not by a long shot."

    She returned to the living room, stepping through the wreckage of her former life. The broken ss crunched beneath her bare feet, but she barely noticed the pain. Physical difort meant nothingpared Rose sank into the one chair that remained upright, staring at the wall. She had

    no leverage against Victoria Kane, the woman was too powerful, too protected. She had no dirt on Camille that hadn''t already been exposed. She had no money, no allies, no escape n that would truly work. But she had her rage. And her determination. And the knowledge that she had rebuilt herself once before, when she had nothing.

    "I will find a way," she said to the empty room. "I don''t know how yet, but I will."

    Rose curled up in the chair as dawn broke over Manhattan, illuminating the destruction around her. She had

    no n yet, no clear path forward. But one thing was certain, this wasn''t over. Not while she still drew breath.

    She would wait. She would watch. And eventually, she would find Camille''s weakness.

    The game had changed, but in Rose''s mind, it wasn''t over.

    Not even close.

 Chapter 76

    The lobby of Kane Industries gleamed with

    polished marble and sleek ss. Camille stepped out of the elevator on the top floor, her heels clicking against the floor as she walked toward her office. Three days had passed since the Phoenix G, and her

    Now the world knew who she really was. The media couldn''t get enough of the story: the supposedly dead wife who had returned as a powerful executive, the systematic destruction of her ex- husband''spany and her sister''s reputation. Some painted her as a victim-

    turned-

    hero, others as a maniptive schemer. Camille didn''t care which version they believed.

    She pushed open the ss door to

    her office and stopped short. A massive arrangement of white roses sat on her desk, their scent filling the room. A knot formed in her stomach. She knew who they were from before she even read the card. "Ms. Kane," her assistant Reba said from behind her, "I''m sorry. He sent them before I arrived this morning. Security checked them thoroughly."

    Camille nodded, finding her voice. "It''s fine, Reba. Could you please take them away? Donate them to the hospital across the street."

    Reba quickly removed the flowers while Camille settled at her desk, turning her attention to the documents awaiting her signature. She had just begun reviewing the first contract when Reba''s voice came "Ms. Kane, Stefan Rodriguez is in the lobby requesting to see you. Security wants to know if they should turn him away."

    Camille''s pen stilled above the paper. She had expected this, of course. It was only a matter of time before he would try to reach out. Still, her heart hammered ufortably against her ribs.

    "Tell them to send him up," she said after a moment. "And Reba, please stay close by. If I need you, I''ll call." "Of course, Ms. Kane."

    Five minutester, Stefan stood in her doorway. He looked awful, shadows beneath his eyes, his normally perfect suit slightly rumpled, his face drawn with exhaustion. There was a time when seeing him like this would have torn at her heart, when she would have done anything tofort him.

    Now she just felt... nothing.

    "Come in and close the door," she said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk. She remained standing, unwilling to cede even that small advantage.

    Stefan stepped inside, his eyes never leaving her face. "Camille," he breathed, his

    voice cracking on her name. "I still can''t believe it''s really you."

    00

    "It isn''t," she replied coolly. "Not the woman you knew, anyway."

    He flinched at her tone, then moved closer, stopping when she held up a hand. "Please, Camille. I just want to talk. I''ve been going crazy since the g. I can''t sleep, I can''t eat...." "What do you want, Stefan?" Camille cut him off, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "Why are you

    here?"

    ˇ°I

    needed to see you." He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it slightly disheveled in a way that once would have made her heart skip. "To exin..."

    "Exin what? How you cheated on me with my sister? How you lied to my face for months? How you were willing to throw away our marriage for someone who never even truly cared about you?" The words

    "I was a fool," Stefan said, his eyes filling with tears. "I was blind and stupid and selfish. Rose... she manipted me, fed me lies about you, about us.....''

    "Stop." Camille raised her hand again. "Don''t me Rose for your choices. You weren''t hypnotized. You weren''t drugged. You looked me in the eye and lied to me for months. That was all you."

    Stefan seemed to copse within himself, sinking into the chair. "You''re right. I''m not trying to escape responsibility. What I did was unforgivable."

    "And yet here you are, seeking forgiveness." Camille finally sat down, keeping her desk between them like a shield.

    "Not just forgiveness." Stefan leaned forward, his eyes suddenly burning with intensity. "A second chance. Camille, I never stopped loving you. Even with Rose, even after I thought you were gone... there was always something missing. It was you. It''s always been you.''

    A bitterugh escaped her throat. "Are you serious? You think after everything you''ve done, everything that''s happened, we could just... what? Get back together? Resume our marriage like none of this ever oc "Not right away, of course," Stefan rushed to say. "I know it would take time, years maybe. But we could start over. I could prove to you that I''ve

    changed, that I understand what I threw

    away." He reached across the desk, trying to take her hand, but she moved it away. "Camille, please. Thepany, the money, none of that matters. I''d give up everything just for the chance to make things righ Camille studied him, this man she had once loved beyond reason. She could see the desperation in his eyes, the genuine misery. There was a time when his pain would have been her pain, when she would ha That time was gone.

    "Do you know what I remember most about our marriage, Stefan?" she asked quietly. "Not the happy moments. Not the trips or the gifts or the fancy dinners. I remember sitting alone on our anniversary, waiting I remember the way you would look through me sometimes, like I wasn''t even there."

    "I was a terrible husband," Stefan admitted, his voice breaking. "But people change. I''ve changed."

    "Have you?" Camille tilted her head. "Or have your circumstances changed? You''ve lost yourpany. Your reputation is in tatters. Rose has shown her true colors. And suddenly, conv¨¦niently, you remember y Stefan flinched as if she''d pped him. "That''s not fair."

    "Isn''t it? Tell me something, Stefan. If none of this had happened, if I hadn''t ''died,'' if your business was still thriving, if Rose was

    still the woman you thought she was, would you be here right now, begging for a second chance? Or would you be nning your wedding with her?

    His silence was answer enough.

    Camille stood up, smoothing her skirt with steady hands. ˇ°Mou don''t love me, Stefan. You never did. Not really. You loved the idea of me, the supportive wife, the pretty essory, the woman who never challeng Chapter 76

    you ufortable. That woman doesn''t

    exist anymore. She died the night I found your divorce papers."

    "You''re wrong," Stefan said, standing too, his voice gaining strength. "Yes, I was blind and selfish then. But these past months without you... thinking you were dead... it changed me, Camille. And seeing you ag "Because of Rose," she corrected.

    "Because of both of us," he insisted. "I may not have hired those men, but I created the situation that led to it. I share the me. And I have to live with that for the rest of my life."

    For a moment, Camille saw something genuine in his eyes, real remorse, real pain. But it wasn''t enough. It would never be enough.

    "I believe that you''re sorry," she said finally. "And I meant what I said at the g, I forgive

    you. Not for your sake, but for mine. I refuse to carry the weight of hating you anymore." Hope flickered across his face. "Then...."

    "But forgiveness isn''t the same as forgetting," she continued. "And it certainly doesn''t mean a second chance. There are some things that, once broken, can never be fixed." "Camille, please." Stefan moved around the desk, dropping to his knees beside her

    chair. The gesture was so unexpected, so unlike the proud man she had known, that she didn''t back away. "I''ll do anything. Anything at all. Just tell me what I need to do to make things right. I can''t lose you aga Looking down at him, Camille felt a strange mixture of

    pity and disgust. "You already lost me, Stefan. A long time ago. You just didn''t notice until it was toote."

    She stood, forcing him to rise as well. "Our story is over. It ended the moment you decided Rose was more important than our vows. What came after, my ''death,'' my transformation, yourpany''s downfall, n "I don''t ept that," Stefan said, a sh of his old stubbornness showing through. "I know I hurt you. I know I don''t deserve another chance. But I also know what we had was real. And if there''s even a tiny part "What we had wasn''t real," Camille cut him off, her voice gentle but firm. "It was a lie. You were with my sister before me, during our marriage, and you''d still be with her now if the truth hadn''te out. That''s n Her words seemed to hit him physically, and he staggered back a step. "You can''t mean that. You can''t believe that everything we shared was false."

    "What I believe doesn''t matter anymore." Camille moved toward the door, making it clear the conversation was ending. "What matters is that I''ve moved on. I''ve built a new life, a new identity. And you have no p Stefan didn''t move, his shoulders slumped in defeat. "I won''t give up, Camille. Not this

    time. I''ll prove to you that I''ve changed, that I can be the man you deserve."

    A small, sad smile touched her lips. "That''s the thing, Stefan. I no longer need a man to make me whole. I don''t need you, or anyone, to plete'' me. The woman who defined herself by her husband died in th She opened her office door, where Reba was waiting as instructed. "Reba will show you out. Please don''t send any more flowers. Don''t call. Don''te

    here again. Its over, Stefan. ept that and move on with your life. I already have with mine."

    Something in her tone must have finally reached him, because the fight seemed to drain from his body. He walked

    toward the door, then paused beside her.

    "I really did love you, Camille," he whispered. ˇ°In my own wed, selfish way. I just wish I had realized what that meant before it was toote."

    Camille met his gaze onest time, seeing the ghost of the man she had once thought would be her forever." Goodbye, Stefan."

    He nodded once, epting

    her dismissal, and followed Reba toward the elevator. Camille watched him go, waiting for some flicker of regret, some pull of old feelings.

    There was nothing.

    Back in her office, she walked to the window overlooking the city. The woman she

    had been, Camille Lewis, devoted wife, perfect daughter, loving sister, would have crumbled at Stefan''s pleas. She would have forgiven him instantly, weed him back with open arms, grateful for the second But that woman was gone, burned away

    in the fire of betrayal and reborn as someone stronger, someone who valued herself too much to ept scraps of affection from a man who had discarded her so easily.

    Camille Kane turned back

    to her desk, to the contracts awaiting her signature, to the empire she

    was helping to build. The past was finally, truly behind her. Whatever came next, whether it was sess or failure, joy or pain, it would be on her terms, not defined by the people who had once imed to love For the first time since the night everything changed, Camille felt truly free.

 Chapter 77

    Rain pounded against the windows of Camille''s office, matching her mood as she stared at the notification on her phone. The message was brief: her parents were waiting in the lobby. No warning, no call ahead. They had simply shown up, expecting her to drop everything and see them.

    Some things never changed.

    "Ms. Kane?" Reba stood in the

    doorway, her expression concerned. "Your... the Lewises are downstairs. They''re insisting on seeing you."

    Camille set down her pen, her fingers surprisingly steady despite the storm brewing inside her. "How long have they been waiting?"

    "Almost an hour. They refuse to leave without speaking to you."

    Of course they did. Margaret and Richard Lewis had always believed doors should open for them, that their demands warranted immediate attention. Even now, after everything that had happened, they expecte "Send them up in fifteen minutes," Camille said, turning back to herputer. "Not a second earlier."

    Reba nodded and disappeared, leaving Camille alone with thoughts she had tried to bury since the Phoenix G. Unlike with Stefan, whose visit she had

    anticipated and prepared for, this confrontation caught her off guard. She had hoped her parents would respect her wishes, would understand that some bridges couldn''t be rebuilt.

    But hope had always been her weakness where family was concerned.

    Camille stood and walked to the window, watching raindrops race down the ss. The

    sky had turned nearly ck, thunder rumbling in the distance. A perfect backdrop for the scene about to unfold.

    Fifteen minutester, Reba''s voice came through the inte. "They''re here, Ms. Kane."

    "Send them in," Camille replied, remaining by the window, her back to the door.

    She heard them enter, heard her mother''s sharp intake of breath, heard her father clear his throat, that familiar sound that had always preceded his lectures. Camille didn''t turn around.

    "Camille," her mother''s voice broke on her name. "Please look at us."

    Slowly, Camille turned. They looked smaller somehow, diminished. Her mother''s carefully maintained appearance showed

    cracks, hair not quite perfect, makeup slightly smudged from the rain or perhaps tears. Her father

    stood straight as always, but new lines marked his face, and his eyes held none of their usual confidence.

    "Why are you here?" Camille asked, her voice t.

    "Because you''re our daughter," her father said, as if that exined everything, as if the word "daughter" still meant anything between them.

    "We''ve been going out of our minds," her mother added, taking a step forward. "Ever since the g, we''ve been trying to process everything. To understand how...."

    "How I survived?" Camille finished for her. "How I became someone new? Or how your precious Rose tried to have me killed?"

    Her mother flinched. "All of it. Please, Camille. We need to talk about this."

    "There''s nothing to talk about." Camille moved back to her klesk, putting the solid oak barrier between them. "I said everything I needed to say at the g."

    "You can''t mean that," her father insisted, moving closer. We''re your parents. Whatever mistakes we''ve made...."

    "Mistakes?" Camille''sugh held no humor. "Is that what you call it? A mistake?"

    Her father faltered, then straightened his shoulders. "We had no idea what Rose had done. How could we possibly have known?"

    "Because I told you," Camille replied, her voice rising despite her efforts to stay calm. "I stood in our family home and told you both that Rose was having an affair with Stefan. That she had manipted both of "We didn''t believe it because it seemed impossible," her mother said, tears spilling onto her cheeks. "Rose has been part of our family since she was thirteen. We raised her, loved her..."

    "You didn''t raise her," Camille cut in. "You adopted a teenager who had already formed

    her worldview, who saw our family as a prize she had won, not a gift of love. And you didn''t just love her, you favored her. You always did."

    "That''s not true," her father protested, but the doubt in his eyes betrayed him.

    "Isn''t it? When Rose got a B in math, you hired a tutor and praised her efforts. When I got an A-, you asked why it wasn''t an A. When Rose wore something you didn''t approve of, it was ''expressing herself. Whe the same, I was ''embarrassing the family.""

    The memories rushed back, a lifetime of small cuts that had bled her confidence dry. "And it wasn''t just when we were young. When I told you Stefan was cheating, your first instinct wasn''t tofort me or prot Her mother shook her head desperately. "We didn''t mean to hurt you. We loved you both equally..."

    "No," Camille said softly. "You didn''t. And deep down, you know that''s true."

    Silence filled the room, broken only by the thunder outside and her mother''s muffled sobs.

    "Camille," her father finally said, his voice rough. "We''ve made terrible mistakes. Unforgivable ones. But you''re alive, our daughter is

    alive. Surely that''s a second chance, a miracle. Can''t we at least try to heal this?"

    "Heal what, exactly?" Camille asked. "The fact that you never truly saw me? That you believed the worst of me and the best of Rose, no matter the evidence? That when I needed you most, you abandoned me Her father''s face crumpled, his carefully maintained facade finally breaking. "We were wrong. So terribly wrong. When we heard about your...

    your death, it

    destroyed us. We''ve spent thest year living with the knowledge that ourst conversation with you was an argument, that you died believing we didn''t love you."

    "And now that I''m not dead, you want absolution." Camille''s voice remained steady, though her heart pounded painfully in her chest. "You want me to tell you it''s okay, that I forgive you, so you can sleep at night "We want our daughter back," her mother pleaded, moving around the desk to reach for Camille''s hand. Camille stepped away, maintaining the distance between them.

    "Your daughter is gone," she said quietly. "Camille Lewis ded that night in the parking garage. The woman standing before you is someone else entirely."

    "No." Her mother shook her head fiercely. "You might have a different name, a different life, but

    you''re still our child. Nothing can change that, not even what Rose did."

    "This isn''t about Rose," Camille said. "Not entirely. Yes, she was my executioner. But you handed her the tools."

    Her parents flinched as if physically struck.

    "Every time you praised her at my expense, every time you dismissed my feelings, every time you made it clear she was the daughter you truly wanted, you gave her more power to hurt me. You taught her that Camille walked back to the window, watching lightning streak across the darkened sky. "When Stefan gave me those divorce papers, do you know why I didn''te to you? Because I already knew what you w "That''s not true," her father protested weakly.

    "Isn''t it?" Camille turned to face them again. "When I finally did tell you about his affair with Rose, that''s exactly what happened. You defended them both. You questioned my sanity rather than their integrity."

    Her mother sank into a chair, her body shaking with sobs. Her father stood helplessly, his eyes revealing the truth he couldn''t bring himself to admit, that every word Camille spoke was urate. "We''ve lost everything," her mother whispered. "Rose is gone. The family name is ruined. And now you... you won''t even give us a chance to make amends."

    "Some things can''t be fixed," Camille said, a hint of gentleness entering her voice despite

    her resolve to remain detached. "Some betrayals cut too deep. This isn''t a Hollywood movie where the estranged family has a tearful reunion and everything is magically healed. Real life doesn''t work that way." "So that''s it?" her father asked, his voice breaking. "Twenty six years of family just... erased? You''re throwing away your entire past?"

    "My past was already taken from me," Camille replied. ˇ°The night I discovered my husband and sister had betrayed

    me. The night men attacked me in a parking garage and left me for dead. The night I realized my parents would never believe me over their precious Rose."

    She moved back to her desk, signaling that the conversation was ending. "I don''t hate you. I don''t wish you ill. I simply don''t have room in my new life for people who couldn''t love me as I deserved to be loved." "Please," her mother begged, rising from the chair. "Just give us a chance. We can start over. We can do better." "It''s toote," Camille

    said, her voice final. ˇ°I spent my entire life trying to

    earn your approval, your love. I''m done trying."

    Her father approached the desk, his proud posture now bent with grief. "What can we

    do? There must be something. Some way to reach you."

    Camille looked at them both, these people who had given her life but failed to nurture her spirit, who had provided materialfort but withheld emotional security. For a moment, she felt a flicker of the old long But that flicker died quickly, smothered by the memory of their betrayal.

    "There''s nothing you can do," she said softly. "Except respect my wishes and leave me alone. Don''t call. Don''t visit. Don''t reach out through friends or colleagues. Consider Camille Lewis dead, because that''s w "You can''t mean that," her mother whispered. "We''re your parents. That bond can''t just be severed."

    "It already was," Camille replied. "You severed it years ago, piece by piece, with every dismissal, every criticism, every time you chose Rose over me. I''m just acknowledging what has long been true." Her father''s face hardened, his grief giving way to anger, his typical response when he couldn''t control a situation. "So that''s it? After everything we''ve given you, everything we''ve sacrificed..."

    "This isn''t about what you gave me," Camille interrupted, her voice sharp. "It''s about what you didn''t give me. Protection. Trust. The benefit of the doubt. Unconditional love. The things parents are supposed to p She pressed the inte button. "Reba, could you pleasee in? The Lewises are leaving."

    "You can''t dismiss us like employees," her father protested

    "I can and I am." Camille stood firm, her resolve unshaken. "I told you at the g that our rtionship was over. I meant it. The only reason I agreed to see you today was to make that absolutely clear." Reba appeared at the door, her expression professionally neutral despite the obvious tension in the room.

    "Please escort Mr. and Mrs. Lewis to the lobby," Camille instructed.

    "Camille, please..." her mother reached for her onest time.

    "Goodbye," Camille said firmly. "I wish you well, but I don''t want you in my life. Not now. Not ever."

    Her father''s face twisted with a mixture of grief and indignation. "You''ll regret this. Someday, when you''re older, when you have children of your own, you''ll understand that family is all that matters in the end." Camille met his gaze unflinchingly. "You taught me exactly what family means, that it''s conditional, that love can be withdrawn if you don''t meet expectations, that blood ties don''t guarantee protection or support Her mother let out a strangled sob as Reba gently guided them toward the door. Her father looked back once, his eyes filled with a pain Camille recognized all too well, the agony of rejection, of not being en When the door closed behind them, Camille remained standing, her body rigid with

    tension. She had expected to feel triumphant, or at least relieved. Instead, a hollow ache spread through her chest, not regret, exactly, but mourning for what could have been, for

    the parents they might have

    been in another life, for the daughter she might have been if they had truly loved her.

    Outside, the storm intensified, rainshing against the windows as if nature itself shared her turmoil. Camille watched the water blur the city lights, transforming them into smears of color against the darkness. She had survived Rose''s betrayal. She had faced Stefan and sent him away. Now she had severed thest ties to her old life

    Camille Kane stood alone in her office, surrounded by the trappings of her new existence, the power, the prestige, the freedom to define herself on her own terms. She had won. She had reimed her life from Why, then, did victory taste so much like ash?

    Her phone buzzed with a message from Victoria: "Dinner tonight? We should celebrate your clean break."

    Camille stared at the words, realizing that while she had lost one family, she

    had gained another, not perfect, not traditional, but hers by choice rather than blood.

    "Yes," she typed back. "I''m ready to move forward."

    And as the storm outside began to

    subside, Camille felt something shift within her, the first tentative release of a burden she had carried for too long. Not forgiveness, not yet. But perhaps, eventually, peace.

 Chapter 78

    Camille stared at the presentation on her tablet, numbers and projections swimming before her eyes. Three weeks had passed since the Phoenix G, since her confrontations with Stefan and her parents. The executive. She swiped through the slides once more, trying to focus on the uing meeting. Kane Industries wasunching its most ambitious project yet, a revolutionary clean energy system that could trans entire operation, calling it her "graduation project."

    Her office door opened, and Reba appeared with a concerned expression. "Ms. Kane, Mr. Pierce is here. He''s early."

    Camille checked her watch. Twenty minutes early, to be exact. Typical Alexander, always operating on his own schedule.

    "Send him in," she said, smoothing her skirt as she stood.

    Alexander Pierce entered with his usual quiet confidence, dressed in a simple ck suit that somehow looked more expensive than anything Stefan had ever worn. His dark eyes found hers immediately, that pi walls.

    "You''re early," she said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk.

    "I wanted to see your reaction to the proposal before the formal meeting." He remained standing, hands in his pockets. "Have you read it?"

    "Every word. Three times." She tapped her tablet. ˇ°It''s ambitious."

    "It''s revolutionary," he corrected, moving closer. "This isn''t just another tech project, Camille. This could change everything, how cities function, how we approach climate change, how people live."

    The passion in his voice

    caught her off guard. Alexander usually maintained a cool exterior, much like she did, a protective shield against a world that had taught them both harsh lessons about vulnerability. "Victoria thinks we should proceed cautiously," Camille said, watching his reaction. "Test the technology in smaller markets first."

    Something shed in his eyes, frustration, perhaps, or disappointment. "And what do you think?"

    The question hung between them. Alexander wasn''t asking about her business opinion. He

    was asking if she could still think for herself, if she was just Victoria''s puppet or her own woman.

    "I think," Camille said slowly, "that caution is what keeps you alive, but boldness is what makes you feel alive."

    A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "And which would you prefer?"

    "Both have their merits." She moved to the

    window, looking out at the city below. "Victoria saved my life. Her caution, her nning, her strategies, they gave me a second chance when I had nothing. I owe her everything."

    "You owe her respect and gratitude," Alexander said, joining her at the window. "You don''t owe her your independence."

    Their reflections stared back at them in the ss, two figures standing close but not touching, both shaped by pain, both transformed by their own private fires.

    "Why this project?" Camille asked, turning to face him. "You have dozens of sessful businesses. Why partner with Kane Industries now?"

    "Because it matters," he said simply. "Because it''s bigger than both of us. And because I think you need something to build, not just something to destroy."

    His words struck a chord deep within her. The revenge that had fueled her for so long wasplete. Rose was ruined. Stefan was broken. Her parents had been sent away. But the emptiness that followed vict "The board meeting starts in fifteen minutes," she said, stepping away from him. "Victoria will expect solid numbers, not just inspiring visions."

    "I have those too." Alexander moved back to the center of the room, maintaining a respectful distance. "But I wanted to speak with you privately first. This partnership isn''t just between ourpanies. It''s betwe "A true coboration. Equal partners. My resources and your vision. We''ve both proven we can tear things down when necessary. Now let''s see what we can build together."

    The air between them seemed to vibrate with possibility. In another life, Camille might have dismissed his offer immediately, retreated to the safety of Victoria''s guidance. But the woman she had be, Camil "Why me?" she asked, the question simpler and more vulnerable than she intended. "You could partner with anyone. Why choose someone still learning the business?"

    Alexander''s expression softened slightly. "Because I''ve watched you transform from victim to victor. Because you understand what it means to lose everything and rebuild. And because you''re the only person I'' Before she could respond, Reba appeared at the door. "Ms. Kane, the board is assembling in the main conference room."

    "We''ll be right there," Camille replied, gathering her materials.

    Alexander watched her movements, his gaze thoughtful. "Whatever you decide in that room, remember this is your project now. Your future. Not Victoria''s, not mine. Yours." They walked

    together to the conference room, where Victoria waited with the full board of directors. The older woman''s eyes narrowed slightly at their simultaneous arrival, but her face revealed nothing as they took their

    seats.

    "Let''s begin," Victoria said, her voicemanding immediate attention. "Mr. Pierce has proposed a partnership between Pierce Innovations and Kane Industries for what he''s calling the Phoenix Grid." Alexander stood, activating the disy wall with a flick of his wrist. "Thank you for this opportunity. What I''m proposing isn''t just a business venture, it''s aplete reimagining of how cities power themselves." Images appeared on the screen, sleek designs for sr collection systems, wind turbines disguised as architectural elements, underground heat exchangeworks.

    "The Phoenix Gridbines all existing renewable technologies into one seamless system, with our

    proprietary Al optimizing energy flow in real-

    time." Alexander moved through the presentation with practiced ease. "Initial investments are high, but projected returns exceed anything currently on the market."

    Victoria interrupted. "The financial risk is significant. My advisors suggest a phased approach, beginning with smaller test markets."

    Alexander nodded respectfully. "A reasonable concern. However, limited implementation will limit results. The system works because it''sprehensive, eachponent supports the others."

    The board members exchanged nces, clearly divided. Victoria turned to Camille. "As head of our tech division and project lead, what''s your assessment?"

    Every eye in the room turned to her. Camille felt the weight of the moment, her first major decision as Victoria''s heir, her first chance to demonstrate whether she would simply

    echo her mentor or chart her own course.

    She stood, moving to the front of the room beside Alexander. Their shoulders nearly touched as she addressed the board.

    "I''ve reviewed Mr. Pierce''s proposal extensively," she began, her voice steady. "The technology is solid. The financial models are sound. Yes, there are risks, significant ones. But there''s something more importa Victoria''s eyebrow raised slightly, a warning, perhaps, or a test.

    "This project represents exactly what Kane Industries ims to value, innovation that improves lives." Camille met Victoria''s gaze directly. "We can proceed cautiously and be

    one morepany making incremental improvements. Or

    we can be bold and change the world."

    The room fell silent. Alexander remained perfectly still beside her, neither helping nor hindering, allowing her to stand on her

    own.

    "What exactly are you proposing?" Victoria asked, her tone neutral.

    "A full-

    scale implementation in one major city. Not a test, not a pilot, theplete system." Camille activated her own

    presentation, showing modified projections. "I''ve adjusted Mr. Pierce''s models to ount for increased initial costs and slower adoption rates. Even with these conservative estimates, the project remains viable The board members leaned forward, studying the numbers with renewed interest.

    "And the risk?" one of them asked.

    ˇ°Substantial,ˇ± Camille acknowledged. "But calcted. And shared equally with Pierce Innovations."

    Alexander nodded his agreement. "We''re prepared to match Kane Industries'' investment dor for dor. Equal risk, equal reward."

    Victoria''s expression remained unreadable as she

    studied Camille. Something passed between them, an understanding, perhaps, or a shift in their rtionship. Mentor and prot¨¦g¨¦, but also two women who had rebuilt themselves from ashes.

    "The board will need time to consider," Victoria said finally "We''ll reconvene tomorrow morning for a vote."

    As the meeting adjourned, board members surrounded Alexander, asking technical questions about the proposal. Victoria motioned for Camille to follow her into a private office adjacent to the conference room. "That was quite a presentation," Victoria said once they were alone. "Not what we discussed."

    Camille met her gaze steadily. "You asked for my assessment. I gave it."

    "You contradicted me in front of the board."

    "I offered a different perspective," Camille

    corrected gently "Isn''t that why you put me in charge of this project?

    To bring new ideas?"

    Victoria studied her, those sharp eyes missing nothing. "Alexander Pierce is dangerous. Brilliant, but dangerous. He ys games within games.ˇ±

    "So do you," Camille replied. "So do 1, now."

    A small smile touched Victoria''s lips. "Yes, you do. That''s what worries me."

    "You don''t trust him."

    "I don''t trust anyonepletely." Victoria moved to the window, looking out at the city below. "That''s how I''ve survived this long. But this isn''t about trust, it''s about you."

    "What about me?"

    Victoria turned back to face her. "You''vepleted

    your revenge. Rose is destroyed. Stefan is broken.

    Your parents have been cast out. The fire that drove you has burned its fuel. Now you need something new to live for."

    Camille felt exposed suddenly, as if Victoria had read her most private thoughts. "And you think this project with Alexander is that something?"

    "I think Alexander Pierce sees in you what I saw, tremendous potential. But his motivations may not be as altruistic as they appear."

    "You mean he might be using me to get to you," Camille said.

    Victoria shook her head. "No. I mean he might genuinely care for you. And that could be far more dangerous."

    The words hung between them as Camille processed their meaning. Victoria wasn''t worried about business rivalry, she was concerned about Camille''s heart, about the possibility of new pain for someone who h "I''m not the same person who fell for Stefan''s charm," Camille said quietly. "I''ve learned to see beneath surfaces.

    "Have you?" Victoria''s voice held no judgment, only genuine concern. "Alexander''s not Stefan. He''s infinitely moreplex, more careful. If he''s showing you vulnerability, it''s because he''s chosen to." Before Camille could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them. Alexander stood in the doorway, his expression carefully neutral.

    "Excuse the interruption. The board has some

    additional questions about the financial structure.''

    Victoria nodded. "We''ll continue

    this discussionter," she said to Camille, her tone making it clear this wasn''t a request.

    As Victoria left to rejoin the board, Alexander remained in the doorway, watching Camille with those perceptive

    eyes.

    "She''s warning you against me," he said, not a question but a statement.

    "She''s being cautious," Camille replied. "It''s her nature."

    "And what''s your nature now, Camille Kane? Caution or boldness?"

    The question echoed their earlier conversation, but with new meaning. They both knew he wasn''t just talking about business strategy.

    "I''m still figuring that out," she admitted.

    Alexander stepped into the room, closing the distance

    between them. ˇ°For what it''s worth, I believe in this project. But more than that, I believe in your ability to lead it."

    "Why?" The question escaped before she could stop it.

    "Because you understand what it means to be reborn," he said simply. "To rise from destruction. This isn''t just about clean energy or profit margins for me. It''s about transformation, giving cities the chance to sh For the first time, Camille saw beyond Alexander''s carefully constructed persona, the brilliant businessman, the strategicpetitor. What she glimpsed instead was someone shaped by his own private pain, so "The Phoenix Grid," she said softly, understanding the name''s significance now. "It''s not just a marketing term for you."

    "No," he agreed. "Just as ''Camille Kane'' isn''t just a name for you."

    They stood in silence for a moment, each recognizing in the other a kindred spirit, someone who understood transformation from the inside out.

    "The board will approve the project," Camille said finally. "Victoria''s concerns are valid, but the potential outweighs the risk."

    "And after they approve it?" Alexander asked. "Will you truly lead it as you see fit, or will you follow Victoria''s vision?"

    The challenge in his voice was clear. He wasn''t just offering a business partnership; he was offering her a chance to step fully into her own power, to move beyond Victoria''s shadow.

    "I''ll lead it," Camille said, surprising herself with the certainty in her voice. "My way."

    Something shifted in Alexander''s expression, respect, perhaps, or satisfaction. ˇ°Then I look forward to our coboration, Ms. Kane."

    He extended

    his hand, and after a moment''s hesitation, she took it. His grip was warm and firm, the contact sending an unexpected current up her arm.

    "To new beginnings," he said quietly.

    As their hands remained joined a moment longer than necessary, Camille felt something stir within her that she had thought dead forever, not just purpose or ambition, but possibility. The chance to create rather "To now beginnings," she echoed, and for the first time in longer than she could remember, the smile that curved her lips reached her eyes.

 Chapter 79

    The sunlight streaming through the windows of the Rodriguez Seattle family estate felt like a mockery to Stefan. Once, this light had illuminated generations of family sess. Now, it merely highlighted the dust Stefan sat alone in his father''s study, nursing a ss of whiskey despite the early hour. The room still smelled of Eduardo''s cigars and leather-

    bound books, a scent that had once meant security

    and legacy. The carved mahogany desk where his father had taught him to review shipping manifests seemed smaller now, diminished like everything else in his life.

    The sound of tires on gravel jolted him from his stupor. He moved to the window, watching the ck town car roll to a stop. His stomach tightened. His parents were home.

    Eduardo Rodriguez emerged first, his once-

    "Mother. Father." His voice echoed in the entrance hall.

    Emily''s eyes found his, hardening instantly. "Where is she? That woman who destroyed us?"

    No greeting. No embrace. Stefan expected nothing less.

    Eduardo sighed heavily, passing their luggage to the remaining housemaid. "Emily, please. Let''s at least sit down first.ˇ±

    Stefan led them to the sitting room, once the pride of his mother''s decorating prowess. The crystal decanters caught the light as he poured drinks with shaking hands.

    "Camille isn''t here," he answered finally. "She has no reason to be."

    Emily snatched the ss from his offering hand. ˇ°She has every reason! To gloat, to witness our suffering. Isn''t that what she wanted?"

    "That''s not who she is," Stefan said quietly.

    "Who she is," Emily spat, "is a vengeful, maniptive...."

    ˇ°Enough!ˇ± Eduardo''s palm struck the side table, rattling the decanters. "Our son betrayed her, Emily. Or have you conveniently forgotten that part?"

    The silence that followed felt vtile. Stefan sank into an armchair, suddenly exhausted.

    "The board called an emergency meeting," Eduardo said tly. "While we were away, they voted to ept Kane Industries'' offer to purchase our remaining assets." Stefan nodded numbly. "I know."

    "You know?" Emily''s voice rose. "And you did nothing to stop it?"

    "What would you have me do, Mother? The debt they''ve acquired gives them controlling interest. It was always going to end this way."

    Emily''s face flushed with rage. "This estate has been in the Rodriguez family for four generations! Your great-

    grandfather built it with his bare hands after arriving with nothing but determination."

    "And I lost it with nothing but arrogance," Stefan finished bitterly.

    Eduardo moved to the window, gazing out at the gardens his wife had meticulously designed. "We have three weeks before we must vacate." The finality of those words hung in the air like smoke.

    "I tried to speak with Camille," Stefan admitted. "She wouldn''t reconsider."

    Emily''sugh was brittle. "Of course she wouldn''t! She''s Victoria Kane''s puppet now. That woman has orchestrated this entire nightmare."

    "No," Stefan said, meeting his mother''s gaze directly. "Camille orchestrated this. Victoria gave her the tools, but the vision was hers."

    "And you admire her for it?" Emily''s voice dripped with disbelief.

    Stefan considered the question. Did he admire Camille for methodically dismantling everything he''d taken for granted? For revealing herself not as a victim but as an architect of justice? "Yes," he said finally. "I do."

    Emily''s ss shattered against the wall, amber liquid streaking the custom wallpaper like tears.

    "This is what happens when you marry beneath you," she hissed. "I warned you about her. She was never good enough for this family. No ss, just a pretty face with ambition from a rich family." Stefan felt something shift inside him, a quiet rage recing the self-

    pity he''d wallowed in for weeks.

    "Mother," he said slowly, "if anyone wasn''t good enough, it was me. Camille gave everything to our marriage while I treated her as an essory. She built herself from nothing through hard work and integrity, w Emily recoiled as if pped.

    "And let''s not forget," Stefan continued, "how you fawned over Rose. How you practically pushed me into her arms with your constant praise of her sophistication, her fashion sense, her social graces." His voice "Don''t you dare me your mother for your failings," Eduardo interjected, but his reprimandcked conviction. Stefan stood, suddenly unable to remain still. ˇ°I don''t. The me is entirely mine. But I won''t let you Emily turned away, her shoulders rigid. "She''s ruined us."

    "No, Mother. I ruined us. Rose helped. All Camille did was make us face the consequences."

    Eduardo crossed to the bar and refilled his ss. The silence between them stretched painfully before he spoke again.

    "The night before your wedding to

    Camille," he said quietly, "I had doubts. Not about her, about you. I wondered if you deserved her devotion." He

    took a measured sip. "I should have spoken them aloud."

    Stefan felt the unexpected truth of those words like a physical blow.

    "We still have the property in Madrid," Eduardo continued ''It''s modest by our standards, but it''s paid for Vo mother and I will go there next week."

    "And me?" Stefan asked, though he already knew the answer.

    Eduardo''s expression was uncharacteristically gentle. "You need to fix this."

    "Eduardo!" Emily protested. "There''s nothing to fix! That woman has...."

    "That woman," Eduardo interrupted firmly, "has shown more backbone than anyone who''s ever married into this family. If our son has any hope of salvaging his future, it lies with her." "She won''t take me back," Stefan said. "I''ve already tried."

    "Of course she won''t take

    you back,ˇ± Eduardo scoffed. "Why would she? But there might be a path to redemption that doesn''t involve reconciliation."

    Emily copsed onto the sofa, burying her face in her hands. "This is a nightmare. My son, begging for scraps from that woman''s table."

    "That woman," Stefan said quietly, "has a name. The same name she had when you weed her into this family, before you decided Rose was the superior choice."

    Emily''s head snapped up, her eyes shing. "Rose was one of us! She understood our world, our obligations. She wasn''t going to embarrass us at every turn, she doesn''tck refinement."

    Stefan stared at his mother, truly seeing her perhaps for the first time. The shallow values, the obsession with appearances, the brittle pride masquerading as strength. "Rose hired men to kill Camille,"

    he said tly. "Did you know that? She paid them to attack her own sister in a parking garage and make it look like an ident."

    Emily''s face drained of color. "You''re lying."

    "She admitted it. In front of me. She wanted Camille gone so badly she was willing to have her murdered." Eduardo slumped heavily into a chair. "Dios m¨Şo."

    "So tell me again, Mother, about Rose''s superior refinement."

    Emily''s mouth opened and closed, no words emerging.

    "1

    "The irony," Stefan continued, a bitter smile twisting his lips, "is that if Rose had simply waited, she would have had everything she wanted. I gave Camille divorce papers

    on our anniversary and she signed it. I betrayed her, but Rose had to arranged to have her killed."

    The weight of this confession seemed to press the oxygen from the room. Eduardo

    covered his eyes with one hand, the gesture of a man who could no longer bear to witness his son''s disgrace.

    "I need you to leave the estate early," Stefan said, surprising himself with the steadiness of his voice. "Both of you. Take what matters and go to Madrid by the end of the week."

    "You''re throwing us out?" Emily''s voice rose incredulously

    "I''m asking for space to do what needs to be done." Stefan moved to his

    father''s desk and

    pulled out a folder containing papers he''d drafted with his remainingwyer. I''ve outlined a n

    to salvage a fraction of our holdings. It won''t restore our fortune, but it might preserve something of our legacy."

    Eduardo took the folder with a weary nod. "And what will you do?ˇ±

    Stefan looked out the window at the carefully tended gardens that had surrounded his childhood. Soon, they''d belong to strangers or, worse, be bulldozed for development. The thought should have devastated "I''m going to help Camille," he said finally.

    "Help her?" Emily sputtered. "Help her do what? Destroy what little we have left?"

    "Help her build something worthwhile." Stefan turned back to his parents. "Her Phoenix Foundation, it''s going to help women trapped in abusive rtionships, women who''ve been betrayed by those meant to pr Eduardo studied his son''s face. "And you think she''ll ept your help?"

    "Probably not. But I have to try."

    Emily stood abruptly, smoothing her wrinkled traveling clothes with trembling hands. "I don''t recognize you anymore."

    Stefan smiled sadly. "That''s because I''m finally bing someone worth recognizing, Mother."

    She turned and left the room without another word, her footsteps echoing on the marble floors.

    Eduardo lingered, fatigue etched in every line of his face. "There''s a fine

    line between atonement and self-

    destruction, hijo. Be careful you know which side you''re on.

    Stefan nodded, watching his father follow his mother upstairs. The house fell silent except for the ticking of the grandfather clock in the

    hallway, counting down the moments of the Rodriguez family''s final days in their ancestral home.

    He returned to the window, gazing out at the property that had defined him for so long. The

    setting sun cast long shadows across thewn, like fingers reaching for something just beyond grasp.

    Tomorrow, he would contact the Phoenix Foundation. Not to beg Camille for forgiveness, he''d attempted that already and understood its futility. Instead, he would offer the one

    thing he had left that might matter: hisplete surrender to her cause.

    She might reject him. She probably would. But in that rejection, he might find the path to bing the man he should have been from the start, a man worthy not of possessing Camille Lewis, but of inhabiting t Stefan lifted his ss in a silent toast to the dying light. To endings that might, with work and grace, be beginnings of a sort.

    The grandfather clock struck six, each chime reverberating through the empty spaces of the house like a final countdown. Time was running out for the Rodriguez legacy

    But for Stefan himself, perhaps time was just beginning.

 Chapter 80

    Rose huddled in the corner booth of Caf¨¦ Obscura, a

    dingy establishment where celebrities went

    to be forgotten, not spotted. The hood of her oversized sweatshirt cast shadows across her face as she clutched a chipped mug of lukewarm coffee. Gone were the designer clothes and perfect makeup that ha Three weeks had passed since Camille''s dramatic resurrection at the Phoenix G. Three weeks of hiding

    from reporters, dodging process servers, and watching her carefully constructed world crumble into dust. Each day brought new humiliations as her business partners abandoned her, her ounts were frozen, The bell above the caf¨¦ door jingled. Rose didn''t look up, having learned not to make eye contact with anyone. But then a shadow fell across her table, and she sensed someone sliding into the seat opposite he "Ms. Lewis, I presume?" A deep voice with a hint of old money in its practiced casualness.

    Rose''s head snapped up, fear flooding her veins. Had they found her? Was it police? Press? The man before her was neither.

    He was perhaps thirty-one, with the kind of handsome features that aged well-

    strong jawline, piercing gray eyes, salt-and-

    pepper hair cropped short. His clothes were expensive but understated. Nothing shy, nothing that

    screamed wealth. But Rose had spent her life

    studying people with money. This man had it, and lots of it.

    "Who are you?ˇ± she whispered, already calcting the distance to the exit.

    "Someone with a mutual problem." He didn''t offer his hand. Instead, he ced a small

    man envelope on the table between them. "My name is Herod Preston."

    Rose didn''t touch the envelope. "How did you find me?"

    A smile touched his lips but didn''t reach his eyes. "Finding people is a specialty of mine. Especially people who''ve fallen from grace."

    The waitress approached, and Herod ordered ck coffee without looking at the menu. After she shuffled away, Rose leaned forward.

    "What do you want with me? I have nothing left to offer anyone."

    "That''s where you''re wrong, Ms. Lewis." Herod tapped the envelope with one manicured finger. "You have something incredibly valuable: a burning hatred for Victoria Kane and her new pet project." Rose''s breath caught in her throat. Her fingers curled into fists beneath the table. With trembling hands, she pulled the envelope toward her and peeked inside. Photographs. The first showed a younger Victoria "My brother," Herod exined, his voice suddenly tight. "Charles Preston."

    Rose looked up sharply. "Preston... as in Preston Shipping Lines?ˇ±

    Herod nodded once. "The very same. Once the thirdrgest shipping empire in the world." His jaw tightened." Before Victoria Kane decided to destroy us."

    The waitress returned with his coffee. He didn''t touch it.

    "I don''t understand," Rose said, though a cold feeling of recognition was spreading through her chest.

    "Ten years ago, my brother was engaged to Sophia Kane," Herod began, his voice low and controlled. "Victoria''s daughter.

    Our families weren''t exactly thrilled. Old rivalries,peting interests. My father particrly opposed the match."

    Rose studied the photograph again. The couple looked happy, their

    smiles genuine. "What happened?"

    Pain shed across Herod''s face, quickly masked. "There was an ident. Sophia''s car went off the road on a rainy night. She died instantly."

    Rose remembered

    Victoria''s words at the g: *My daughter was taken from me through treachery and lies. I know the pain of loss better than most.*

    "Victoria med your family?"

    Herod''sugh was hollow. "Victoria didn''t just me us, she crucified us. Within a year of Sophia''s death, Kane Industries had leveraged us out of every major shippingne. Within two years, our stock was wo Rose tried to swallow but found her mouth dry. "Why are you telling me this?"

    Herod leaned forward, his eyes suddenly alive with intensity. "Because history is repeating itself. Victoria Kane has found herself a new daughter to rece the one

    she lost. And once again, she''s using

    that daughter as a weapon to destroy anyone who stands in her way."

    The truth of his words struck Rose like a physical blow. "Camille," she whispered.

    "Yes. Your sister. The woman you wronged." Herod''s gaze was piercing. "The woman who is now systematically dismantling your life piece by piece, just as Victoria once dismantled mine."

    For weeks since the g, Rose had been reeling from the revtion that Camille was not only alive but had been systematically destroying everything Rose had built. The coordinated attacks on her reputation,

    "The Phoenix G," Rose murmured, the humiliation of that night washing over her anew. "Camille standing there, revealing herself to everyone. All this time, she was plotting with Victoria Kane." "Yes, quite the dramatic resurrection," Herod agreed. "Victoria has always had a ir for the theatrical. A fitting phoenix story, wouldn''t you say?"

    Rose''s stomach twisted with nausea. She remembered the men she''d hired to scare Camille, to send a message. They had clearly failed, and Victoria Kane had somehow found Camille afterward. "I didn''t mean for her to die," Rose whispered, more to herself than to Herod. "I just wanted her gone."

    "And now she''s back to ensure you suffer the same fate. Unless we stop her."

    Rose''s head snapped up. "We?"

    "Victoria Kane destroyed my family because

    she believed we took something precious from her. Now, she''s using your sister to do the same to you." Herod''s voice was even, reasonable. "I''ve spent years rebuilding what Victoria took from the Prestons. I have resources, connections. What I need is someone who knows Camille, her weaknesses, her pressure points."

    "And what exactly are you proposing?" Rose asked, caution warring with desperate hope.

    "Victoria has made Camille into a weapon. But even the most carefully crafted weapons have ws in their design.

    "You want to hurt her?" Rose asked, surprised by the protective instinct that red despite everything.

    "I want to separate her from Victoria''s influence," Herod rified. "Victoria Kane is using your sister as her personal weapon, but she''s also Victoria''s greatest weakness." "What are you suggesting?"

    ˇ°I''m suggesting we join forces." Herod''s voice dropped lower. "Victoria destroyed my family because of her daughter. Now she''s found a recement in Camille, and together they''ve devastated your life. They''v Rose studied him, calcting. "You want to hurt Camille to get to Victoria?"

    "I want to destroy them both," Herod said tly. "Victoria took everything from me. And Camille..." He gestured at Rose''s disheveled appearance. "Well, I believe you have your own score to settle with your siste

    Rose felt a rush of

    dark satisfaction at his directness. Finally, someone who understood the depth of her

    hatred without judgment.

    Herod ced a business card on the table beside the photographs. "Think about it. You''ve lost everything, Ms. Lewis. Your business, your reputation, your fianc¨¦. But you haven''t lost your intelligence or your in "One more thing," he said. "Victoria believes my family arranged Sophia''s death. That''s why she destroyed us." The muscle in his jaw tightened. "She was

    right."

    Before Rose could process this confession, Herod was gone, the bell above the door marking his exit.

    Rose sat frozen, the business card clutched in her trembling fingers, the photographs spread before her. Her mind raced with possibilities, with ns, with understanding. For weeks since the Phoenix G, she''d been running, hiding, licking her

    wounds. Now she understood the full scope: Victoria Kane had been the architect behind Camille''s transformation, teaching her how to engineer Rose''s downfall with surgical precision.

    Outside, the evening air was cool against her flushed skin. For the first time in weeks, Rose stood straight, no longer hunching to avoid recognition. A n was forming in her mind, nebulous but growing clearer

    Victoria Kane and Camille had taken everything from her. But Rose knew Camille better than anyone, her fears, her insecurities, the weak points in her armor. And now, with Herod''s resources and insider know Rose hailed a taxi, her decision made. She would call Herod Preston. Together, they would devise a n to bring down both Victoria and Camille.

    "You think you''ve won," Rose whispered to the night air, imagining Camille''s face. "But I''m not finished yet. Not even close."

    As the taxi pulled away from the curb, Rose''s fingers closed around the business card in her pocket. A small

    smile tugged at her lips, the first genuine one in weeks. The game wasn''t over yet. It had only just begun.

 Chapter 81

    Camille''s phone buzzed on her nightstand, pulling her from a dreamless sleep. The screen glowed with Alexander''s name. Not a text message, but an actual call at, she squinted, 5:36 AM. "Hello?ˇ± Her voice was rough with sleep.

    "Look out your window." Alexander''s voice held an energy that made her sit up straight.

    "It''s not even dawn," she protested, but was already moving to the floor-to-

    ceiling ss that showcased the Manhattan skyline.

    "East. Toward the water."

    Camille pressed her forehead against the cool ss, eyes searching the

    horizon where night was reluctantly giving way to morning. "What am I looking for?"

    "Wait for it."

    As if on cue, the first ray of sunlight broke across the water, igniting the ss towers of

    the financial district

    in gold and fire. But it wasn''t just the buildings that caught the light. An enormous structure floated in the harbor, a ship unlike any

    Camille had seen before. Its vast deck gleamed with what appeared to be thousands of mirrored

    panels catching the sunrise.

    "Is that...."

    "RISING EX WIFE. Mypany''s first fully sr-

    powered cargo vessel." Pride shimmered in Alexander''s voice. "She dropped anchor twenty minutes ago after her maiden voyage from Rotterdam. Zero emissions. Zero fossil fuels."

    Camille stared at the vessel, understanding immediately what this meant for their Phoenix Grid project. "You didn''t tell me it was ready."

    "Some surprises are worth

    keeping." A pause. "Get dressed. I''m sending a helicopter to the roof in thirty

    minutes. Bring shoes you don''t mind getting wet."

    Before she could respond, the line went dead.

    Victoria would disapprove, Camille thought as she showered quickly. This kind of impulsivity wasn''t in the careful script they''d crafted for Camille Kane''s public persona. But as warm water cascaded over her sh what Victoria would think. For the first time in two years, she wanted to make

    a choice simply because it felt right.

    The helicopter touched down exactly thirty minutester. Alexander waited

    inside, dressed in worn jeans and a light sweater, looking

    nothing like the billionaire CEO the world knew. The

    silver rose pendant she''d returned to her at their dinner

    hung around her neck, a small weight against her corbone.

    "You''re going to upend the entire shipping industry with this," Camille said as they lifted off, gesturing toward the gleaming vessel growingrger as they approached.

    "We''re going to upend it," Alexander corrected. ˇ°RISING EX WIFE is just the beginning. With the Phoenix Grid providing charging stations in every major port, we''ll make dirty shipping obsolete within a decade.'' The confidence in his voice stirred something in Camille, not the

    cold, calcted determination that had driven her revenge, but something warmer, more vital. This was creation, not destruction. Building, not tearing down.

    Theynded on the massive ship''s helipad, where a small group of engineers waited to greet them. As Alexander made introductions, Camille noticed something unusual about the team, their easy camaraderie absence of the typical deference shown to billionaire CEOS, the way they rolled their eyes

    at his technical questions.

    "You worked on this personally," she realized aloud.

    Alexander''s cheeks flushed slightly. "I have a degree in engineering most people don''t know about. This project was too important to delegate entirely."

    One of the engineers, a woman with steel-gray hair and weathered

    hands, snorted. "He means he drove us crazy for three years, sleeping in theb and

    redoing our calctions at 3 AM."

    They toured the vessel from bow

    to stern. Alexander exined how the flexible sr

    panels that covered the deck could capture energy even in cloudy conditions, how the hydrogen fuel cells stored power for nighttime sailing, how

    the Al navigation system optimized routes based on weather patterns to maximize efficiency.

    "It''s revolutionary," Camille said as they stood at the ship''s bow, the Manhattan skyline spread

    before them. "But the cost must be astronomical. How will shippingpanies afford to convert their fleets?"

    Alexander''s eyes sparkled with something that looked like mischief. "They won''t have to.... we''ll do it for them."

    "What do you mean?"

    "I''ve created a separate foundation

    with five billion in initial funding. We''ll convert existing cargo ships to sr at no cost to thepanies, in exchange for a small percentage of their increased profits for five years. After that, the technology belon thempletely."

    Camille stared at him. "That''s... that''s not how business usually works."

    "Maybe it should be." Alexander

    turned to face her fully. "Some innovations are too important to be held hostage by traditional profit models. Climate change won''t wait for quarterly

    earnings reports."

    Something shifted in Camille''s chest, a recognition of the man standing before her. Not the calcted helper who had assisted her revenge, not the powerful CEO, but someone who had taken his own pain and "You''re not who I thought you were," she said softly.

    "Neither are you." His gaze was steady. "Camille Lewis hadpassion that saved a stranger on a dark road. Camille Kane has the power to reshape industries. I''m interested in the woman whobines both The morning sun had fully

    risen now, bathing them in light that felt almost too bright, too revealing. Camille turned away, overwhelmed by the intensity in

    his eyes.

    "Come on," Alexander said, sensing her difort. "There''s one more thing I want to show you."

    He led her to a small cabin tucked away from the

    bridge. Inside, a simple desk held aputer and a framed photograph. Camille recognized Alexander, several years younger, standing beside a petite woman with kind eyes.

    "This was Ruth Chen," he said, touching the frame gently. "The engineer who developed the original flexible sr technology we''re using. She died of cancer three years ago, before she could see her work implemented. Herst request was that we name the first vessel after

    her favorite childhood book."

    "RISING EX WIFE BY ANNYPEN" Camille murmured.

    "A ship that sails to the edge

    of the world and beyond." Alexander''s voice was quiet. "Ruth believed innovation should serve humanity, not just shareholders. The week before she died, she made me promise that when this ship finally sailed profit or prestige, but because it was right."

    Camille felt tears pricking her

    eyes, unexpected and unwee. She blinked them away. "Is that why you were so determined to help me? Because

    it was right?"

    Alexander considered this, then

    shook his head. "No. I helped you because I owed you a debt. But somewhere along the way, it became about more than that."

    "What did it be about?" Camille''s heart hammered in her chest.

    Instead of answering directly, Alexander opened a drawer

    and removed a worn leather journal. ˇ°Ruth kept this during the development process. Her technical notes, but also her philosophy.

    "He handed it to Camille. "Page seventy-three."

    Camille carefully opened

    the journal to the marked page, where a single paragraph had been highlighted:

    *True power isn''t in what we take from others, but in what

    we create. Destruction is easy, a match can burn down a forest in hours that took centuries to grow. But creation? Creation is the real magic. It requires faith that what doesn''t yet exist can be brought into being through persistence and vision.*

    Camille''s hand trembled slightly as she closed the journal. "Why are you showing me this?"

    "Because you stand at a crossroads." Alexander''s voice was gentle but firm. "Your revenge isplete. Rose and Stefan are destroyed. Your parents are cut from your life. Victoria has given you everything she promised. But nowes the harder part."

    "What''s that?"

    "Deciding who you want to be when you''re not defined by what was done to you." He took the journal and returned it to the drawer. "Ruth taught me that our greatest power lies not in

    defeating enemies, but in creating something they could never imagine."

    Camille walked to the cabin''s small window, watching seagulls wheel

    above the water. Victoria would say you''re trying to manipte me."

    "Victoria transformed your

    pain into a weapon. I''m suggesting you transform it into something else."

    "Like what?"

    Alexander moved to

    stand beside her, close but not touching. "The Phoenix Foundation you announced at the g, it could be more

    than just a symbolic gesture. You could build something that helps women rebuild after betrayal, that creates real protection and opportunity."

    "With your help, I assume?" Camille couldn''t keep the edge from her voice.

    "With or without me. That''s your choice." Alexander''s

    eyes held hers. "But I''d like it to be with me."

    The directness of his statement caught her off guard. "Why?"

    "Because I''ve spent five years watching you from a distance, first with

    gratitude, then with concern, then with

    admiration. Because I''ve never met anyone who could walk through fire and

    emerge stronger. Because when I''m with you, I remember that business and power are means, not

    ends."

    He stepped closer, still not touching her. "And because when you look at

    me, you see

    Alexander, not

    the Pierce fortune or thepany legacy. Just as I see Camille, not the woman who saved me or the avenger Victoria created."

    The cabin suddenly felt too small, too intimate. Camille moved past him to

    the door. "I need to think."

    "I know." Alexander didn''t try to stop her. "Take all the time you need."

    Back on the deck, Camille breathed deeply, trying to steady herself. New York gleamed in the morning light, its towers reaching toward the sky like ambitions made concrete and ss.

    The helicopter pilot approached, asking if she was ready to

    return to the city. Camille hesitated, looking back toward the cabin where Alexander remained.

    "Ms. Kane?" the pilot prompted.

    "Not yet," she said, surprising herself. "I have something

    to discuss with Mr. Pierce first."

    As she walked back toward the cabin, Camille felt the weight of the silver rose pendant against her skin, a

    small reminder of who she had been before pain and betrayal, before revenge and rebirth. Not a blueprint to follow, but a foundation

    to build upon.

    She paused at the

    cabin door, her hand on the handle, aware that whatever choice she made now would shape not just her

    rtionship with

    Alexander, but the woman she would be after the mes of revenge had cooled.

    Camille took a deep breath and opened the door.

 Chapter 82

    The cabin door opened with a soft click. Alexander looked up from Ruth''s journal, his fingers still resting on the worn leather cover. His expression shifted from surprise to something more guarded, hope held carefully in check.

    Camille stood in the doorway, backlit by the morning sun. The ocean breeze had

    loosened strands of her hair from its

    perfect arrangement, giving her a wildness that contradicted the careful image she''d maintained since her transformation. She stepped inside, letting the door close behind her.

    "I sent the helicopter back," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

    Alexander set the journal aside. "You''re staying?"

    "For now." Camille moved further into the cabin, noticing the small details she''d missed before, the coffee mug with a chipped rim, the wrinkled shirt

    hanging by the tiny

    bathroom, the scattered notes in Alexander''s handwriting. Signs of actual living, not just performing.

    The silence between them stretched, filled with unspoken questions.

    "The view from the bow is incredible," she finally said. "You can

    see the whole city. All those buildings, all those lives. From here, they look so small."

    "Perspective changes everything." Alexander remained seated, giving her space.

    Camille touched

    the silver rose pendant at her throat. "When I was little, I used to imagine who I might be. A doctor, a teacher, an astronaut. Normal dreams." Her mouth curved in a sad smile. "Then I became Stefan''s wife creation."

    "And now?" Alexander asked quietly.

    "Now I want to be someone new." The words felt strange on her

    tongue, frightening

    and liberating all at once. "Someone who makes her own name, not just wears someone else''s."

    Alexander''s face remained calm, but his knuckles whitened slightly as his hands

    gripped the edge of the desk. "What does that look like for you?"

    Camille turned to the window, watching

    the waves catch sunlight. ˇ°I don''t know exactly. But I know what it doesn''t

    look like." She took a deep breath. "It doesn''t look like spending

    my life feeding a hunger for

    revenge that never gets satisfied. It doesn''t look like measuring my worth by how sessfully I destroy others."

    She faced him again. "When I was in that parking garage, bleeding and broken, I thought I''d lost

    everything. Victoria

    showed me I was wrong, I''d lost things, but not everything. Not myself."

    "She gave you a path," Alexander acknowledged.

    "Yes. A path of fire." Camille''s voice grew stronger. "But fire does two things, it destroys and it transforms. I''ve done enough destroying. I want to transform now."

    Alexander stood, his movements careful, measured, as if approaching something precious and easily startled. "The Phoenix Foundation you announced, it could be real, not just a

    public rtions move. Something that actually helps women

    rebuild after betrayal."

    "Not just women," Camille said, surprising herself. "Anyone who''s been discarded, anyone who''s been told they''re nothing after giving everything. People like I was. People like you were, alone in that hospital." The words hung between them, raw and honest.

    "It won''t be easy," Alexander said. "Building something meaningful never is."

    "I know." Camille''s fingers nervously traced the edge

    of Ruth Chen''s photograph on the desk. "Victoria won''t understand. She might see it as weakness, as forgetting what Rose

    did to me."

    "What will you tell her?"

    "That Rose tried to murder my body, but staying consumed by hate would murder

    my soul." Camille''s voice cracked slightly. "That I''m done

    letting her destroy any more of my life."

    Alexander took a single step closer. "You''ll still run Kane Industries?"

    "The tech division, yes. Victoria gave me that." A hint of

    steel entered Camille''s voice. "I earned it. And I''ll use it to build the grid, to fund the foundation, to create somethingsting."

    "And Rose and Stefan?"

    Camille''s jaw tightened. "They''ve lost everything. They''ll face legal consequences for what they did. But I won''t spend another day thinking about them. They''re just... done."

    The weight of her words seemed to physically lighten her. She stood taller, breathed

    deeper.

    "I want to help," Alexander said simply. "In whatever way you''ll let me."

    "Why?" The question was direct, without Victoria''s trained suspicion or Camille Lewis''s naive trust. Just a woman

    asking for truth.

    Alexander''s eyes never left hers. ˇ°Because I''ve spent years watching you from a distance, first with gratitude, then with worry, then with admiration. Because I''ve never met

    anyone who could walk through such darkness and still carry light inside them.ˇ±

    He moved closer until barely a foot separated them. "Because the woman who sat

    with a stranger in a hospital room is the same woman who stands here now, finally free to decide who she wants to be."

    Camille felt heat rise to her cheeks. "You make me sound better than I am."

    "No." Alexander shook his head. "I just see what

    you''ve been too hurt to remember."

    The ship swayed gently beneath them, a living thing carrying

    them forward. Through the window, Camille could see the horizon line where

    sky met water, clean and sharp as a fresh start.

    "I''ll help you," Alexander continued. "Every step, in any way you need. But only if

    that''s what you want."

    Camille studied

    his face, the sincerity in his eyes, the tension in his jaw, the careful way he held himself, offering without demanding. She''d forgotten what it felt like to be offered something with no debt attached. "Yes," she whispered. Then stronger: "Yes. I want your help."

    The word hung between them, an offering, not a surrender.

    Alexander''s shoulders rxed, a smile breaking across his face like sunrise. "Then we''ll build something extraordinary together."

    He held out his hand, palm up, not grabbing, just offering connection. Camille looked at it for a long moment before cing her hand in his. His fingers were warm, solid, his grip gentle but secure. "I should warn you," she said, a hint of humor in her voice, "I

    have no idea what I''m doing. All my ns ended with revenge."

    "That''s the beautiful part." Alexander''s thumb moved

    gently across her knuckles. "You get to discover whates next. And speaking as someone who watched you systematically dismantle two empires, I''m fairly confident you can handle building a new one."

    The touch of his hand grounded her, steadied her against the vertigo of possibility. But

    it was his words that reached deeper, past the armor Victoria had helped her build, past the wounds Rose had inflicted, past

    the love Stefan had withdrawn. For the first time in years, someone

    saw her, not what she could give them or do for them, but her.

    "I''m scared," she admitted, the words barely audible.

    "Good." Alexander''s voice held no judgment. "Fear means

    you''re doing something that matters."

    A knock at the cabin door broke

    the moment. One of the engineers stood there, awkwardly holding a tablet. "Sorry

    to interrupt, Mr. Pierce, but we''ve got some anomalous readings from the

    starboard cells. Might be nothing, but...."

    "I''ll be right there," Alexander said, releasing Camille''s hand reluctantly.

    The engineer nodded and disappeared, leaving them alone again.

    "Duty calls," Camille said.

    "Unfortunately." Alexander

    hesitated. "Have dinner with me tonight. Not as Kane Industries and

    Pierce Enterprises. Just as Camille and Alexander."

    The invitation seemed to hang in the air between them, weighted with possibility.

    "I''d like that," Camille said, surprised by how much she meant it.

    Alexander''s smile deepened. "I''ll send a car at eight."

    He moved toward the door, then paused, turning back. "Camille?"

    "Yes?"

    "Whatever

    you decide to build, whoever you decide to be, it will be magnificent."

    The door closed behind him, leaving Camille alone in the cabin. She touched the silver

    rose pendant again, feeling its cool weight against her skin. Outside, the ocean stretched toward infinity, constantly changing yet somehow eternal.

    She thought of Rose, plotting revenge with Herod Preston. Of Stefan, facing the ruins of his legacy. Of Victoria, who had given her the tools for destruction but perhaps not the vision for creation. None of them had imagined this moment, this possibility. None

    of them had seen that after the mes of revenge burned out, something new could rise

    from the ashes.

    Camille walked to the cabin door and stepped out onto the deck. The wind immediately caught her hair, pulling itpletely free from

    its careful arrangement. She didn''t fix it. Instead, she lifted her face to the

    sun, feeling its warmth seep into her skin.

    Far above, seagulls wheeled against the blue sky, their cries carrying across the water. The massive

    sr panels that covered the ship''s deck captured the sunlight, transforming it into power, into movement, into future.

    Transformation, not destruction.

    Creation, not revenge.

    For the first time

    since that night in the parking garage, Camille felt something unfamiliar expanding in her chest, not satisfaction or

    vindication or even triumph. Something quieter but infinitely more powerful. Hope.

    Not hope tethered to another person''s love or approval. Not hope pinned to seeing enemies suffer. But hope rooted in possibility, in bing, in the dawn of something entirely new.

    Camille Lewis had died in that parking garage.

    Camille Kane had risen for revenge.

    But the woman standing on this ship, face to

    the sun, hands open to the future, she was just beginning to live.

 Chapter 83

    Thete afternoon sun nted through the tall windows of the Lewis family estate, casting long

    shadows across the polished floors. Margaret Lewis sat alone in the east wing parlor, surrounded by open photo albums. Her trembling fingers traced a photograph of seven- year- old Camille, beaming with a missing front tooth

    and holding a science fair ribbon.

    "First ce," Margaret whispered to the empty room, her smile crumpling.

    She turned a page. Camille at

    ten, sitting with Margaret on marble steps, their heads bent over. "The Secret Garden." Margaret remembered how Camille had begged to read two chapters that night.

    The memories washed over her in waves. These were all from before Rose had

    arrived when Camille was thirteen. Before everything changed.

    With shaking hands, she pulled out a photo

    tucked between pages: Camille at ten in the kitchen with Margaret, making Christmas cookies despite the chef''s protests. Flour dusted their faces,ughter frozen in time. They had been inseparable then.

    "We were happy," Margaret said to the photograph. "We were so happy."

    She hadn''t realized she was crying until a tear sshed onto the

    stic sleeve. Margaret wiped it away carefully, then pressed

    the album to her chest.

    The fifteen-thousand-square-foot mansion felt

    too vast now, too quiet. Since the day the visited Camille and she cut ties with them, Margaret had moved through each day like a ghost. Richard''s voice echoed in the hallway as he spoke to Bradford, their butler.

    "No calls, Bradford. Not even from the board."

    "Very good, sir. Shall I have Mrs. Peters prepare dinner for two

    in the small dining room?"

    "That would be fine. And tell her no seafood tonight. Margaret isn''t up to it."

    Margaret turned another page. Camille at

    fourteen, ying the grand piano at her recital.

    Richard''s footsteps approached, then stopped in the doorway.

    "Oh, Maggie," he said softly, using the nickname he hadn''t spoken in years.

    Margaret looked up at her husband. His bespoke suit couldn''t hide how his frame had thinned, his shoulders slumped. His face seemed to have aged a decade in

    the past month, deep lines carved around his mouth.

    ˇ°Look at us,ˇ± Margaret said, holding up a family vacation photo. "She was twelve here. Remember how she wanted to learn to scuba dive, and you were so worried?"

    Richard knelt beside her, taking the photo.

    "She went anyway," he said, a ghost of

    a smile crossing his face. "Came back with that certification and told

    me I worried too much."

    "She was right. We should have worried less about the wrong things."

    Richard picked up another photo: Camille on her first day of college.

    "I thought she was making a mistake choosing Boston instead of Yale. I told her she

    was throwing away opportunities." He shook his head. ˇ°She was following her heart, and I couldn''t see it."

    Margaret gathered more photos: Camille winning debate tournaments, volunteering

    at the animal shelter,ughing with friends at graduation.

    "She was always so good, Richard. So kind." Margaret''s hands shook. "And we just... we

    just stopped seeing her. How did that happen? When did we stop seeing our daughter?"

    Richard picked up a more recent photo, Camille and Stefan at their engagement party. Rose stood

    beside them, smiling that perfect smile that had fooled them all.

    "We saw what we wanted to see," he said. "Rose was so... perfect on the surface. She said all the right things, did all the right things. She moved through our world like she was born to it." "Not like Camille," Margaret whispered. "Who was messy and

    real and questioned everything. Who didn''t care about appearing in the society pages or impressing the right people."

    "We failed her." Richard''s voice broke. "Our own daughter, and we chose a stranger over her."

    Margaret closed her eyes, remembering Camille''s face at Kane Industries three

    weeks ago, cold and distant.

    "Do you think she''ll ever forgive us? Evere back home?"

    Richard didn''t answer immediately. He gathered several

    scattered photos, looking at each one with pain.

    "I don''t know," he said honestly. "The things

    we said to her when she tried to tell us about Rose and Stefan... The way we doubted her, used her of jealousy and lying..."

    "We can apologize," Margaret said desperately. "We can make it right."

    "We already tried that at her

    office. She looked at us like we were shareholders asking for a dividend

    report. Like we meant nothing to her."

    Fresh tears spilled down Margaret''s cheeks. "That''s not our Camille. Victoria Kane has turned her into someone else."

    "No,"

    Richard said. "Our Camille died the night Rose tried to have her killed. The woman we met at Kane Industries, that''s who our daughter had to be to survive what was done to her. What was done to her wh Margaret flinched but couldn''t deny the

    truth. She reached for a photo from Camille''s wedding to Stefan. The three of them stood together, with Rose visible at the edge, watching.

    "Look how Rose is looking at her, even then. How did we not see it?"

    "Because we didn''t want to," Richard admitted. "Rose was the daughter we thought we wanted, agreeable, socially perfect. Camille

    was

    always her own person, messy and real and... so much stronger than we ever gave her credit for."

    Margaret sorted through more photos. So many pictures of Camille until age eleven, riding horses, reading books, winning awards, making silly faces. Then, after Rose came, the images changed dramatically. Fewer candid shots, more posed photos at charity events where Camille''s smile didn''t reach her eyes. "We lost her long before

    that night in the parking garage," Margaret realized. "We lost her starting the day Rose arrived. It happened bit by

    bit, every time we chose Rose''s version over hers. Every

    time we praised Rose''s perfect manners while criticizing Camille."

    Richard nodded. "And now she belongs to Victoria Kane."

    "Do you think Victoria loves her? Actually loves her, not just uses her?"

    "I don''t know if Victoria Kane is capable of love the way we understand it. But she saw value in Camille

    when we failed to. She gave her purpose, power, a new

    identity when her old one was shattered."

    "Because of Rose." Margaret''s hands curled into fists. "Our ''perfect'' daughter who tried to have

    our real daughter killed."

    "I keep thinking about that summer when Camille was ten," Margaret said after

    a silence. She broke her

    arm falling from her horse, and I slept in her room for a week. It was thest time I truly mothered her."

    "She would wake up, and I would tell her stories until she fell back asleep. She

    always wanted to hear about brave girls who fought dragons or solved mysteries. Never

    princesses waiting to be rescued."

    "She never needed rescuing," Richard said. "Until she did, and we weren''t there."

    "What do we do, Richard? How do we live with this?"

    Richard looked around the room, at the mansion that had housed Lewis generations. His gaze settled on the grand piano in the corner, untouched since Camille hadst yed it. "We start by facing the truth,"

    he said. "About Rose. About ourselves. About what we allowed to happen."

    "And then?"

    "Then we try to be the parents she deserved. Not to win her back, she may never want

    us in her life again. But because it''s right."

    Margaret looked at a photo of Camille at five, sitting in herp as they read together.

    "Will she evere home?" she asked, her voice breaking.

    "I don''t know," Richard said honestly. "This may not be her home anymore. Victoria Kane''s mansion, Kane Industries, that may be where she belongs now."

    "I can''t ept that," Margaret whispered fiercely.

    "Then don''t. Fight for her. Not by pushing into her

    life where we''re not wanted, but by bing people worthy of her forgiveness."

    Margaret looked at the scattered evidence of the daughter they had failed.

    "It might be toote," she said.

    "It might be," Richard agreed. "But Camille never gave up on the things that mattered to her. If

    she got that from anyone, she got it from you."

    Margaret carefully closed the album, her fingers lingering on the embossed family crest. The room had grown darker as the sun set. gone. But

    "She won''te back to us as she was,"

    Margaret said finally. "That Camille is maybe, someday, the woman she''s

    be might find room in her life for the parents we should have been."

    Richard helped her to her feet. Margaret ced the photo album

    on the mahogany shelf, alongside dozens of others.

    "I''m going

    to write to her," Margaret decided. "Not asking for forgiveness. Not yet. Just... letting her know that we''re here. That we see her now. Really see her."

    Outside, darkness had fallen. Bradford silently appeared to inform

    them dinner was served. The mansion felt

    hollow, each opulent room haunted by absences

    and mistakes. But as Margaret looked at the photos one

    perhaps the first step toward earning it.

    "One day at a time," she whispered. "One truth at a time."

    It wasn''t the promise of her daughter''s return. But for tonight, in a house emptied of certainties but filled with wealth that suddenly meant nothing, it was somewhere to begin.

 Chapter 84

    Rain pounded against the windows of Kane Industries as Camille reviewed the quarterly reports for the Phoenix Grid project. The soft glow of her deskmp created a bubble of light in the darkening office. Mos the quiet, she could focus on creation rather than destruction.

    Her phone buzzed with a text from Alexander: *Still working? The world won''t change in a single night.*

    A smile

    tugged at her lips. She typed back: *Says the man who probably hasn''t left hisb

    yet.*

    Three dots appeared, then: *Guilty. Dinner tomorrow?*

    Before she could respond, a sharp knock echoed through her office. Camille nced up, expecting her assistant with the financial projections she''d requested.

    Instead, Rose stood in the doorway.

    Time seemed to slow as their eyes locked. Rose looked different-thinner,

    harder. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Her designer

    clothes had been reced by a in ck sweater and jeans. But the hatred

    zing in her gaze remained unchanged.

    "Security didn''t mention you wereing," Camille

    said, her voice steady despite the sudden hammering of her heart.

    Rose''s lips curled into a bitter smile. "Money still opens doors, sister

    dear. Even when most of it''s gone."

    She stepped into the office uninvited, her movements jerky with barely contained rage. Rain dripped from her coat onto the polished floor. The door swung shut behind her with a soft click that sounded unnervingly final.

    "What do you want, Rose?" Camille asked, rising from her chair. She wouldn''t give Rose the advantage of looking down at her.

    "What do I want?" Roseughed, the

    sound brittle and sharp as breaking ss. "That''s riching from

    you. I want back everything you stole from me."

    "I didn''t steal anything from you. I took back what was mine."

    Rose''s face contorted. "Nothing was ever yours! You were just holding it for

    me until I was ready to take it."

    The raw honesty of the statement hung between them. No more pretense, no more masks. Just the ugly truth that had always lurked beneath their rtionship.

    "So you admit it," Camille said quietly. "You never saw

    me as your sister. Just someone whose life you could steal when it suited you."

    "You had everything handed to you," Rose spat, taking another step forward. "The perfect parents. The perfect house. The perfect life. I had to w my way out of the foster system, waiting for someone.... anyo Rainshed against the windows, punctuating her words with angry bursts.

    "And it was so easy," Rose continued, her voice dropping to a near

    whisper. "So pathetically easy to make them see

    you as less. To make them question you. To make them choose me over and over again."

    Camille absorbed the cruelty of these words, feeling them strike against an old

    wound that had finally begun to heal. The old Camille would have crumbled, would have begged for understanding. But that woman was gone.

    "Did youe here just to tell me what I already know?" Camille asked, keeping her voice level. "Or did you have something else in mind?"

    Rose''s hand slipped into her pocket. "I came to promise you something."

    The movement set off rms in Camille''s mind. She tensed, ready to call security or defend herself if necessary.

    But Rose didn''t pull out a weapon. Instead, she withdrew a small silver object and ced it on the desk between them. A worn photograph of Camille''s childhood bedroom, torn in half.

    "Remember this ce?" Rose asked, her voice eerily calm.

    Camille didn''t touch

    it. The photo brought back unwanted memories, the room she''d decorated with such care, the space that had been hers before Rose had gradually taken it over with her opinions and presence. "You''ve kept that all this time?" Camille asked, keeping her expression neutral.

    Rose''s smile widened. "I keep all my trophies. And now I''ve

    won. You''ve just started a war that I intend to finish."

    "Is that what this is? A threat?" Camille asked.

    "Is that what this is? A threat?"

    "A promise," Rose corrected, leaning forward with her palms t on the desk. "You took everything from me, Camille. My reputation. My business. Stefan." She spat his name like a curse. "You even took our par

    Camille shook her

    head, refusing to be baited. "You tried to have me killed, Rose."

    "A mistake," Rose said dismissively. "I only wanted to scare you

    into leaving. Those idiots went too far."

    "And you''re making another mistake now.

    Rose straightened, studying Camille with narrowed eyes. "You think you''ve won. That''s your mistake. You''ve taken

    everything that mattered to me, so now I have nothing

    left to lose." She tapped the Preston pin. "But you? You''ve built a whole new life. New mother. Newpany. New boyfriend." Her lips curved into a cruel smile. ˇ°So many new things to take from you."

    The threat hung in the air between them, raw

    and vicious. For a moment, Camille felt the old fear stirring, the helpless panic of being outmaneuvered by Rose once again. But she pushed it aside, refusing to give it power.

    "I''m not that woman anymore, Rose," Camille said quietly. "The one who

    trusted you. The one who

    believed your lies. The one who could be manipted and used. I buried her."

    "And rose from the ashes as Camille Kane," Rose mocked. "How poetic. But you''re still the same underneath. Still desperate to

    be loved. Still afraid of being alone. I''ve

    always seen right through you, sister. Always will."

    Camille walked around the desk, closing the distance between them. Rose instinctively stepped back, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face.

    "You never saw me at all," Camille said. "That was your mistake. You were so busy nning how to use me that you never bothered to know me. If you had, you''d

    realize that threatening me now is pointless."

    "Is it?" Rose challenged, though her voice had lost some of its edge.

    "I''ve already faced the worst you could do to

    me," Camille said. "You took my husband, my family, and tried to take my life. I rebuilt everything from nothing. What could you possibly do that would frighten me now?"

    A sh of something, frustration, maybe even a hint of respect crossed Rose''s face before hardening again

    into hate.

    "You''ll find out," she promised. "When everything you''ve builtes crashing down

    around you, when everyone you care about

    turns away, when you''re left with nothing but

    ashes, then you''ll understand what you''ve done."

    "Is that what this is about for you?" Camille asked, genuine curiosity in her voice. "Making me understand?"

    "It''s about justice," Rose snapped.

    "Justice," Camille repeated, letting out a soft, disbelievingugh. "You tried to murder me, Rose. After systematically destroying every rtionship in my life. What exactly do you think you deserve justice for?" Rose''s face flushed with angry color. "For being exposed. For being humiliated. For having everything taken from me."

    "Everything you took from me first," Camille pointed out.

    "It wasn''t yours to begin with!" Rose shouted, herposure finally cracking. "None of it was! Not Stefan, not our parents'' love, not your perfect life! You were just a ceholder until I came along!"

    The raw pain in her voice caught Camille off guard. Beneath the rage and threatsy a well of hurt so deep it seemed bottomless, the wounded child from the

    foster system who believed she had to steal love because she''d never receive it freely.

    For a brief moment, Camille felt something dangerously close to pity. Then she remembered the men in the parking garage. The sh of their

    knives. The darkness closing in as she bled onto the concrete.

    "Get out, Rose," she said softly. "Go back to

    Hell hole and plot whatever revenge you think will heal you. But know this-

    I''m not afraid of you anymore. Neither is Victoria. And if youe after either of us, you''ll find we''re much harder

    to destroy than you think."

    Rose stared at her, chest heaving with emotion. For a second,

    Camille thought she might lunge

    forward, might try to harm her physically. Instead, she snatched the torn photo from the desk and backed toward the door.

    "This isn''t over," Rose said, her voice tight with fury. "Not by a long shot. I''m going

    to take everything from you, Camille. Yourpany. Your

    new mother. Your boyfriend. I''ll make watch as I tear it all down piece by piece."

    you

    "You already tried to kill me once," Camille reminded her

    with a calmness she didn''t entirely feel. ˇ°What makes you think a second attempt

    will go any better?"

    Rose''s hand

    gripped the doorknob. "Because this time, I won''t make the mistake of thinking your death is enough. This time, I want

    you alive to see it all burn."

    With those words, she yanked open the door and disappeared

    into the hallway, leaving nothing but the lingering scent of rain and the echo of her

    footsteps.

    Camille sank into her chair, the confrontation reying in her mind. She should call security, make sure Rose had actually left the building. She should call Victoria, warn her about Rose''s unexpected visit and c Instead, she found herself staring at the empty space where Rose had stood, struck by the realization that despite all the pain and destruction between them, she felt nothing but emptiness when looking at her Just a hollow recognition that

    they were both products of the same broken system, Rose fighting to take what she believed she deserved, Camille fighting to protect what was hers. Two sides of the same tarnished coin.

    Her phone buzzed again. Alexander: *No response? Did you fall asleep at your desk again?

    *

    Camille looked at the message, thinking of connections formed through kindness rather

    than pain. Of futures built on creation rather than destruction. Of the person she was bing rather than the one she''d been forced to be.

    Rose''s threat lingered in the air, ominous and heavy with promise. But for the first time since

    this

    began, Camille felt certain that whatever storm wasing, she wouldn''t face it alone.

    She typed back to Alexander: *Wide awake. And yes to dinner tomorrow. We have

    something important to discuss.*

    Then she picked up her

    office phone and dialed Victoria''s private line. As the phone rang, Camille gazed out at the rain¨C

    The battle with Rose wasn''t

    over. Perhaps it never would be. But Camille no longer

    needed it to be over to move forward.

    She had rebuilt her life once from ashes. If necessary, she could do it again.

    But this time, she wouldn''t be fighting alone.

 Chapter 85

    Rose stepped out of the ck sedan, her eyes adjusting to the fading daylight

    as she gazed up at the gleaming skyscraper. The doorman nodded respectfully as she entered the marble lobby, her heels clicking against the polished floor, thest vestige of her former life''s confidence.

    The private elevator climbed sixty floors without stopping. She studied her reflection in the mirrored walls, barely recognizing the woman staring back. Her cheekbones jutted sharply beneath skin that had lost its glow. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Only her expression remained unchanged, cold determination etched into every line.

    "You made it," Herod Preston said as the elevator

    doors slid open directly into his penthouse. He stood framed against floor-to-

    ceiling windows, Manhattan sprawled behind him like a glittering

    carpet. "Wee to your new home."

    "Temporary arrangement," Rose corrected, stepping

    into the vast space. Her gaze swept across Italian

    furniture, original artwork, and views that stretched to the horizon. "Until I reim what''s mine."

    Herod''s

    smile didn''t reach his eyes. "Of course." He moved to a bar cart of gleaming brass and crystal. "Drink?"

    "Bourbon. Neat."

    He poured two sses and handed one to Rose. "To new beginnings."

    She ignored the toast, drinking deeply

    instead. The amber liquid burned down her throat, a wee distraction from the constant ache of humiliation. "This isn''t charity, is

    it? I need to understand exactly what you want."

    "Direct. I appreciate that." Herod gestured toward a sitting area. ˇ°Please.ˇ±

    Rose sank into a leather chair, keeping her spine rigid. She''d been living in a run-

    down motel for weeks, surviving on cash she''d

    hidden away. Pride had kept her from epting help until desperation

    won out. Now she sat in luxury again, but as a beggar, not an owner.

    "I''ve been watching Victoria Kane for a decade," Herod said, settling

    across from her." nning, waiting for the

    right moment to strike." His fingers tapped rhythmically against the ss. "Your situation creates an opportunity for us both."

    "You mentioned your brother at our first meeting. Charles, was it?"

    Herod''s expression darkened. "Yes. Charles Preston. Engaged to Victoria''s precious Sophia." He reached into his

    jacket and withdrew a silver frame, sliding it across the table. "That''s them."

    Rose studied the photograph of a handsome young man with Herod''s features standing beside a smiling blonde woman. "So Victoria med your family for Sophia''s ident."

    "It

    wasn''t an ident. Not entirely." Herod''s voice dropped. "My father disapproved of the match. He pressured Charles to end it. When that failed, he arranged to have Sophia... frightened. The driver was instruct

    "And Victoria discovered this?"

    "She knew. Couldn''t prove it legally, but she knew." Herod''sugh held

    no humor. "Within six months, our shippingpany faced regtory investigations, contract cancetions, mysterious equipment failures. Our stock plummeted. My father''s reputation was systematically destr jumped from this very building eighteen monthster."

    Rose felt a chill despite the room''s warmth. "And Charles?"

    "Found hanging

    in his apartment after Victoria leaked documents suggesting he''d orchestrated the ident himself." Herod finished his drink in one swallow. "Victoria Kane doesn''t just take

    revenge, she obliterates everything you love while forcing you to watch."

    Rose understoodpletely. She''d witnessed the same methodical destruction of her own life, her fashion empire dismantled, her reputation shredded, her social standing erased. All orchestrated by the sister she''d tried to eliminate.

    "So you want revenge," she said. "Just like me."

    "Justice," Herod corrected, pouring himself another drink. "I want justice for my family. And I''ve spent ten years building the resources to get it.''

    "What resources? I heard your family lost everything."

    "We lost the Preston name and fortune. But I was already building my

    own holdings under differentpanies." His eyes gleamed with dark pride. "Victoria was so focused on destroying what my father built, she never noticed the new enterprises emerging around her. I control sh now, with shares in twenty major ports. All through shell corporations Victoria

    hasn''t connected to me."

    Rose leaned forward. "And you need me because...?"

    "Because Victoria has never been more vulnerable than she is right now." Herod set his ss down with precision. "She''s exposed herself by bringing

    Camille forward publicly. Created a weakness where none existed before."

    "Camille is my target," Rose said sharply. "I need to be clear about that."

    "Our goals align perfectly." Herod

    smiled. ˇ°Victoria loves Camille like the daughter she lost. Destroying Camille destroys Victoria. And destroying Victoria allows me to reim everything she took from my family."

    "How exactly do we do that?" Rose asked. "Camille has Victoria''s resources, Kane Industries'' security. I can''t even get close to her without..."

    "You won''t need to." Herod rose and crossed to a sleek desk, returning with aptop. "Victoria and Camille areunching something called the Phoenix Grid. Clean energy infrastructure worth billions." He openeputer, turning it to.show Rose a series of

    documents. "I have people inside Kane Industries feeding me information. The project breaks ground next month."

    Rose studied the screen, unimpressed. "So?"

    "So the technology doesn''t work." Herod''s voice dropped to a whisper. "Not the way they think it does. My sources tell me there are fatal ws in the design that their testing hasn''t revealed. When deployed at s "And this helps us how?"

    "Rose," Herod said with exaggerated patience, "Kane Industries is investing forty percent of their liquid assets in this project. Alexander Pierce ismitting simr amounts. When it fails, stock prices will cop certain information before the failure and position ourselves correctly..."

    "We can profit from their downfall," Rose finished, understanding dawning.

    "Precisely. And with the right evidence leaked

    to the right people, we can make it appear that Camille knew about the ws

    all along. That she deliberately misled investors."

    "Securities fraud," Rose murmured. "Prison time."

    "Andplete destruction of the Kane legacy." Herod closed theptop. "Victoria would lose everything, her

    Rose felt a smile spread across her face for the first time in weeks. "I want to

    be there when it happens. I want to

    see her face when she realizes she''s lost everything, just like I did."

    "That''s the spirit." Herod reached for a decanter. "More bourbon?"

    "Not yet." Rose stood and walked to the windows, gazing out at the

    city that had once been her yground. "Tell me more about this Phoenix Grid. Who designed it?"

    "Their

    chief engineer is someone named Hannah Zhao. Brilliant but inexperienced. The fatal ws are in her integration systems."

    Rose turned, a strange light in her eyes. "And who oversees the project for

    Kane Industries?"

    "Camille herself. It''s her pet project, her big debut as Victoria''s heir."

    "And Alexander Pierce? What''s his involvement?"

    "He''s all in. Provided the original sr technology. His reputation in sustainable energy rides on this project''s sess."

    Rose pressed her palms against the cool ss, feeling the

    vibration of the city below. "I know where to strike."

    "Oh?" Herod raised an eyebrow.

    "Camille thinks she''s won. That I''m beaten." Rose''s reflection smiled back at her, feral and hungry. "But I know something Victoria Kane doesn''t."

    "And what''s that?"

    Rose turned from the window, her face transformed by purpose. "I know Camille''s greatest weakness isn''t Victoria or even Alexander Pierce. It''s that she still thinks like Camille Lewis

    underneath it all. Still believes in things like justice and redemption." Her

    Herod watched her with new interest. "I think this arrangement will

    benefit us both tremendously."

    "It''s not about benefit." Rose''s voice hardened. "It''s about

    survival. Camille took everything from me, my reputation, my business, Stefan. She turned my parents

    against me and made me a social pariah."

    "And now?"

    "Now I''ll take everything from her." Rose picked up her abandoned bourbon and

    drained it. "Not just her money orpany. I''ll take her soul."

    Herod refilled her ss. "To detailed nning and perfect execution."

    Rose raised her ss, but her mind was already

    racing ahead, calcting angles and vulnerabilities. For the first time

    since the Phoenix

    G, she felt alive again. Not just with anger, but with purpose.

    "I''ll need ess to your sources inside Kane Industries," she said. "And I''ll

    need to know everything about this Hannah Zhao."

    "Consider it done." Herod pressed a button on a remote, and a hidden door slid

    open. "I''ve prepared a suite for you. Everything you need should be there, including new identification and credit cards."

    Rose nodded, taking the hallway toward

    her new quarters. Behind her, she heard Herod call out.

    "What exactly did you mean, Rose? About knowing where to strike?"

    She paused in the doorway, not bothering to turn around. "Camille thinks she died in

    that parking garage

    and was reborn stronger. But she''s wrong. She''s still the same underneath, still believes in fixing things rather than destroying them."

    "And?"

    Rose nced over her shoulder, her eyes gleaming in the half-

    light. "The Phoenix Grid isn''t just a project to her. It''s her redemption. Her proof that

    she can create

    instead of destroy." Her lips curved into a smile. "And when we take that from her, when we turn her creation into destruction, we won''t just ruin her financially."

    "We''ll break herpletely," Herod finished, understanding darkening his features.

    "Exactly." Rose stepped through the doorway. "We strike at the heart of who she''s trying to be. And I know exactly how to do it."

    The door slid closed behind her, leaving Herod staring after her with newfound respect, and perhaps a

    touch of fear, for the woman who''d lost everything but her capacity for calcted cruelty.

 Chapter 86

    Camille woke to her phone''s insistent buzz. Seventeen missed calls. Forty-

    two texts. Hundreds of news alerts. Her stomach tightened as she read the first notification: "BREAKING: Kane Heiress Mental Health Crisis Exposed,

    The Daily Chronicle headline screamed across her screen: CAMILLE LEWIS THE DISTURBING TRUTH BEHIND THE REVENGE PLOT"

    Below it, a photo of Rose looking vulnerable and tearful, alongside an image of Camille from the Phoenix G, her expression caught in a moment that appeared almost mamic,

    She scrolled down, each paragraph hitting her like a physical blow:

    "Anonymous sources close to the Lewis family have revealed a decades-

    long history of mental health concerns regarding Camille Lewis. Medical records suggest diagnoses of paranoid delusions and persecutionplex dating back to her teenage years." "These conditions reportedly worsened after her marriage to Stefan Rodriguez, culminating in violent outbursts and fabricated usations against her adopted sister, Rose Lewis."

    \\The dramatic ''resurrection'' and usations at the recent Kane Industries g appear to be the culmination of a

    carefully constructed delusion, enabled by Victoria Kane."

    Camille''s phone rang, Victoria.

    "Have you seen it?" Victoria''s voice cut through without greeting.

    "I''m looking at it now," Camille fought to keep her voice steady. "How is this possible? These areplete lies. They im to have medical records..."

    "Fabricated, obviously. They''ve nted stories in every major outlet. It''s coordinated and professional."

    Camille opened herptop. The story was everywhere, news sites, social media, television, Each outlet added its own spin, but the core narrative remained: Camille Lewis had always been unstable. Rose was ill woman for corporate revenge.

    "They''ve included photos from my childhood," Camille''s voice cracked. "Photos only my parents would have had." There she was at thirteen, looking sullen, the caption reading "Early signs of istion and paranoia.

    Another image showed her arguing with Rose... "Violent confrontation before witnesses."

    "This is Rose," Camille whispered. "It has to be."

    "With help,ˇ± Victoria added grimly. "This level of media saturation requires resources.ˇ±

    Camille readments beneath the articles. The public had already chosen sides:

    "Always thought something was off about that whole revenge story."

    "Poor Hose! Imagine living with someone that unstable.

    ˇ°Kabe Industries stock dropping Would YOU trust a mentally ill woman to run a billion- dorpany?"

    Alexander texted: "I''m on my way over Don''s talk to anyone. We''ll handle this."

    Camille was too busy scrolling through a supposed "exclusive interview" with a former ssmate who imed. she had exhibited "disturbing behavior in college.

    "None of this is true," she whispered. "I never even had therapy until after the parking garage attack."

    "Truth is irrelevant in today''s media environment," Victoria said. "This is about narrative control."

    The doorbell rang Camille jumped, still in her nightclothes

    "Ms. Kane?" Her housekeeper called. "There are reporters outside the gates."

    "Tell them Ms. Kane has noment," Victoria Instructed through the phone. "And activate privacy protocol

    seven"

    "What''s protocol seven?" Camille asked.

    "Lockdown procedures. Additional security,munications ckout except for secure lines. This is a calcted attack, Camille. Not just character assassination, they''re trying to destabilize Kane Industries thr Camille''s television switched on automatically, tuned to financial news: "....stock opening down twelve percent on reports questioning the mental fitness of Kane''s heir apparent. Analysts suggest this could impa She muted it but couldn''t look away

    from the scrolling ticker showing Kane Industries'' stock falling in real time. "They''re hitting us from every angle," Victoria observed. "Hersonal reputation,pany valuation, project viability." Camille''s phone lit

    up with more notifications about her supposed mental instability.

    "They''re saying I''ve been institutionalized multiple times, she told Victoria, her voice hollow. "That I attacked Rose physically before disappearing "

    "Don''t engage with any of it. This is exactly what they want to throw you off bnce, make you react emotionally.

    A financial alert popped up: "Analysts questioning stability of Phoenix Grid project leadership as Kane Industries heir faces mental health allegations."

    "They''re targeting the project. How would

    Rose even know about the technical details of Phoenix Grid?"

    A heavy silence fell on Victoria''s end.

    "Victoria?"

    "We have a leak," Victoria said finally. "Someone inside Kane Industries is feeding information to Rose."

    The doorbell rang again.

    "Ms. Kane! Mr. Pierce is here."

    Camille took five minutes to dress, brush her hair, and apply minimal makeup. When she opened her bedroom door, Alexander stood in her living room, speaking urgently with Victoria on his phone. "Ourmunications team is tracking the source," he said "It''s sophisticated, multiple points of origin, carefully timed releases."

    "It''s Rose," Camille said tly

    "Rose with considerable resources behind her," Alexander corrected. "The technical analysis alone..."

    "Technical analysis?"

    "There''s a piece in the Journal questioning the Phoenix Grid technology. Highly

    teclinical, citing ''anonymous engineers'' who im the integration systems are fundamentally wed."

    "Tum on the television," Alexander sald suddenly,

    Camille unmuted to find Rose on screen, looking pale andposed.

    "I''ve stayed silent too long," Rose was saying, her voice gentle with practiced sorrow. "I wanted to protect my sister,

    even after everything. Mental illness isn''t something to be ashamed of, but when it leads to destructive behavior..."

    "You maintained your silence even when Camille Lewis publicly used you of attempting to have her killed," the interviewer noted.

    Rose dabbed at her eyes. "What would you have me do? Publicly call my own sister delusional? Our family has tried for years to get her the help she needs. When she disappeared, we were devastated. We th "Taken her own life?" the interviewer supplied.

    Rose nodded, her expression a masterpiece of concerned grief. "Her doctors had warned us about self-

    harm tendencies."

    "Tum it off," Camille whispered.

    Alexander switched off the television. "We need to respond immediately."

    Victoria''s voice emerged from the speakerphone. "We need to be strategic. A full-

    frontal denial looks defensive."

    "I want to confront her," Camille said, fists clenched.

    "That''s exactly what she

    wants," Victoria countered. "You, emotional and defensive, ying into the unstable narrative."

    Camille''s news feed refreshed: "Lewis Family to Break Silence, Parents of Troubled Heiress Will Address Daughter''s "Painful History'' in Exclusive Interview Tomorrow."

    The phone slipped from Camille''s hand. Her parents. Would they actually participate in this charade?

    "This is psychological warfare," Alexander said. "They''re trying to iste you."

    "It''s working," Camille whispered. Through the window, she could see the growing media presence.... vans with satellite dishes, reporters with microphones, all trained on her home like weapons. "The board is calling an emergency meeting," Victoria announced. "Alexander, stay with Camille. Work on a statement"

    After Victoria disconnected, silence filled the room.

    "How?" Camille finally asked. "How did she do this? Make me the viin of my

    own story?"

    Alexander stood beside her. "By exploiting the same human tendency that allowed her to manipte you for years, people''s willingness to believe the worst when it''s presented as revealing hidden truth." "And now everyone thinks I''m crazy. That I invented the whole thing"

    "Not everyone," Alexander said quietly. "Not me. Not Victoria. Not anyone who knows the real you."

    "But the Phoenix Grid... they''re attacking the project too."

    "Because they know it matters to you. This isn''t just Rose being vengeful. This is coordinated."

    As he stepped away, Camille turned back to the window, watching the reporters. She had survived Rose''s attempt to kill her once before. She had rebuilt herself, transformed her pain into power. She could do it again.

    But doubt had been nted. How many more attacks could she withstand? How many people would believe these lies? And if Rose seeded in destroying the Phoenix Grid Before itunched.... Outside, a reporter looked up directly at her window, pointing Others followed, cameras lifting, Camille stepped back, but not before seeing several shes.

    Tomorrow''s headlines already writing themselves in her mind: "Kane Heiress Watches From Shadows As Scandal Grows."

    She closed her eyes, summoning the strength Victoria had helped her build.

 Chapter 87

    Rose lifted her champagne flute, the bubbles catching the afternoon sunlight that streamed through the penthouse windows. Across the table, Herod mirrored her movement, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. C "To bringing down giants," Herod said.

    They clinked sses. Rose savored the expensive champagne, allowing herself this moment of triumph.

    "I must admit," Herod said, settling back in his chair, "your media contacts exceeded my expectations. The coverage is... spectacr."

    Rose smiled, running her finger along the rim of her ss. "Money talks. But so do old favors." She nodded Toward the television where her tearful interview was reying. "Eliza Jenkins has hated Victoria Kan "And the medical records? A particrly inspired touch."

    "There are no medical records," Roseughed, the sound sharp with triumph. "Just enough specific details to sound convincing, provided by a therapist who never treated Camille but is happy to consult anonyn the right price."

    Herod raised an eyebrow. "Creative."

    "It''s how the game is yed." Rose stood and walked to the window, looking out over Manhattan with fresh eyes. For weeks, the city had felt like a prison, ces she couldn''t go, people who wouldn''t speak to h people want to believe it."

    "Especially when ites from the tearful sister." Herod joined

    her at the window, champagne in hand. "Your performance was quite moving.

    "I learned from the best actors in the business, the ultra-

    rich." Rose''s voice hardened. "Watching my so-

    called family pretend to be perfect while judging me for every mistake."

    On the coffee table, Herod''s phone buzzed. He nced at it, his smile widening

    "Kane Industries has called an emergency board meeting, he said, raising his ss again. "Your sister is in full crisis mode."

    Rose closed her eyes briefly, picturing Camille''s face as she woke to find herself braided unstable and dangerous. The thought sent warmth through her chest.

    "They''ve pulled her from the Phoenix Gridunch event," Herod continued, reading from his phone. "iming she''s ''focusing on technical aspects rather than public- facing duties.""

    "They''re hiding her," Rose said, satisfaction flooding her voice. "Exactly what I wanted. ''The mighty Camille Kane, driven back into the shadows."

    Herod poured more champagne for them both. "Phase one aplished. But remember, this is just the beginning."

    "The beginning of the end for Camille." Rose took the refilled ss. "Tomorrow my parents give their interview. My poor, concerned parents, heartbroken over their daughter''s mental decline." "They agreed to participate?"

    "They don''t know they''re participating yet," Rose said with a harshugh. "But they will. My father will do anything to protect the family name. Including disowning his ''unstable'' daughter If he thinks it will limit the "Ruthless." Herod studied her with new appreciation. "You''ve thought of everything."

    "Not everything." Rose''s eyes darkened. ˇ°Victoria Kane is still standing. That woman has weathered worse storms than this."

    "Which is why phase two targets the Phoenix Grid itself." Herod gestured toward his desk where blueprints and technical documents were spread out. "My sources inside their engineering department provide w "Exin it again." Rose said, moving toward the desk. "How exactly do we sabotage a clean energy project without getting caught?"

    Herod joined her,ying his hand on a schematic. "We

    don''t have to sabotage anything physically. We just need to prove it was built on wed assumptions."

    "And how do we do that?"

    By revealing that Hannah Zhao, their chief engineer, falsified her initial test results." Herod tapped a document. "The system works in controlled settings but fails under the load conditions of a full city grid. Zhao knew this six months ago but buried the findings to keep her job."

    "And you have proof of this?"

    "I will by next week." Herod''s smile didn''t reach his eyes. "My contact is gathering the final pieces. When they release the evidence, Kane Industries will face more than bad publicity. They''ll be looking at fraud c investigations."

    "And Camille takes the fall," Rose whispered, the image so sweet she could almost taste it. "The unstable heiress who pushed forward a dangerous project despite warnings

    She moved to

    the television, turning up the volume just as a financial analyst appeared on screen.

    "Investors are rightfully concerned," the woman was saying "Kane Industries has positioned the Phoenix Grid as the cornerstone of their future growth strategy. If the leadership of that project ispromised, a "Listen to them," Rose said, gesturing at the screen. "They''ve already connected Camille''s supposed Instability to doubts about the project. We barely had to nudge them in that direction."

    "People see what they expect to see," Herod agreed. "Create the right framework, and they fill in the nks themselves."

    Rose stared at the screen as it cut to footage of Victoria Kane entering Kane Industries headquarters, surrounded by security and ignoring shouted questions from reporters. The older woman''s face was a stone "I wish I could see inside that building right now," Rose murmured. "Victoria realizing her perfect revenge n is unraveling. Camille hiding away as the world questions her sanity."

    Herod''s phone rang. He excused himself, moving toward his office while Rose remained transfixed by the images on television

    Now they showed Camille''s house, journalists crowded at the gates while security kept them back. The caption read: "Kane Heiress Remains Secluded as Mental Health Questions Mount." Rose felt a rush unlike anything

    she''d experienced before, not just satisfaction or triumph, but something deeper and more primal.

    Herod returned, his face alight with fresh news. "Alexander Pierce has been making calls to his investigative team. They''re trying to trace the source of the leaks."

    "Let them try," Rose said, unconcerned. "We''ve covered out tracks."

    "We have, but

    vignce is essential." Herod checked his watch. "The interview with your parents is scheduled for 9AM tomorrow. Have you made the necessary arrangements?"

    Rose nodded, her expression turning calcting. "My father received documents this morning detailing ''concerns

    about Camille''s mental state going back years. Along with reminder about what happened to thest family who publicly contradicted these reports."

    "A threat?"

    "A warning." Rose smiled thinly. "My father understands self-

    preservation. He''ll say exactly what the interviewer expects to hear."

    "And if he doesn''t?"

    "Then we release evidence of his offshore ounts. Rose shrugged. "He doesn''t know we know about those. But we do, thanks to your financial investigators."

    Herod whistled softly. "You really would destroy your own father."

    "He stopped being my father the moment he chose Camille

    at the Phoenix g." Rose''s voice turned to ice. Family is just another word for people who haven''t betrayed you yet."

    A notification chimed on Herod''sptop. He moved to check it, his expression shifting from curiosity to delight. "Kane Industries stock has triggered circuit breakers. Trading temporarily halted after falling twenty Rose closed her eyes, letting the news wash over her. Twenty percent. Billions of dors in value erased in a single day. Because of her.

    "Victoria must be beside herself," she said, reopening her eyes. "The great business titan, watching her empire crumble"

    "This is only the beginning of her pain," Herod reminded her. "When we reveal the Phoenix Grid ws next week, the real damage begins."

    Rose moved to the bar cart, pouring herself a measure of whiskey. The burn of alcohol down her throat matched the fire of vengeance in her chest.

    "I want to be there," she said suddenly. "When they realize the Phoenix Grid is wed. I want to see Camille''s face.

    Her¨®d considered her request. "Risky. You''re too recognizable now."

    "I''ll find a way." Rose wasn''t asking permission. "I''ve spent too long watching from the sidelines."

    An assistant entered with news about tomorrow''s interview arrangements. After finalizing details, Rose turned back to Herod. "We should celebrate properly tonight. Dinner at Eleven Madison Park? I''m suddenl "Bold," Herodmented. "unting yourself while Camille hides away."

    "That''s the point." Rose drained her whiskey. "I''m not the one in disgrace anymore. I''m the victim, remember? The concerned sister who finally found the courage to speak her truth."

    As the afternoon sun began to fade, casting long shadows across the city, Rose returned to the window.

    Somewhere out there, Camille was hiding, wounded and cornered.

    The thought should have been enough. But Rose realized with mild surprise that it wasn''t.

    "What are you thinking about?" Herod asked, noticing her silence.

    Rose kept her eyes on the city below. "I''m thinking that when this

    is over, when we''ve taken everything from her... I want her to live."

    "Live?" Herod sounded surprised. "I would

    have thought you wanted her destroyedpletely."

    "Death is too quick." Rose turned, her expression chilling in its calmness. "I want her to live a long, empty life knowing she had everything and lost it. Just like I did." Herod studied her for a long moment. "You''re more dangerous than I initially assessed, Ms. Lewis,"

    "Thank you." Rose epted it as thepliment it was meant to be.

    As they prepared to leave, Rose paused by the television once more. The screen showed Alexander Pierce entering Camille''s home, his face grim and determined. "The white knight rushes to save the damsel," she murmured.

    "Does that concem you?" Herod asked, retrieving his jacket

    Rose shook her head, a slow smile spreading across her face "No. It''s perfect actually. When Camille falls, Alexander falls with her. Two enemies destroyed for the price of one.".

    She switched off the television, casting the room into sudden silence. The news would still be there tomorrow, with fresh headlines, new revtions, more damage to inflict "Ready?" Herod asked, holding open the door.

    Rose stepped into the hallway, head high, eyes bright with triumph. "I''ve been ready for this my entire life."

    Behind them, the penthouse fell quiet, the schematics for the Phoenix Gridid out on Herod''s desk like a blueprint not just for a clean energy project, but for theplete devastation of Camille Kane and every

    The first battle was won. The war continued tomorrow.

 Chapter 88

    The executive boardroom of Kane Industries fell silent as Victoria

    Kane entered, Camille following close behind. Ten pairs of eyes tracked their movement, calcting and wary. The morning sunlight streaming through the windows did nothing to warm the atmosphere.

    Victoria

    took her ce at the head of the table. Camille sat to her right, feeling the weight of scrutiny press down on her shoulders. She had dressed with particr care that morning-

    a structured navy suit, minimal jewelry, hair pulled back severely. The outfit of a serious businesswoman, not an unstable heiress.

    James Whitley, the longest-

    serving board member, cleared his throat. "Thank you for meeting on such short notice. Given the extraordinary circumstances, we felt immediate discussion was necessary." Victoria''s face remained impassive. "The circumstances being?"

    "Don''t y games, Victoria," snapped Eleanor Price from across the table. The former federal judge had always maintained professional distance. Today, that distance had turned to frost. "Our stock dropped tw two percent before trading was halted. The market reopens in three hours. We need answers now."

    "The allegations against Camille are false," Victoria said, her voice measured but firm. "A coordinated attack designed to damage Kane

    Industries through character assassination."

    "That may be," said Michael Chen, the soft-

    spoken CFO. "But market perception is

    our current reality. Investors are fleeing. Partners are calling with concerns. Three major clients have already requested meetings to discuss'' continuity of leadership."

    "The Phoenix Gridunch is two weeks away," added Diane Rodriguez. "We''ve invested billions. If confidence in the technology copses along with confidence in." She hesitated, eyes sliding to Camille. "In lea Camille kept her expression neutral. She had prepared for this, rehearsed with Victoria until dawn. Show strength, Show control. Any disy of emotion

    would only reinforce the narrative they were fighting against.

    "The Phoenix Grid technology is sound," Camille said, speaking for the first time. "The engineering team has verified every aspect. We have redundant testing protocols precisely to prevent any single point of fa Whitley''s eyes narrowed. "That''s not the concern, Ms. Kane, The concern is whether your... personal situation has

    "My personal situation?" Camille felt her control slip slightly. "You mean the lies being spread about me?" "Regarding those allegations," said Eleanor, shuffling papers. "These supposed medical records..." "Are fabricated," Victoria cut in. "Obviously."

    "Are they? Because their specificity is concerning." Eleanor read from a document. "Treatment for paranoid delusions at age sixteen. Hospitalization following a violent episode during college. Ongoing therapy f "False ims," Victoria said, her knuckles whitening around her pen..

    "Then why haven''t you sued for defamation?" This from Thomas Gordon, the newest board member. "Thepany''s standard response to false reporting has always been immediate legal action." Victoria''s eyes shed. "We are gathering evidence on the source of these fabrications before filing. Strategic patience is not inaction."

    "What about the interview with Rose Lewis?" Diane pressed. "She made specific ims about witnessing unstable behavior. And now the parents are scheduled to speak tomorrow."

    Camille felt the blood drain from her face. She hadn''t known about her parents'' interview until this moment.

    "Rose Lewis is a proven liar," Victoria said tly. "The woman orchestrated an attempt on Camille''s life. Her credibility is non- existent."

    "The public doesn''t seem to agree," said Michael, sliding a tablet toward the center. "Social media sentiment analysis shows 68% of public response favors Rose''s version of events." "We''re not running thispany based on T*****r polls, Victoria said, her tone sharp.

    No, we run it based on market value and shareholder confidence," Eleanor countered. "Both of which are in freefall."

    A heavy silence descended. Camille heard the soft hum of the air conditioning, the muted sounds of the city below.

    "What exactly are you suggesting?" Victoria finally asked, though her tightness around her eyes suggested she already knew.

    James Whitley exchanged nces with the other board members. "The board believes it would be in thepany''s best interest if Camille stepped back from her role until this situation resolves." "Steps back?" Victoria''s voice remained calm, but Camille saw the tiny muscle jump in her jaw.

    "Temporarily removes herself from all public-

    facing duties," Whitley rified. "No Phoenix Gridunch appearance. No investor meetings. No press. A leave of absence, effective immediately."

    "And if we refuse this suggestion?" Victoria asked.

    "It''s not a suggestion," Eleanor said coldly. "It''s a decision. The vote was seven to three."

    Victoria stood slowly. "You held a vote without the CEO?"

    "Emergency provision, section 7B of

    the corporate charter Thomas Gordon stated. "When leadership decisions may impactpany valuation by more than fifteen percent, the board may convene without full executive presence." "May I remind this board that I hold controlling interest in Kane Industries?"

    "You hold sixty percent," Gordon corrected. "Significant, but not controlling."

    "I''ve led thispany through three

    recessions, two hostile takeover attempts, and countless market fluctuations," Victoria said, each word precise. "I''ve increased shareholder value by over six hundred percent during my tenure. And you presume to make decisions about my chosen sessor without me?"

    "This isn''t personal, Victoria," Whitley attempted. "It''s business. The market has spoken."

    "It is entirely personal," Victoria interrupted "This entire situation stems from a personal

    vendetta against Camille, and by extension, against me."

    "Regardless of origin," Eleanor said, "the damage is real. We must contain it."

    Camille felt the weight of their judgment. She had prepared to fight external enemies-

    Rose, the media, public opinion. She hadn''t expected exile from within.

    "I understand the board''s concern," she said, surprising herself with her steady voice. "Kane Industries'' sess matters more than any individual. Even me."

    Victoria''s head snapped toward her, a sh of something crossing her face.

    "If stepping back temporarily helps stabilize market confidence," Camille continued, "I''m willing to do so. On one condition."

    "You''re not in a position to make conditions," Gordon said dismissively.

    Camille fixed him with a stare that made him flinch. "My condition is that I remain fully involved with Phoenix Grid development, even if not publicly. The project needs my oversight to seed." Whitley nodded slowly. "That seems reasonable.''

    "James," Victoria began, a warning in her voice.

    "It''s a sensiblepromise, Victoria," he said quietly.

    Camille turned to Victoria, silently pleading with her to understand. This wasn''t surrender. It was tactical retreat.

    Finally, Victoria faced the board again. "Very well Camille will step back from public duties temporarily. All Phoenix Grid operational

    decisions still run through her. And the

    Eleanor frowned. "The statement should focus on Kane Industries'' stability, not personal-"

    "Those are my term¨¦

    my terms," Victoria cut her off. "Take them or call for a confidence vote on every person at this table.

    The threat hung in the air,

    "Fine," Whitley conceded after a tense silence. "PR will draft something for your approval."

    Victoria stood, "This meeting is adjourned. Camille and I have apany to run. Despite your best efforts to hamstring us."

    As the board members filed out, only James Whitley paused at the door. "Victoria, this isn''t personal. We''re trying to protect what you''ve built." "Get out," Victoria replied, her voice like ice.

    When the door closed, Victoria sank back into her chair, suddenly looking older than Camille had ever seen her.

    "I should have prepared you better," Victoria said. "For what it feels like when the knivese from inside the house."

    "You couldn''t have," Camille replied. "Some lessons you can only learn by bleeding."

    Victoria''s eyes softened. "You handled that well. Better than I did."

    "I gave in. You didn''t."

    "No," Victoria shook her head. "You adapted. There''s a difference." She

    stared out at the New York skyline. "I''ve watched directorse and go for thirty years. Weathered their challenges, their doubts. But this... This feels different."

    "Because it is different. This isn''t just business maneuvering. This is Rose. And whoever''s helping her."

    "Herod Preston," Victoria practically spat the name. "Using Rose to strike at us both."

    "Then we strike back," Camille sald, resolve strengthening

    Victoria studied her face. "They''ll be watching for exactly that. Any sign of ''erratic behavior'' will only reinforce their narrative."

    "Then we do what Kane women do best,"

    Camille said. "We fight smarter, not harder."

    The hint of a smile touched Victoria''s lips. ˇ°You are truly my daughter now."

    A knock at the door interrupted them. Victoria''s assistant entered.

    "Ms. Kane, the PR team is waiting. And... Mr. Pierce called again. He says it''s urgent."

    "Tell Alexander I''ll call him when I''m finished with PR," Victoria replied.

    ''Actually," the assistant rified, "he was asking for Camille."

    Victoria and Camille exchanged nces. Alexander had been mysteriously absent since yesterday''s crisis began.

    "Take the call in my office," Victoria said. "I''ll handle PR. We need to get ahead of the board''s decision before it leaks."

    As they prepared to leave, Victoria paused, her hand on Camille''s arm. "Remember what I taught you. When enemies surround you..."

    "Trust no onepletely," Camille finished. "Not even allies."

    "You mean Alexander."

    "I mean everyone," Victoria replied. "Including me."

    With that warning, Victoria swept from the room, shoulders back, head high. As board members scurried from her path, Camille noticed something, the slight tremor in Victoria''s hands, quickly hidden by clenche

    The unshakable Victoria Kane was shaken. And that, more than anything else, sent a chill down Camille''s spine. She made her way to Victoria''s office, closing the door firmly behind her. Whatever Alexander wa But as she reached for the phone, she couldn''t silence the whisper

    of doubt. If the board could turn on Victoria so quickly, if public opinion could shift against Camille overnight, what other betrayals might be waiting?

    Who else might be wielding knives in the dark?

 Chapter 89

    Alexander Pierce''s car slid to a stop outside the modest apartment building in Brooklyn. He checked the address on his phone again, confirming this was indeed where Stefan Rodriguez now lived. The fall from overlooking Central Park to this brick walkup with peeling paint.

    "Wait here," he told his driver, stepping out into the brisk afternoon air.

    The security buzzer was broken.

    Alexander pushed through the lobby door, grimacing at the smell of old cooking oil and cigarettes that hung in the narrow hallway. Apartment 3B was at the end of the third- floor corridor, its door as shabby as the rest of the building

    Alexander straightened his tie, a habit from childhood wher facing difficult situations, and knocked.

    Footsteps approached from inside, followed by the click of locks. The door swung open to reveal Stefan Rodriguez, unshaven and bleary-

    eyed in wrinkled clothes. Recognition dawned slowly on his face, followed by confusion."

    "Pierce? What the hell are you doing here?

    Alexander kept his face neutral. "We need to talk."

    Stefanughed, the sound hollow and bitter. "About what? How your girlfriend destroyed my family''spany? Or maybe you want the recipe for rock bottom. I''ve perfected ittely."

    "About Camille," Alexander said simply. "She needs your help."

    Something flickered across Stefan''s face, surprise, guilt, curiosity. He stepped back, gesturing Alexander inside with a mocking bow.

    "Wee to my humble new reality. Excuse the mess. Maid service was one of the first luxuries

    to go."

    The apartment was small but surprisingly clean, despite Stefan''s appearance. Aptop sat open on a folding table surrounded by job applications and financial documents. Empty takeout containers clustered ne

    "Drink?" Stefan asked, retrieving a half-empty whiskey

    bottle from the kitchte. "It''s not the thirty-year-

    old Macan you''re probably used to, but it does the job."

    "No, thank you." Alexander remained standing, studying the man before him.

    "Suit yourself." Stefan poured a generous measure into a water ss. "So what could the mighty Alexander Pierce possibly want from me? Last time I checked, I was fresh out of shippingpanies for you to a Alexander cut through the bitterness. "Have you seen the news about Camille?"

    Stefan''s expression changed, defenses dropping momentarily. "About her supposed mental issues? Yeah. Hard to miss when your ex-

    wife is being torn apart on every channel."

    "It''s all lies," Alexander said tly. "Fabricated by Rose and someone with significant resources."

    "And this concerns me how, exactly?" Stefan took a long drink, but his eyes betrayed interest despite his detached tone.

    Alexander stepped closer. "Because you''re the only person who can convincingly refute Rose''s story."

    Stefan snorted. "Me? The ex-

    husband who cheated on her ister sister That''s your character witness?"

    "Yes," Alexander said firmly. "You lived with Camille for yours. You know she never had these supposed

    psychiatric problems. You know Rose is lying."

    Stefan set down his ss, studying Alexander with new focus. "Why would I help her? Camille made her feelings for me perfectly clear. She wants nothing to do with me.

    "This isn''t about what Camille wants from you," Alexander replied. "It''s about doing the right thing. For once."

    The words

    hung in the air between them. Stefan turned away, moving to the apartment''s single window. He stared out at the brick wall of the neighboring building

    "You know what''s strange?" he said finally. "Watching someone you hurt seed without you. Seeing them

    build something new from the ruins you left them in." He nced back at Alexander. "Camille with Kane Industries. The Phoenix Grid. Her new life with you."

    "This isn''t about me," Alexander started

    "Isn''t it?" Stefan turned fully now, something sharp in his gaze. "The great Alexander Pierce, rushing to save Camille. Tell me, are you doing this because it''s ''right'' or because you''re in love with her?" Alexander felt heat rise in his neck, caught off guard by the direct question. "My personal feelings aren''t relevant

    "They''repletely relevant," Stefan interrupted. "Because if this is just business, protecting Kane Industries and your investment in the Phoenix Grid, then I''ve got nothing for you. But if you actually care about Alexander''s carefully maintainedposure cracked. "Of course I care about her. I''ve watched her rebuild herself from nothing. Seen her fight through pain that would destroy most people." "That''s not what I asked." Stefan''s eyes never left Alexander''s face. "Are you in love with her?"

    The question stripped away pretense. Alexander thought of Camille''s face the first time she''d truly smiled at him, not as Camille Kane but as herself. How something had shifted inside him, recognizing the stren "Yes," he admitted, the word escaping before he could

    stop it. "Yes, I''m in love with her."

    Stefan nodded slowly, as if confirming something he''d already known. "At least you''re honest about it. That''s more than I ever was."

    He moved to the kitchte, refilling his ss. "You know when I first saw Camille Kane at that gallery opening, something felt familiar. I couldn''t ce it. Her face was different, but something in her eyes..." He "Would it have changed anything if you had?" Alexander asked.

    Stefanonsidered this. "Probably not. I was too far gone by then. Too caught up in Rose''s web." He took another drink. "Rose. God, what a fool I was."

    "You''re not the first

    man to be manipted by her," Alexander said, though his tone carried little sympathy.

    "No, but I''m the one who threw away someone good for her" Stefan''s voice roughened. "You want to know if Camille ever showed signs of mental instability? The answer is no. Not once. She was the sanest, m Then say that publicly," Alexander pressed. "Hold a press conference, Refute Rose''s ims. Tell the world what Camille was really like."

    Stefanughed bitterly. "And who would believe me? The cheating ex-

    husband? I''m hardly a credible source." "You''re the only one

    who lived with her daily for years," Alexander countered. "Your testimony carries weight

    precisely

    e you have no reason to defend her. Everyone knows she hates you."

    Stefan winced at the blunt assessment. "Thanks for that reminder."

    "I''m not here to spare your feelings," Alexander said. "I''m here because Camille is being destroyed by lies, and you''re one of the few people who can help stop it."

    Silence fell between them. Stefan drained his ss, setting down with a decisive click.

    "What exactly would I need to do?" he asked finally.

    Alexander felt a surge of cautious hope. "Hold a press conference. Tomorrow, before the morning shows air that interview with the Lewis parents. Publicly refute every im Rose has made about Camille''s mer "And admit my role in all this," Stefan added. "Admit I betrayed a perfectly sane, loving wife for a lie.ˇ±

    "Yes."

    Stefan moved back to the window, his silhouette dark against the gray afternoon light. "You know what the hardest part of losing everything is? It''s not the money or the status. It''s losing the lies you tell yourself. sleep at night."

    He turned back to Alexander. "I told myself Camille and I were already broken before Rose. That I fell in love with Rose naturally, not because she orchestrated it. That Camille would be fine without me." Hisu Alexander waited, sensing Stefan needed to process this moment in his own way.

    "And now," Stefan continued, "now that I''ve lost it

    all anyway, those lies don''t protect me anymore. I see everything clearly. Too clearly." He looked directly at Alexander. "I see what I threw away. What you found."

    The two men studied each other, former rivals now linked by their connection to the same woman.

    "If I do this," Stefan said slowly, "I''m not doing it for you. Or even for Camille, really. She doesn''t need my help to be extraordinary."

    "Why, then?" Alexander asked.

    "Because it''s true," Stefan

    said simply. "And I''ve told enough lies in my life." He straightened his shoulders. "I''ll hold your press conference. Tell the world exactly who Rose Lewis is, and wh Camille really was." Alexander nodded, relief washing through him. ˇ°Thank you"

    "Don''t thank me," Stefan warned. "I''m not doing this to help you win her."

    "That''s not why I''m here."

    "Isn''t it?" Stefan''s eyes were knowing, "You love her. You want to protect her. I understand that drive better than you think "

    Alexander changed tactics. "If you''re going to do this, it needs to be tomorrow morning. Early. Before the Lewis parents'' interview airs."

    "It will be." Stefan''s voice strengthened with resolve. "I''ll contact my uncle''s former PR team tonight. Nine AM press conference. Majorworks."

    "I can handle the arrangements," Alexander offered.

    "No." Stefan''s refusal was firm. "If I''m doing this, I''m doing it my way. Not as Alexander Pierce''s puppet."

    Alexander conceded with a nod "Fair enough. But the timing is crucial."

    "I understand." Stefan moved to hisptop, already typing "Nine AM. The Rodriguez name still carries enough weight to get media attention, even if our ships don''t sail anymore." Alexander took out a business card and ced it on the table. "My private number, Call when it''s arranged."

    As he turned to leave, Stefan''s voice stopped him at the door.

    "Pierce. One more thing."

    Alexander looked back questioningly.

    "Do you ever wonder," Stefan asked, "if Camille is using you the way Victoria used her? If beneath all that love you feel, you''re just another chess piece in their revenge game?ˇ±

    The question cut closer to Alexander''s private doubts than he cared to admit. "Camille isn''t Victoria."

    "No," Stefan agreed. "But

    she learned from the master. Just be careful. That''s all."

    Alexander left without responding, the warning echoing in his mind as he descended the shabby stairwell.

    Outside, the cool air cleared his head. He had aplished his mission, Stefan would speak for Camille. Yet he felt unsettled, not just by Stefan''s parting words but by his own confession.

    Yes, I''m in love with her.

    He hadn''t said those words aloud before, not even to himself. Now they hung in the air, spoken first to her ex-

    husband of all people. The irony wasn''t lost on him.

    His phone rang as he slid into the backseat of his waiting car. Camille''s name shed on the screen.

    "Where have you been?" she asked without preamble. "Victoria said you called it urgent."

    Alexander nced back at Stefan''s apartment building, wondering how to exin what he''d just set in motion. "I''ve been working on a counterattack," he said carefully. "One that might turn the tide in our favor." Alexander made a split-

    second decision. If Stefan backed out, telling Camille now would only give her false hope.

    "I''ll exin everything tonight," he promised. "For now, just know that by this time tomorrow, Rose''s story will be unraveling

    11

    There was a pause on the line. "Alexander," Camille said finally, her voice softening. "Thank you. For fighting for me."

    The simple gratitude caught him off guard, warming, something in his chest. "Always," he replied, the word carrying more weight than she knew.

    As he ended the call, his driver nced in the rearview mirror. "Where to, sir?"

    Alexander looked out at the Brooklyn streets, seeing not the present but the future, tomorrow''s headlines, Rose''s reactions, Victoria''s calctions. And Camille, caught in the center of it all.

    "Back to Manhattan," he said firmly. "We have a war to win"

    Behind him, Stefan Rodriguez stood at his third-

    floor window, watching Alexander''s car pull away. His expression was unreadable as he picked up his phone

    and dialed a number he hadn''t used in weeks.

    "Karen? It''s Stefan Rodriguez. I need to arrange

    a press conference for tomorrow morning, Nine AM sharp." He paused, listening. "Yes, it''s about Camille Lewis. And no, this isn''t a joke. It''s about time someone told the truth."

 Chapter 90

    Camille sat frozen in Victoria''s private office, eyes fixed on the television. Alexander paced behind her chair while Victoria stood near the window. The screen showed the zh Hotel ballroom converted into a p "Are you sure you want to watch this?" Alexander asked, touching Camille''s shoulder.

    Camille nodded, unable to speak, her throat tight and hands cold.

    "They might still side with Rose," Victoria warned. "Be prepared."

    The camera shifted to show Margaret and Richard Lewis entering. Camille sucked in a breath. Her parents looked older than she remembered, her father''s shoulders stooped her mother''s face drawn. Behind th "What is he doing there?" Camille whispered.

    "Alexander''s handiwork, I suspect," Victoria replied.

    Richard adjusted the microphone, his hand trembling slightly. "Thank you all foring. My wife and I have called this press conference to address the disturbing, allegations made against our daughter, Camille."

    Margaret stepped closer. "Two days ago,, false stories began circting about Camille''s mental health. Fabricated medical records. Invented episodes. Lies designed to destroy not just her reputation, but her v Camille gripped her chair as her mother continued with unusual fierceness.

    "These lies did note from strangers. They came from someone we once trusted. Someone we weed into our family and loved as our own" Her voice broke. "Our adopted daughter, Rose." Murmurs rippled through the press. Richard ced a hand on Margaret''s shoulder before speaking.

    "For too long, we were blind to Rose''s maniption. We failed to see how she systematically undermined Camille, turned us against her, and eventually stole her husband." He nced at Stefan. "We failed as p Margaret dabbed her eyes but continued. "Camille never had mental health issues. There were no hospitalizations, no treatments. The medical records being quoted don''t exist."

    A reporter called out, "Then why would Rose make these ims?"

    Richard''s face hardened. "Because Camille exposed Rose''s lies at the Kane Foundation g. Because Camille survived Rose''s attempt to have her killed."

    The room erupted with questions. Victoria increased the volume to hear over the mor.

    "Mrs. Lewis! Yesterday you were scheduled to appear on National Morning to confirm Rose''s ims. What changed?"

    Margaret''s face showed raw pain. "Last night, I found Rose altering Camille''s childhood journals, adding false entries about paranoia and violence. When confronted, Rose threatened us." She pulled a small leather-

    bound book from her purse. "This is Camille''s actual journal from when Rose first came to live with us."

    Camille felt her heart stop as Margaret opened to a marked page.

    August 17. Rose ''identally'' spilled bleach on my science project today. Mom med me for leaving it where it could be damaged. This is the third time something important to me has been destroyed since R Margaret looked up, tears flowing. "There are dozens of entries like this. Small cruelties. Calcted sabotage. And we didn''t listen."

    In Victoria''s office, Camille wiped her own tears, overwhelmed by this public acknowledgment of

    her suffering

    Richard gestured toward Stefan, who stepped forward reluctantly.

    "My name is Stefan Rodriguez. I was married to Camille Levis for three years before betraying her with her sister.

    The blunt admission caused another stir.

    "During our marriage, Camille never disyed any signs of mental instability. She was kind,

    patient, bnced, everything Rose is iming she wasn''t."

    He squared his shoulders. "Rose pursued me relentlessly. She told me Camille didn''t love me. ssic maniption that I was too weak to recognize."

    "Are you saying Rose lied about Camille''s mental health?" a reporter shouted.

    "Rose lied about

    everything," Stefan said tly. "The woman I thought I loved never existed."

    He paused. "What most people don''t know is that Rose and I had a rtionship years before I

    met Camille. Rose orchestrated our breakup, then manipted me into dating and eventually marrying Camille, all part of her n."

    "It was Rose who introduced me to Camille," Stefan continued. "When Camille disappeared, Rose showed no real grief. Within weeks, she was nning our future together.

    In the office, Alexander squeezed Camille''s shoulder. "He''s actually doing it. He''s telling everything."

    On screen, Stefan''s face darkened. "Two nights before the articles of Camille mental instability came out i got a call from Rose and

    she said, ''After tomorrow, everyone will see who Camille really is." Now I realize she was already nning this smear campaign."

    Margaret stepped forward again. "We have evidence that Rose orchestrated this media attack. Records of payments to journalists. Communications with media outlets."

    She held up a sh drive. "We''ve gathered emails and financial records showing Rose''s direct involvement in fabricating these stories. Copies have been provided tow enforcement and journalists."

    Richard joined his wife. "Our daughter Camille is not mentally ill. She never was. The only person in our family with dangerous tendencies was Rose."

    "Mr. and Mrs. Lewis! How do you respond to ims that this is just damage control for Kane Industries?" Richard''s expression hardened "Our daughter nearly died because of Rose''s actions. This isn''t about bu Stefan moved to the microphone again. "I''ve lost everything because of my mistakes. I''m not asking for sympathy. I''m here because it''s time someone told the truth about Rose Lewis. She''s dangerous and with He took a deep breath. "If you''re looking for someone with personality disorder in the Lewis family, you''ve been focusing on the wrong sister."

    The room erupted again as reporters shouted questions.

    Margaret raised her hand for quiet. "We have one final statement. To our daughter, Camille." She looked directly into the camera. "We failed you. We chose Rose over you. We didn''t believe you when you need Richard joined her. "We love you, Camille. We understand if you can never forgive us, but know that

    we are proud of the woman you''ve be, with or without our help,"

    In Victoria''s office, Camille covered her mouth to stifle a sob

    Victoria silently offered a handkerchief, her expression uncharacteristically soft.

    "Turn it off," Camille said suddenly.

    Victoria muted the television but left the images running. This changes everything. The narrative is shifting already"

    Camille stared at the silent footage. "Why? After everything, why would they do this?"

    "For the same reason most people do anything," Victoria replied. "Because they realized what they stood to lose." Camille shook her head. "No. They''ve already lost me."

    "Perhaps. Or perhaps they finally understand that some things matter more than pride."

    Camille''s phone began buzzing incessantly. Victoria switched channels to the businesswork where an anchor was reporting: ˇ°. "...

    extraordinary reversal as Kane Industries stock surges following the Lewis family press conference..."

    The office door flew open as Victoria''s assistant rushed in. The Phoenix Grid partners are calling to reaffirm theirmitment! And the board members who voted against Camille are requesting an emergency r Victoria smiled. ˇ°Tell them I''ll consider their request after our stock fully recovers."

    The assistant nodded

    and retreated. Victoria turned to Camille, whose attention remained fixed on her parents leaving the podium.

    "What are you thinking?" Victoria asked softly.

    "I don''t know what to feel," Camille admitted. "Grateful? Angry? It doesn''t erase what they did."

    "No," Victoria agreed. "But it doesplicate your neat categories of ally and enemy."

    Alexander checked his phone. "The market''s already responding positively,"

    "How did my parents get all that evidence against Rose?" Camille asked.

    "I may have had my teampile some files," Alexander admitted. "Your father was surprisingly receptive."

    Camille''s phone rang, her mother''s

    number shing on the screen. She stared at it, frozen.

    "You don''t have

    to answer," Victoria sald.

    "If I do, everything changes again."

    "Yes,"

    "We stick to the n. Rose and Herod destroyed. Clean. Fin?

    "Yes," Victoria repeated. "But ns can evolve."

    The ringing stopped. The call went to voicemail.

    Camille opened her eyes. "They stood up for me." "They did."

    "After everything Rose did, they finally chose me.

    Victoria nodded. "The question is: does it matter?"

    Camille looked at the television where analysts were predicting Kane Industries'' full recovery. Her parents" actions had saved more than her reputation, they''d protected everything, she and Victoria had built. "I don''t know yet," she answered honestly.

    Her phone chimed with a voicemail notification. Victoria rose from her desk. "I''ll give you privacy. There are decisions only you can make."

    As Victoria left, Camille

    sat alone with her phone. Outside, she could hear the office buzzing with activity. Kane Industries would survive. The Phoenix Grid would proceed

    Rose''s n had failed.

    But the greater question remained as Camille stared at her mother''s name on the screen. After years of pain, after rebuilding herself, after finding a new mother in Victoria, could she open the door to her past? Her finger hovered over the voicemail icon.

    On the television, Rose''s face appeared briefly, shocked and furious

    as reporters surrounded her, shouting questions about the usations.

    The sight strengthened something in Camille. She pressed the voicemail button and raised the phone to her ear. "Camille," Margaret began, her voice breaking, "We''ve said what needed saying publicly. But the The message ended with a soft, "We love you. We always have. Even when we failed to show it."

    Camille lowered the phone, her chest tight with emotion she couldn''t name. Not forgiveness, not yet. But perhaps something like possibility.

    Outside Victoria''s office, the world was reshaping itself. Rose exposed. Camille vindicated. Kane

    Industries recovering.

    But inside, in the quiet space between heartbeats, Camille faced the most difficult question: Who did she want to be when the dust settled? The woman who got her revenge, or the woman who built something new from the ashes?

    She looked at

    Three versions of herself, three possible futures.

 Chapter 91

    The crystal vase shattered against the wall, water and roses exploding across the cream-

    colored paint. Rose grabbed the next item within reach, a heavy silver photo frame and hurled it at the television where her parents'' faces still filled the screen.

    "Liars!" she screamed, her voice raw. "Filthy, worthless liars!"

    The frame cracked the television screen, splitting her father''s image in two before the picture went ck.

    Rose stood in the middle of Herod''s penthouse living room, chest heaving, hair wild around her face. The elegant spacey in ruins around her, furniture overturned, ss broken, papers scattered across the fl else to destroy.

    "Fourteen years!" She kicked over a side table, sending amp crashing to the floor. "Fourteen years ying the perfect daughter! The supportive sister! And they throw it away for her?" She grabbed a leather-

    bound book and tore it in half, pages fluttering around her like wounded birds.

    "After everything I did to make them love me! After everything I endured in that house, pretending to be grateful, pretending to belong!"

    Her voice broke on thest word, anger momentarily giving way to something darker and more painful. She pressed her hands against her eyes, willing away

    the burning tears.

    Behind her, the elevator doors opened silently. Herod Preston stepped into the chaos, surveying the destruction with raised eyebrows.

    "I take it you''ve seen the press conference," he said dryly.

    Rose whirled toward him, eyes zing. "Did you know? Did you know they would do this?"

    "If I had known your parents would suddenly develop backbones, I

    would have taken preventive measures." Herod carefully stepped over broken ss, making his way to the bar. "The timing is... unfortunate." "Unfortunate?" Roseughed, the sound harsh and brittle. They''ve empty bottle of wine and drank directly from it, red liquid spilling down her chin, "And those journals! Those damned journals I thought I''d destroyed!" She mmed the bottle down. "How did they get them? How "I want him destroyed too," Rose hissed, pacing like a caged animal.

    "Him, Camille, Victoria, my parents, Stefan, all of them. I want them to suffer for this humiliation."

    She paused by the window, staring down at the street where reporters had gathered outside the building. News of her parents'' usations had spread quickly, drawing media vultures hoping to catch her reacti "I can''t even leave," she whispered, a new note of panic entering her voice. "They''re waiting for me down there. Cameras. Questions. All those people who believed me yesterday, now looking at me like I''m a m Herod watched her, swirling his drink thoughtfully. "Sit down, Rose."

    "I don''t want to sit!" she snapped. "I want to...".

    "Sit. Down." His voice hardened, the casual facade dropping momentarily.

    Something in his tone cut through her rage. Rose sank onto the edge of a chair, shoulders still rigid with fury. Herod took the seat across from her. "Do you know why most revenge plots fail?"

    "I don''t need a lecture," she seethed.

    "Emotion," he continued as if she hadn''t spoken. "Uncontrolled emotion leads to mistakes. Mistakes lead to failure." He sipped his whiskey. "What''s happening right now is you losing control." "They betrayed me!" Rose''s fists clenched on her knees. "My own parents. Stefan. After everything..."

    "Yes, yes, they''re terrible people.ˇ± Herod waved his hand dismissively. "The question is not whether you have the right to be angry. The question is whether your anger serves our purpose.ˇ± His calm only infuriated her further. "How can you sit there

    so coldly? Kane Industries stock is recovering. Camille''s reputation is being restored. Everything we worked for-"

    "Is a minor setback," Herod cut in. "One battle in arger war."

    Roseughed bitterly. "Easy for you to say. You''re not the one they''re calling a liar and maniptor on every news channel. Your life isn''t being torn apart in public.

    "No," Herod agreed, something shing in his eyes. "That happened to me ten years ago, when Victoria Kane systematically destroyed my family. I know exactly how public humiliation feels." He set his ss down carefully. "The difference is that I channeled that feeling into something productive. A n. A purpose. Not..." he gestured at the destroyed room, "this childish tantrum.ˇ± Rose flinched as if he''d pped her.

    "Now," Herod continued, "we have two choices. We can abandon our efforts because of this setback, or we can elerate to phase two."

    Rose drew a shaky breath, struggling to pull herself together. "What exactly is phase two? You''ve been vague about the details."

    "Because until now, you didn''t need to know them." Herod stood and moved to his desk, retrieving a tablet from the drawer. "The Phoenix Grid project breaks ground in two weeks. The site is prepared, construc He handed her the tablet, open to technical specifications. These are

    the modified blueprints for the power distribution nodes. Our contact inside Kane Engineering has already substituted them for the originals."

    Rose stared at the diagrams, not understanding the technical aspects but recognizing the importance of what she was seeing. ˇ°So the project will fail?"

    "Not immediately," Herod said, a thin smile appearing. "The system will operate perfectly during the demonstration and initial testing. The ws will only manifest under full load conditions, approximately six to ri

    "And when it fails?"

    "Catastrophically." He took the tablet back. "Not dangerous to human life, I''m not that reckless, but catastrophic from a business perspective. Complete system failure across multiple cities simultaneously, Hund Rose''s breathing slowed as she absorbed his words. "And Camille takes the me."

    "As project head, she bears ultimate responsibility." Herod nodded. "Particrly when evidence emerges that early tests

    showed potential problems..... problems she supposedly ignored."

    "Evidence you''ve manufactured," Rose guessed.

    "Already nted in Kane Industries'' secure servers, timestamped months ago." Herod looked pleased with himself. "When investigators dig, they''ll find exactly what we want them to find."

    Rose felt her anger transforming, cooling into something harder and more focused. "And the timing? After today''s disaster, they''ll be watching us more closely."

    "Which is why we let them believe they''ve won." Herod moved back to his chair. "You disappear from public view. Retreat. Appear defeated. Let Kane Industries recover, let Camille bask in her vindication, let yo He leaned forward. "And then, just when they feel safest, everything copses around them."

    Rose stared at the floor, seeing not the scattered debris

    of her outburst but the future Herod described. Camille''s fall from grace. Victoria''s empire crumbling. Her parents watching helplessly as the daughter they chose suffered public disgrace. "How long?" she asked finally.

    "Two months, perhaps three." Herod shrugged. "Patience is essential."

    "And what about me? I can''t even leave this building without being mobbed."

    "You won''t need to for a while." Herod gestured toward the room beyond. "The penthouse has everything you need. Food delivered. Private elevator. Security. Consider it a strategic retreat."

    Rose stood, moving back to the window. Below, more reporters had gathered, their cameras

    pointed up at the building

    "They think they''ve won," she said softly, pressing her paim against the

    cool ss. "Camille. Victoria. Alexander. My parents. Even Stefan. They''re all celebrating right now, congratting themselves on exposing me."

    "Let them celebrate," Herod said,ing to stand beside her. "Victory makes people careless. And we need them careless."

    Rose turned to him, something new hardening in her expression.

    Two months is a long time to wait for revenge."

    "Notpared to ten years." Herod''s voice carried the weight of his decade-

    long quest against Victoria. "True revenge isn''t about immediate satisfaction. It''s aboutplete destruction. Taking everything from your enemy, not just their possessions, but their sense of security. Their trust His words resonated with something deep inside Rose, the part of her that had watched Camille from the shadows all these years, plotting, waiting, building toward the moment when she could take everything "We move to phase two," she said finally, her decision made. "But I have conditions."

    Herod raised an eyebrow. "Which are?"

    "I want Camille to know it was me in the end. Not just suspect, but know with absolute certainty that I destroyed her again." Rose''s voice strengthened. "And I want to be there when it happens. I want to see her "Risky," Herod noted. "But possibly arrangeable."

    "And my parents," Rose continued. "They don''t just lose social standing. They lose everything. The house. Their money. Their reputations."

    "Coteral damage is expected in war," Herod agreed smoothly.

    Rose''s mind cleared, her earlier rage transforming into cold determination. "And Stefan. I want him ruined most of all. He betrayed me after everything I did for him. Everything I sacrificed."

    "Your priorities seem somewhat tangled," Herod observed. I thought Camille was your main target."

    "They all are," Rose said simply. "Different branches of the same tree. Cut them all down, burn the roots, salt the earth."

    Herod studied her with new interest. "You continue to surprise me, Rose. Most people underestimate the depths of yourmitment."

    "Most people underestimate me entirely," she replied. "It''s what makes them so easy to manipte.ˇ±

    She looked around at the destroyed room, suddenly embarrassed

    by her earlier loss of control. "I apologize for the mess. I''ll have it cleaned up."

    "Don''t bother." Herod dismissed her concern with a

    wave. It''s just things. Receable."

    "Unlike reputations," Rose added, a thin smile forming. "Those, once truly broken, never quite recover."

    Herod moved to his desk and pressed an inte button. Tackson, have the penthouse cleaned. And inform the security team downstairs that no press is to be allowed into the building under any circumstance

    He released the button and turned back to Rose. "Phase two requires preparation. We should begin immediately." Rose nodded, thest embers of her rage cooling into resolve. The initial n had failed, yes. E This time, she would destroy Camille so

    "What do we do first?" she asked.

    Herod smiled, pleased by her renewed focus. "First, we disappear. Let the world think you''ve been defeated. Let them lower their guard."

    "And then?"

    "Then we strip away everything Camille values.... piece by piece. Her new identity. Her position at Kane Industries. Her rtionship with Alexander. Her precious Phoenix Grid." His voice

    hardened. "By the time we''re finished, she''ll wish she had died in that parking garage."

    Rose moved to the bar and poured herself a proper drink, leaving behind the half-

    empty wine bottle of her earlier frenzy. The smooth burn of whiskey steadied her as she raised her ss.

    "To phase two," she said quietly. "And toplete destruction."

    Herod clinked his ss against hers. "To patience. And to perfect timing."

    Rose sipped

    her whiskey, letting the warmth spread through her chest. The day''s humiliation still stung, but Herod was right. Emotion was a liability in a game like this Cool heads prevailed. Patient predators caught their pre And Rose Lewis was nothing if not patient when it came to destroying her sister.

 Chapter 92

    The private dining room at Per Se glowed with amber light, Manhattan''s skyline twinkling beyond floor-

    to-

    ceiling windows. Camille swirled her wine, watching the deep red liquid catch the light. The remnants of their nine -

    course meal and two bottles of Bordeaux scattered across the table.

    "To resurrection," Victoria said, raising her ss, tinum hair shimmering in the candlelight.

    "To truth," Alexander added from beside Camille.

    "To unexpected allies," Camille said, joining the toast with a delicate clink of crystal, thinking of her parents and Stefan defending her when she least expected it.

    After days of crisis management, simply sitting and breathing felt like luxury.

    "The board has officially reversed their position," Victoria said. "The emergency meetingsted ten minutes. Gordon couldn''t backpedal fast enough."

    Alexander smiled. "Amazing how quickly principles dissolve when stock prices recover."

    "They never had principles," Victoria replied. "Just fear. And fear is always temporary."

    Camille observed them, two business titans who had circled each other warily for years, their usual tension softened by theirmon goal of protecting her.

    "I still can''t believe my parents did that," Camille said. "After everything, they actually stood up for me." Victoria studied her. "Have you decided whether to return your mother''s call?"

    Camille shook her head. The voicemail remained unanswered.

    "They took a significant risk," Alexander noted. "Publicly admitting they failed you. Exposing Rose."

    "Why now, though?" Camille asked. "After years of choosing Rose, why stand with me when it might cost them everything?"

    Victoria sipped

    thoughtfully. "People rarely change unless the cost of staying the same bes unbearable."

    "Or unless they finally see the truth," Alexander added, his eyes meeting Camille''s. "Sometimes we don''t recognize what matters until we nearly lose it."

    The weight of his gaze made Camille look away; suddenly conscious of the current between them, unspoken but growing stronger. She focused instead on the skyline.

    "Either way," she said finally, "it changes nothing about our ns. The Phoenix Gridunches in ten days. We move forward."

    Victoria smiled slightly, approval evident. "Spoken like a tree Kane."

    "The permits came through for the Brooklyn site," Alexander said. "Construction crews begin tomorrow."

    "And the Chicago location?" Victoria asked.

    "Ready for phase one. The mayor wants to be present for the groundbreaking."

    Camille felt excitement flutter beneath her ribs. The Phoenix Grid, her project, her vision, her chance to build somethingsting, Clean, sustainable energy flowing through revitalized Infrastructure.

    "The testing results exceeded expectations," she said proudly. "Efficiency ratings fifteen percent higher than projected. We''ll revolutionize urban power distribution."

    Alexander''s hand found hers under the table, a brief squeeze of understanding. He knew what this meant to her, not just business

    sess,

    but personal transformation. For so long, her focus had been destruction. The Phoenix Grid represented something

    different Creation Legary.

    "The board has authorized the full funding package," Victoria said. "Eight billion for

    the initial three cities, with conditional approval for phase two."

    "And Pierce Industries remainsmitted to the partnership." Alexander added, "Sr generation, offshore wind integration, and distribution protocols. "

    Camille felt gratitude toward them both, Victoria who had saved her and given her purpose, Alexander who had seen her potential.

    "We''re really doing this," she said softly.

    "Did you doubt it?" Victoria raised an eyebrow.

    tually win."

    "After this week? Maybe. For a moment there, it seemed like Rose might actually win."

    Alexander''s expression darkened. ˇ°She miscalcted. Attacking your mental stability without evidence was desperate."

    "And where is Rose now?" Camille asked. "She''s gonepletely silent since the press conference."

    Victoria signaled for coffee. "My sources say she hasn''t left that building on Park Avenue. The one owned by that investment group."

    "Chris Holdings," Alexander supplied. "A shellpany, most likely."

    Camille frowned. "You think she''s hiding? That doesn''t sound like Rose. She never

    retreare i

    "Everyone retreats when they have no choice," Victoria said with certainty. "She''s been exposed, humiliated. She''s regrouping"

    nning something else," Camille murmured.

    Alexander squeezed her hand. "If she is, she''ll fail again. You have us

    Snow!

    The waiter arrived with coffee. When he departed, Victoria leaned forward, her expression serious. "Speaking of Stefan," she began, eyeing Alexander. "That press conference was remarkably well- timed."

    Alexander met her gaze steadily. "One might think so."

    ˇ°Almost as if someone had coordinated it,ˇ± Victoria pressed ˇ°Someone with resources."

    Camille looked between them. "What are you saying?"

    "I''m wondering if Alexander has been making moves without consulting us," Victoria said coolly

    Alexander didn''t flinch. "Would you have approved if I had consulted you?"

    "That''s not the point

    *

    "It''s precisely the point. Sometimes action must precede consensus."

    Camille felt the tension returning "You went to see Stn that''s where you were when you called me."

    - Chapter

    Alexander nodded once. "I did."

    "Why not tell me?"

    "Because you wouldn''t have approved either,"

    because he had no reason to defend you."

    had simply "And we needed him. His testimony carried weight

    Victoria''s expression remained neutral, but Camille sensed her disapproval. "Unteral decisions are dangerous, Alexander

    15

    "So ismittee thinking during a crisis," he countered.

    Camille raised a hand, stopping their brewing argument. "It worked. That''s what matters. But next time, I want to know. Even if you think I''ll disapprove." Something flickered in his eyes, a mixture of apology and deeper emotion. "Fair enough."

    Victoria watched this exchange with sharp attention. "Now that Rose has been neutralized, we should discuss. security for theunch events."

    "Already arranged," Alexander said. "Maximum coverage, minimum visibility."

    Camille took a sip of coffee, letting the normalcy of project nning wash over her. This was what

    she wanted, to be defined by what she built, not by what had been taken

    from her.

    "The Phoenix Grid changes everything," she said. "Cities that can''t be cked out. Communities that control their energy destiny. Real sustainability."

    Alexander smiled warmly. "That vision is why I wanted to partner with Kane Industries in the first ce." "And now?" Victoria asked, her tone casual but her gaze piercing

    "Now t

    the vision and the person behind it are equallypelling," he replied, not looking away from Camille. The air between them thickened. Camille felt heat rise in her cheeks.

    "The technical achievements will establish Kane Industries as the leader in next-

    generation infrastructure," she said, steering the conversation to safer ground. "The patents will transform thepany."

    Victoria allowed the deflection, though her knowing smile suggested she wasn''t fooled "Indeed. Which is why theunch must be wless."

    "The engineering team has triple-

    checked everything," Camille assured her. "The system is solid."

    "And beautiful in its elegance," Alexander added.

    The waiter appeared with chocte truffles. "Compliments of the chef, in celebration of Ms. Kane''s return to public life"

    Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Your vindication is already bearing sweet fruits."

    Camille picked up a truffle. "Strange how quickly public opinion shifts. Yesterday I was unstable. Today I''m the wronged heroine "

    "People love aeback story," Alexander observed "Especially one with viins as clear as Rose."

    "And what happens when the next crisis hits?" Camille asked. "When someone else questions my stability?" Victoria leveled her gaze. "You stand firm. You trust what we''ve built. You remember that you''ve survi worse."

    ˇ°And you don''t face it alone,ˇ± Alexander added quietly.

    The simplicity of his statement

    touched something raw in Camille''s chest. After years of istion, the concept of genuine partnership felt almost foreign.

    "To not facing it alone," she said, raising her coffee cup.

    When the meal ended, they stood at the private elevator. Victoria checked her watch.

    "I have ate call with our Tokyo office," she said. "The car will drop me first."

    Alexander helped her with her coat. "I can see Camille horne."

    Victoria''s eyes moved between them, calction evident. "Im sure you can. Camille, I''ll expect you at nine tomorrow forunch preparations."

    Just before the elevator doors closed, Victoria fixed Alexander with a pointed look. "Remember what we discussed. Some games have higher stakes than others."

    The cryptic warning hung in the air.

    Camille turned to him. "What was that about?"

    Alexander shook his head slightly. "Victoria being Victoria. Always three moves ahead."

    "Of what?"

    His eyes met hers. "Of everyone."

    The second elevator arrived, and they descended together, awareness building between them. "Thank you," she said suddenly. "For going to Stefan. For helping when I didn''t know you were." Alexander''s expre "Because from the moment I saw who you truly were, beyond the pain, I recognized something worth protecting, Something extraordinary."

    The elevator slowed.

    "Victoria worries you''ll lose focus," Camille said, understanding. "She thinks this might distract from our ns." "Victoria worries about everything she can''t control," Alexander replied. "Including how people feel. The doors opened to the lobby. Outside, his car waited.

    "Can I take you home?" Alexander asked, his voice low.

    The question carried weight beyond the simple words. Camille felt the crossroads, continued focus on Phoenix Grid and revenge, or something she hadn''t allowed herself to consider since before Rose destroye Connection. Possibility. Perhaps even love.

    "Yes," she said finally. "I think it''s time we talk. Really talk"

    Alexander''s smile transformed his face. "I''ve been waiting to hear you say that."

    As they slid into the car, Camille felt something

    unfamiliar plooming in her chest, not cold determination, not burning rage, but something warner and more fragile.

    Hope.

 Chapter 93

    Camille''s phone buzzed against the boardroom

    table, its vibration cutting through her presentation. She nced at the screen and felt her stomach drop.

    "Excuse me," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "Let''s take a five- minute break."

    As the engineering team filed out, Camille opened the alert

    "BREAKING: Kane Industries (KI) down 8.7% on rumors of Phoenix Grid safety concerns"

    She scrolled quickly to a financial blog

    post: "SOURCES CLAIM PHOENIX GRID POSES UNPRECEDENTED FIRE RISK."

    The article cited "anonymous whistleblowers inside Kane Engineering" who allegedly provided documents showing the power distribution nodes could overheat under certain conditions. The ims were vague

    Camille called Victoria. No answer. She tried Alexander next

    "I''ve seen it," he said immediately. "PR is already crafting a response."

    "Who would do this?ˇ± Camille demanded, pacing the empty boardroom. "Three days before groundbreaking? This isn''t coincidence."

    "No," Alexander agreed, his voice tight. "It''s coordinated. The same story appeared simultaneously on four-

    different financial tforms. Our stock dropped the moment markets opened."

    Camille nced at the wall of ss. Engineers huddled nearby, faces

    worried, stealing nces toward her.

    "Get Hannah Zhao on this immediately," she ordered. "I want aprehensive

    safety report ready by this afternoon-

    something clear enough for the media to understand."

    "Already happening." Alexander assured her. "Victoria''s called an emergency press conference for two o''clock." Camille checked her watch: 10:17 AM. Less than four hours to contain a crisis. "I''ll be there," she said. "I need to finish with the engineering team first."

    "Camille," Alexander''s voice softened. "This will pass. The Phoenix Grid is sound. We both know that."

    She ended the call, took a deep breath, and opened the door to call back the engineers. Their anxious-

    faces told her rumors had already spread,

    "I assume you''ve all heard," she said

    directly. "Let me be clear: The Phoenix Grid design is sound. These allegations are baseless. But we will address them with facts, not defensiveness."

    Hannah Zhao, the lead engineer, stepped forward. "The distribution nodes have been tested far beyond normal parameters. They simply cannot cause fires as described."

    "Someone fabricated concerns," Camille agreed. "Our job now is to prove it. Hannah, I need your team to prepare aprehensive safety assessment. Every test, every safety margin, every redundancy. Two As the team dispersed, Hannah lingered behind.

    "Ms. Kane," she said quietly, "these allegations contain technical details that only someone with inside knowledge could know."

    The implication hung in the air. A leak. A betrayal from within.

    "I''m aware," Camille replied. "Let''s focus on the facts first. We''ll deal with how this happened afterward."

    Two floors below, Victoria Kane stood in her office, watching financial news coverage. The ticker showed Kane Industries down 11.3%. She held her phone to her ear.

    "Find out who''s behind this," she ordered. "Check trading patterns. Someone is profiting from this drop." She ended the call as her assistant entered with printouts of every article mentioning the allegations. "The technical team is preparing a detailed response," the assistant reported. "And Mr. Pierce is on his way." Victoria scanned the articles. Something in the phrasing caught her attention, targeting not just the te Her eyes narrowed. This had Rose''s fingerprints all over it. But Rose had

    been in hiding since the press conference disaster. This attack was too well-

    orchestrated for Rose alone.

    She had help. Significant help.

    When Alexander arrived, Victoria didn''t bother with greetings.

    "This is a coordinated attack," she said, handing him the most damaging article. "Look at the technical specifics, someone with engineering knowledge helped prepare this.

    Alexander scanned the document. "The details are close enough to our actual specs

    to sound legitimate, but with key differences,"

    "Suggesting?"

    "Someone with partial knowledge," he concluded. "Not current blueprints, but perhaps earlier versions." Victoria moved to the window. "I want every former employee with technical knowledge investigated. Ever "Already underway," Alexander assured her. ˇ°Security is also checking for digital breaches."

    "And Rose?" Victoria turned back. "What''s she been doing since the press conference?"

    Alexander shook his head. "Gone dark. No credit card usage no phone activity. She''s effectively disappeared." "Nobody disappears thatpletely without help," Victoria observed. "Someone is sheltering her, f Victoria''s expression hardened. "Because it''s Camille''s project. Her vision. Her redemption. Attacking it

    is personal."

    The Kane Industries press room buzzed with media activity Television

    cameras lined the back wall as reporters filled every seat.

    Camille stood backstage, reviewing her notes. Victoria beside her, both women dressed in nearly identical charcoal suits, a united front.

    "Remember," Victoria

    said quietly, "no defensiveness. No anger. Just facts, confidence, and absolute ˇŞ

    our technology."

    Alexander appeared, tablet in hand. "Hannah''s report is really, Comprehensive, clear, and irrefutable."

    "Who leaked the specifications?" Camille asked, keeping her voice low.

    Alexander shook his head. "Not yet. But the technical details weren''t entirely urate, close enough to seem legitimate, but with key differences." "Meaning?

    "Someone with partial knowledge," he rified. "Not a current insider with full ess."

    Camille''s mind immediately went to Rose. "It''s her. Rose is behind this."

    Victoria''s expression remained neutral. "Focus

    on the present crisis. We''ll deal with the sourceter."

    The lights

    seemed unnaturally bright as Camille approached the podium, Victoria and Alexander nking her. "Good afternoon," Camille began, her voice clear and strong. "I''m here to address rumors regarding the Phoen She gestured to the screen showing Hannah''s safety report in simplified graphic form.

    "The

    Phoenix Grid distribution nodes have been tested at three times maximum operational temperature without any safety concerns. The fire risk described is technically impossible given our design specifications." A reporter called out: "Why would whistleblowers make these ims if there''s no substance?"

    Camille met his gaze directly. "We''ve found no evidence these ''whistleblowers'' exist. These rumours appeared simultaneously across multiple tforms, a coordinated attack, not a genuine safety concern." "Are you suggesting corporate sabotage?" another reporter asked.

    "I''m stating facts," Camille replied coolly. "The Phoenix God has undergone rigorous testing by independent Jaboratories. Those results are publicly avable."

    She continued dismantling the allegations point by point. When technical questions arose, Hannah Zhao offered precise exnations that reassured without overwhelming the audience.

    By the time the press conference ended, the stock had stabilized, regaining two percentage points.

    As

    they exited, Alexander showed Camille his tablet, social media sentiment shifting as technical experts confirmed their safety ims.

    "Crisie-contained," he said, relief evident.

    "For now," Camille replied, unable to shake her unease. "This was too well-

    nned to be a one-

    time attack." Alexander nodded. "I''ve assigned a team to trace the source If there''s a connection to Rose, we''ll find it." "She''s behind this," Camille insisted as they walked toward the elevator. "I can feel it."ˇŞ

    "Even if she is," Victoria interjected, "Rosecks the resources and technical knowledge to execute something this sophisticated alone."

    The elevator doors closed, sealing the three of them in privacy.

    "Then she has help," Camille said, frustration edging her voice. "Someone with money, influence, and a grudge against Kane Industries."

    "That describes half of Wall Street," Victoria replied dryly.

    Alexander''s phone buzzed. He checked it, his expression turning grim. "Security reports unusual ess attempts on our engineering serversst night. Nothing breached, but someone was probing for weaknes Camille felt cold certainty settle in her stomach. "This is just the beginning, isn''t it?"

    Neither Victoria nor Alexander contradicted her.

    That evening, Victoria called Camille and Alexander to her private office. Therge circr room, with its panoramic views of Manhattan, felt like a war room.

    "The final damage report," Victoria began, sliding tablets across her desk. "Stock closed down six percent. Four institutional investors have expressed ''concerns'' about the Phoenix Grid. Two regtors have red Alexander reviewed the information. "Better than we feared, worse than we hoped."

    "The press conference helped," Victoria acknowledged. "But doubt has been nted."

    Camille scrolled through the reports. "Has security made any progress identifying the source?"

    "Nothing concrete," Victoria admitted. "But the timing is too perfect to be coincidence. Three days before groundbreaking, just as final preparations are underway."

    "Someone knows our schedule intimately," Alexander added. "Someone with ess to internal nning." "We need to investigate everyone with ess to the Phoenix Grid specifications," Camille said. "Curren "Already in progress," Victoria assured her. "But this feels personal, Camille. Targeted specifically at your project.

    "Rose," Camille said, the name like acid on her tongue. "She''s been silent too long. This is exactly her style, wait until I feel secure, then strike where it hurts most."

    Alexander leaned forward. "Rosecks

    the technical expertise to understand the Phoenix Grid specifications." "She doesn''t need to understand them," Camille countered "She just needs to find someone who does." Victoria''s expression remained tho "No," Camille said firmly. "That''s exactly what they want. If we dy, it only validates the rumors."

    Victoria studied her, approval flickering in her eyes. "Agreed. We proceed as nned, but with enhanced security."

    "I want to find Rose," Camille said suddenly. "Look her in the eye, see what she''s nning."

    "Too risky," Victoria responded immediately. "Drawing her out now could

    elerate whatever she''s nning " "Or disrupt it," Camille argued. "Rose has always been reactive. If she sees me unafraid, it might force her to make a mistake." Alexander returned to the table. "If we could locate Rose, aproaching her would need to be handled carefully." Victoria''s eyes narrowed. "You''re considering this."

    +25 BONU!

    "I''m considering all options," he corrected. "Including that drawing Rose into the open might reveal who''s backing her."

    Camille felt a surge of gratitude toward Alexander. "We know Rose. She can''t resist gloating. If I confront her directly, she''ll reveal something, even unintentionally." Victoria remained unconvinced. "And if it''s a trap? If she wants you to find her?"

    "Then we set a counter-

    trap," Camille replied. "But sitting here waiting for the next attack isn''t working."

    The three fell silent, each weighing the risks. Outside, darkness had fallen over the city.

    "Find her," Victoria said finally. "But do not approach without a full security n. And Alexander goes with you." Camille nodded, epting the conditions.

    "Now," Victoria continued, "the Phoenix Grid groundbreaking proceeds

    in three days. I want hourly security checks at all sites, background rechecks on all personnel, and additional testing on everyponent."

    "Already implemented," Alexander assured her. "Nothing will go wrong at the ceremony."

    "See that it doesn''t," Victoria replied, her tone leaving no room for failure. "The Phoenix Grid represents more "Seet than just a business venture. It''s Camille''s statement to the world, that she builds rather than Camille felt the weight of Victoria''s words. The Phoenix Grid wasn''t just about energy distribution, it was about her transformation.

    "We''ll find who''s behind this," she promised. "And we''ll stop them."

    Alexander reached for her hand under the table, a small gesture of support invisible to Victoria. "Together," he added quietly.

    Camille squeezed his hand in response, drawing strength from his presence. Rose might have help, resources, nning, but Camille had something stronger.

    She had truth on her side. And she would not be defeated again.

    "Let''s get to work,ˇ± she said, rising from her chair. "We have a groundbreaking to prepare for, and a sister to find.

    Victoria nodded, her expression warming slightly as she watched her prot¨¦g¨¦. "Tomorrow morning, eight o''clock. Full team briefing."

    As Camille and Alexander left Victoria''s office, uncertainty still hung in the air. But something else was there too, a renewed sense of purpose, of unity in the face of this invisible threat. Whatever came next, they would face it together.

 Chapter 94

    Rose stepped onto the balcony of Herod''s penthouse, a ss of champagne catching the golden light of sunset. Below, Manhattan sprawled in all its glittering glory, oblivious to the small victory celebration taki

    "To sessful beginnings," Herod said, joining her with his own ss. The evening breeze ruffled his dark hair, softening his usually severe appearance.

    "Six p ix percent," Rose replied, satisfaction warming her voice "Six

    percent drop in a single day. Millions wiped from Kane Industries'' value."

    Their sses clinked, crystal meeting crystal with a delicate ring. Rose sipped the expensive champagne, bubbles dancing on her tongue. The taste of revenge was even sweeter than the Dom P¨¦rignon. "You should have seen Victoria''s face during that press conference," she said, leaning against the railing "So controlled on the surface, but I know that look in her eyes. She''s rattled." iling. "So"

    Herod studied her, his expression curious. "You enjoy this, don''t you? Not just the oue, but the process. The game itself.ˇ±

    Rose considered this. "I never thought of myself as someone who enjoyed causing pain. But watching Camille squirm, seeing her precious project questioned." She trailed off, surprised by the Intensity of her fe "Most people lie to themselves

    about such things," Herod observed, moving closer. "They pretend their revenge is only about justice, not pleasure."

    "I stopped lying to myself a long time ago," Rose replied. When you grow up unwanted, you learn to see things clearly."

    Something flickered in Herod''s eyes, recognition, perhaps Understanding. The setting sun cast half his face in shadow, half in golden light, emphasizing the sharp angles of his cheekbones. "Your honesty is refreshing," he said.

    Rose felt a strange flutter in her chest. For weeks, they had worked together with cold precision, their partnership purely transactional. But tonight, celebrating their first victory, something subtle had shifted in th "Tell me something real about yourself," she said suddenly "Not about your family or Victoria Kane or

    business. Something I don''t know yet."

    Herod seemed surprised by the request. He

    turned to face the skyline, considering.

    "I collect first editions," he said finally. "Books from the 19th century, mostly. I findfort in things that have survived their time, ousted their creators."

    The admission was unexpected, a small, human detail about a man who had revealed so little of himself beyond his thirst for revenge.

    "Do you read them?" Rose asked. "Or just collect them?"

    "Both. Some nights, when sleep won''te, I read by the window until dawn." He nced at her. "Your turn. Something real."

    Rose felt oddly vulnerable under his gaze. She

    was ustomed to crafting herself for othare -

    the supportive sister, the devoted girlfriend. Revealing anything authentic felt dangerous.

    "Lcan''t swim,ˇ± she admitted. "I nearly drowned

    as a child, before the foster system. I''ve never been able to put my head underwater since."

    The words hung between them, more revealing than she''d intended. Not just a fact, but a weakness. A fear.

    Herod didn''t fill the silence with empty reassurances or prying questions. He simply nodded, epting her truth as she had epted his.

    "We all have our depths we can''t face," he said finally.

    Inside, Herod''s phone rang. He excused himself, stepping back into the penthouse. Rose remained on the balcony, watching darkness im the city. Lights flickered on across Manhattan, creating new conste Through the ss doors, she observed Herod taking the call. His posture shifted subtly, straightening, tensing. Business mode. She''d learned to read his bodynguage during their weeks of nning. Whateve When he returned to the balcony, his expression had hardened back into the calcting mask she recognized from their strategy sessions.

    "Good news?" she asked.

    "Confirmation that phase two is ready," he replied. "Our contact at the engineering firm has implemented the modified specs in the Brooklyn siteponents. Everything appears exactly as it should, until full sys six weeks after instation."

    Rose felt a familiar thrill of anticipation. "And then?"

    "Complete system failure. Harmless to humans, as promised, but catastrophic for Kane Industries'' reputation. Especially when the ''overlooked'' safety warnings surface.

    Rose smiled, imagining the scene, Camille watching helplessly as her precious Phoenix Grid copsed, taking her reputation with it.

    "Perfect timing," she said. "Just as they recover from this week''s crisis, just as they think they''re safe..."

    "The true damage arrives," Herod finished. "Patience rewards those who wait."

    He

    refilled their champagne sses, his fingers brushing against hers as he handed back her drink. The brief contact sent an unexpected warmth up her arm. Rose found herself noticing details she''d previously ig "Why did you agree to help me?" she asked abruptly. "You had your own ns for Victoria. Why include me?" Herod considered her question carefully. "Initially? Strategy. Your knowledge of Camille''s weakness "And now?"

    Something shifted in his expression, a softening around the eyes, a slight tension at the corner of his mouth." Now I find our partnership has... additional benefits."

    The Implication hung in the air between them. Ruse felt her heartbeat quicken. For so long, her rtionships had been calcted moves in arger game, Stefan, the men before him, each one a stepping ston This felt different. Dangerous in a new way

    "We should celebrate properly," Herod said, breaking the tension. "Not just champagne on the balcony. Dinner, perhaps."

    "Here?" Rose asked, gesturing toward the penthouse.

    "No. Out. In public."

    Rose stared at him. "I can''t be seen. Not after the press conference disaster. Every reporter in the city would pounce."

    "Not in New York," Herod rified. "My jet is fueled and waiting at Teterboro. We could be in Montreal for

    gat dinner, back by morning. No one would know."

    The spontaneity of the suggestion startled her. "Montreal? Tonight?"

    "Why not? We''ve earned a moment of pleasure amid all this nning.ˇ± His eyes held hers. "Unless you''re afraid to leave your hiding ce."

    The challenge was subtle but clear. Rose felt something stir inside her, pride, defiance, and something else she couldn''t quite name.

    "I''m not afraid," she said firmly. "But this seems... impulsive. Not like you."

    "Perhaps you

    don''t know me as well as you think." A smile yed at the corners of his mouth. "I can be impulsive when the asion warrants."

    Rose found herself returning his smile, conscious of how rarely she''d done so genuinely in recent weeks. Most of her smiles were performances, calcted to achieve a specific effect. This one surprised her wi "Montreal," she repeated, considering. "French food, anonymity, no press..."

    "Freedom," Herod added. "Even if just for an evening."

    The word resonated within her. Since the disaster at the Kane Foundation g, she''d been living in shadows, moving between hotel rooms, avoiding public spaces, watching from afar as her carefully construct "Yes," she decided suddenly. "Let''s go."

    Surprise flickered across Herod''s face, as if he hadn''t expected her to ept. It vanished quickly, reced by pleasure. "Excellent. Pack lightly. We leave in an hour."

    As Rose turned to go inside, Herod caught her wrist gently. The unexpected contact froze her in ce.

    "One condition," he said, his voice lower than before. "Tonight, no talk of Camille, Victoria, or revenge. Just dinner, conversation, and whateveres after."

    The implication sent heat rushing through Rose''s body. She met his gaze, searching for calction or maniption, the currencies she understood best. Instead, she found something more unsettling: genuine "Agreed," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

 Chapter 95

    Three hourster, Rose gazed out the window of a private dining room in Montreal''s most exclusive restaurant. Snow fell gently outside, illuminated by streetmps and caf¨¦ lights. Inside, candles flickered on th "You seem surprised to be enjoying yourself," Herod observed, watching her over the rim of his wine ss.

    Rose turned from the window. "I am, a little. I haven''t thought about anything but revenge for so long. It feels strange to just... exist."

    "Vengeance is consuming," Herod agreed. "It leaves little room for ordinary pleasures."

    "Is that why you collect books? To remember there''s life beyond revenge?"

    He considered this, "Perhaps. Though I began collecting long before Victoria Kane entered my life."

    Rose studied him in the candlelight. Without the hard edges of their nning sessions, Herod Preston revealed different

    facets, cultured, thoughtful, even charming in his precise way.

    "Tell me about the brother you lost," she said softly.

    Herod''s expression tightened momentarily, then rxed. "Charles was the better of us. Kinder. More idealistic. He believed in love, in goodness. I always saw

    the darker side of human nature."

    "And yet Victoria targeted him first."

    "Because he was connected to what she loved most, her daughter." Herod swirled the wine in his ss. "The cruellest revenge strikes not at you directly, but at what you cherish."

    Rose thought of Camille, of the Phoenix Grid, of how precisely

    their attack had been aimed at what her sister valued most. "We''re following her ybook, aren''t we? Using Victoria''s

    own methods against her."

    "With improvements," Herod added. "Victoria acted from raw grief. We move with calction, patience." "A dangerousbination," Rose murmured.

    "Indeed." Herod''s eyes lingered on her face. "Especially in someone as naturally gifted at maniption as you." Rose might once have taken this as an insult Tonight, she recognized it as appreciation, one strat "We all use the tools life gives us," she said.

    "I learned early that my face, my charm could open doors that remained closed to others. That people believe what they want to believe, see what they want to see.''

    "And what do you want me to see tonight?" Herod asked, leaning forward slightly.

    The directness of the question caught Rose off guard. She was ustomed to men who epted her carefully constructed personas without question, who never looked for the truth beneath the performance. "I don''t know," she admitted, surprising herself with her honesty. "I''m not sure who I am when I''m not fighting, scheming, surviving "

    "Perhaps that''s what we''re discovering tonight," Herod suggested. "Who Rose Lewis is when the maskse off.

    Their dinner arrived, exquisite tes of food too artful to immediately disturb. The waiter poured more wins - retreated, leaving them in their cocoon of privacy.

    "I''ve worn so many faces," Rose said after a moment. "The grateful adopted daughter. The supportive sister. The perfect fianc¨¦e. Sometimes I wonder if there''s anything real left underneath."

    "There is," Herod said with unexpected certainty. "I''ve seen it,

    in your rage, your determination, your refusal to ept defeat. Those aren''t masks, Rose. That''s you."

    His words touched something deep within her, a recognition she hadn''t expected. In Herod''s eyes, her darkness wasn''t something to hide but something to acknowledge, even celebrate.

    "Most people only want the pretty lies," she said softly.

    "I''m not most people.ˇ± His voice carried a weight that made her look up from her te. ˇ°I see your ruthlessness, your capacity for vengeance, and I find it...pelling.ˇ±

    The word hung between them, charged with meaning. Rose felt her pulse quicken. She was ustomed to inspiring desire in men, but always for the mirage she created. Never for her true self, especially not t "Why did you really bring me to Montreal?" she asked directly.

    Herod set down his fork, considering his answer. "Because partnerships forged only in hatred rarely survive. Because I wanted to know if there could be more between us than shared enemies."

    "And is there?" Rose challenged, though she already suspected the answer.

    Instead of replying, Herod reached across the table, his fingers brushing hers in a touch too deliberate to be idental. "What do you think?"

    Rose didn''t pull away. The contact sent electricity up her arm, a sensation both foreign and familiar. How long had it been since she''d felt genuine attraction, not calcted seduction? With Stefan, with all the others, physical connection had been a tool, a means to an end.

    This felt different. Unpredictable. Dangerous in ways that had nothing to do with their revenge ns.

    "I think,ˇ± she said carefully, "that mixing business and pleasureplicates things."

    "Complexity doesn''t frighten me," Herod replied. "Does it trighten you?"

    The question was a challenge, and Rose had never backed down from a challenge in her life. She turned her hand beneath his, their palms meeting, fingers intertwining-

    "No," she said simply.

    Something shifted in Herod''s eyes, a heat that matched what she felt building within herself. For a moment, they remained perfectly still, connected by that single point of contact, the air between them charged "Shall we skip dessert?" Herod asked, his voice lower than before.

    Rose nodded, suddenly certain. ˇ°Yes.ˇ±

    Hourster, Rose stood at the window of Herod''s Montreal apartment, watching snow nket the city. Behind her, sheetsy tangled on the bed, evidence of boundaries crossed, new territories explored. She w Herod appeared in the doorway, two sses of whiskey in and. The moonlight silvered his bare chest, highlighting the unexpected strength of his body. Rose epted the offered drink, their fingers brushing in "Having regrets?" he asked, noticing her pensive expression.

    Rose shook her head. "No. Surprises, maybe, but not regrets."

    "What surprises you?"

    She considered the question, trying to untangle the knot of emotions inside her. "That I can still feel something real. After everything, the press conference, losing my family, being publicly vilified, I thought I migh Herod stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the heat from his body. "And now?"

    "Now I don''t know what I feel," she admitted. "Except that it''s more than I expected."

    He didn''t reach for her, respecting the space she

    needed. Another surprise, the patience in his desire.

    "This doesn''t change our ns," he said, reading her unspoken concern. "If anything, it strengthens our alliance.

    Rose turned to face him fully. "Is that what this is? An alliance strengthened?"

    A smile touched his lips. "Among other things."

    She studied him in the moonlight, this man who had seen her darkness and found it beautiful. Who matched her ruthlessness with his own. Who understood revenge not as a passing emotion but as a calling, a "When this is over," she said quietly, "when we''ve destroyed them all, what then?"

    The question had been lurking in the back of her mind for weeks. After revenge, after victory, what remained? Who would she be when there was no one left to fight?

    Herod set down his ss and finally reached for her, his hand cupping her cheek with unexpected tenderness. Perhaps we find out together."

    The suggestion opened a door Rose hadn''t allowed herself to imagine, a future beyond vengeance, beyond the single-

    minded pursuit that had defined her recent existence. A future possibly shared with someone who knew her true nature and epted it without judgment.

    "Together," she repeated, testing the word, its weight and possibility.

    His eyes held hers, dark and certain. "If you wish it."

    Rose leaned into his touch, making her choice. "I do."

    As his lips met hers, gentler than before, Rose felt something break and reform inside her, not weakness, but a different kind of strength. The knowledge that even in her darkest moments, she remained capable Tornorrow they would return to New York, to their careful ns, to the destruction of Camille and all she held dear. The Phoenix Grid would still fall, Kane Industries would still crumble, and Rose would watch it a But tonight had changed something fundamental. Tonight had shown her that beyond the ashes of her revenge, something unexpected might grow. Something shared with a man whose darknessplemente As snow continued to fall outside, covering Montreal in pristine white, Rose surrendered to the moment, to the feeling, to the surprising truth that even as she plotted destruction, she remained capable of creatin

 Chapter 96

    The city lights twinkled below Camille''s penthouse like fallen stars trapped on earth. She stood at the floor-

    to-

    ceiling windows, arms wrapped around herself, watching the tiny cars move through the streets forty floors below. Behind her, Alexander poured two sses of red wine, the soft gurgle of liquid filling thefo

    It had been three days since the press the Phoenix project has issue and they sorted it out. Three days of rtive peace. The thought felt

    strange to Camille, peace was not something she had known since finding those divorce papers twenty five months ago.

    "Your thoughts seem far away," Alexander said, approaching with the wine sses. His footsteps were quiet on the plush carpet.

    Camille epted the ss, her fingers brushing his. That small touch sent warmth

    spreading up her arm. "Not far. Just... processing everything."

    Alexander stood beside her at the window. Unlike many men who felt the need to fill silence, he seemed content to share it with her. That was one of the many things she hade to appreciate about him. "Victoria called earlier," Camille said after taking a sip of wine. "Thetest reports show Kane Industries stock has fully recovered. The

    Phoenix Grid project is back on schedule."

    Alexander nodded. "That''s good news."

    "Yes." Camille turned from the window. "But that''s not what I want to talk about tonight."

    She moved to the cream-

    colored sofa and sat down, tucking one leg beneath her. The softness of the cushions weed her tired body, Alexander followed, sitting close enough forfort but with space between them, always respec "What would you like to talk about?" he asked, his dark eyes studying her face.

    Camille took a deep breath. "Us. This thing between us that we keep dancing around."

    Alexander''s expression remained calm, but she noticed how his fingers tightened slightly around the wine ss. " 1 was wondering when we''d have this conversation."

    "Is that why you''ve never pushed?"

    "Partly." He set his ss on the coffee table. "I didn''t want to rush you. After everything with Stefan and Rose..... 1 know trust doesn''t

    The mention of their names didn''t sting like it once had. Progress, Camille thought.

    "For a long time," she began, staring into her wine, "I thought that part of me was dead. The part that could feel... this." She gestured between them. "Victoria taught me to channel everything into revenge. To se "And now?" Alexander''s voice was quiet.

    Camille looked up at him. "Now I find myself thinking about you when you''re not there. Wanting to tell you things as soon as they happen. Wondering what you''d think about decisions I''m making." She paused.

    Tibe

    "Why does it scare you?"

    She set her ss beside his. "Because I trusted before, and it almost destroyed me. Because Victoria warned me not to let emotions cloud my judgment. Because I''m not sure who I am when I''m not fighting an "Camille," he said, her name soft on his lips, "do you remember when we first met? At the hospital in Boston?" She nodded slowly, memories stirring from a time that felt distant now, belonging to a different versi Tears threatened at the corners of Camille''s eyes. She blinked them back, unwilling to cry, a habit Victoria had trained out of her.

    "The woman you''re describing sounds like a stranger to me now," she confessed.

    "She''s not." Alexander reached out slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted. When she didn''t, he took her hand in his. "She''s still there. I see her when you work on the Phoenix Grid, not just as revenge for people. I see her when you talk about the foundation you''re building to help other women."

    His thumb traced gentle circles on her palm. The simple touch sent waves of warmth through her entire body. "That''s why I''ve never pushed," he continued. "I wanted you to find your own way back to that woma The word hung in the air between them. Love. Not spoken as a deration, but as a possibility.

    Camille fought the instinct to withdraw her hand, to retreat behind the walls Victoria had helped her build. "What if that woman is gone for good? What if Victoria''s creation is all that''s left?"

    Alexander shook his head. ˇ°She trained you to survive, to fight back. That was necessary. But Victoria Kane didn''t create you, Camille. She helped shape you, but your core, who you truly are, that was always t He reached into his pocket and pulled out something small. When he opened his palm, Camille gasped Lying there was a silver pendant in the shape of a delicate rose.

    "You left this with me," Alexander said softly. "In the hospital. You said it would protect me like it had protected you."

    Camille stared at the pendant. She remembered it now, a gift from her grandfather, when she was sixteen. She had worn every day until...

    "I''ve kept it safe," Alexander said. "Waiting for the right moment to return it to you."

    Her fingers trembled as she reached for the pendant. The familiar weight of it in her palm unlocked memories she had buried, of who she had been before the betrayals, before the pain.

    "I don''t know if I can be that woman again," Camille whispered.

    "You don''t have to be who you were," Alexander replied "None of us can go backward. But you can bring the best parts of who you were into who you''re bing"

    He moved closer, the space between them now just inches

    "I care about you, Camille. Not just Camille Kane, Victoria''s creation. Not just Camille Lewis, the woman who was

    betrayed. All of you. Every version. Everyyer."

    The walls around Camille''s heart, walls built through months of pain and rebuilding trembled. Not falling, not yet, but weakening.

    "I don''t want to make promises I can''t keep," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don''t know if I can trust like that again."

    "I''m not asking for promises," Alexander said. "Just... possibility. The chance to see where this goes, one day at a time."

    Camille looked down at the silver rose pendant in her palm, then back

    up at Alexander. His eyes held no demands, only patient hope.

    Something shifted inside her, not the calcted moves of a chess yer Victoria had taught her to be, but something more organic. Growth pushing through concrete "One day at a time," she repeated. "I think I can manage that."

    The smile that spread across Alexander''s face warmed her more than the wine had. He lifted his hand, hesitated, then gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The simple gesture made her breath catch. "That''s all I''m asking for," he said.

    Outside, the city continued its nighttime dance of lights and sounds. But inside the penthouse, the world had narrowed to just the two of them, a man and woman finding their way toward each other through the Camille looked at the silver rose pendant once more before closing her fingers around it. For the first time in longer than she could remember, the future held something beyond revenge. Something that felt dan

    "Stay for dinner?" she asked, her voice steadier

    now. "I''m not much of a cook, but we could order in."

    Alexander''s smile deepened. "I''d like that very much."

    As they moved to the kitchen to look through takeout menus, Camille felt lighter than she had in months. The path ahead was still uncertain, filled with threats from Rose, challenges with the Phoenix Grid, and h And somewhere deep inside, in a ce Victoria''s training hadn''t reached, the woman she used to be, the one who would sit with a stranger in a hospital, stirred to life again.

 Chapter 97

    Rainshed against the windows of Victoria Kane''s office, matching her dark mood. She sat rigid in her leather chair, eyes fixed on therge screen mounted on the wall. The security footage ying before her

    Martin, her head of security, stood nearby, his face grim as they watched Rose Lewis slip into a side entrance of an upscale restaurant. The timestamp showed 9:43 PM, two days ago. "Pause it," Victoriamanded.

    Martin pressed a button on the remote. The image froze, capturing Rose mid-

    step, her face partly hidden byrge sunsses despite thete hour. Even in disguise, the hatred Victoria felt for this woman burned in her stomach

    like acid.

    "Continue."

    The footage resumed. Rose moved through the restaurant, head down, until she reached a private dining area in the back. A walter pulled aside a curtain, revealing a booth where someone already waited. The "Can you get a better view of his face?" Victoria asked, leaning forward.

    Martin shook his head. "No, ma''am. We''ve tried enhancing from every angle. The restaurant''s security system isn''t positioned to capture that corner clearly. It seems..."

    "Deliberate," Victoria finished for him. "As if they knew exactly where to sit to avoid identification."

    "Yes, ma''am."

    Victoria''s fingers tapped against the polished wood of her desk, a habit she allowed herself only in moments of deep concern. "What else?"

    Martin changed to another video feed. This one showed Rose and the mystery man leaving separately. First Rose, ncing nervously over her shoulder, then twenty minutester, the man, still with his back to backed confidence of someone used tomand.

    "We followed her?" Victoria asked.

    "Yes. She went directly to her apartment." Martin hesitated "We tried to track the man, but he had a car waiting ck Bentley, tinted windows, changed license tes twice before we lost him in Queens." Victoria''s eyes narrowed. Amateur mistakes weren''t made by Martin''s team. "He knew you were following."

    "It appears so." Martin''s professional pride seemed wounded. "Whoever he is, he has resources. And training." Victoria stood, moving to the window. Below, New York sprawled out, glistening wet from the rain, how me the other encounters," she ordered, turning back

    Martin pulled up four more video clips, different locations different days. A coffee shop in Brooklyn. A bench in Central Park. The lobby of a hotel. A dock at the marina. Always the same pattern: Rose and the mystery man, faces hidden or obscured, meeting in locations that seemed randeni but Victoria recognized as strategically selected for minimal surveince.

    "They''re nning something," Victoria murmured, more to herself than to Martin.

    "Without question." Martin pulled out a tablet and handed it to her. "There''s more. Financial records show Rose has essed emergency funds we weren''t aware of. Not much, two hundred thousand dors, bu Victoria swiped through the banking records, a cold knot farming in her chest. "And the man?"

    "Nothing. No financial trail we can follow. Which suggests someone who knows how to cover his tracks."

    The rain beat harder against the ss. Victoria felt her age today, the weight of it pressing down on her shoulders. She had lived through corporate wars, personal tragedies, and countless attacks on her empire screamed danger.

    "Where is Camille now?" she asked.

    "At the engineering facility with Ms. Zhao, reviewing the final blueprints for the Grid. Mr. Pierce is with her."

    At least she was safe, Victoria thought. Protected by Alexander''s presence

    and his own security team. But for how long?

    Victoria moved back

    to her desk and pressed the inte. "Sarah, cancel my meetings for the rest of the day. And-

    have the car ready in twenty minutes."

    She released the button and looked at Martin. "I want our security doubled at the groundbreaking ceremony. Triple it around Camille without making it obvious. And I want every second of Rose''s day tracked, where she goes, who she meets, what she buys." "Yes, ma''am." Martin''s expression remained neutral, but Victoria caught the faintest flicker of concern in his eyes. "And the man?" "Find him," Victoria said, her voice going sharp as a de. "Whatever it takes."

    Martin nodded and left the office. Alone, Victoria pulled open her desk drawer and removed an old photograph, herself and Sophia, thirteen years ago, at the hospital fundraiser where Sofia had met Charles Pre The ache in her chest surprised her. Victoria Kane did not indulge in regret, it was unproductive, wasteful. Yettely, watching Camille begin to open her heart to Alexander, seeing glimpses of the woman she had been before Rose''s betrayal, Victoria wondered about the costs of her methods.

    "Necessary," she whispered to the empty room. Everything had been necessary. The surgery. The training. The calcted revenge. She had forged Camille into a weapon that could strike back at those who ha

    her.

    But weapons, once created, didn''t always stay in the hands that made them.

    Her phone buzzed with a message from Alexander:

    *Camille found inconsistencies in the Grid blueprints. Minor but concerning. Someone may have tampered with them, Hannal investigating*

    Victoria''s breath caught. More evidence of a coordinated attack. She texted back

    Keep her close. Coming to you now.

    She grabbed her coat and moved toward the door, then paused, turning back to look once more at the frozen image on the screen, Rose and the shadow of a man whose face they couldn''t capture. "Who are you?" she asked the figure. "And what game are you ying?"

    The image, of course, gave no answer. But Victoria felt something she hadn''t experienced in years, a flutter of unease. Not fear, never fear. But a premonition that patterns were shifting, that variables she hadn'' For the first time since taking Camille under her wing, Victoria wondered if she might be outmaneuvered. The thought sent a chill through her that had nothing to do with the rain- cooled air.

    In her private elevator descending to the garage, Victoria pressed her palm against the hidden scanner, granting ess to the securemunications system built into the wall. "Connect me to Alexander Pierce. Encrypted line."

    A soft beep, then Alexander''s voice filled the small space. "Victoria."

    "Can you speak freely?"

    "Yes. Camille is with Hannah reviewing the altered sections of the blueprints. We''re alone.ˇ±

    Victoria kept her voice low despite the elevator''s secure design. "We have a situation. Rose

    has been meeting with someone, a man. We can''t identify him."

    A pause. "Someone helping her target the Grid?"

    "It seems likely. The timing, the secrecy. My security team couldn''t track him, he knew they were following." "Professional."

    "Yes." Victoria watched the floor numbers tick down. "Alexander, I''ve never asked about the full extent of your resources. I know they''re substantial. More substantial, perhaps, than you''ve officially disclosed."

    Another pause, longer this time. "What exactly are you asking, Victoria?"

    "Your surveince capabilities. They exceed standard corporate security, don''t they?"

    The elevator reached the garage level but Victoria pressed the hold button, keeping the doors closed. "They do," Alexander admitted finally.

    "Then I need you to find this man. Identify him. My team can''t, and we''re running out of time."

    "You''re asking me to use methods that aren''t strictly legal

    Victoria smiled thinly at his careful phrasing. "I''m asking you to protect Camille. By any means

    necessary."

    The silence stretched between them. When Alexander spoke again, his voice had hardened. "I''ll find him. But Victoria, this is for Camille, not for you. I need you to understand the distinction." The words stung more than Victoria would admit. "Just do what needs to be done. And Alexander?"

    "Yes?"

    "Don''t tell Camille about this yet. Not until we know what we''re facing. She needs to focus on the Grid."

    "She won''t appreciate being kept in the dark."

    ˇ°She''ll appreciate being blindsided by another attack even less." Victoria''s tone left no room for debate. "Twenty-

    four hours. Give me that before you tell her."

    "Twenty-four hours," Alexander agreed reluctantly. "But not a minuta me passing

    Victoria ended the

    call and released the hold button. The elevator doors slid open to reveal her waiting car. As she stepped out, her phone buzzed again. A text from Martin:

    *Rose just entered Madison Park. Meeting someone. Team in position."

    Victoria slid into the back seat of her car. "Change of ns, James. Madison Park. As quickly as possible." The driver nodded, pulling smoothly out of the garage into the rain-

    slick streets. Victoria stared out at the city, her mind racing ahead, calcting risks and countermoves. Rose Lewis was a snake, dangerous but predictable in her hatred. But this new yer, this shadow man w he was the true threat.

    Victoria had spent a lifetime anticipating her enemies'' moves before they made them. It was how she had built her empire, how she had survived when others fell. But this felt different. The pieces on the board were moving in patterns she couldn''t quite grasp.

    For Camille''s sake, she needed to see this enemy''s face. Understand his motives. Know his weaknesses.

    The car sped through the rainy streets, carrying Victoria toward Madison Park and perhaps, toward answers. But as the familiar skyscrapers of midtown gave way to the lower buildings surrounding the park, the She couldn''t shake the feeling that for once in her long career of calcted risks and strategic victories, Victoria Kane might be toote.

 Chapter 98

    Rose stared at the screens covering the wall of Herod

    Preston''s penthouse office. Six disys showed different angles of the Phoenix Grid construction site, live feeds that shouldn''t exist. Workers in yellow hard hats moved across the site like ants, unaware of the "Your security ess is impressive," Rose said, stepping closer to examine a monitor showing the main control center where engineers hunched overputers. "How did you get these feeds?" Herod''s mouth curled into the barest hint of a smile. "Money opens doors. Especially when those doors belong to underpaid security guards with gambling debts."

    He stood beside her, close enough that she could smell his expensive cologne. In the three weeks since they''d begun working together, Rose had grown to appreciate his attention to detail. Unlike the men she'' "And our man?" she asked, tapping a fingernail against the screen showing workers installing circuit panels.

    Herod pressed a button on his desk. The center screen zoomed in on a thin man with ginger hair tucked under his hard hat. "James Walsh. Senior electrician. Twenty years'' experience. Divorced. Two children h wife''s medical bills."

    Rose studied the man''s face. Ordinary. Forgettable. Perfect.

    "And he''spletely bought in?"

    "He believes he''s working for apetitor looking

    to dy the project." Herod''s voice carried the confident tone of someone who had covered every angle. "He has no idea what will really happen when those modified circuits overload."

    Rose felt a thrill race through her body. Not just excitement something deeper. More primal. For twelve months she had lived in the wreckage of her carefully constructed life. Watching her fashion empire crumb Now, finally, revenge was within reach.

    "Show me the blueprint modifications again," she said.

    Herod slid a tablet across his ss desk. On screen, two sets of technical drawings appeared

    side by side. To Rose''s

    symbols, and measurements.

    untrained eye, they looked identical, a maze of linen

    "The original is on the left," Herod exined, pointing to specific sections. "Our version is on the right. The changes are subtle. Temperature sensors adjusted to report normal readings even when heat levels ris shutting down. Backup systems reconfigured to fail simultaneously rather than sequentially."

    Rose didn''t fully understand the technical details, but she understood the result. "And these changes guarantee disaster?"

    Herod nodded, eyes gleaming with something that looked unnervingly like excitement. "The system will appear to function normally during

    testing. The ws won''t activate until

    full power runs through the grid for at least seventy-

    two hours. By then, the heat buildup in the main junction boxes will be unstoppable."

    "And the result?"

    "Catastrophic failure. Multiple explosions across the gridwork. ckouts throughout the city. And most importantly..." he tapped the screen where Camille''s office was located at the Grid headquarters, "....co Rose closed her eyes, savoring the mental image. Camille in handcuffs. Victoria Kane''s empire crumbling. Everything they''d built reduced to ashes.

    "The timing is critical," Herod continued, moving to the window overlooking the Manhattan skyline. "Walsh installs the modified circuits tomorrow. Final testing begins the day after. The groundbreaking ceremony "And then?" Rose joined him at the window.

    "And then we wait." Herod''s reflection in the ss looked almost predatory. "Three days

    after the ceremony, the grid goes fully operational. Seventy-

    two hours after that...

    "Boom," Rose whispered.

    "Precisely."

    Rose tried to picture Camille''s face when she realized what was happening. Would she know immediately that Rose was behind it? Or would the confusion and panic keep her from seeing the truth until it was t "There''s one more thing we need to discuss," Herod said, turning away from the window. "Walsh."

    Rose frowned. "What about him?"

    "He''s a loose end. After the instation isplete, he needs to disappear."

    The coldness in Herod''s voice sent an unexpected chill through Rose. She had wished Camille dead, had hired men to frighten her into leaving town, but hearing Herod speak so casually

    about eliminating a man whose only crime was being desperate enough to take their money...

    "Is that necessary?" she asked, surprising herself with the question.

    Herod studied her face, his expression unreadable. "Having second thoughts, Rose? That seems unlike you."

    His tone held

    a challenge Rose couldn''t afford to fail. She straightened her spine, raising her chin. "Not at all. I''m simply being practical. A dead electrician raises questions."

    "A dead electrician in a car ident fifty miles from New York raises no questions at all. Particrly when his blood alcohol level suggests he was drinking heavily." Herod returned to his desk. "That''s already ar Rose nodded, swallowing the unexpected difort. This was war. Wars had casualties.

    "Any word on Victoria''s movements?" she asked, changing the subject.

    Herod tapped another button. A new screen appeared showing Victoria Kane leaving her building, nked by security. "She''s increased surveince on you. My sources say her security chief is frantically trying "Will they seed?"

    "No." Herod''s confidence seemed absolute. "By the time they figure out who I am, it will be far toote."

    Rose moved to the desk where several phonesy in a neat row. "And these are ready?"

    "Yes. Untraceable. Use a different one for each

    call. Destroy them afterward." He picked up one

    of the phones. The encrypted messaging app is already

    installed. Ourmunications will leave no trace,"

    Rose took the phone, their fingers brushing. The contact sent electricity up her arm, a different kind of thrill than thoughts of revenge. For a moment, neither pulled away.

    "You''ve thought of everything," Rose said softly.

    "That''s why I survived when my family didn''t. Why I rebuilt while Victoria thought she had destroyed uspletely." Herod''s voice dropped lower. "Never underestimate the power of patient hatred, Rose. It burn Rose understood. Hadn''t she nursed her own hatred for Camille since childhood? Hadn''t she plotted for years to take everything her sister had?

    "So we''re set," she said, pocketing the phone. "Nothing left but to watch it unfold."

    "Almost nothing." Herod opened a drawer and removed a small box. "One final touch."

    Inside the boxy a silver pin shaped like a phoenix rising from mes, identical to the emblem Camille wore constantly.

    "A gift from an anonymous donor to every major news outlet in the city," Herod exined. "Arriving the morning after the explosions, with a note suggesting they investigate whether Kane Industries knew about Rose picked up the pin, turning it in the light. "My sister does love her symbols."

    "And symbols are powerful. Especially when they''re turned against you." Herod closed the box. "The phoenix that rises from these ashes will be us, Rose. Not Camille Kane.ˇ±

    Rose felt dizzy with anticipation. After months of humiliation, of watching Camille rise from the dead to im a new identity and destroy everything Rose had built, the tables were finally turning. "What will you do?" she asked Herod. "After?"

    "Acquire what

    remains of Kane Industries at pennies on the dor. Rebuild it in my own image." His eyes met hers. "And you?"

    Rose hadn''t thought that far ahead. Her focus had been sopletely on destruction that she''d given little consideration to what came after. "I haven''t decided," she admitted.

    Herod

    studied her face for a long moment. "Perhaps," he said slowly, "we might discuss possibilities. Over dinner.

    41

    Rose blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. "Dinner?"

    "Tonight. My private chef makes an exceptional coq

    au vin His tone remained businesslike, but something in his eyes suggested more than simple coboration. "We should celebrate our imminent sess."

    Rose found herself nodding before she had fully processed

    the invitation. "I''d like that."

    Herod''s smile was brief but genuine. "Excellent. Eight o''clock." He nced at his watch. "But first, we should check in with our electrician. He should be installing the criticalponents within the hour."

    He pressed a button on his desk phone. "Bring the car around."

    Rose gathered her coat, her mind racing

    with unexpected thoughts. The n was perfect. Camille would lose everything,

    her reputation, her freedom, possibly even her life if she happened to be in the wrong ce when the grid failed. Victoria Kane would watch her

    empire crumble, just as she had once destroyed the Preston family. Yet as she followed Herod to the elevator, Rose found herself thinking not of revenge, but of dinner. Of the way

    Herod''s eyes had lingered on hers. Of the possibility that destroying Camille might be not an end, but a beginning.

    The elevator doors closed, carrying them downward. They stood side by side, not touching but somehow connected by the invisible threads of shared purpose. Of mutual destruction turned to potential creation. "You''re smiling," Herod observed.

    "Am I?" Rose hadn''t realized. "I suppose I''m just looking forward to seeing Camille''s face when she realizes who destroyed her."

    "We," Herod corrected quietly. "Who destroyed her."

    Rose met

    his gaze in the mirrored wall of the elevator. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she didn''t feel alone in her hatred. Didn''t feel like the only one who saw through Camille''s perfect facade. "Yes," she agreed as the elevator reached the ground floor. "We."

    Outside, a sleek ck car waited, engine running. As Rose slid into the leather seat, she realized something else unexpected, beyond the thrill ofing revenge, beyond the strange new connection with Hero Soon Camille would know how it felt to lose everything. To watch your world burn around you while those you trusted turned away. To fall from the heights Rose herself had been pushed from.

    And from those ashes, perhaps something

    new would rise after all. Something Rose hadn''t dared to imagine.

    Not just vengeance.

    But victory.

 Chapter 99

    Chapter 99:

    Morning sunlight

    bathed the construction site in golden light as hundreds gathered for the Phoenix Grid groundbreaking ceremony. Camera crews swarmed like bees, jostling for position around the stage erected at the center of Behind the stage, in a temporary structure serving as a preparation area, Camille stared at her reflection in a full-

    length mirror. Her cream-colored suit

    was impable, her makeup wless, the perfect corporate image Victoria had taught her to project. Yet beneath this polished exterior, unease churned in her stomach.

    Hannah Zhao, the chief engineer, poked her head through the doorway. "Five minutes, Ms. Kane."

    Camille nodded, adjusting the phoenix pin on herpel. Even after discovering the blueprint discrepancies, Victoria had insisted the ceremony proceed as nned. "We don''t show weakness," she had dered we never, ever let our enemies know we''ve spotted them."

    The door opened again. Alexander entered, handsome in a navy suit, his presence immediately filling the small

    space.

    "Nervous?" he asked,ing to stand behind her.

    Their eyes met in

    the mirror. ˇ°Not about the speech," Camille admitted. "But knowing Rose is out there somewhere, watching, nning.....ˇ± Alexander rested his

    hands lightly on her shoulders. Through the fabric of her suit jacket, his touch sent warmth spreading across her skin.

    "We''ve triple-

    checked the modifications to Hannah''s designs," he reminded her. "The sabotage attempt failed. The Grid is safe."

    "For now." Camille turned to face him. "But Rose won''t stop. Neither will her

    mystery partner. And we still don''t know who he is."

    Alexander''s jaw tightened. "My team is close to identifying him. Very close."

    "You''ll tell me as soon as you know?"

    "Immediately," he promised, though something flickered in his eye, a hesitation so brief Camille almost missed

    1. it.

    A production assistant tapped on the door. "Ms. Kane? We''re ready for you."

    Camille took a deep breath, centering herself. Alexander caught her hand.

    "Remember," he said softly, "this is about more than beating Rose. This is your vision. Your

    creation."

    She squeezed his fingers, drawing strength from his steadiness. "Our creation," she corrected. Together they walked out

    into the sunlight, where hundreds of faces turned toward them. Camera shes popped like lightning strikes. Reporters called out questions

    that blended into unintelligible noise. On the stage, Victoria stood at the podium,manding attention with her mere presence despite her recent haggard appearance.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," Victoria''s voice rang out over the crowd. "Today marks not just

    the beginning of a revolutionary power grid that will transform New York''s energy future. It also represents the culmination of a vision, a vision carried forward by my daughter and heir, Camille Kane."

    Victoria gestured toward Camille, who ascended the steps to wild apuse. For a heartbeat, standing beside Victoria, Camille shed back to twenty three months ago, broken, bleeding in a parking garage, he moment to this stage seemed impossible, yet here she stood.

    As Victoria stepped aside, Camille approached the microphone. The crowd hushed. Hundreds of eyes fixed on her face. Somewhere in that sea of humanity, Camille knew, Rose might be watching. Waiting for "Thank you all foring today," Camille began, her voice steady

    despite the storm of emotions inside her. "The Phoenix Grid represents more than sustainable energy. It embodies something I believe in deeply, ttransformation."

    In the front row, Alexander watched her, his presence a silent anchor. Beside him sat the mayor, the governor, and tech

    industry titans who had invested in the project.

    "We named this project after the phoenix for a reason," Camille continued. "In mythology, the phoenix burnspletely, reduced to ashes, yet rises again, not just restored, but made stronger by the very fire tha Her eyes swept across the crowd, making brief contact with individuals, connecting with them just as Victoria had taught her.

    "Many of you know that Kane Industries faced challenges bringing this project to fruition. There were those who said it couldn''t be done. Those who actively worked against us."

    A murmur ran through the crowd. Everyone remembered the stock maniption, the media attacks, the sabotage attempts that had made headlines.

    "But like the phoenix, we didn''t just survive those challenges, we transformed them into opportunities. Each obstacle

    forced us to innovate, to strengthen our designs, to build something better than we had originally conceived."

    Camille paused, letting her

    words sink in. In the distance, beyond the crowd, she caught sight of a sh of movement, a woman with dark sses slipping behind a construction vehicle. Her heart jumped. Rose? She forced herself to continue, refusing to show any reaction. "The Phoenix Grid

    will revolutionize how this city powers itself. Clean energy, intelligently distributed, with backup systems that ensure no neighborhood experiences ckouts while others have excess capacity."

    The technical portion of her speech continued for several minutes, detailing the Grid''s innovations. Throughout, Camille maintained

    her poise, though her senses remained hyperalert for any sign of Rose in the crowd.

    Then she shifted tone, her voice bing more personal. "But today, I want to speak not just about energy transformation, but about personal transformation."

    The crowd stilled, sensing the change.

    "Many of you have experienced moments when everything you counted on vanished. When the life you

    built seemed to crumble beneath your feet."

    In the front row, Alexander leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving her face.

    "Those moments, the ones that burn us down to

    our foundations, they''re terrifying. They''re painful." Camille''s voice softened. "But they also offer us rare gifts. The chance to rebuild. To rise from our own ashes as something stronger, wiser, more resilient than Her hand reached up to touch the phoenix pin at herpel.

    "Second chances don''t erase our scars. They don''t undo the past. But they allow us to use that past, all of it, the

    painful parts especially, as fuel for something new. Something better."

    In that moment, Camille wasn''t speaking as Camille Kane, Victoria''s carefully crafted heir. She was speaking as herself, the woman who had lost everything and still found a way forward.

    "The Phoenix Grid represents Kane Industries''mitment to sustainable energy. But it also symbolizes something I believe in my soul, that transformation isn''t just possible. It''s inevitable, if we have the coura Apuse erupted, scattered at first, then building to a thunderous wave. Victoria, standing to the side, nodded once, a gesture of approval that meant more to Camille than the crowd''s reaction.

    "And now," Camille said when the apuse subsided, "I''d like to invite Alexander Pierce, whosepany

    has been instrumental in developing the revolutionary sr technology that powers the Grid, to join me for the official groundbreaking."

    Alexander mounted the stage in a few graceful strides. Standing beside Camille, he seemed to belong there, his quiet strengthplementing her fire.

    "The Phoenix Grid represents the future," Alexander said into the microphone, his deep voice carrying across the crowd. "But it also represents what happens when visionariese together. Kane Industries b unparalleled engineering expertise. Pierce Enterprises contributed next-

    generation sr technology. Together, we''ve created something neither could have achieved alone."

    His eyes shifted to Camille, and something in his gaze sent heat rushing to her cheeks.

    "Some partnerships are simply meant to be," he

    added, the double meaning clear to anyone watching. A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd as cameras clicked frantically, capturing the moment.

    Victoria stepped forward, breaking the tension. "And now, for the official groundbreaking."

    Three golden shovels waited at the edge of the stage. Victoria, Camille, and Alexander descended the steps together, moving to the prepared patch of earth marked with the Phoenix Grid logo.

    Together, they plunged the shovels into the ground, turning over the first symbolic scoop of dirt as cameras shed and the crowd apuded. Alexander''s shoulder pressed briefly against Camille''s, a touch that ˇ°Ladies and gentlemen, the Phoenix Grid!" Victoria announced.

    The celebration continued for another hour, interviews, photos, congrattions from politicians and business leaders. Through it all, Camille maintained her professional demeanor, though her eyes asionally for any sign of Rose.

    Finally, as the event wound down, Camille found herself alone with Alexander near the edge of the construction site.

    "You were magnificent," he said quietly. "Your speech about transformation, it wasn''t just words for you, was it?" Camille shook her head. "No. Every syble was real."

    He reached for her hand, not caring who might

    see. ˇ°I meant what I said too. About partnerships meant to be." Before she could respond, Victoria approached, her face tight with controlled tension.

    "Security spotted Rose," she said without preamble. "At the back of the crowd during your speech. She was with someone, a man but they disappeared before we could intercept them." Camille''s momentary peace shattered. "Did you identify him?"

    "No." Victoria''s mouth formed a grim line. "But Martin is reviewing the footage now. She wouldn''t havee unless she had some purpose, some n."

    Alexander''s phone buzzed. He nced at the screen, his expression darkening. "I need to take this," he said to Camille. "It''s about that matter we discussed."

    He stepped away, speaking in low tones into his phone. Victoria watched him go, something unreadable in her

    eyes.

    "He''s hiding something," Camille said softly.

    Victoria nodded. "Yes. But the question is whether he''s hiding it from us, or for us."

    Camille turned to scan the construction site where workers were already beginning preliminary work, unaware of the drama unfolding around them. Somewhere in that massive project, Rose had tried to nt the seeds of destruction. Had they truly found all the sabotage attempts? Or was something still waiting, hidden

    deep in the systems, ready to trigger catastrophe?

    The day had been perfect, the ceremony

    wless, her speech powerful, Alexander publicly by her side. Yet as the sun began its descent, casting

    long shadows across

    the construction site, Camille couldn''t shake the feeling that this was merely the calm before a storm whose scope she had yet to fully grasp.

    Alexander returned, his face carefullyposed but tension evident in the set of his shoulders.

    "What is it?" Camille asked.

    He nced at Victoria before answering. "We''ve identified Rose''s partner."

    Victoria stepped closer. "Who?"

    Alexander took a deep breath. "Herod Preston.ˇ±

    The name meant nothing to Camille, but Victoria''s face went so pale Camille feared she might

    faint.

    "Preston?" Victoria whispered. "That''s impossible. The Prestons are gone. I made sure of it."

    "Not all of them," Alexander said grimly. "Not Herod."

    Victoria gripped Camille''s arm with fingers that suddenly seemed bony, fragile. "If Herod Preston is helping Rose, this isn''t about you anymore, Camille. It''s about me. About Sophia.''

    "Who is he?" Camille demanded. "What does he want?"

    Victoria''s eyes, usually so calcting and cool, now burned with something Camille had never seen there before, raw fear.

    "He''s the brother of the man who killed my daughter," Victoria said. "And if

    he''s working with Rose, then this isn''t sabotage. It''s annihtion."

 Chapter 100

    Victoria''s hands shook as she poured

    herself a drink in her office. The setting sun cast long shadows across the room. Outside the floor- to-

    ceiling windows, New York City sparkled, unaware of the storm brewing among its towering buildings.

    "Herod Preston," Victoria whispered the name like a curse, staring into her ss. "After all these years..."

    Camille had never seen Victoria like this, unsteady, shaken to her core. Since Alexander had revealed Rose''s partner at the groundbreaking, Victoria had barely spoken, rushing them back to Kane Industries he "You need to tell me everything," Camille said. "Who is he? What does he want?ˇ±

    Victoria drained

    her ss in one swallow. "Herod Preston is the younger brother of Charles Preston. The man who was engaged to my daughter Sophia before her death."

    She set her ss down with a sharp click.

    "Charles Preston''s family owned Preston Shipping, once a rival

    to Kane Industries. They were old money, very powerful. They didn''t approve of Charles marrying Sophia. When they couldn''t break the engagement, they arranged her car ident." Alexander stood by the window, listening silently.

    "You told me this before," Camille said softly. "You took revenge on them. Destroyed theirpany." Victoria''sugh held no humor. "I did more than that. I made sure every Preston lost everything. Charles "But he mes you for what happened to his family," Alexander said.

    Victoria nodded. "Apparently. I heard he dropped out after his father died. Disappeared. I assumed he''d gone abroad, living on whatever scraps the family had hidden away."

    "Alexander, what did your sources find?" Camille asked.

    Alexander crossed the room, pulling up files on his tablet. "Herod Preston has been operating under various aliases for the past decade. He built a fortune in

    Asia, property development, mostly. Very sessful. Very quiet. He returned to the States two years ago and has been buying uppanies

    through shell corporations."

    "How did he find Rose?" Camille asked.

    "More likely she found him," Victoria said. "Rose

    has always had a talent for sniffing out useful allies. And someone hungry for revenge against me would be irresistible to her."

    Carmille rose from her chair. "So this isn''t just about me anymore. Rose brought Herod into this because he wants to hurt you. By targeting the Phoenix Grid, he strikes at both of us." Victoria''s eyes met Camille''s. "Yes, And Camille, I''m sorry, I''ve put you in danger. Again."

    The raw pain in Victoria''s voice stripped away years of her carefully constructed armor. In that moment, she wasn''t the powerful CEO, the vengeful mother, the calcting mentor. She was simply a woman frigh Camille crossed the room and knelt beside Victoria''s chair, taking her cold hands. "No. Don''t you dare me yourself. Rose is my fight. She''s been my fight since she tried to kill me."

    "But Herod..."

    "Herod made his choice when he partnered with Rose. When he targeted the Phoenix Grid." Camille squeezed Victoria''s hands. "We''ve faced enemies before. We''ll face this one too."

    Victoria shook her head. "You don''t understand. The Prestans were different. Charles was... unstable. Brilliant but unhinged. Herod was always the same, quieter, more calcting. If he''s spent ten years nni "Then we''ll spend however long it takes stopping him," Camille finished firmly. She stood up. "I won''t let you fight him alone."

    Victoria looked up, surprise shing across her face.

    "From the moment you found me in that parking garage, you''ve fought for me,ˇ± Camille continued. "You reshaped me. Gave me purpose. A new life. Everything I am now, I owe to you.''

    "Camille..."

    "No, let me finish." Camille''s voice grew stronger. "You taught me to never show weakness. To always strike first. To use every resource at my disposal." She ced her hand over Victoria''s. "Well, now I''m using Alexander stepped closer. "She''s right, Victoria. Divided, Herod and Rose can pick us off one by one. Together, they don''t stand a chance."

    Victoria''s eyes moved between them, something shifting in her expression. Slowly, the familiar steel returned to her gaze.

    "Together," she

    repeated, as if testing the word. "It''s been a long time since I trusted anyone enough to fight alongside them."

    "Then it''s about time you started," Camille said.

    Victoria stood, smoothing her suit jacket. "They''ll expect us to be defensive now. To focus on protecting the Grid. Especially after the groundbreaking."

    Alexander nodded. "Which means we need to be offensive instead."

    "Exactly." Victoria

    moved to her desk, pressing the inte. "Sarah, get me the files on all Preston family holdings from ten years ago. And schedule a meeting with the legal team for seven AM tomorrow."

    She released the button and turned back to Camille and Alexander. "If Herod''s been operating under aliases, there must be a paper trail somewhere. We find

    his assets, we find his weaknesses."

    "I''ll have my team working through the night," Alexander said.

    Camille watched them shift into strategic mode, but her mind was elsewhere.... on Rose. Rose, who had manipted

    everyone since childhood. Rose, who wouldn''t stop until she had destroyed everything Camille loved.

    "What are you thinking?" Victoria asked.

    "Rose won''t be satisfied with just damaging the Grid," Camille said slowly. "She wants me to suffer. To watch everything I care about burn."

    She turned to face them both.

    Victoria''s eyes widened slightly, "You think she''ll go after Alexander? Or me?"

    "Eventually. Yes." Camille''s throat tightened. "Rose has always wanted what I have. She took Stefan. She tried to take my family, my reputation, my status. Now she''ll want to take...

    Alexander crossed the room in three quick strides, taking her face in his hands. "Let her try."

    His touch anchored her, pushing back the wave of fear threatening to drown her. In his eyes, she saw not just affection but fierce determination.

    "I''m not Stefan," he said quietly. "I won''t be manipted. I won''t

    be turned. And I''m a lot harder to get rid of than she thinks."

    Victoria watched them, then opened her desk

    drawer and removed something small and silver. She

    held it out to Camille, a pin in the shape of a knight chess piece.

    "I was going to give you this after the Grid went online," Victoria said. "The knight, the piece that moves differently than all the others. The piece that can leap over obstacles. The piece that''s most dangerous wh Camille took the pin, feeling its weight in her palm.

    "Now I think you need it sooner," Victoria continued. "To remind you that sometimes the best move isn''t the obvious one."

    "Thank you," Camille said, pinning it beside her phoenix emblem.

    Victoria straightened. "We''ll need to move quickly. I want twenty-four-

    hour security on all of us. Full background checks on everyone working on the Grid project."

    "Done," Alexander said.

    "And Rose?" Camille asked.

    Victoria''s mouth tightened. "We need to draw her out. Force her to show her hand."

    "How?"

    "By giving her something she can''t resist." Victoria rubbed her temples. "What does Rose want more than anything?"

    "To destroy me," Camille said. "To take everything I have."

    "Exactly. And right now, what''s most important to you?"

    "The Phoenix Grid." Camille understood immediately. "We make her think we''ve discovered a w in the system. Something that could dy theunch."

    Alexander nodded. "A carefully leaked internal memo suggesting security concerns. Technical problems that need addressing."

    "Rose will think her sabotage was discovered," Camille continued, "but notpletely understood. She''ll want to know exactly what we found, and what we missed."

    "And Herod will want to adjust his timeline," Victoria added. "They''ll need tomunicate, to coordinate."

    Victoria studied them both. "You''re not ready to go public.

    "No. Not yet. Not like this," Camille exchanged a nce with Alexander. "What we have is too new, too personal to. use as a strategic move."

    "We don''t want Rose targeting it specifically," Alexander added. "Better to keep it private, protected."

    Victoria nodded. "I understand. Some weapons are best kept sheathed until the perfect moment. We''ll find another way to draw them out."

    Camille felt relief wash through her. What was growing between her and Alexander felt precious, fragile despite its

    strength.

    "Thank you," she said softly.

    Victoria''s gaze sharpened. "Don''t thank me yet. This fight is just beginning, and it will get much worse before it ends. Herod Preston spent a decade rebuilding from nothing. That kind of patience, that level of de "Neither will we," Camille said firmly.

    Victoria smiled then, a real smile that transformed her face. "No. We won''t."

    She turned to Alexander. "Have your team leak that internal memo first thing tomorrow. Make it seem idental, an email sent to the wrong distribution list, perhaps.ˇ±

    "Consider it done."

    Victoria moved toward the door. "Now, if you''ll excuse me, I need to make some calls."

    At the doorway, she paused, looking back at Camille. "Camille... thank you. For saying you won''t let me fight alone. It''s been a very long time since anyone stood with me.

    Before Camille could respond, Victoria was gone.

    Alexander took Camille''s hand. "Are you alright?"

    ˇ°No,ˇ± she admitted. ˇ°I''m scared. Not for myself, but for her. For you."

    "Hey," Alexander said gently, pulling her closer. "Remember what you told Victoria? Together. We fight together.

    "Besides," he added, a hint of steel entering his

    voice, ˇ°Rose may think she knows you. But she has no idea who I am. What I''m capable of."

    Camille caught a glimpse of something hard and dangerous beneath his usual controlled exterior.

    "You''ve been fighting for me from the shadows all this time," she said softly. "Now we fight side by side."

    "Side by side," he agreed. "No more operating separately. No more secrets between us."

    His phone buzzed. He frowned at the screen. "My team found something. Herod has been movingrge sums to offshore ounts. Recently."

    "What does it mean?"

    "It means he''s preparing for something big." Alexander''s eyes met

    hers. "Camille, whatever''sing... it''s

    But even as she spoke the words, a whisper of doubt curled through her mind. Rose had always been one step ahead. And now, with Herod Preston beside her, with resources and hatred fueling them both...

 Chapter 101

    The clock on Camille''s office wall

    ticked past eleven. Most of Kane Industries had emptied hours ago, but Camille, couldn''t rest, not with Victoria''s revtions about Herod Preston still echoing in her mind.

    A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts.

    "Come in," she called.

    Hannah Zhao, the Phoenix Grid''s chief engineer, entered clutching a stack of rolled blueprints. Her normally neat appearance had frayed, hair escaping its bun, dark circles under her eyes.

    "Ms. Kane, I''m sorry to bother you sote, but..." Hannah hesitated.

    Camille motioned to the chair across from her desk. "It''s fine. What''s wrong?"

    Hannah sat, cing the blueprints between them. "I''ve been going over these since the groundbreaking ceremony.

    She unrolled the top sheet. "Something feels... off."

    "Off how?"

    "After finding those modifications to the safety protocolsst week, I startedparing

    every version of the blueprints."

    She pointed to a section showing the Grid''s main junction box. "This is what I designed originally," Hannah said, then unrolled a second blueprint. "And this is what''s currently on file for construction." To Camille''s untrained eye, they looked identical.

    "What am I missing?" she asked.

    Hannah retrieved a magnifying ss. "Look at the temperature sensors here, here, and here. The specifications are off by tiny increments. Half a millimeter in cement. Two degrees in the trigger threshold. A Camille examined the areas Hannah indicated. "These are very small changes."

    "Individually, yes. But collectively? These modifications would allow the junction boxes to overheat without triggering the emergency shutdown protocols. The system would continue operating as if everything we

    "How dangerous?"

    Hannah met her eyes directly. "Catastrophic failure. Potential explosions at multiple sites. Massive power outages. And the modifications would make it look like design ws, like Kane Industries had built an inh Camille sat back, the implications hitting her. This wasn''t just sabotage, it was

    character assassination.

    "When did you first notice these discrepancies?" Camille asked.

    "I caught some before the groundbreaking, the ones I showed you and Mr. Piercest week. We fixed those. But these are different. More subtle. It''s like someone went through twice, making different kinds of o Or two different people made changes," Camille murmured, thinking of Rose and Herod.

    "Maybe." Hannah looked uneasy. "What I can''t figure out

    how anyone got ess. Our system requires multiple authorizations, biometric verification...."

    "Someone on the inside." Camille stood abruptly. "Keep this between us for now. I''m calling Mr. Pierce, and then we''re going through every blueprint. Every specification."

    "That could take all night," Hannah said.

    Camille nodded grimly. "Then we''d better get started."

    ****

    By one in the morning, Camille''s office had transformed. Blueprints covered every surface,vher desk, the conference table, even sections of the floor. Hannah had sketched diagrams on the ss wall with erasa Alexander had arrived within thirty minutes of Camille''s call, bringing

    coffee and a focused intensity. He now sat cross-

    legged on the floor,paring circuit diagrams.

    "Seventeen distinct modifications," Hannah announced, adding another mark to her tally. "All made within thest three weeks."

    "All targeting safety systems," Alexander added. "Nothing that would affect performance during testing or initial operation."

    "They wanted it to fail spectacrly. After we''d dered it safe."

    Camille rubbed her eyes. "After people started relying on it."

    Hannah picked up another blueprint. "They focus on the intersection points, where

    our system connects to the city''s existing power grid. That''s where feedback loops could create the most damage."

    "Maximum chaos," Alexander said. "Maximum me on Kane Industries."

    Camille moved to the window. "We need to identify who made these changes. Every modification should have a digital signature."

    Hannah nodded, pulling out herptop. "I can run a trace. But if they were smart enough to ess the system..." "They were smart enough to cover their tracks," Alexander finished.

    While Hannah worked, Camille joined Alexander, examining the circuit diagrams. Their shoulders touched as they leaned over the same document. She foundfort in his steady presence.

    "Do you think Rose understands any of this technical material?" she asked quietly.

    Alexander shook his head. "Not likely. But Herod might. Or they''ve hired someone."

    "The electrician," Camille realized. "Someone on the construction crew. Someone with ess and technical knowledge."

    "Found something!" Hannah interrupted. "The system logs show blueprint ess from authorized terminals, but at odd hours. When the primary users weren''t in the building ording to security logs."

    She turned her screen toward

    them. "See these timestamps 2:14 AM. 3:47 AM. No one from the engineering team

    was here."

    "Stolen credentials," Alexander suggested.

    "Maybe. But look at this entry. The biometric scan registered as Louis Brown, one of our senior electricians. At 4: 30 AM on a Sunday." "Could someone have faked his biometrics?" Camille asked

    Hannah shook her head. "Not easily. Our system uses multiple validation points, fingerprint, retinal scan, and voice recognition."

    Camille and Alexander exchanged a look. "So either Louis is involved, or someone forced him to provide ess." "Either way, we need to find him." Alexander pulled out his phone.

    "Wait," Camille ced her hand over his. "If he is working with Rose and Herod, and we confront him directly..."

    "They''ll know we''re onto them," Alexander finished. "But we also can''t let these

    modified blueprints remain in the system."

    Hannah looked between them. "I can create a new set of blueprints with

    the correct specifications. Upload them as an ''updated

    version'' rather than gging the current ones.

    "Would that work?" Camille asked.

    Hannah nodded. "It''s standard procedure to issue revisions. No

    one would question it."

    "Do it," Camille said. "But keep the modified versions for evidence."

    While Hannah worked, Alexander pulled Camille aside. "We need to watch Walsh without alerting him. If he''s their inside man, he could lead

    us to Rose and Herod."

    "I agree. But we also need to check every other system. If theypromised the blueprints, what else might they have essed?"

    For the next hour, they reviewed security protocols, testing procedures, and implementation schedules. The sabotage wasprehensive, clearly the work of someone with both technical knowledge and es By three in the morning, Hannah had uploaded corrected blueprints. Alexander had arranged surveince on James Walsh using

    his own resources to avoid potential leaks.

    Camille stared at the ss wall covered in Hannah''s

    markings, each representing a potential disaster averted. Rose hadn''t just tried to destroy the Grid, she''d tried to destroy Camille''s reputation, her future, possibly her freedom if the failures had been med on "We should get some rest," Alexander said softly. "Hannah''s nearly asleep at her keyboard."

    After Hannah left, Camille copsed onto her office sofa. The weight of everything, Victoria''s

    revtions about Herod, the blueprint sabotage, the knowledge that someone inside Kane Industries had betrayed them, crushed down on her.

    Alexander sat beside her, taking her hand. "We caught it in time. The Grid is safe now,

    "This time," Camille said. "But Rose and Herod won''t stop. They''ll try something else."

    "Next time we''ll be

    ready," Alexander assured her. "They think their sabotage is still in ce. That gives us an advantage."

    Camille wanted to believe him. But the nagging feeling that they were missing something crucial wouldn''t leave her.

    "What if the blueprints are just one part of their n?" she asked. "What if there''s something else we haven''t found yet?" Alexander squeezed her hand. "Then we''ll find it. Together

    As Camille gathered the scattered blueprints, a thought struck her. "These modifications are incredibly technical. But they also required intimate knowledge of our security systems. That suggests two people, a "Walsh could be the technical expert," Alexander suggested. "But who''s the insider?"

    Camille stilled. "Someone high enough to ess secure systems. Someone who''s been here long enough to know all our

    protocols."

    "You''re thinking of a specific person."

    Camille nodded slowly. "Damon Greene. Head of Special Projects. He worked with Victoria for fifteen years. He has ess to everything, including biometric systems."

    "Why would he help Rose?"

    "I don''t know. But he always seemed to resent Victoria bringing me in. And he was travelingst month when the first modifications appeared. Supposedly at our Tokyo office, but..."

    "I''ll have him checked out," Alexander promised. "Discreetly."

    Camille nodded, though unease still prickled along her skin "What if Rose and Herod have allies

    throughout Kane Industries?"

    He rose, crossing to her. "Then we trust no one except each other and Victoria."

    His face was set in determination, but his eyes held a softness reserved only for her.

    "I won''t let them hurt you," he said quietly.

    Camille leaned forward, resting her forehead against his chest. She felt his arms encircle her, solid and secure. "Promise me something,ˇ± she whispered.

    "Anything."

    "Promise me we won''t be them. That in

    fighting Rose and Herod, we lose ourselves to hatred. To revenge."

    His arms tightened around her. "I promise."

    Outside, the first pale light of dawn touched the horizon. A new day beginning, bringing new dangers. But for the first time since learning about Herod Preston, Camille felt something besides fear and determinat

    She felt hope. Small and fragile, but present nheless.

    Together, they had uncovered the sabotage in time. Together, they would face whatever came next.

    But as Camille gathered thest of the blueprints, doubt echoed in her mind. They had found these modifications, but

    what if there were others, hidden deeper? What if this discovery was exactly what Rose and Herod wanted, to give them false confidence?

    She nced at Alexander, now arranging surveince on Brown and Greene. She wouldn''t share her doubts yet. Not until she had something concrete.

    For now, they would proceed ording to n. Correct the sabotage. Track the traitors. Draw Rose and Herod into the open.

    But Camille couldn''t shake the feeling that the real danger till lurked unseen, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

 Chapter 102

    Rain streaked down the windows of Herod Preston''s penthouse, turning Manhattan''s skyline into a blurry watercolor painting. Rose stood at the ss, watching lightning sh between the clouds. Her reflection Behind her, Herod ended his phone call and set his cell on the marble counter with a soft click. The sound pulled Rose from her thoughts.

    "Well?" she asked, not turning around.

    "It''s confirmed." His voice carried that smooth confidence that had first drawn her to him. "Walsh says construction is proceeding exactly ording to our modified ns. He installed the final set of altered circui Rose pressed her palm against the cool ss. "And no one noticed the changes?"

    "No one. Not even the chief engineer." His footsteps approached, slow and measured. "The beauty of our modifications

    is their

    subtlety. Each change looks legitimate on its own. Only when viewed collectively do they create the perfect storm."

    A smile touched Rose''s lips. Perfect storm. How fitting. She''d spent her entire life creating storms in Camille''s perfect world..

    "How long until it fails?" she asked.

    "The Grid goes fully operational in six days." Herod now stood directly behind her, close enough that she could feel his body heat. "The safety systems are designed to run seventy-

    two hours of testing before full power integration. Once they connect to the city''s main power supply..."

    "Boom," Rose whispered, watching lightning split the sky.

    "Precisely." His hand came to rest

    on her shoulder. "And Camille Kane will be held responsible for the greatest engineering disaster in New York''s history."

    Rose turned to face him. Herod''s dark eyes held hers, intense and unreadable. She''d worked with him for weeks now, plotting Camille''s destruction, yet sometimes he remained a mystery. A dangerous one. "Victoria will protect her," Rose said, her old bitterness rising. ˇ°She always protects her precious new daughter."

    "Not this time." Herod''s thumb traced a small circle on her shoulder, the gesture oddly intimate. "The evidence will be overwhelming. Criminal negligence at minimum. Potentially even charges of knowingly endangering public safety for profit."

    "Prison," Rose breathed, the word sweet on her tongue.

    "If she''s lucky." Herod''s mouth curved into a smile that never reached his eyes. "More likely, Victoria Kane''s empire will copse trying to defend against thewsuits. The stock will plummet. The board will remo He moved to the bar, pouring amber liquid into two crystal sses. "A perfect revenge for both of us. Victoria loses everything, just as my family did. And your sister..." He handed Rose a ss. "Your sister lose Rose epted the drink, the crystal cool against her fingers "To perfect revenge," she said, raising her ss.

    "To mutual satisfaction." Herod clinked his ss against hers, his eyes never leaving her face as they both drank.

    The liquor burned pleasantly down Rose''s throat. She wandered to therge desk where multiple screens disyed different angles of the Phoenix Grid construction site. Workers in hard hats moved about like "Look at them," she murmured. "No idea what''sing."

    Herod moved beside her, setting his ss down on the desk "Do you ever wonder," he asked, his voice lower now, "what you''ll do after?"

    The question caught Rose off-

    guard. She''d been so focused on destroying Camille, on taking back what should have been hers, that she''d given little thought to what came next.

    "After?" she repeated.

    "After Camille is disgraced. After Victoria''s empire falls." His eyes studied her face. "After you''ve won."

    Rose considered the question. Before meeting Herod, her vision had extended only to Camille''s destruction. But working with him had awakened something new in her, ambition beyond mere revenge. "I haven''t decided," she admitted. "What about you? After you buy Kane Industries

    for nothing, what then?"

    ˇ°I rebuild it. Rebrand it. Turn it into something greater than Victoria

    ever imagined." He leaned against the desk, facing her. "But businesses are only as strong as the people who run them."

    The implication hung in the air between them. Rose set her ss down beside his, suddenly aware of how close they stood, how alone they were in the vast penthouse with the storm raging outside. "Are you offering me a job, Herod?" she asked, her voice deliberately light.

    "I''m suggesting a partnership." His eyes darkened. "We work well together, Rose. We understand each other in ways few

    people could. We both know what it means to be overlooked, underestimated, denied what''s rightfully ours."

    Lightning

    shed again, briefly illuminating the room in harsh white light. In that sh, Rose saw something in Herod''s face, hunger, yes, but also something that looked almost like vulnerability.

    "A business partnership?" she asked, stepping closer.

    "To start." His voice dropped lower. "Though I find myself wondering if it might be something more,"

    The confession surprised her. In their weeks of nning, Herod had been all cold calction and strategic thinking.

    This hint of personal interest was unexpected, and strangely thrilling.

    "Something more," she echoed, testing the words. "Like what?"

    Instead of answering, Herod reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The gesture was tentative, almost gentle, at odds with the ruthless businessman she''de to know.

    "I didn''t n for this," he said quietly. "When I agreed to help you destroy Camille Kane, I saw it as a means to my own revenge against Victoria. Nothing more."

    "And now?" Rose asked, her heart beating faster.

    "Now I find myself thinking about you. Not just about our n. About you." His fingers lingered at her jawline. "About your mind. Your determination. Your willingness to do whatever it takes to get what you want Rose had manipted men all her life. Stefan had been easy-

    weak, easily swayed by ttery and attention. But Herod was different. Sharper. More dangerous.

    And infinitely more interesting.

    "Those aren''t exactly romantic qualities," she said.

    "Aren''t they?" The corner of his mouth lifted. "I don''t want some fragile flower, Rose. I want an equal. Someone who understands that power is never given, it must be taken."

    The words resonated deep within her. No one had ever seen her so clearly before. Not her adoptive parents, certainly not Stefan, and especially not Camille. They''d all wanted her to be something else, grateful But Herod did. He saw it, understood it, admired it.

    "And if I don''t want a partnership?" she asked, testing him.

    His eyes hardened slightly. "Then we finish our n. Destroy Kane Industries. Get our revenge. And part ways as... what? Sessful co-

    conspirators?"

    The thought of walking away after it was done, of never seeing Herod again left an unexpected hollow feeling

    in Rose''s chest. She reached up, covering his hand with hers where it rested against her face.

    "And if I do want it?" she asked softly..

    Something red in his eyes, triumph, desire, relief? Rose couldn''t tell. Before she could analyze it further, Herod leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

    The kiss was nothing like she expected. Not calcted or controlling or cold. It was hungry, almost desperate, as if he''d been holding himself back for weeks. His hands slid into her hair, cradling her head as the

    Rose found herself responding with equal intensity, her fingers gripping thepels of his expensive suit. For so long, she''d channeled all her passion into hatred, into destroying Camille. This new outlet for her emotions felt dangerously liberating.

    When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, the storm outside had intensified. Rainshed against the windows, and thunder rumbled through the sky.

    "Well," Herod said, his voice rougher than usual. "I suppose that answers the question."

    Roseughed, a realugh, without the bitterness that usually colored her humor. "I''m not that easy to read."

    "No," he agreed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You''re not. That''s part of what fascinates me."

    He led her to the ck leather sofa facing the wall of windows. They sat close, the electricity between them almost as palpable as the lightning outside. "You know," Rose said, curling her legs beneath her, "thisplicates things."

    "How so?"

    "When we started this, it was purely business. Revenge. Clean and simple." She traced a pattern on the leather between them. "Now it''s..."

    "Personal," he finished for her.

    "Yes." She looked up at him. "Is that wise?"

    Herod considered her question, his

    fingers ying with a strand of her hair. "Probably not," he admitted. "But wisdom is overrated."

    Their second kiss was slower, more deliberate, but no less intense. Rose found herself melting into it, into him, all thoughts of Camille and Victoria temporarily pushed aside. This wasn''t part of the n, but may Later, muchter, theyy tangled together on Herod''s massive bed, watching the storm gradually subside through the bedroom windows. Rose''s head rested on his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath her ear "What happens if something goes wrong?" she asked suddenly. "With

    the Grid, I mean."

    Herod''s hand, which had been stroking her back, paused. "Nothing will go wrong. The modifications are perfect."

    "But if they find them somehow? If Camille or that engineer discovers what we''ve done?"

    "They won''t." His voice held

    absolute confidence. "The changes are too subtle to catch unless someone knows exactly what to

    look for. And by the time anyone realizes something''s wrong, it will be toote."

    Rose wanted to believe him. But she''d underestimated Camille before. Her sister had a way of surviving, of turning disaster into opportunity. Just as she had transformed from the broken woman signing divorce papers into Victoria Kane''s powerful heir.

    "We should have a backup n,ˇ± Rose insisted, propping herself up to look at him. ˇ°Something else in motion, just in case.ˇ±

    Herod studied her face, then nodded slowly. "You''re right. It''s good strategy."

    He sat up, reaching for his robe on the bedside chair. "Actually, I may already have something in mind. A contingency I''ve been developing."

    "Tell me," Rose said, wrapping the sheet around herself as she watched him move to the desk across the room.

    Herod returned with a tablet, sitting beside her on the bed. He pulled up a filebeled "Phoenix G" and handed it to her.

    "What''s this?" she asked, scrolling through what appeared to be security details and floor ns.

    "Kane Industries is nning a charity g to celebrate the Phoenix Grid going live." His finger tapped

    the screen. "All their key people will be there. Camille. Victoria. Alexander Pierce. The engineers. The board members."

    Understanding dawned on Rose. "The perfect target."

    Herod nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. "If the Grid fails, wonderful. But if not..."

    "We bring the disaster to them directly," Rose finished, a thrill running through her.

    "Exactly." He took the tablet back, setting it aside before pulling her close again. "See? This is why we make such good partners. You anticipate. You prepare for all contingencies."

    Rose smiled, settling against him. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she felt truly understood. Truly valued.

    "Partners," she repeated, liking how the word felt on her tongue.

    Outside, the storm had passed. The city lights twinkled through the clearing sky, millions of people going about their lives, unaware of the destruction being nned in this high- rise sanctuary.

    Rose closed her eyes, contentment washing over her. Soon Camille would lose everything. Victoria

    would watch her empire crumble. And Rose, Rose would finally win.

    But now, she realized, victory would taste even sweeter. Because she wouldn''t be celebrating alone.

 Chapter 103

    Camille felt sick imagining it. "Your family..."

    "Closed ranks around Thomas. Made sure no one knew he''d been drinking. Paid off witnesses." Alexander''s voice hardened. "My father made it clear that the family reputation was more important than anything "That''s horrible," Camille whispered.

    "It

    was rifying," Alexander corrected. "I saw my family for what they really were. The moment I could walk well enough, I

    left. Took the trust fund money they couldn''t legally keep from me and disappeared."

    He pulled the car to a stop in front of a small brick apartment building. Nothing special, just one of thousands of such buildings in Boston.

    "I came to Boston. Rented an apartment in this building. Started over." He nodded toward the building. "I was determined to make it on my own, to build something my own way. Got a job on the loading docks a Camille tried to picture

    Alexander, now one of the world''s wealthiest men, living in that ordinary building, working on a loading dock.

    "And then came the second ident," Alexander continued his expression changing. "The one where our paths first crossed."

    He reached into his pocket and removed something small and silver. When

    he opened his palm, Camille saw the delicate rose pendant on a thin chain, the one she had given him years ago, the one he

    had returned to her that night he first mentioned their connection.

    "You kept it all this time?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

    "It was my talisman," Alexander said quietly. "When things got hard... and they did, many times, I''d hold it and remember that someone had once seen value in me when I couldn''t see it in myself." He started the car again, driving a

    few blocks to a sleek office building with "Pierce Technologies" emzoned on the side.

    "I built my firstpany here. Developed shipping logistics software that revolutionized the industry. By twenty-

    three, I was a Billionaire. By twenty six, a Trillionaire." His voice remained matter-

    of-

    fact, without boasting. And when I crossed into trillionaire territory three years ago, guess who suddenly wanted to reconnect?" wanted to reconnect?"

    "Your family," Camille said.

    "My parents, yes. Thomas had died by then, ironically in another car ident, this time with no one to me but himself." A shadow crossed Alexander''s face. "They reached out throughwyers first. heal the family rift,'' they said."

    "What did you do?" Camille asked.

    When directly. Wanted to ''

    "I cut them off

    how people treat you when you have nothing to offer them

    ''t just blood, Camille. It''s

    The words resonated deeply with her, thinking of how easily her parents had sided with Rose, how quickly Stefan had betrayed her.

    "I''ve wanted to tell you all this for so long," Alexander said turning to face her fully. "From

    the moment I recognized you at that charity g, I''ve wanted to exin everything. But I was afraid."

    "Afraid of what?" Camille asked softly.

    "That you''d think I was using our past connection to manipte you. To get close to you." His eyes held hers, vulnerability visible for perhaps the first time since she''d known him. "I wanted to earn your trust on

    The tenderness of this gesture, protecting her from feeling manipted when maniption had defined her rtionship with Rose, with Stefan, even at times

    with Victoria, undid something tight and guarde in Camille''s chest.

    She reached forward, taking the pendant from his palm. Their fingers brushed, sending warmth up her arm. "It protected you," she said softly. "Just like I hoped it would."

    "It did more than that." Alexander''s voice dropped lower. It led me back to you."

    Camille looked up, meeting his gaze. All the carefully

    constructed walls Victoria had helped her build, the strategic thinking, the emotional distance, the calcted moves, crumbled in that moment. Not because they were weak, but because she chose to lower ther Her hand rose to touch his face, fingertips tracing the line of his jaw. "Alexander..."

    He covered her hand with his, turning his face to press a kiss against her palm. The gesture was so tender, so genuine, that Camille felt tears threatening.

    "I thought I would never feel this again," she whispered. "After Rose and Stefan... I thought that part of me

    was dead."

    "Nothing dies

    thatpletely," Alexander murmured. "Not when the roots are strong."

    He leaned forward slowly, giving her time to pull away. But Camille didn''t want distance anymore. She closed the final

    space between them, her lips meeting his.

    The kiss was nothing like the tentative, careful moments they had

    shared before. This was likeing home to a ce she hadn''t known she missed. His arms encircled her pulling her closer despite the awkward confines of the car. Her hands slid up to his shoulders, feeling as affected as she was.

    When they finally broke apart, Camille kept her eyes closed, savoring the moment. Alexander''s forehead rested against hers, their breath mingling.

    "I''ve wanted to do that since I saw you walk into that charity

    g," he admitted, his voice rough. walk into that charity g," he admitted, his voice rough.

    Camille smiled, her eyes opening to meet his. "Just since then?"

    His answering smile held a hint

    of boyishness she''d never seen before. "Well, maybe longer. But I''m trying not to sound obsessive."

    Sheughed, a realugh that surprised her with its freedom. How long had it been since she''dughed without calction or strategy?

    Alexander''s eyes darkened as he watched her, something almost reverent in his expression. "You''re extraordinary, Camille. Not because of Victoria''s training or your revenge or even your sess. Because of

    The words touched something deep within her, a recognition of her truest self, the part that even Victoria''s careful molding hadn''t erased.

    "I want to be her again," Camille said softly. "Not just Victoria''s creation. Not just the woman seeking revenge. I want to be... whole."

    Alexander tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You alreally are. All those parts make you who you are now. Thepassion and the strength. The vulnerability and the power."

    He took her hand, cing the silver rose pendant in her palm and folding her fingers over it. "Keep this. It''spleted its journey."

    Camille looked down at their joined hands. "What happens now? With Rose and Herod still out there..."

    "We fight them together," Alexander said simply. "But we don''t let them define us. We don''t let revenge be our only purpose."

    He gazed out at the Pierce Technologies building, then back to the woman beside him. "I built thispany to prove something, to my family, to the world, to myself. But the most meaningful thing I''ve done was Something shifted in Camille''s heart, not the sharp, vengeful determination Victoria had cultivated, but a softer, truer resolve. She thought of the blueprint sabotage, of Rose and Herod plotting to destroy everyth The strongest response to those who tried to destroy you wasn''t just survival. It was to thrive. To build. To love. "Yes," she said, closing her hand around the pendant. "Something new."

    As Alexander''s lips found hers again, Camille felt the final piece of her transformation click into ce. Not Camille Lewis, the naive wife betrayed by her husband and sister. Not Camille Kane, Victoria''s carefully carried the strength of both while bing something greater.

    Someone who could face Rose and Herod not just with vengeance, but with purpose beyond destruction. Someone who could love without fear.

 Chapter 104

    The basement level of Kane Industries glowed with harsh fluorescent light at two in the morning. While most of the building sat dark and empty, the engineeringb hummed with tense activity. Sheets of bluepri covered every surface. Monitors disyedplex

    circuit diagrams and safety protocols. The air smelled of coffee and

    stress.

    Hannah Zhao stood at the center of it all, hair pulled

    back in a messy bun, dark circles under her eyes. She hadn''t gone home in thirty-

    six hours. Neither had the six engineers she''d personally selected for this shadow team, the only people besides Camille, Alexander, and Victoria who knew about the sabotage of the Phoenix Grid. "Li, what''s the status on the junction box rewiring?" Hannah

    asked, not looking up from the circuit board she was examining through a magnifying ss.

    Li, a thin man with wire-

    rimmed sses, didn''t pause his typing. "Schematicsplete. I''ve isted all fourteen tampered triggers and recalibrated them to the correct specs."

    Hannah nodded, marking something on her tablet. "Good. Park, how about the emergency shutdown protocol?"

    Across the room, a woman with short-cropped

    hair shook her head. "It''s worse than we thought. They didn''t just modify the temperature sensors. They rigged the entire backup system to fail simultaneously instead of in sequence."

    Hannah''s stomach tightened. The sabotage grew more rming the deeper they dug. This wasn''t just an attempt to cause the Grid to fail, it was designed to make it fail catastrophically, with maximum damage A voice spoke from the doorway. "How bad is it?"

    Hannah turned to see Camille standing there. Despite thete hour, she looked perfectly put together in a tailored pantsuit, though exhaustion shadowed her eyes.

    "Ms. Kane." Hannah straightened. "We didn''t expect you tonight."

    "I couldn''t sleep." Camille crossed to the main workstation "Show me what you''ve found."

    Hannah pulled up the master diagram on the main screen. Red marks highlighted each sabotagedponent, there were dozens, spread throughout the Grid''s main systems.

    "They were... thorough," Hannah said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Every critical safety system has beenpromised in some way. Temperature sensors set too high. Circuit breakers modified to allow po Camille''s face remainedposed, but Hannah saw her hands clench at her sides. "And the result?"

    "If the Grid went online with these modifications..." Hannah paused, the words sticking in her throat. "The main junction boxes would overheat within seventy-

    two hours. The safety systems would report everything functioning normally even as temperatures reached dangerous levels. When the system finally failed, it would trigger a cascading power surge through the "Explosions?" Camille asked softly.

    Hannah nodded, "Multiple sites. Simultaneous. The downtown power

    grid would go down con?pletely. And the public record would show that Kane Industries knowingly implemented a wed system."

    A muscle twitched in Camille''s jaw, the only sign of the anger she must be feeling.

    "But we''re fixing it," Hannah added quickly. "We''ve already corrected the blueprint modifications. We''re now

    implementing physical changes to counteract any hardware that''s already been installed ording to the sabotaged ns."

    "And no one outside this room knows what we''re doing?" Camille surveyed the small team.

    "No one." Hannah lowered her voice. "We''re logging all our work as routine pre-

    Camille''s gaze swept over the exhausted engineers. "You''re all taking an enormous risk. Rose and her partner have already shown they''re willing to hurt people to get what they want."

    The room fell silent. Until now, no one had openly acknowledged the danger they might be in.

    "We believe in the Phoenix Grid," Hannah said after a moment. "And we

    believe in you, Ms. Kane."

    Something flickered across Camille''s face, surprise, perhaps, or a deeper emotion Hannah couldn''t name. She turned away quickly, examining one of the circuit boards.

    "How soon can the corrections bepleted?" Camille asked.

    Hannah checked her timeline. "Three more nights, if we work straight through. We need to rece forty-

    three physicalponents that have already been installed."

    "And what about James Walsh?" Camille asked, referring to the electrician they''d identified as Rose''s mole.

    "We''re... handling him carefully." Hannah pulled up a security feed on her tablet, showing a middle-

    aged man with thinning ginger hair installingponents at one of the secondary Grid sites. "We''ve kept him assigned to non-

    critical systems. Everything he installs gets quietly removed and reced after his shift ends."

    Camille nodded, satisfaction briefly crossing her features. "Good. And he''s still reporting to Rose?"

    "ording to Mr. Pierce''s surveince, yes. Daily updates. Hannah hesitated, then added, "He has no idea we''re

    onto him, or that we''re correcting the sabotage."

    "Keep it that way," Camille said. "We need Rose and her partner to believe their n is working."

    **

    James Walsh wiped sweat from his forehead as he finished installing the modified circuit board. His hands shook slightly, they always did now, ever since he''d gotten involved in

    this mess. The empty construction site felt eerie at night, lit only by temporary work lights that cast long shadows across the unfinished walls.

    The job had seemed straightforward when he''d agreed to it. A

    man iming to represent one of Kane Industries''petitors had approached him with an offer: make some small modifications to the Phoenix Gridponents, get paid fifty thousand dors. Enough to finally pay off his ex-

    wife''s medical bills, enough to maybe start seeing his kids again.

    ˇ°Just dy the project,ˇ± the man had said. ˇ°Nothing dangerous. Just enough problems to give ourpany time to catch up:ˇ±

    But as the modifications grew more extensive, Walsh had begun to suspect that wasn''t true. Still, he couldn''t

    back out. Not after the man''s subtle threats about his children. Not after epting

    the first payment.

    He closed the ess panel and packed up his tools. One moreponent installed ording to the modified blueprints. One step closer to being done with this nightmare.

    His phone buzzed in his pocket. Walsh jumped, nearly dropping his toolbox. His heart hammered as he checked

    the caller ID: UNKNOWN.

    With trembling fingers, he answered. "Hello?".

    "Progress report." The man''s voice was smooth, cultured, Betraying no hint of emotion.

    Walsh swallowed hard. "Installed the J-

    14 connector tonight, just like the blueprints showed. That''s thest one in the east section."

    "And has anyone questioned your work?"

    "No," Walsh said, the lieing easily now after weeks of practice. "The engineering team is focused on the main grid. No one''s double- checking the secondary systems."

    "Excellent.ˇ± The man paused. ˇ°Any unusual activity at the site? Security changes? Late¨C

    night work?"

    Walsh hesitated. He had noticed some of the day crew grumbling about

    equipment being moved

    overnight, but he''d assumed it was just another team working different hours.

    "No," he said finally. "Everything''s normal."

    "Good. Continue as nned. Remember, Mr. Walsh, your children''s future depends on your discretion."

    The line went dead. Walsh stared at the phone, bile rising in his throat. What had he gotten himself into?

    *****

    Back at the Kane Industriesb, Hannah''s team worked in focused silence. On the main screen, a digital countdown disyed the days until the Phoenix Grid was scheduled to go fully operational: 5 days, 7 ho Hannah moved between workstations, checking progress, making adjustments. Despite her exhaustion, her mind remained sharp. This was the most challenging engineering problem she''d ever faced, not just "Ms. Zhao?" One of the younger engineers called her over, pointing to a circuit diagram. ˇ°I think I found another one. It''s subtle, but the power regtor has been modified to allow a ten percent tolerance instea Hannah examined theponent. "Good catch, Davis. g it for recement and add it to the shadow correction log."

    As she straightened, a wave of dizziness swept over her. Hannah gripped the edge of the table, waiting for it to pass. When was thest time she''d eaten? Slept? The days had begun to blur together. A hand touched her shoulder gently. She turned to find Camille watching her with concern.

    "You need rest," Camille said quietly. "All of you do."

    Hannan shook her head. "We can''t stop now. Every hour counts."

    "I know." Camille''s voice was firm but kind. "But I need your team functioning at their best. Four hours of sleep will make you more effective than twelve more hours of exhausted work."

    "But..."

    "That''s an order, Ms. Zhao." Camille''s tone softened. "The cots are set up in the conference room. Use them. Four hours. Then back to work."

    Hannah wanted to argue, but the logic was sound. They couldn''t afford mistakes. And mistakes were inevitable with this level of fatigue..

    "Yes, Ms. Kane. Four hours." She turned to the team. "Everyone, mandatory rest. Davis, set the rm for six a.m."

    As the engineers filed out, Hannah found herself alone with Camille,

    who was studying the master diagram with its many red marks.

    "We''ll make it," Hannah said, trying to sound more confident

    than she felt. "We''ll catch everything they sabotaged."

    Camille nodded, but her expression remained troubled. "I believe you will. But I can''t help wondering..."

    "What?"

    "What if this is exactly what they want?" Camille gestured to the busy workroom. "What if the sabotage we''ve discovered is just a distraction from something else they''re nning?"

    The question sent a chill through Hannah''s already tired body. She hadn''t considered that possibility.

    "Like what?" she asked.

    "I don''t know." Camille''s eyes focused on something distant. "But Rose has always been ten steps ahead. Always nning for contingencies. And her partner, Herod Preston... Victoria says he''s patient. Calc Hannah thought about theplexity of the sabotage they''d uncovered. The meticulous way safety systems had beenpromised. The careful organization required to implement so many changes without d

    "I think we can''t afford to assume we''ve discovered everything." Camille turned to her, eyes hard with

    resolve." Fix what we''ve found, Hannah. But keep looking deeper. And be prepared for something we haven''t anticipated." Hannah nodded, a new worry joining her exhaustion. ˇ°I understand."

    As Camille left, Hannah remained standing before the master diagram, staring at the red marks that signified discovered sabotage. But now, instead of progress, the marks seemed to taunt her. What weren''t the She forced herself to turn away. Four hours of rest. Then back to the search.

    But as she made her way to the conference room, Hannah couldn''t shake the feeling that something still eluded them. Something deadly hiding

    in in sight.

    ****

    In a penthouse across the city, Rose checked her phone as it chimed with an iing message. The screen disyed a simple text from a now- familiar number: "Component J-

    14 installed. All proceeding as nned." She smiled, setting the phone down on the nightstand. Beside her, Herod slept peacefully, his face rxed in a way it never was when he was awake.

    Everything was falling into ce. In just over five days, the Phoenix Grid would go online. Seventy-

    two hours after that, Camille''s precious project would implode spectacrly. And in the aftermath, Kane Industries would crumble.

    Rose reached over and switched off themp, darkness enveloping the room. As she settled back against the pillows, she allowed herself to imagine Camille''s face when her world copsed around her. The sa Victoria Kane''s heir. When she''d systematically destroyed everything Rose had built.

    Soon, very soon, the scales would bnce. Justice would be served.

    And neither Camille nor Victoria would see iting.

 Chapter 105

    Victoria Kane sat alone in her office, the glow from herputer screen the only light in the room. Outside her windows, dawn painted the Manhattan skyline in hues of pink and gold, but she hadn''t noticed the sunrise. She hadn''t moved from her chair in hours.

    On her screen, financial records filled page after page, stock purchases,pany

    acquisitions, shell corporations nested within shell corporations like

    Russian dolls. A tangled web of financial transactions that

    had taken her team of investigators days to

    unravel.

    Victoria''s mouth tightened as she scrolled through the data. The pattern was unmistakable once you knew what to look for. Small stock

    purchases, never more than one percent at a time. Different buyer names. Different banks. Different countries. But

    all ultimately tracing back to one man.

    Herod Preston.

    7

    She mmed her hand against the desk, the sharp crack echoing through the empty office. Victoria Kane did not lose control. Not ever. But seeing Herod''s name, the son of the man who had killed her daughte blood boiling.

    Her inte buzzed. "Ms. Kane? Mr. Pierce is here."

    Victoria took

    a deep breath, smoothing her features into their usual mask of calm. Send him in."

    Alexander

    entered, impable as always in a tailored suit despite the early hour. His expression shifted when he saw her face.

    "You found something," he said, closing the door behind him.

    Victoria swiveled herputer screen toward him. "Herod Preston has been buying Kane

    Industries stock for the past six months."

    Alexander crossed to her desk, studying the financial

    data. ˇ°Through shellpanies. Clever. Staying under the radar."

    "Clever?" Victoria''s voice sharpened. "He''s infiltrating mypany, Alexander."

    "How much has he acquired?"

    "Just

    over five percent, ording to what we''ve traced so far." Victoria stood, too agitated to remain seated. "He''s positioning himself for a hostile takeover."

    Alexander

    leaned closer to the screen, scrolling through the transactions. "Pequod Ventures, Ahab Holdings, Queequeg Capital... all literature references. Easier to track than he thinks."

    "This isn''t a literary analysis, Alexander." Victoria paced behind her desk. "This

    is Herod

    Preston making his next move against me. Against my

    family. First the Grid sabotage, now this."

    Alexander straightened, his expression serious. "Victoria, he can''t take Kane Industries from you. You personally own sixty percent of thepany."

    "I''m aware of my stock holdings," she snapped.

    "And I''ve

    recently acquired ten percent," Alexander continued, unfazed by her tone. Which means that even if Herod

    managed to buy every remaining share, which he can''t without triggering SEC notifications he would still be a minority shareholder." Victoria paused her pacing. She knew this. Of course she knew this. She ha holdings precisely to prevent hostile takeovers. But the sight of Herod Preston''s name connected to Kane Industries had triggered something primal in her, a mother''s rage at the family that had taken her daugh "It''s not about the stock," she said finally. "It''s about his audacity. His... invasion. After what his family did to Sophia.ˇ±

    Alexander''s expression softened slightly. "I understand. But we need to think

    strategically. If Herod is buying

    stock, it means he''s nning for something beyond the Grid sabotage."

    Victoria moved to the window, watching the citye to life below. She knew Alexander was right. This wasn''t just about emotion, it was about chess moves, strategy, seeing ten steps ahead.

    "He wants inside

    information," she said. "Board meeting minutes. Financial projections. ess to shareholdermunications."

    "Exactly," Alexander agreed. "And he''ll use a proxy to request that

    information once he reaches the five percent threshold that requires public disclosure."

    Victoria turned back to face him, her mind racing through

    scenarios. "We need to identify

    his proxy before they make a move. And we need to know how much stock he actually owns."

    Alexander was already typing on his phone. "I''ll have my team dig

    deeper. There may be other shellpanies we haven''t traced yet."

    "Good. And have them check recent

    trading patterns in Kane Industries stock. He may be elerating his purchases now that the

    Gridunch is imminent." Victoria returned to her desk, her

    momentary loss of control now reced with cold calction. "If Herod thinks he

    can use mypany against me, he''ll discover just how wrong he is."

    Alexander pocketed his phone. "There''s another angle we should consider."

    "Which is?"

    "If his stock purchases are discovered-and they will be, because we''ve found them, Herod will assume we''re focused on protecting thepany from takeover."

    Alexander''s eyes met hers. "Which may distract us from whatever

    his actual n might be."

    Victoria considered this. "A diversion."

    "Possibly. The Grid-

    sabotage. The stock purchases. What if neither is his primary goal?" Alexander crossed to the

    coffeemaker in the corner of Victoria''s office, pouring two cups. "Herod strikes me

    as a man who always has multiple strategies in y."

    Victoria epted the coffee he offered, warming her hands around

    the cup. ˇ°Like a chess master sacrificing pieces to disguise his true objective."

    "Exactly." Alexander took a sip of his coffee. "We need to ask ourselves: what

    would hurt you the most? Not just financially, but personally?"

    The question hung in the air between them. Victoria knew the answer immediately, though she would never say it aloud. There was only one thing left in this world that could truly destroy her. Camille.

    "Have you told her?" Alexander asked quietly, seeming to read her thoughts.

    "About the stock purchases?"

    Victoria shook her head. "She has enough to worry about with the Gridunch."

    "She should know. This affects her too. Alexander''s voice remained steady, but Victoria

    heard the

    underlying steel. His rtionship with Camille had shifted, deepened. He was no longer just an ally but a protector.

    "I''ll tell her," Victoria agreed, though

    reluctantly. "After the shadow engineering team finishes correcting the Grid sabotage."

    Alexander nodded, apparently satisfied with

    thatpromise. "In the meantime, I have a suggestion."

    "I''m listening."

    "Let''s leak information about a major announcementing

    from Kane Industries. Something vague but significant sounding." A slight smile touched Alexander''s mouth. "Make Herod think we''re nning a move he hasn''t anticipated."

    Victoria considered the suggestion. "A false g operation. Force him to react rather than continue his current strategy."

    "Exactly. And when he reacts, we may learn more about his true objectives."

    For the first time that morning, Victoria felt the tight knot in her

    chest loosen slightly. This was familiar territory, strategic maneuvering, creating traps for her enemies.

    ˇ°Have Sarah draft a press release," she decided. "Something about

    a significant uing

    partnership announcement. No specifics, just enough to make the business

    blogs specte."

    Alexander nodded. "I''ll have my publicist do the same. Hint

    at cooperation between

    Pierce Enterprises and Kane Industries on a ''revolutionary new venture."

    "Stock prices will rise," Victoria noted. "Costing Herod more if he continues buying shares."

    "And possibly forcing him to elerate his ns, whatever they might be."

    Victoria set down her coffee cup and moved back to herputer, closing the

    financial files with decisive clicks. "Let hime. Whatever Herod Preston is nning, he''ll find I''m not the easy target his brother thought Sophia was."

    The room fell silent. Victoria rarely mentioned Sophia directly, even

    now. Alexander watched her, his expression carefully neutral.

    "There''s one more thing we should consider," he said finally.

    Victoria raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

    "The timing." Alexander leaned against her desk. "Herod''s stock purchases began six months ago, long before the Grid sabotage. Before Rose found him."

    Victoria went still, the implications racing through her mind. "You think Rose

    didn''t find Herod. Herod found Rose."

    "It''s worth considering," Alexander said. "What if Rose wasn''t the architect of this n, but merely

    a useful tool Herod discovered? Someone with personal motivation to hurt Camille, who could be pointed in the

    right direction and set loose?"

    Victoria''s chest tightened. If Alexander was right, they had potentially

    misunderstood the entire situation. Rose wasn''t the snake they needed to worry about, she was merely the venom

    delivery system for a much more dangerous predator.

    "We need to-" Victoria began, but was interrupted by her phone''s sharp ring.

    She answered, listening intently as her security chief spoke. When the call

    ended, her face had gone pale.

    "What is it?" Alexander asked, instantly alert.

    "The shadow engineering team discovered a secondaryyer of sabotage in the Grid system. More sophisticated than the

    first." Victoria''s voice was tight. "And some of theponents were installed

    by someone with high-level security clearance. Not Walsh."

    Alexander straightened. "Someone else on the inside."

    "Yes. Martin Greene most likely. My head of special projects." Victoria''s hand clenched around her phone. "He''s worked for me for fifteen years."

    "Since Sophia died," Alexander said quietly.

    Victoria nodded, the betrayal cutting deeper than she would admit. "Have him

    followed. Discreetly. But don''t move against him yet. If Greene is working with

    Herod, he may lead us to him."

    Alexander nodded. "And Camille?"

    "Double her security detail immediately. Don''t tell her why." Victoria moved

    toward the door, her mind shifting to crisis mode. "I want the entire shadow engineering team moved to the secure facility in White

    ins. Today. No contact

    with anyone outside the team until the Grid corrections areplete."

    "And the stock purchases?" Alexander asked, following her.

    Victoria paused at the door, her face hardening into the expression that had made titans of industry quake for decades. "Let Herod buy whatever he

    wants. It won''t matter when this is over."

    "Victoria," Alexander said, his voice low. "Don''t let this be personal."

    She turned, fixing him

    with a gaze that could have frozen fire. "This has been personal since the moment Charles Preston arranged my daughter''s death. Herod

    chose to continue his brother''s war."

    "And Rose?"

    "A useful pawn. Nothing more." Victoria''s voice was cold. "We deal with Herod first. Rose is an afterthought."

    Alexander didn''t look convinced. "Don''t underestimate her. That kind of hatred..."

    "I know exactly how dangerous

    hatred can be, Alexander." Victoria cut him off. "I''ve spent a decade

    perfecting mine."

    She

    squared her shoulders, the momentary vulnerability gone, reced by the steely determination that

    had built her empire.

    "Alert the board members I want an emergency meeting at noon.

    Prepare the press release about our supposed partnership

    announcement.'' And get Camille additional

    protection without rming her." Victoria''s tone

    made it clear these weren''t requests. "Herod Preston thinks he''s hunting me. He''s about to discover he''s the

    prey, not the predator."

    As she strode from the office, Alexander remained behind for a

    moment, troubled by what he''d seen. Theposed, calcting Victoria Kane he

    knew had briefly vanished, reced by

    something rawer, more dangerous. A woman consumed by a decade-old

    vendetta.

    He pulled out his phone and/sent a quick text to Camille: *Need to talk. Soon. Something''s happening with Victoria.*

    Then he followed Victoria from the office, wondering if they were all being

    maneuvered into exactly the positions Herod Preston wanted them

    in. Like pieces on a chess board, thinking they were making their own moves while actually following

    the pattern a master yer had designed for them.

    And if they were, Alexander

    wasn''t sure any of them would recognize the trap until it was toote.

 Chapter 106

    Water closed over Camille''s head. Cold. So cold it burned

    her skin. She kicked toward the surface, arms iling, lungs

    screaming for air. But something held her

    down, hands gripping her ankles, dragging her deeper into the darkness.

    She looked down. Rose stared back at her, grinning, her hair floating around her

    face like seaweed. Beside her, Herod Preston, his

    eyes t and lifeless as a shark''s. They pulled

    harder. The pressure in Camille''s chest built to unbearable levels.

    She opened her mouth to scream, but only bubbles escaped as water rushed in..

    Camille jolted upright in bed, gasping. Her

    nightgown stuck to her skin, soaked with sweat. For a moment, she couldn''t remember where she was. Then the familiar outlines of her bedroom at the Kane mansion took shape in the darkness.

    Just a dream. The same dream that had haunted her for months after Rose''s betrayal. The one Victoria''s training had eventually banished.

    Until now.

    Camille switched on the bedsidemp, chasing away the shadows. The digital

    clock read 3:17 AM. She pushed back the tangled sheets and

    moved to the window, pressing her forehead against the cool ss. Below, the estate''s gardens

    stretched out, security lights casting strange patterns across the manicuredwns. Beyond the gates, Manhattan glittered in the distance.

    This was the third night in a row the nightmare had returned. Each time more

    vivid. Each time harder to shake off.

    Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Alexander''s text: *Awake?*

    How did he always know? Camille typed back: *Bad dream again.*

    Three dots appeared immediately. *Coming over. Kitchen. Hot chocte.*

    A small smile touched her lips

    despite the lingering dread from the nightmare. Alexander

    had developed an almost supernatural sense for when she couldn''t sleep. Since their visit to his childhood home, since

    that first real kiss their connection had deepened into something that sometimes

    frightened her with its intensity.

    Camille pulled on a silk robe and padded barefoot down the mansion''s

    grand staircase. The

    house was silent except for the asional creak of settling wood and the

    soft footsteps of security guards patrolling outside.

    In the kitchen, she switched on a single light and filled the kettle. Alexander would

    arrive in exactly twelve minutes. He always did, no matter

    what time she texted. One of the many mysteries about him she

    hadn''t solved yet.

    As she reached for mugs in the cab, a movement in the garden caught her eye.

    Camille froze, staring out the window. Nothing but shifting shadows from the trees.

    Yet something felt... wrong. The hairs on her arms stood up.

    She moved away from

    the window, suddenly aware of how exposed she was in the

    lit kitchen. Victoria''s training kicked in automatically. Assess the threat. Minimize vulnerability. Create advantage.

    The kettle began to whistle. Camille switched it off and backed toward the pantry.

    as her fingers found the light switch, the kitchen door swung open.

    Just

    "Security sweep is clear."

    Camille

    nearly copsed with relief at the sound of Alexander''s voice. He stood in the doorway, his expression shifting from alert to concerned when he saw her face.

    "What happened?" He crossed to her in three quick strides.

    "Nothing. I thought I saw something in the garden. Just shadows." Camille tried to smile. "The nightmares have me jumpy."

    Alexander didn''t look convinced. He moved

    to the window, scanning the grounds with practiced eyes. "Security has been doubled since yesterday. Victoria''s orders."

    "Why?" Camille asked, resuming her preparation of hot chocte. "What aren''t you two telling me?"

    Alexander hesitated, then joined her at the counter. "Victoria found

    something. She

    wanted to wait until the Grid corrections wereplete before telling you."

    "Tell me what?" The nightmare''s lingering dread intensified. "Alexander, no more secrets."

    He nodded, taking the mug she offered. "Herod Preston

    has been buying Kane Industries stock

    through shellpanies. Just over five percent so far."

    Camille stilled. "A takeover attempt?"

    "Unlikely

    to seed. Victoria owns sixty percent, and I recently purchased ten percent myself." Alexander held her gaze. ˇ°But it suggests Herod''s ns extend beyond sabotaging

    the Grid."

    The kitchen suddenly felt too small, too exposed. Camille wrapped

    her hands around her mug, seeking warmth.

    "The nightmares started the same day Victoria discovered this," she said

    quietly. "I didn''t know about it, but somehow I... sensed it."

    Alexander didn''t dismiss this as superstition, as most would have.

    "Your subconscious picks up cues your conscious mind misses. Victoria''s been tenser. Security protocols changed. Small signals."

    They moved to the breakfast nook, sitting across from each other in the dimly lit

    kitchen. Outside, the night pressed against the windows like a living thing.

    26

    "Tell me about the nightmare," Alexander said.

    Camille stared into her mug. "I''m drowning. Rose is pulling me down. But now

    Herod is with her." She looked up. "It''s

    different from before. There''s this sense of... running out

    of time."

    Alexander

    reached across the table, taking her hand. The contact anchored her, driving back the nightmare''s ghostly tendrils.

    "There''s more you should know," he said. "The

    shadow engineering team found anotheryer of sabotage in the Grid. More

    sophisticated than

    the first. And installed by someone with higher security clearance than Walsh."

    "Who?"

    "Victoria suspects Martin Greene. Her head of special projects."

    The name hit Camille like a physical blow. Martin Greene, the silver-

    haired executive who had been at Victoria''s side

    for years. Who had helped train Camille when she first arrived. Who knew

    every detail of Kane Industries operations.

    "That''s not possible," she whispered. "He''s been with her since..."

    "Since Sophia died," Alexander finished. "Fifteen years of apparent loyalty. Which makes the betrayal all the more devastating."

    Camille pushed her mug away, no longer interested in itsfort. ˇ°If

    Greene is working with

    Herod, we have a serious security breach. He knows everything, security protocols, the Grid designs, even

    details about..." She paused, a new thought

    freezing her blood. "Even details about me. About who I was before."

    Alexander''s expression darkened. "Victoria has him under

    surveince. If he''smunicating with Herod or Rose, we''ll know."

    "That might be toote." Camille stood, suddenly unable to sit still. "We

    need to move more aggressively. Find Herod directly."

    "Victoria wants to wait. Use Greene to lead us to him."

    "While we wait, they''re nning something we haven''t anticipated."

    Camille paced the kitchen, her nightmare''s urgency transferring to her waking

    thoughts. "The Grid sabotage. The stock purchases. Greene''s

    betrayal. It''s all connected, but we''re missing the pattern."

    She stopped abruptly at the window, staring

    out into the darkness. The garden lights cast long shadows across the

    "What if there''s anotheryerwe haven''t uncovered yet?" she asked softly. "What

    if everything we''ve discovered so far is just the surface?"

    Alexander joined her at the window. "What are you thinking?"

    "I''m thinking about Rose," Camille said. "She''s always been

    careful. Methodical. Her

    316

    maniption of my family took years of patient nning. And

    Herod..." She shook her head. "Victoria says he''s been building

    his revenge for a decade. People like that don''t put all their hopes on one n."

    "Victoria''s releasing false information

    tomorrow," Alexander said. "A press release about a major partnership between Kane Industries and Pierce Enterprises. Designed

    to make Herod react."

    "And expose himself," Camille nodded. "Smart. But I''m not sure it''s enough."

    She moved to the refrigerator, pulling out milk to reheat their

    cooling hot chocte. As she stirred the milk in a pan, her mind raced through possibilities.

    "The stock purchases," she said suddenly. "When did they begin?"

    Alexander leaned against the counter beside her. "Six

    months ago, ording to Victoria''s investigators."

    "Before Rose connected with Herod," Camille noted. "Before the Grid sabotage ns."

    "Yes. Which suggests...."

    "That Rose didn''t find Herod," Camille finished. "Herod found Rose. He sought her

    out specifically because of her connection to me."

    Alexander''s eyes narrowed as he followed her logic. "So Rose

    isn''t the mastermind

    here. She''s a tool."

    "A weapon aimed at me." Camille poured the warmed milk into

    their mugs. "But I''m not the true target. I never was."

    "Victoria," Alexander said softly.

    Camille nodded, the pieces falling into ce. "Herod wanted

    revenge against Victoria for destroying his family. He researched her, found

    her connection to me, and then found the perfect

    person to help him strike at Victoria through me."

    "Rose."

    "Exactly." Camille felt a chill despite the warmth of the kitchen. "Which means

    we''ve been looking at this all wrong. We''ve been treating Rose as the

    primary threat, with Herod as her powerful ally. But it''s the reverse."

    They returned to

    the table with their refreshed drinks. Outside, the sky had begun to lighten imperceptibly, the deep ck softening toward dark

    blue.

    "If you''re right,ˇ± Alexander said, "then Rose might not even understand the

    full scope of Herod''s ns."

    "No. She thinks this is about destroying me. About taking back what she believes

    I stole from her." Camille wrapped her hands around her

    mug. "But for Herod, it''s about Victoria. About making her suffer the way he

    suffered when she destroyed his family."

    Alexander''s expression grew grave. "And the

    most effective way to hurt Victoria now..."

    "Is through me," Camille finished. "Her heir. Her adoptive daughter. The one thing she truly cares about."

    The

    realization hung between them in the quiet kitchen. Dawn was approaching, but the shadows seemed deeper than before.

    "My nightmare makes sense now," Camille said softly. "Rose pulling me down isn''t the real danger. It''s Herod, patient, hidden, with a n we still don''t fully understand." Alexander reached across the table, taking her hand again. "We''ll figure it out. Together."

    Camille nodded, drawing strength from his touch. But the nightmare''s dread still clung to her like a second skin.

    "Four days until the Gridunch," she said. "Whatever

    they''re nning, it''sing.

    soon."

    ˇ°Victoria has the shadow engineering team working around the clock to undo the

    sabotage. The Grid will be secure."

    "But what if the Grid isn''t

    the endgame? What if it''s just another distraction?" Camille met his gaze directly. "The stock purchases. The

    sabotage. Martin Greene''s betrayal. What if they''re all just pieces of something

    Alexander didn''t dismiss her concerns. "Then we need to find the pattern."

    He pulled out his phone, sending

    a quick text. A momentter, his phone buzzed with a response.

    "Victoria wants to meet at seven. Full strategic briefing." He looked up at Camille. "She''s been up

    all night too, apparently."

    "She feels it too," Camille said. "The danger closing in."

    They sat in silence as the first rays of sunrise

    began to filter through the kitchen. windows. The night''s shadows retreated, but the sense of lurking threat remained.

    Camille thought of her nightmare, of being pulled under dark water, of fighting for breath, of Rose and Herod

    dragging her down. Now the dream''s meaning seemed clearer, more ominous.

    It wasn''t just about drowning. It was about time running out.

    Four days until the Gridunch. Four days for them to uncover whatever Herod was truly

    nning.

    Four days for Camille to ensure that her nightmare remained just

    that, a dream, not a prophecy.

    But as she looked into Alexander''s worried eyes, she

    couldn''t shake the feeling that whatever wasing would be worse than anything she had

    imagined. And unlike her nightmare, there would be no waking up from it.

 Chapter 107

    The restaurant upied the entire top floor of a Midtown hotel, overlooking Central Park. Camille arrived fifteen minutes early, a tactic Victoria

    had taught her, secure the

    position of power, choose your seat, control the encounter from the first moment.

    She selected a corner table with her back to the wall, facing both elevators. The

    host seated her with a professional smile, leaving her alone with her thoughts and a sparkling water she wouldn''t drink.

    Camille smoothed her navy dress, a simple design that concealed the tension in her body. The silver rose pendant Alexander had returned to her hung at her throat, a reminder of who she had been before Rose''s betrayal, before Victoria''s transformation.

    Her phone buzzed with a text from Alexander: *Everything okay?*

    She typed: *They haven''t arrived yet.*

    *I''m in the lobby if you need me.*

    A small smile touched her lips. Alexander

    hadn''t questioned her decision to face her parents alone, but he''d

    insisted on apanying her to the hotel. Her shield, waiting in the background.

    The elevator doors opened, and Camille''s smile

    vanished. Her stomach tightened into a knot.

    Margaret and Richard Lewis stepped into the restaurant, looking smaller than she remembered. Her mother scanned the space, hands clutched around

    her purse. Her father stood slightly behind, his shoulders rounded in a way Camille had never seen before.

    They spotted her. Hesitated. Then walked toward her table with careful steps.

    Camille did not stand. Did not smile. Did not offer her cheek for the kiss her mother Teaned in to give before thinking better of it.

    "Camille," Margaret said, the name catching in her throat. "Thank you for, for agreeing

    to meet us."

    "Please," Richard gestured to the chairs. "May we sit?"

    Camille nodded, her face revealing nothing. Victoria would have been proud.

    They settled awkwardly, all the social

    graces they''d drilled into her now useless in the face of their broken rtionship.

    "You look well," her mother tried. "Healthy."

    "I am," Camille kept her voice neutral. "Victoria takes good care of

    her investments."

    Her mother flinched at the word "investments." Her father cleared his throat.

    "Camille, we..." Richard began.

    "Why did you want to meet?" Camille cut him off. Direct. No small talk.

    Her parents exchanged nces. Margaret nodded slightly, and Richard reached down for a leather satchel he''d ced beside his chair. He removed a t package wrapped in blue cloth and ced it on the tab "We wanted to give you these," he said. "They''re yours. They''ve always been

    yours."

    Camille didn''t touch the package. "What is it?"

    Margaret''s eyes filled with tears. "Your journals. From when you were a girl. Before... Before Rose came."

    The words hit Camille like a physical blow. Her journals. The ones

    Rose had found

    and read aloud mockingly. The ones that had disappeared after her "ident."

    "You kept them?" Camille couldn''t hide her surprise.

    "We found them when we were cleaning out your old room," Richard

    exined. "After your... after the news about

    your car in the river. We couldn''t bear to throw them away."

    Camille looked at the package, still not touching it. "And now

    you want to return them because you know I''m alive."

    "No," Margaret shook her head, a tear spilling down her

    cheek. "We want to return them

    because we''ve read them. All of them. And we..." Her voice brokepletely.

    Richard covered his wife''s hand with his own.

    "We failed you, Camille. In ways we''re only beginning to understand. Your journals, they show a pattern we were tod blind to

    see."

    A server approached, sensing the tension. Camille requested water for

    the table and said they weren''t ready to order.

    When the server left, she reached for the package, unwrapping it with careful fingers. Inside

    "What pattern?" Camille asked, though she already knew.

    Margaret

    wiped her tears. "How Rose manipted all of us. How we always took her side. How we...

    punished you for things that weren''t your fault."

    "Read the green one," Richard said softly. "Page twenty-three."

    Camille hesitated, then opened the small green notebook. Her thirteen-year-

    old self had written:

    *Mom yelled at me again for making Rose feel unwee. But

    I DIDN''T. I asked her toe to the movies with me and Jenna, and she said yes,

    and then she didn''t show up. And when I got home, she told Mom I left without her on purpose. Why doesn''t Mom ever believe me? Rose smiled when Mom sent me to rny

    room. She SMILED. Like she PLANNED it.*

    The memory flooded back, waiting in the lobby for Rose, who never came. The

    sick feeling knowing what would happen

    when she got home. The helplessness of not being believed.

    "There are dozens of entries like that," Margaret

    said, her voice hollow with regret. "So many times we took Rose''s word over yours."

    Camille closed the journal. "Why are you showing me this now?"

    "Because we owe you the truth," Richard said. "That we see

    it now. What Rose did. What we allowed her to do."

    "And we want to apologize," Margaret added. "Not because we expect forgiveness. We don''t deserve that. But because

    you deserve to hear it."

    Camille stared at them, these strangers who shared her blood. She had imagined

    this moment, confronting them, making them suffer for their betrayal, walking away

    triumphant. Victoria had trained her for that scenario.

    But Victoria hadn''t prepared her for genuine remorse, for her proud father with reddened eyes, for

    her perfectlyposed mother reduced to tears.

    "You chose her," Camille said, harder than she intended. "When I told you about her affair with Stefan. When I needed you most. You chose her."

    "Yes," Richard admitted. "And it will haunt us for the rest of our lives."

    "We believed what we wanted to

    believe," Margaret added. "That our perfect family couldn''t

    possibly hide such ugly truths. That our adopted daughter

    couldn''t be capable of such calction."

    "And then she tried to kill me," Camille said tly.

    Her parents flinched.

    "Yes," Margaret whispered. "And we didn''t know. Not until it was toote."

    "We''re not asking for forgiveness, Richard said. "Or for

    you toe back to us. We know that''s not possible."

    "What do you want, then?" Camille asked, steadier than she felt.

    Margaret reached across the

    table, stopping just short of touching Camille''s hand. Just... to know you. In whatever way you''ll allow. On

    your terms."

    "To be whatever you''ll permit us to be in your life," Richard

    added. ˇ°Even if it''s just distant acquaintances who meet for coffee once a year.ˇ±

    Camille looked down at the journals. The tangible evidence of her childhood suffering, preserved by the very people who had failed to protect her from it.

    "I don''t know if I can do that," she said honestly.

    "We understand," Margaret nodded, drawing back her hand. "The journals are yours regardless. No strings attached."

    A strange feeling washed over Camille, not quite forgiveness, but something adjacent to it. Recognition, perhaps, that her parents were as human and wed as she was. That Rose had manipted them too, in her way.

    "I need time," Camille said finally. "This isn''t something I can decide today."

    Hope flickered in her mother''s eyes, fragile, cautious hope. "Of

    course. Take all the time you need."

    "But," Camille continued, "I could perhaps... meet asionally. Not at

    the house. Not with Rose." Her voice hardened on her sister''s name. "Neutral

    ground, like this. Just to talk."

    The relief on her parents'' faces was painful to witness. It spoke of months

    of grief, of regret, of the terrible belief that their daughter was dead, and then

    the equally terrible knowledge that she had survived only to rightfully

    despise them.

    "Thank you," Richard said, his voice rough with emotion. "That''s more than we dared hope for."

    They ordered food mechanically, none

    of them particrly interested in eating. As her

    parents engaged with the server, Camille studied them with new eyes. They had aged years in the months since

    she''d left. Gray dominated her father''s

    hair now. Lines had deepened around her mother''s mouth.

    When the

    server left, a silence fell over the table, the ufortable silence of people who once knew everything about each other and now were nearly strangers.

    "We saw the news about the Phoenix Grid," her father

    said finally, grasping for neutral territory. "It''s an extraordinary project."

    "Yes, it is." Camille allowed herself a small bit of pride. ˇ°It will transform the city''s power

    infrastructurepletely."

    "Are you... happy, Camille?" her mother asked suddenly, the question

    so direct that it caught Camille off guard. "With Victoria? With this new life?"

    Camille considered the question, not allowing

    herself the easy lie. "I''m... bing who I need to be. Happiness wasn''t the goal at first. Survival was. Then justice."

    "And now?" Richard asked quietly.

    An image of Alexander

    shed in Camille''s mind, his smile, his steady presence, the way

    he looked at her as if seeing all of

    her. "Now, there might be room for more than that."

    Margaret nodded, understanding something in Camille''s tone. "I''m

    d. You deserve that. You always did."

    They

    ate in awkward silence. When the meal ended, they stood together, the moment of parting equally awkward.

    "May I..." Margaret began hesitantly, "may I hug you? Just once?"

    Camille hesitated, then gave a small nod. Her mother''s arms went around

    her, familiar yet strange, the scent of her perfume unleashing a flood of

    memories both good and painful. The embrace was

    brief, slightly stiff, but genuine.

    Richard didn''t ask for a hug, respecting the boundaries Camille had established. "Take care of yourself," he said simply. "We''re here

    if... when you''re ready."

    Camille watched them walk to the elevator, looking smaller and more fragile than the parents who had once loomed sorge in her life. As the doors

    closed behind them, she sat back down, her hands trembling slightly as

    she reached for the journals.

    She opened the green one again, flipping through pages of her

    younger self''s handwriting. Pain and joy and ordinary days captured in

    a child''s words.

    Her phone buzzed. Alexander: *How did it go?*

    Camille stared at the text, unsure how to answer. Not well. Not badly. Something in

    between.

    *They brought my childhood journals,* she typed.

    Three dots appeared immediately, then: *Are you okay?*

    The question lingered on her screen. Was she? The meeting had opened

    old wounds, but something else too,ca tiny crack in the wall she''d built around her

    heart. Not forgiveness. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But acknowledgment, at least, that healing might someday be

    possible.

    *I think I will be,* she replied finally. *Coming down now.*

    Camille gathered the journals, each one a piece of her past

    she''d thought lost forever. As she rode the elevator

    down, she felt strangely lighter, as if she''d set down a burden she hadn''t realized she was

    carrying.

    She''d expected to feel triumph in facing her parents, in showing

    them the powerful woman she''d be

    without them. Instead, she felt something moreplicated, grief for what had

    been lost, relief at the truth finally being acknowledged, and a tiny, cautious seed of possibility for a different future than the one Victoria had nned.

    Alexander

    waited in the lobby, his face lighting up when he saw her. He didn''t ask questions, simply offered his hand. Camille took

    it, feeling its strength and steadiness.

    "Let''s go home," she said.

    But as they walked out into the bright afternoon sun, Camille wondered, with

    Victoria''s mansion on one side and her parents'' house on the other, where home

    really was. And if, someday, she might build one that was truly her own.

    Camille hesitated, then gave a small nod. Her mother''s arms

    went around her, familiar yet strange, the scent of her

    perfume unleashing a flood of memories both good and painful. The embrace was brief, slightly

    stiff, but genuine.

    Richard didn''t ask for a hug, respecting the boundaries Camille had

    established. "Take care of yourself," he said simply. "We''re here if... when you''re ready."

    Camille watched them walk to the elevator, looking smaller and more fragile than

    the parents who had once loomed sorge in her life. As the doors closed behind them, she sat back down, her hands

    trembling slightly as she reached for the journals.

    She opened the green one again, flipping through pages of her

    younger self''s handwriting. Pain and joy and ordinary days captured in a child''s words.

    Her phone buzzed. Alexander: *How did it go?*

    Camille stared at the text, unsure how to answer. Not well. Not badly. Something in between.

    *They brought my childhood journals,* she typed.

    Three dots appeared immediately, then: *Are you okay?*

    The question lingered on her screen. Was she? The meeting had

    opened old wounds, but something else too,ca tiny crack in the wall she''d built around her heart. Not forgiveness. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But acknowledgment, at least, that

    healing might someday be possible.

    *I think I will be,* she replied finally. *Coming down now.*

    Camille gathered the journals, each one a piece of her past she''d thought

    lost forever. As she rode the

    elevator down, she felt strangely lighter, as if she''d set down a

    burden she hadn''t realized she was carrying.

    She''d expected to feel triumph in facing her parents, in showing them

    the powerful woman she''d

    be without them. Instead, she felt something moreplicated, grief

    for what had been lost, relief at the

    truth finally being acknowledged, and a tiny, cautious seed of possibility for a different future than the one Victoria had

    nned.

    Alexander waited in the lobby, his face lighting up when he saw her. He didn''t

    ask questions, simply offered his hand. Camille took it, feeling

    its strength and steadiness.

    "Let''s go home," she said.

    But as they walked out into the bright afternoon sun, Camille wondered, with

    Victoria''s mansion on one side and her parents'' house on

    the other, where home really was. And if, someday, she might build one that was

    truly her own.

 Chapter 108

    Stefan Rodriguez waited at the corner table of the dimly lit bar, nursing a drink he

    didn''t want. The ce reeked of stale beer and cheap perfume, nothing like

    the upscale establishments

    he''d frequented during better days. But that was the point. No one would recognize him here. No reporters lurking in corners, no business

    associates to witness his fall from grace.

    No one except the woman who had helped destroy his life.

    The door swung open, letting in a st of chill evening air. Rose Lewis stood framed in the doorway, scanning the room with narrowed eyes. When she spotted Stefan, her face hardened into the mask he''d gro with, beautiful and cold as carved

    ice.

    She wore ck from head to

    toe, her outfit probably costing more than most people''s monthly rent despite her recent

    financial troubles. Always keeping up appearances. Always the perfect facade.

    Rose threaded her way between

    tables, ignoring the appreciative nces from men seated at the bar. She slid into

    the booth across from Stefan without a greeting.

    "This better be important," she said, voice clipped. "I have ns tonight."

    "With Herod Preston?" Stefan watched her face, catching the flicker of shock before she masked it.

    "My personal life is no longer your concern." Rose signaled

    to a passing server. "Vodka martini, extra dry."

    Stefan leaned forward.

    "I know what you''re nning, Rose. You and Preston. With the

    Phoenix Grid."

    Rose''s eyes narrowed to slits. "Been talking to your new friends at Kane Industries? Or perhaps directly to my dear sister?" Thest words dripped

    with venom.

    "Eduardo Martinez told me." Stefan watched her

    reaction carefully. Eduardo had been a longtime friend of the Rodriguez family, someone with connections throughout the city''s businessmunity. "He saw you with Preston at the marinast week. Heard you talking about the Gridunch."

    Rose''sugh held no

    humor. "Eduardo always did have an overactive imagination. And loose lips." She took

    the martini from the server with a cold smile. "You called me here based on secondhand gossip? How pathetic.

    "It''s not just ¨¦duardo.ˇ± ?tefan kept his voice low, steady. "The whole city

    is talking about the sabotage attempts at the Grid. And now you''re seen with Herod Preston, a man with every reason to hate Victoria Kane."

    "Guilt by association now?" Rose sipped her drink. "I wasn''t aware who I spend my

    time with was any of your concern. Not anymore."

    "Whatever you and Preston are nning for the Gridunch, you

    need to stop it." Stefan''s hands tightened around his ss. "Now. Before people get hurt."

    Rose studied him over the rim of her ss. "You know nothing," she said finally.

    "I know enough." Stefan met her gaze. "Even after everything that''s happened, after everything

    was exposed at the g, you''re still plotting against Camille."

    "After

    everything that happened at the g?" Rose''s voice sharpened. "You mean after my sister publicly humiliated me? After she destroyed my career, my reputation, everything I built?"

    "After she revealed the truth," Stefan corrected. "That you tried to have her killed."

    Rose didn''t deny it. Not anymore. Not after her public exposure at the

    Phoenix G.

    "When does it

    end, Rose?" Stefan pressed. "Isn''t it enough? The damage is already done.... to Camille, to you, to all of us."

    "When she''s destroyed." Rose''s eyes glittered with a cold

    light. "When Victoria Kane is destroyed. When they''ve lost

    everything, just like I did."

    "You lost everything because of your

    own actions," Stefan said quietly. "Not Camille''s."

    Rose''s face flushed with anger. "She took

    everything from me! Everything that should have been mine."

    "She never took anything from you, Rose. You stole from her." Stefan felt a strange calm as he finally

    spoke the truth. "Her husband. Her family''s

    trust. And when that wasn''t enough, you tried to take her life."

    "Don''t you dare judge me." Rose''s voice cut like a

    wanted to meet. To

    de. ˇ°You were happy enough to be stolen when

    it suited you. Remember? ''I''ve always loved you, Rose. Camille was a mistake. Your words, Stefan. Your betrayal."

    Shame burned in Stefan''s gut, but he pushed through it. "Yes. I betrayed her. I''ll carry that guilt forever." He met Rose''s gaze steadily. "But I won''t let you hurt her again."

    Something shifted in Rose''s expression, a flicker of uncertainty, quickly reced by cold fury. "So that''s why tell me you''ve switched sides. Abandoned me for Camille."

    "This isn''t about sides, Rose. It''s about stopping

    something terrible before it happens."

    Roseughed, the sound sharp enough to cut. "Oh, Stefan. It''s far

    toote for that. The wheels are already in motion. The

    Gridunches in three days. And after

    that..." Her lips curved in a smile that didn''t reach her eyes. "After that, nothing will ever be the

    same."

    rm shot through Stefan''s body. "What are you nning?"

    "Wouldn''t you like to know?" Rose sipped her martini, eyes never leaving his

    face. "I thought you were weak

    when you cried over losing yourpany. When you flinched

    every time Camille''s name was mentioned. But

    this..." She gestured at him with undisguised contempt. "This is beyond pathetic."

    "People could get hurt, Rose." Stefan fought to keep his voice steady. "Real people. Not just Camille

    and Victoria. Is that what you want? To be responsible for innocent lives?"

    "Spare me the moral lecture." Rose set down

    her ss with a sharp click. "Victoria Kane destroyed Herod''s entire family without a second thought. Where was your concern for ''innocent lives'' then?"

    "This isn''t about Victoria''s past actions. This is

    about you. Right now." Stefan reached across the table, but Rose pulled her hand away before

    he could touch it. "It''s not toote to stop this."

    Rose studied him, her expression growing colder by the second. "You really care

    about her

    still, don''t you? After everything. After she humiliated you in front of all of New York. After

    she took your family''spany."

    "I care about doing the right thing. For

    once in my life." Stefan didn''t deny his feelings for Camille. They were

    think you still care too, Rose. About what''s right. About who you are."

    For a brief

    moment, something flickered in Rose''s eyes, pain, perhaps, or doubt. But it vanished so quickly Stefan wondered if he''d imagined it.

    "You know nothing about who I am." Rose''s voice

    dropped to a dangerous whisper. You never did. You saw what you

    wanted to see. The perfect girlfriend. The devoted lover. Just

    like my parents saw the perfect daughter. Just like everyone always has."

    "I see you now," Stefan said quietly. "The real

    you. And I think deep down, you''re terrified of what you''ve be."

    Rose''s hand moved so fast he didn''t see iting. The p

    cracked across his face, sending his head snapping

    sideways. The bar fell momentarily silent, dozens of eyes turning toward them.

    "You''ll pay for this, Rose hissed, her perfectposure shattered. "You''ll pay for the embarrassment. For the betrayal." She

    leaned down, her face inches from his. "I gave you

    everything, Stefan. And this is how you repay me? By crawling back to her?"

    Stefan touched his stinging cheek, feeling a strange detachment from the pain. "I''m not crawling back to anyone. I''m trying to do one right thing after a lifetime of wrong ones."

    "How noble." Rose''s voice dripped venom. "Well, enjoy your

    newfound conscience while you can. Because in

    a few days, you''ll be just as ruined as Camille and Victoria Kane."

    She straightened, smoothing her dress

    with trembling hands. "Goodbye, Stefan. The next time we meet, you''ll be begging

    me for forgiveness."

    "Rose, please." Stefan made onest attempt. "Whatever you and Preston have

    nned, it won''t bring you peace. It won''t fix what

    happened in your past. It will only make things worse."

    "Peace?" Rose''s

    get it, with or without you."

    She turned on her heel and strode toward the door, her back rigid, her steps swift

    and precise. The bar patrons watched her go, then returned to their drinks

    and conversations, the drama already forgotten.

    But Stefan couldn''t forget. Rose''s words echoed in his mind, each one<pden with threat. A few days until the Grid<punch. Three days until whatever catastrophe she and Preston had engineered.

 Chapter 109

    The Kane Industries private meeting room felt too small for the four people inside it. Camille sat at the head of the polished table, Victoria to her right, Alexander to her left. Stefan Rodriguez stood awkwardly ne to step further in or keep his escape route close.

    "Sit, Mr. Rodriguez," Victoria said, her voice cold as winter steel. "You requested this meeting. Let''s not waste time."

    Stefan lowered himself into a chair at the far end of the table. His once-

    confident posture had vanished, shoulders curving

    inward like a man carrying an invisible weight.

    "Thank you for seeing me," he said, his voice rougher

    than Camille remembered. "I know I''m thest person you want to hear from."

    "Second tost," Victoria corrected. "Your former lover ranks below you.''

    Stefan flinched. "That''s why I''m here. I want to help stop Rose. And Preston."

    Alexander''s jaw tightened. His hand moved slightly closer

    to Camille''s on the table." And why would we need your help?"

    "Because I know Rose. I know how she thinks." Stefan looked

    directly at Camille. "I lived with her lies. I watched

    her manipte everyone. And now that I see her clearly, I can tell you things that might

    help protect the Grid. Protect you."

    Camille felt Alexander stiffen beside her. The slight shift in his posture, the almost imperceptible narrowing of his eyes- signs of jealousy only she would recognize.

    "We''re already aware of the Grid sabotage," Camille said, keeping her voice

    neutral. " Our engineers are correcting it."

    "It''s more than that." Stefan leaned forward. "Rose doesn''t just

    want to damage the Grid. She wants to destroy you, Camille. Completely. And she has... patterns. -

    Weaknesses in how she thinks."

    Victoria''s nails tapped against the tabletop. "Such as?"

    "She needs to witness her victories," Stefan said quickly. "It''s never enough for Rose to know she''s hurt someone. She has to see it happen. Watch their face when they realize they''ve lost." Camille felt a chill race down her spine. Stefan was

    right. She remembered Rose''s eyes on her the day she''d discovered the divorce papers. The hungry gleam in them as she watched Camille''s world copse.

    "Go on," Camille said quietly.

    Alexander shifted, his shoulder brushing against hers. His posture remained

    protective, but something in his expression had changed. A reluctant recognition of

    the truth in Stefan''s words.

    "Rose has a fixation with control," Stefan continued. "She needs to believe she''s the smartest person in the room. When something happens that she didn''t n, she panics. Overreacts." He rubbed his jaw. "Sometimes violently."

    "That matches our observations," Alexander admitted grudgingly.

    "There''s

    more. Rose surrounds herself with people she can manipte. People like..." He swallowed. "People like me. But

    Herod Preston isn''t someone she can

    control. He has his own agenda, his own resources. That partnership is unstable."

    Victoria''s expression remained skeptical. "And why are you suddenly so eager to betray Rose''s confidences? To help Camille, whom you betrayed so thoroughly?"

    The question hung in the air, heavy with usation.

    "Because I have to

    live with what I did," Stefan said, his voice dropping. "Every day. Because I watched Rose celebrate

    when everyone thought Camille was dead. Because I finally understand what kind

    of person she really is."

    Alexander studied Stefan, his initial jealousy

    visibly giving way to assessment. Camille recognized the

    shift, the businessman evaluating an asset, weighing risk against potential value.

    "What specifically do you think they''re nning?" Alexander asked, his tone slightly less hostile.

    "I don''t

    know details," Stefan admitted. "But after meeting Rose yesterday, I''m certain they''re nning something for the Gridunch itself. Something beyond the technical sabotage."

    "Theunch ceremony," Camille said. Three hundred people will be there. City officials.

    Press."

    "Perfect audience for Rose''s theater of destruction," St¨¦fan agreed. "And perfect timing for Preston''s

    revenge against Victoria."

    Victoria''s face remained impassive, but Camille noticed the slight whitening of her knuckles, the only sign that Stefan''s words had affected her.

    "What else can you tell us about Rose''s vulnerabilities?" Alexander pressed.

    Stefan took a deep breath. "She has three main weak points. First, she needs to witness suffering. Second, unexpected developments throw her off bnce. And third..." He hesitated, looking

    directly at Camille. "She isn''t motivated by what most people think."

    "Exin," Camille said.

    "Everyone assumes Rose wants what you have, your husband, your

    family''s love, your sess, Stefan''s voice softened. "But that''s not it. What Rose really wants is to be you."

    216

    The wordsnded like stones in still water. All those years of

    sabotage, of undermining,

    of

    stealing what mattered to her, it hadn''t been simple jealousy. It had been something deeper. Rose hadn''t wanted Camille''s things. She had wanted Camille''s identity.

    "That''s why nothing is ever enough for her," Stefan continued. "No

    matter what she takes from you, she still wakes up as Rose, not Camille. And now that her true nature has been exposed..." "She wants to make sure I don''t have it either," Camille finished quietly.

    "Exactly. It''s not just revenge anymore. It''s erasure."

    Alexander''s expression had transformed. The jealousy had faded, reced by reluctant recognition. He believed Stefan. More importantly, he recognized genuine

    remorse.

    "How do we know this isn''t some borate plot?" Victoria asked. "You betrayed Camille once. Why should we

    believe you won''t do it again?"

    Stefan met her gaze directly. "You shouldn''t. Trust has to be earned, and I haven''t earned

    yours. But I''m not asking you to trust me. I''m just offering information."

    "If you''re sincere," Alexander said, "what else can you

    provide? Beyond psychological insights."

    ˇ°I know Rose''s habits. Her favorite ces. The people she still trusts.ˇ± Stefan straightened slightly. ˇ°I could help your security team track her movements, identify meeting ces with Preston."

    Alexander

    nodded slowly, calcting the value against the risks. His protective stance rxed slightly.

    Victoria remained unmoved. "While you''re

    being so helpful, perhaps you could exin why we should believe you''re not still working for her interests."

    "I can''t prove a negative. All I can tell you

    is that Rose pped me hard enough to leave a mark when I confronted her

    yesterday." He touched his cheek, where a faint bruise

    was visible. "She''s made it clear I''m her enemy too."

    Camille watched him, searching for the deception she''d missed years ago. The smooth charm, the practiced sincerity. She found neither. The man before her seemed hollowed out, stripped of pretense.

    "I''d like to speak with Stefan alone," she said suddenly.

    Victoria''s head snapped toward her. "Camille...ˇ±

    "Just for a few minutes," Camille insisted. "I think I''ve earned that right."

    A silentmunication passed between them. Finally, Victoria

    nodded once, sharply.

    "Five minutes," she said, rising. "Not a second more."

    Alexander hesitated, torn between respecting Camille''s wishes

    and his instinct to shield her. His eyes searched hers.

    "It''s okay," Camille assured him.

    With reluctance, Alexander stood. As he passed Stefan, he paused. "If this is some kind of game," he said, voice low, "if you hurt her again, what Victoria does to you will seem mercifulpared to my response."

    When the door closed, a heavy silence filled the room. Camille studied her former husband across the table. So familiar once. Now a stranger. "Why are you really here, Stefan?" she asked quietly.

    "I told you-"

    "The truth," Camille cut him off. "Not what sounds noble. The truth."

    Stefan''s shoulders sagged. "Because I can''t live with myself otherwise," he whispered. " Because I wake

    up every night seeing your face when you found those divorce papers. Because when I thought

    you were dead, I realized what I''d done. Who I''d be."

    Camille absorbed his words without

    expression. "And now? What do you want from this?"

    "Nothing from

    you," Stefan said, meeting her eyes. "I don''t expect forgiveness. I just want

    to do one right thing. To help stop Rose before she hurts more people."

    "If we use

    your information, I need to know you won''t waver. That you won''t change your mind if Rose reaches out again."

    "I won''t," Stefan said firmly. "I''ve seen

    who she really is now. There''s no going back."

    Victoria and Alexander returned precisely five minutester. Alexander''s

    eyes immediately sought Camille''s, checking for signs of distress.

    "We''ll ept your assistance," Camille announced. "You''ll work with Alexander''s security team, not

    directly with us. Every piece of information will be verified. Every move watched."

    "I understand," Stefan said, relief washing over his face.

    "If this is some kind of trap," Victoria added icily, "understand that I will personally ensure you regret it."

    For the next hour, they extracted

    every detail Stefan could offer about Rose, her habits, her thought patterns, the ces she

    might go, the people she still trusted. Alexander recorded everything, his initial jealousy forgotten as he focused on the tactical value

    of Stefan''s information.

    Victoria remained cool and distant, her skepticism

    evident in every question. But even she couldn''t deny the

    yalue of what Stefan provided.

    When they finished, Stefan stood to leave. At the door, he paused.

    "For what it''s worth," he said quietly, "I am sorry. For everything."

    Camille nodded once, neither epting nor rejecting his apology. She watched him walk away, the ghost of the man she had married.

    When the door closed, Victoria turned to Camille. "Do you believe him?"

    "I believe he wants to help," Camille said carefully. "Whether he has the

    strength to follow through... that''s another question."

    "His insights about Rose match what we''ve observed," Alexander admitted. "And his remorse seemed genuine."

    "People can fake remorse," Victoria reminded them.

    "True." Alexander''s eyes met Camille''s. "But I think Stefan Rodriguez has finally

    seen himself clearly. And he doesn''t like what he sees."

    Victoria remained unconvinced. "We''ll use

    his information, but carefully. Trust, but verify."

    Camille moved to the window to stare out at the city. Three days until the Gridunch. Three days until whatever Rose and

    Herod had nned would unfold.

    "If Stefan is right about Rose needing to witness suffering," she said, "then she''ll be at theunch

    ceremony. She and Preston both."

    "Which gives us an opportunity," Alexander finished her thought. "We can prepare for them."

    Camille turned back to face

    them, a new resolve forming inside her. For too long, she had been

    reacting to Rose''s moves. Perhaps it was time to change the game.

    "Rose thinks she knows me," Camille said quietly. "She

    thinks she knows exactly how I'' Il respond. What I''ll do. Who I''ll trust." A small

    smile touched her

    lips. "Let''s show her how wrong she is."

    As they began nning, Camille caught Alexander watching her

    with an expression she hadn''t seen before, pride mixed with something

    deeper. The jealousy that had flickered when Stefan first spoke had transformed into quiet admiration of

    her strength.

    And Camille realized something as

    she watched him back. Stefan''s presence had rified something important: the difference between the man who had betrayed her and the man

    who now stood beside her. Between a love built on convenience and a bond forged through fire.

    Three days until they faced Rose and Herod.

    Three days to prepare for whatever came next.

    Three days to turn a desperate n for sabotage into a trap for its creators.

 Chapter 110

    The clock on the wall of the control room read 3:17 AM as

    Camille stood by Hannah Zhao''s workstation, watching streams of code flicker across multiple screens. A faint blue glow bathed the room in ethereal light, casting long shadows across the faces of the twelve er six hours.

    ˇ°It''s time,ˇ± Hannah said, looking up at Camille with red-

    rimmed eyes that nheless sparkled with determination. "The first section of the Grid is ready for activation."

    Camille nodded, her heart pounding against her ribs. "Everyone in position?ˇ±

    Through her earpiece, Alexander''s steady voice confirmed, "Security teams are in ce. The suspected saboteur is

    working on the east junction, thinking he''s alone while preparing the final circuits."

    "And whoever it is has no idea we''ve reced everything?" Camille asked Hannah.

    Hannah''s lips curved into a smile that

    held no humor. "Not unless they actually test theponents, which doesn''t appear to be part of their instructions. Whoever it is, they''re following the sabotaged ns to the letter, installing modified circuits tha seventy-two hours after full activation."

    Camille took a deep breath, steadying herself against the edge of the desk. This wasn''t just a business venture

    or even a simple triumph over Rose and Herod. The Phoenix Grid represented something more profound-

    her rebirth from the ashes of Camille Lewis into someone new, someone who

    created rather than destroyed.

    "Let''s bring it online," she said quietly.

    Hannah''s fingers flew across the keyboard. "Initiating power

    sequence to Section A. Substation Oneing online in five, four, three, two..."

    The room fell silent as

    the main disy showed a schematic of the Grid''s first section, awork of intersecting lines spanning six city blocks. For a heart- stopping moment, nothing

    happened. Then, one by one, the connection points illuminated, bright blue dots spreading through thework like stars appearing in the evening sky.

    "Power flow stable," called out Rishabh from his monitoring station. "All junction points green. Transformer loads at expected levels." "Voltage regtion is holding," added

    Elena, her voice tight with concentration. "No fluctuations detected."

    "Security protocols

    active," said Marcus, his fingers moving rapidly across his keyboard, "No unauthorized ess attempts."

    Camille found herself holding her breath as the indicators continued to light up across the disy. This

    was it, the moment they would discover if their countermeasures

    had worked, if they had truly managed to outmaneuver Rose and Herod''s

    sabotage.

    "Section A fully operational," Hannah announced finally, swiveling in her chair to face the room. ˇ°Ladies and gentlemen, we have sessfully brought the first section of the Phoenix Grid online."

    Cheer erupted from the exhausted team, the sound of it washing over Camille like a wave. She closed her eyes briefly, allowing herself to feel the victory.

    "Remarkable work," came Victoria''s voice from the doorway. Camille hadn''t heard her enter. "But I presume we''re maintaining appearances?"

    "Yes," Hannah confirmed, suddenly serious again. "From the outside, it appears we''re following the sabotaged blueprints exactly. Our corrections are invisible unless someone physically inspects theponent Victoria nodded, her silver hair catching the blue light from the screens. "And what about our mysterious installer?"

    Alexander''s voice came through the speakers. "Currently packing up his tools, looking rather pleased with himself. He just

    made a call, encrypted, but our team picked up the word plete.'' He thinks his part is done."

    "Let him think that," Camille said, moving to stand beside Victoria. "The more confident Rose and Herod feel, the more likely they are to be at theunch ceremony."

    Victoria studied the disys, her

    expression unreadable. "I''ve known many enemies in my time, but few as

    persistent as the Prestons. Herod''s father would be proud of his son''s dedication."

    "We have something they

    don''t," Alexander replied through them system. "We know they''reing."

    Hannah gestured toward another screen showingplex data flows. "I''ve implemented what I call ''honeypot

    errors'' deliberate minor issues in

    the system that appear to be part of the normal startup process. If anyone''s monitoring our systems remotely, they''ll see exactly what they expect to see; a grid

    with hidden ws preparing to fail catastrophically."

    "And the backup power systems?" Victoria asked.

    "Triple redundancy, just as you requested," Hannah confirmed. "If anything goes wrong, we can shift to alternate circuits in

    milliseconds. No interruption, no explosions, no chaos."

    Camille felt a strange mixture of emotions as she watched the blue

    lights of her creation pulse with life. Pride in what they had built. Anger at those

    who sought to destroy it. And something else, a quiet satisfaction that went beyond revenge.

    "I need a moment," she murmured, stepping away from the group and walking to therge windows overlooking the city.

    Dawn was still

    hours away, but New York never truly slept. Lights twinkled in office buildings and

    apartments, people going

    about their lives unaware of the battle being waged in the shadows. Somewhere out there, Rose and Herod were waiting, watching, nning.

    Camille''s reflection stared back at her from the ss-a woman transformed

    by pain and purpose, harder than she once was but perhaps stronger for it. She barely resembled Camille Lewis anymore, that trusting woman who had signed divorce papers with quiet dignity before walking into a trap.

    "Penny for your thoughts?"

    Alexander''s voice startled her. He had arrived in person, his reflection appearing

    beside hers in the window.

    "I was just thinking about who I''ve be,ˇ± she admitted. "When Victoria found me, all I wanted

    was to make them pay. Now..."

    "Now you''re creating something that could change

    millions of lives," he finished for her. "That''s the difference between you and Rose. She can only destroy what others build."

    Camille turned to face him. "Do you think she knows? That

    we''ve discovered the sabotage?"

    Alexander shook his head. "If she knew, she''d be

    panicking, changing ns, making mistakes. Everything suggests they still

    believe their trap is set and waiting."

    "Two more

    days until the officialunch," Camille said quietly. "Everything we''ve worked fores

    down to that moment."

    "Not everything," Alexander countered, taking her hand. His touch was

    warm, grounding. "This project is extraordinary, but it''s

    not your whole story, Camille."

    She looked down at their

    joined hands, remembering the hospital room where they had first met years ago, though she

    hadn''t remembered until he told her. How strange that their paths had crossed twice, once when she was simply kind to a stranger, and again when that stranger had be her ally against those who sought to destroy her.

    "Ms. Kane?" Hannah called from across the room. "You should see this."

    Camille and Alexander returned to the central console where Hannah

    had pulled up a new disy.

    "We''re detecting an unauthorized ess attempt on the main server," Hannah exined, pointing to a shing indicator. "Someone''s trying to view the activation data from Section A."

    "Can you trace it?" Victoria asked sharply.

    Hannah''s fingers flew across the keyboard. "It''s bouncing through

    multiple proxies, but..

    yes. The origin appears to be a penthouse in Tribeca."

    "Herod''s building," Alexander

    confirmed. ˇ°They''re wondering if their sabotage is working as nned.ˇ±

    "Let''s give them exactly what they

    want to see," Camille said, her voice hardening. " Show them the honeypot data. Let them think everything is proceeding ording to their

    n."

    Hannah nodded and initiated the protocol.

    "Feeding them the false telemetry now. They''ll see minor fluctuations that appear consistent with their sabotage timeline."

    "Perfect,ˇ± Victoria said with grim satisfaction. "Let them believe they''re winning."

    On the main screen, a notification appeared indicating the unauthorized user had downloaded the doctored data and disconnected.

    "They took the bait," Hannah confirmed.

    Alexander''s phone buzzed. He checked the message and looked up. "That was my team watching the installer. He just got into a car with dark windows. Looks like a pickup."

    "Follow him?" Camille asked.

    Alexander shook his head. "Better to let him go. If we spook their operative

    now, Rose and Herod might realize something''s wrong."

    Victoria turned to the engineering team. "Proceed with bringing the remaining

    sections online

    ording to schedule. Remember, from the outside, everything must appear to be following their sabotaged blueprints precisely."

    As the team resumed their work with renewed

    vigor, Camille felt a strange calm settle over her. For so long, she had been reacting to Rose''s machinations, scrambling to catch up. Now, finally, she was a step

    ahead.

    "You should rest," Alexander said quietly. "You''ve been here all night."

    "I couldn''t sleep now if I tried," Camille replied, her eyes fixed on the glowing bluework that represented her vision made real. "Besides, I want to be here when Section Bes online."

    Victoria approached them, her expression softer than

    usual. "He''s right, Camille. The next twenty-

    four hours will be crucial. You need to be at your best."

    Camille hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. ˇ°Wake me immediately if anything changes.ˇ± ˇ°Of course,ˇ± Victoria promised. ˇ°Alexander, see that she gets home safely."

    As they walked toward the elevator, Camille cast onest nce at the

    control room, at Hannah directing

    her team, at Victoria standing tall and vignt, at the screens showing

    the first heartbeats of the Phoenix Grid.

    "It''s beautiful, isn''t it?" she said quietly.

    Alexander followed her gaze. "Yes, it is. And they can''t take it from you."

    The elevator doors opened, and

    they stepped inside. As the doors closed, Camille leaned against the wall, suddenly aware of the

    bone-deep exhaustion that had been lurking beneath her focus,

    "When this is over," she said, "when Rose and Herod are dealt with... whates next?"

    Alexander considered her question carefully. "Whatever you want. That''s the point of all this, isn''t it? To reim your choice."

    The elevator descended smoothly, carrying them away from the pulsing

    heart of Camille''s creation. But even as the physical distance grew, she could feel it, the Grid, alive and awakening, its power flowing through the veins of the city like blood through a body.

    Two days until theunch ceremony. Two days until Rose and Herod made their final move. Two days until Camille would face

    her sister onest time.

    But tonight, for the first time, she wasn''t afraid. Tonight, the Phoenix had risen from the ashes, and its wings were made of light.

 Chapter 111

    Herod Preston stood at his Tribeca penthouse windows, studying three monitors disying data from the Phoenix Grid''s first section. The screens cast an eerie blue glow across the dimly lit roo "It doesn''t make sense," he muttered, bourbon untouched in his hand.

    Rose entered, wrapped in a silk robe the color of blood, her hair damp from the

    shower. She moved toward him with predatory grace.

    "What doesn''t make sense?" she asked, examining the disys.

    Herod

    gestured toward the center screen. "The Grid. These readings are exactly what we expected to see. Minor fluctuations, small power surges, tiny irregrities in the data flow. All perfectly in line with our sabotage timeline."

    "Isn''t that good?"

    "Too good," Herod set his ss down sharply. "No unexpected variables, no human error, no deviations. It''s as if someone wants us to see exactly this data." He pointed to a jagged blue line. "Th Rose wrapped her arms around herself. "You think they know?"

    Herod swiped through several screens, searching for evidence to confirm his suspicions.

    "No ident reports. No emergency responses, no unexpected shutdowns, no warnings." He turned to face Rose. "James Walsh installed forty-

    seven modifiedponents. At least one should have triggered some kind of warning by now."

    The thought that Camille might have outsmarted them again made Rose''s stomach twist.

    "Maybe the effects haven''t shown up yet," she suggested. "Walsh said the major failures

    wouldn''t happen until full activation."

    "We should still be seeing preliminary issues. Inconsistent power readings, system gs, technicians being called unexpectedly."

    "So what are you saying?"

    "Either our sabotage wasn''t as effective as Walsh imed, or..."

    "Or Camille and Victoria have discovered it," Rose finished, her voice barely above a whisper.

    Rose felt familiar fury rising inside her, the same rage that consumed her when she watched Camille at the g, powerful and pristine.

    "No," she said, mming her palm down. "I will not let her win. Not again."

    "What do you propose?" Herod asked, studying her with cautious admiration.

    "We elerate the timeline. Move everything up."

    "That''s risky. The officialunch is still two days away..."

    "We can''t wait," Rose snapped, pacing now. "If they''ve discovered our tampering, they''ll be ready for us at theunch. We need to strike now, while they think they still have time." Herod nodded slowly. "You may be right. Waiting only gives them more time

    to counter it."

    He pressed a button on an encrypted phone

    and spoke without preamble. "We need to move up the

    timeline. How quickly can you arrange it?" After listening briefly, he added, "Double your fee if necessary. Triple it. Just get it done."

    He ended the call. "It''ll be arranged by dawn. The secondary n will now be our primary approach."

    "And the Grid sabotage?" Rose asked.

    "A diversion

    now," Herod said. "Whether they discovered it doesn''t matter. Our true strike wille from a different direction."

    He opened a wall safe, removing a ck metal case and cing it on the desk. "This is what will destroy Victoria Kane." Insidey folders and documents bearing the Kane Industries logo.

    "While you focused on your sister, I''ve been acquiring shares of Kane Industries through shellpanies," he exined. "I already own five percent." "Five percent isn''t enough to take control," Rose frowned.

    "It''s just the beginning. These documents show positions of major shareholders, voting patterns, and vulnerabilities in

    their corporate structure. I''ve identified three key

    institutional investors who hold abined twenty-

    two percent stake and are growing concerned about thepany''s direction."

    "You''re nning a hostile takeover."

    "Precisely," Herod confirmed. "When we trigger chaos, these investors will look for an exit. I''ll offer significantly above market value, but only if they sell immediately." "And Victoria won''t be able to stop it."

    "She''ll be too busy with the technical crisis and media fallout. By the time she realizes what''s happening, I''ll have enough voting power to force an emergency board meeting and vote her out." Rose smiled slowly. "The Grid sabotage was just a distraction."

    "A crisis to upy their attention while we make our real move."

    "And Camille?" Rose asked, hunger in her voice.

    "She

    falls with Victoria," Herod said simply. "Her position, her power, her new identity, it all depends on Victoria''s support. When I take control, your sister bes nothing but a footnote. She''ll be dis Rose closed her eyes, savoring the image of Camille defeated and alone.

    "Perfect," she whispered.

    "We''ll move tomorrow morning, just as Section B of the Grid goes online. Their attention will be divided, their resources stretched thin."

    They stood at the windows, staring at the cityscape like generals surveying a battlefield.

    "By tomorrow," he said quietly, "Victoria Kane''s empire begins to fall."

    Rose slipped her hand into his. "And we''ll be there to watch it burn."

    After a moment of silence, Herod turned to her. "When this is over, when Camille and Victoria have lost everything and Kane Industries belongs to me, what then?"

    The question caught Rose off guard. Her life had been defined by wanting what others had, by taking what wasn''t hers.

    "I don''t know," she admitted.

    "Would you stay? With me?"

    Rose looked up, surprised by his vulnerability. Their rtionship had begun as an alliance of convenience but had be something more.

    "Are you asking because you need me, or because you want me?"

    "Both," he answered without hesitation. "I need

    your fire, your ruthlessness. But I also want you, the woman who refuses to ept defeat, who fought her way out of foster care and built herself into someone formidable."

    Rose felt something unfamiliar stir within her. No one had ever wanted her for herself, for the qualities others found disturbing or dangerous. Stefan had wanted the mask she wore. Her adoptive I But Herod saw her.... truly saw her.... and wanted her anyway.

    "Yes," she said softly. "I''ll stay."

    A sudden chime interrupted them. Herod checked the notification. "Another data packet from the Grid. Section B is scheduled tomorrow, but they''re running preliminary tests now." He scrolled through the numbers. "The same patterns. Too perfect. Too predictable."

    "You''re certain they know?"

    Herod nodded. "Which means we need to be prepared for resistance."

    "Let them resist," Rose said, her voice hardening. "By the time they realize what''s really happening, it will be toote." Later, wrapped in tangled sheets, Rosey with her head on Herod''s chest. "No matter what happens tomorrow," he said quietly, "remember that we''ve already won. We forced them to discover the sabotage. We made them change their ns, react to our moves."

    Rose nodded, understanding. If their n somehow failed, it wouldn''t be the end, just one battle in a longer war they would eventually win together.

    "I know," she murmured, looking into his eyes. "But we won''t fail."

    As he pulled her down for another kiss, Rose realized that for the first time in her life, she wasn''t fighting alone.

 Chapter 112

    Morning light streamed through Victoria''s office windows, turning the silver in her hair to tinum. She stood at the head of the conference table, reviewing the Phoenix Grid''s reports.

    "Power distribution remains stable," she noted, flipping through papers with practiced efficiency. "No anomalies detected overnight."

    Camille watched from across the table, noticing something off about Victoria. Her normally wlessplexion had a grayish tinge, and faint shadows underlined her eyes.

    "Are

    you feeling alright?" Camille asked quietly while Alexander studied technical readouts beside her.

    Victoria dismissed the

    question with a sharp wave. "I''m fine. Let''s focus on Section B. The activation is scheduled for noon." Alexander nced up. "My security team reports no suspicious activity. If Rose and Herod are nning something, they''re being extraordinarily careful."

    Victoria nodded, but the movement seemed to throw her off bnce

    momentarily. She steadied herself against the table so quickly that Camille wondered if she''d imagined it.

    "Hannah''s team has implemented additional safeguards," Victoria continued, her voice slightly thinner than usual. "Any attempt to interfere with the Grid''s operation will trigger immediate..." She stopped mid-sentence, her hand going to her temple.

    "Victoria?" Camille half-rose from her chair.

    "As I was saying," Victoria pushed on, her words more deliberate now, "any attempt to interfere will trigger immediate... immediate..."

    The pen slipped from her fingers, ttering against the polished

    table. Victoria stared at it with mild surprise, as if she couldn''t quite understand what had happened.

    "I think perhaps I should..." she murmured, and then her legs simply gave way.

    Alexander moved with startling speed, catching Victoria before she hit the floor. Her body went limp in his arms, her head rolling back unnaturally.

    "Victoria!" Camille rushed around the table, dropping to her knees beside

    them. "Victoria, can you hear me?"

    Victoria''s eyes fluttered open, unfocused and confused. "Something''s wrong," she whispered, the admission seeming to cost her terribly.

    Alexander already had his phone out, barking orders for medical assistance. Camille pressed her fingers to Victoria''s wrist, feeling the rapid, fluttering pulse.

    "Stay with us," she urged, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Help ising."

    Victoria''s hand found Camille''s, her grip surprisingly strong. "The Grid," she managed.

    "Don''t let them...."

    Her eyes rolled back, and her body went rigid before beginning to seize.

    "Turn her on her side," Alexandermanded. "Keep her airways clear."

    The next minutes blurred together. Security personnel burst into the room, followed by a medical team. They pushed Camille and Alexander back, surrounding Victoria with efficient professionalism.

    Camille

    watched, frozen, as they stabilized Victoria and transferred her to a stretcher. The woman who had saved her, shaped her, made her invincible, suddenly human and

    fragile, her face half-covered by an oxygen mask.

    "I''m going with her," Camille said, already moving toward the door.

    Alexander caught her arm. "The helicopter is ready on the roof. It''ll get her to the

    hospital faster than fighting through city traffic."

    Camille nodded mechanically, following the medical team as they rushed Victoria toward the private elevator. Her mind raced with contradictory thoughts, worry for Victoria warring with concerns about the Grid activation, scheduled in just three hours.

    "Go with her," Alexander

    said, reading her expression. "I''ll handle Section B and make sure everything proceeds ording to n."

    Camille hesitated, torn between responsibilities. "Rose and Herod..."

    "Will still be waiting when Victoria''s stable," Alexander finished. "She needs you now. Go."

    The elevator doors closed. Camille turned to the stretcher where Victoriay. She had never seen her mentor look small

    before. Even in sleep, Victoria had always maintained a formidable presence. Now, her skin seemed nearly translucent, the

    veins at her temples standing out starkly.

    One of the medics checked Victoria''s vital signs. "How long has she been ill?" he asked,

    "She isn''t ill," Camille replied automatically. "She''s never sick."

    The medic exchanged a nce with his colleague that sent ice through Camille''s veins.

    The hospital waiting room smelled of antiseptic and stale coffee. Camille paced its length for what felt like the hundredth time. Three hours had passed since they''d rushed Victoria through the double doors mar Her phone buzzed. Alexander. Section B had gone online without incident, exactly as nned. No sign of interference from Rose or Herod. Camille stared at the message, unable to summon relief or satisfaction The door at the far end opened, and a doctor approached with a carefully neutral expression.

    "Ms. Kane? I''m Dr. Elizabeth Chen."

    Camille straightened. "How is she?"

    "Stable for now," Dr. Chen replied. "We''ve run a series of tests, including blood

    work and advanced imaging. Would you like. to sit down?"

    Camille recognized the tone. It was the same one Victoria had used when exining why there was no possibility of reconciliation with her old family. The prelude to an unbearable truth. "Just tell me," Camille said softly.

    Dr. Chen met her gaze directly. "Ms. Kane has pancreatic cancer. It''s advanced, but we''ve caught it at a stage where treatment options are still avable. With the right approach, there''s a realistic chance of ren The words hung in the air, still devastating but

    carrying a thread of hope that Camille hadn''t dared expect. She gripped a nearby chair to steady herself.

    "Treatment options?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "A specialized surgical procedure followed by targeted immunotherapy," Dr. Chen exined. "There''s a new clinical trial showing promising results with cases simr to Ms. Kane''s. It won''t be easy, but she''s oth Camille''s mind raced back through the past weeks. Victoria workingter than usual. Meals left half-

    finished. The slight stiffness in her movements that Camille had attributed to tension over Rose and Herod''s plotting.

    "What''s the timeline for treatment?" Camille asked, forcing her voice to remain steady.

    "We''d want to begin as soon as possible," Dr. Chen replied. "The

    surgery could be scheduled within days, followed by recovery and then immunotherapy. The full course would take several months."

    "Is there family we should contact?"

    "I''m her daughter," Camille said, the words emerging with unexpected

    certainty. "I''m all the family she

    Dr. Chen nodded. "She''s asking for you. She''s heavily sedated, but conscious. Room 718."

    Camille moved through the corridor like a sleepwalker, the doctor''s words cycling through her mind. Cancer. Advanced. A few months.

    She paused outside Room 718, drawing a deep breath before pushing the door open.

    Victoriay against white sheets, looking ghostly under the harsh hospital lighting. Gone was themanding presence that filled boardrooms with a single nce. In its cey a woman suddenly revealed a hummed.

    Her eyes opened as Camille approached the bed.

    "I told them... not

    to tell you yet," Victoria murmured, her voice raspy. "Wanted to... handle it myself.ˇ±

    Camille sat carefully on the edge of the bed, taking Victoria''s hand. IV lines snaked from her arm, a stark reminder of her vulnerability.

    "How long have you known?" Camille asked.

    "Suspected... two weeks," Victoria admitted. "Confirmed... three days ago."

    Shock jolted through Camille. "Three days? Why didn''t you say anything?"

    "The Grid," Victoria said simply. "Couldn''t... risk distraction. Too important."

    The implication stunned Camille. Victoria had received a cancer diagnosis and said nothing, continuing to fight Rose and Herod''s sabotage as if nothing had changed.

    "The

    doctor mentioned a new treatment," Camille said, hope threading through her voice. "A surgical procedure and

    immunotherapy. She says there''s a good chance..."

    "I know," Victoria interrupted. "Already... discussed options."

    "So you''ll do it?"

    Victoria''s eyes locked with Camille''s, some of her usual strength returning to her gaze. "Yes. But no one... can know. No

    one."

    "Victoria, thepany needs to..."

    "No." The word came sharp and clear. "If Rose and Herod... learn I''m weakened... they''ll elerate their ns. Need time... to prepare.ˇ±

    Camille understood immediately. In business, as in war, any sign of vulnerability would be exploited mercilessly. If word got out that Victoria Kane was hospitalized with cancer, Kane Industries'' stock would plum strike.

    "Alexander already knows something''s wrong," Camille said quietly.

    Victoria nodded slightly. "Tell him... the truth. No one else. Not even... the board."

    "The Grid," Victoria said after a moment. "Section B?"

    "Online," Camille assured her. "Everything worked perfectly. No sign of interference."

    Victoria nodded slightly, satisfaction briefly overtaking the pain in her expression. "Good. But they''ll... still move against us. You must be... ready."

    Even now, lying in a hospital bed, Victoria''s mind remained fixed on the battle ahead.

    "Don''t worry about Rose and Herod," she said. "Alexander and I will handle them. You need to focus on getting better." Victoria''s lips curved in what might have been a smile. "Will get better... but recovery takes

    absence."

    Her eyes drifted closed momentarily, then opened with visible effort. "There''s a file... in my personal safe. Combination... Sophia''s birthday. Instructions for... everything. Contingency ns."

    Camille nodded, filing the information away. ˇ°I''ll take care of everything until

    you''re back."

    "I know,ˇ± Victoria said, her voice growing fainter as the medication

    pulled her toward sleep. "That''s why... I chose you."

    A nurse entered quietly, checking Victoria''s vital signs. "She needs to rest now," she told Camille gently.

    Victoria''s hand

    tightened on Camille''s. "Remember... tell no one," she murmured, already drifting under the influence of medication.

    "I promise," Camille said softly.

    After the nurse left, Camille sat in silence, watching Victoria''s chest rise and fall with each breath. Th

    midable woman

    who had transformed her from a broken victim into a force to be reckoned with

    now looked strangely vulnerable against the sterile white sheets.

    Her phone vibrated. Alexander, again. She nced at the screen.

    *Need to talk. Urgent. Something''s happening with Kane Industries stock.*

    Camille looked from the phone to Victoria''s sleeping face. The battle was still raging, and now she would have to lead it temporarily. Rose and Herod were making their move, just as Victoria had predicted.

    She rose quietly and moved to the window, staring out at the city skyline. Somewhere out there, Rose and Herod were celebrating what they thought was

    their approaching victory, unaware that everything had just changed.

    This wasn''t just about revenge anymore. This wasn''t

    just about the Grid. This was about protecting Victoria''s empire while she fought her private battle, giving her the time she needed to recover and

    reim her ce.

    Camille texted Alexander back:

    *Coming now. Meeting room in the east wing. Will exin everything.*

    She returned to Victoria''s bedside, carefully adjusting the nket over her sleeping form. "I''ll be back soon," she whispered. "I promise."

    As she walked from the room, Camille straightened her spine, lifted her chin, and schooled her features into the mask of calm authority that Victoria had taught her to wear. There would be time for worryter. N For Victoria. For herself. For the time they would still have together once this battle

 Chapter 113

    Victoria Kane sat propped against white hospital pillows, her silver hair swept back

    from her face in a neat chignon. Even in a hospital gown, connected to monitors that beeped rhythmically in the background, she maintained an air ofmand. The room, the hospital''s finest pr Herwyer, Frederick Winters, a man who had

    served the Kane family for thirty years, sat in an armchair beside the bed. His silver-

    rimmed sses caught the afternoon light as he arranged documents with practiced precision.

    "You''re certain about this?" he asked, his voice low and measured. "The board will have questions."

    Victoria''s mouth thinned. "The board''s questions

    are not my concern, Frederick. My decision is final."

    The door opened, and Camille entered, dressed in a tailored navy suit that Victoria recognized as one she had selected for her. Their eyes met, an understanding passing between them. Victoria g "Good, you''re here. We can begin."

    Camille nced at Frederick, then back to Victoria. "Begin what?"

    "Updating my will," Victoria answered matter-of-factly. "Please, sit."

    Camille lowered herself into the chair, her movements careful, as if the ground beneath her might suddenly give way. For the past two days, she had been splitting her time between

    the hospital and Kane Industries, maintaining the fiction that Victoria was simply working remotely while recovering from exhaustion. Only Alexander knew the truth, that Victoria was fighting for

    "Is this rea

    necessary right now?" Camille asked quietly. "The doctors said you should rest before tomorrow''s procedure."

    Victoria waved away her concern.

    "I don''t leave matters of importance to chance, Camille. You know that."

    Frederick cleared his throat. "Ms. Kane has asked me to prepare a new version of herst will and testament, along with updated instructions

    regarding the control of Kane Industries in the event of her... incapacitation."

    Camille''s fingers tightened on the armrests. "You''re going to be

    fine. The doctors said the procedure has an excellent sess rate."

    "Of course,"

    Victoria said, though something in her eyes suggested she was less certain

    than her words implied. "But prudence dictates preparation, regardless of probability."

    She turned to Frederick. "Proceed."

    Frederick adjusted his sses. "The primary change concerns the disposition of Ms. Kane''s personal estate and her controlling interest in Kane Industries. Previously, these assets were divided He nced at Victoria, who nodded for him to continue.

    "Under the new will, Ms.

    Kane names you, Camille Kane, as her sole heir and sessor. This includes all personal property, financial assets, real estate holdings, and her sixty percent controlling interest in Kane Industr Camille felt the air leave her lungs in a rush. She

    stared at Victoria, searching her face for some exnation. "Victoria, I..."

    "The decision is made," Victoria interrupted, her tone brooking no argument. She turned to Frederick. "Show her the documents."

    Frederick handed Camille a thick folder. She opened it with unsteady fingers, scanning pages dense with legal terminology. Numbers jumped out at her, figures with so many zeros they seemed u "This is... everything," she whispered.

    "Yes," Victoria confirmed simply.

    "But why? There must be others, board members who''ve been

    with you for decades, charitable foundations, rtives...."

    "No rtives," Victoria corrected. "Not since Sophia." A shadow crossed her face at the mention of her daughter. "As for the board, they serve at the pleasure of the controlling shareholder. And stipted in separate agreements."

    Victoria''s gaze held Camille''s, unwavering. "You are my heir, Camille. The daughter of my choice, if not my blood. I have watched you transform from a woman broken by

    betrayal into someone extraordinary. Someone worthy of everything I''ve built."

    Emotion closed Camille''s throat. She thought of the night Victoria had found her in that hotel parking garage, beaten and left for dead by Rose''s hired thugs. The moment Victoria had offered her

    something unexpected, a bond between her and Victoria that transcended mentor and student.

    "There are a few additional

    provisions," Frederick continued when Camille remained silent. "A personal letter to be delivered to you in the event of Ms. Kane''s death. Instructions for the continuation of the Phoenix Grid project. And specific directives regarding certain individuals Ms. Kane considers... adversaries."

    Victoria''s lips curved in a cold smile. "Insurance policies, you might say."

    Camille knew she meant Rose and Herod. Even facing surgery, Victoria was thinking ten moves ahead, nning counters to attacks that hadn''t yet materialized.

    "I don''t want to have this conversation," Camille said suddenly. "You''re going to survive the surgery. You''re going to recover. We can discuss session ns after you''re back at the office." Victoria reached out, taking

    Camille''s hand in a rare gesture of physical affection. Her skin felt cool and paper-

    thin, the blue veins visible beneath the surface.

    "Camille," she said softly. "Look at me."

    Camille raised her eyes reluctantly.

    "I have lived my life preparing for every possibility," Victoria continued. "It''s why I''ve survived this long in a world eager to see women like me fail. Tomorrow may go perfectly ording to n- I certainly intend it to-

    but I will not leave anything to chance. Not mypany. Not my legacy. And especially not your future."

    She squeezed Camille''s hand once before releasing it. "Now, shall

    we proceed with the signatures, Frederick?" Frederick nodded, extracting

    a silver pen from his breast pocket. "If you''ll initial here, Ms. Kane, and sign on the final page." Victoria took the pen, her hand steady as she marked the documents. The scratch of the nib agains only sound in the room besides the quiet beeping of the monitors.

    When she finished, she handed the

    pen to Camille. "Your signature is required as witness and acknowledging recipient." Camille hesitated, the pen heavy in her hand. Signing felt like admitting a possibility she refused to ept-that Victoria might not survive.

    "This changes nothing

    about tomorrow," Victoria said, reading her thoughts. "It simply ensures that no matter what happens, you will be protected. Kane Industries will be protected."

    Camille took a

    deep breath and signed her name. The letters seemed strange to her-

    Camille Kane-st unfamiliar

    after all this time. A name Victoria had given her, along with a new identity, a new purpose, a

    an empire.

    omewhat now, potentially,

    Frederick collected

    the documents, slipping them into his briefcase. "I''ll file these immediately. By this time tomorrow, everything will be legally.binding."

    Victoria nodded. "Thank you, Frederick. That will be all."

    Thewyer stood, buttoning his jacket. "If I may say so, Ms. Kane... it''s been an honor serving you these many years." Something passed between them- thirty years of history distilled into a single look. Then Frederick bowed slightly and left the room, the door closing softly behind him.

    Silence settled around them. Outside the window, the sun was beginning to set, painting the city skyline in shades of gold and amber. "You didn''t have to do this," Camille said finally.

    "Yes," Victoria countered. "I did."

    She shifted against the pillows, a flicker of difort crossing her features. "When

    Sophia died, I lost my future. Everything I had built suddenly felt hollow. What was the point of creating an empire if there was no one

    to inherit it?" She looked toward the window, her profile

    sharp against the fading light. "Then you came into

    my life. Not as a recement for Sophia-no one could ever be that-

    but as something unexpected. A second chance, perhaps."

    Camille had never heard Victoria speak so openly about her feelings. It frightened her more than the surgery, more than the cancer, more than the will. Victoria Kane did not share her inner thoug "When I took you in," Victoria continued, "it was partly for Sophia. You reminded me of her, your potential, your raw strength that others had tried to crush. I thought helping you would somehow She turned back to Camille, her eyes clear and direct. "But somewhere along the way, it became about you. Just you. The woman you were bing. The woman you are now."

    Camille felt tears threatening and fought them back. Victoria despised emotional disys.

    "I''m not ready to take your ce," she admitted.

    Victoria''s expression softened marginally. "No one ever feels ready for power, Camille. Those who think they are invariably prove themselves unworthy of it."

    She gestured to the bedside table. "Hand me that folder-the blue one."

    Camille passed it to her. Victoria opened it, removing several sheets of paper covered in her distinctive handwriting.

    "These are notes I''ve prepared for you. Things I want you to know, strategies I might not have time to teach you." She hesitated, uncharacteristically uncertain. "And some personal thoughts as v She held out the papers. Camille took them, careful not to let their hands touch, afraid that physical contact

    might break the fragile control she was maintaining.

    "Read them after I''m in surgery," Victoria instructed. "They might help you understand... certain decisions I''ve made." A nurse entered the room, carrying a tray of medication. "Time for your pre- op preparation, Ms. Kane." Victoria nodded. "Very well." She looked at Camille. "You should go. Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day." Camille stood, clutching the folder to her chest. She theplexity of her feelings, but words seemed inadequate.

    "I''ll be here when you wake up," she promised instead.

    Victoria''s mouth curved slightly. "I expect nothing less.

    At the door, Camille paused and looked

    back. Victoria was already speaking to the nurse, her manner

    brisk and businesslike, showing no trace of fear about the procedure that awaited her. The sight struck Camille with a sudden rity, this was the kind of strength she had been learning all thesepany, but the courage to face whatever came with unflinching resolve.

    Outside in the corridor, Camille leaned against the wall, the folder pressed against her heart like a shield. Throughout her transformation from Camille Lewis to

    Camille Kane, she had

    focused on bing powerful enough to destroy her enemies. She had never considered what it might mean to be powerful enough to carry Victoria''s legacy. Her phone buzzed. Alexander, texting to check on Victoria.

    *Surgery tomorrow morning. She''s ready. Just updated her will.*

    She hesitated, then added: *She named me her sole heir.*

    Alexander''s response came secondster: *Of course she did. There was never any doubt.*

    Camille stared at his words, wondering how something so monumental to her could seem so obvious to him.

    The elevator doors opened, and she stepped inside, still clutching Victoria''s folder. As the doors closed, she caught a final glimpse of Victoria''s room down the corridor, thest ce she had exp

 Chapter 114

    The hospital caf¨¦ sat empty at 2 AM, its harsh fluorescent lights casting an unnatural glow across the stic tables. Camille stared into her untouched coffee, watching ripples form each time she trembled. Outs

    Alexander slid into the seat

    across from her, setting down two fresh cups. The scent of strong espresso cut through the antiseptic hospital smell.

    "You haven''t slept," he said. Not a question.

    Camille shook her head. She hadn''t changed clothes either, still wearing the navy suit from her meeting

    with Victoria''swyer twelve hours ago. The folder of handwritten notes sat on the table between them, untouched. She couldn''t bring herself to read Victoria''s words yet.

    "They''re

    prepping her for surgery now," she said, her voice raw from hours of silence. "Four hours, they said. Maybe five." Alexander nodded, watching her face. His own showed

    signs of fatigue, the shadows beneath his eyes, the slight stubble-

    along his jaw, but he remained alert, steady. A port in the storm.

    "When I was seven," Camille said suddenly, "I broke my arm falling from a tree. My father was away on business. My mother sat with me in the emergency room all night, holding my good hand. I remember feel

    She looked up from her coffee. "When I told my parents about Rose and Stefan''s betrayal, my mother told me I was lying. She chose Rose. She always chose Rose."

    The memory still stung, but distantly now, like an old wound that ached before rain.

    "Victoria chose me," she whispered. "When no one else did."

    The admission hung in the air between them. Camille had never voiced it before-

    the depth of

    what Victoria meant to her. Their rtionship had always been defined by other terms: mentor and prot¨¦g¨¦, benefactor and recipient, teacher and student. Never mother and daughter. Not out loud.

    Alexander reached across the table, his hand covering hers. "She chose you for a reason, Camille. She saw something in you worth

    investing in, worth protecting. Worth loving."

    Loving. The word struck Camille like a physical blow. Victoria Kane was not a woman who spoke of She spoke of excellence, of potential, of strength. But in her actions- taking in a battered woman with nothing toer, reshaping her, defending her, and now naming her heir to everything she had built-

    wasn''t that its ownnguage of love?

    "I can''t lose her," Camille said, the words breaking free after hours of containment. "Not now. Not

    when I''ve just realized..." "Realized what?" Alexander asked gently.

    Camille gripped her coffee cup so hard her

    knuckles whitened. "That she''s my mother now. Not by blood, but by... by everything that matters."

    Her voice cracked. "My entire life, I wanted my parents to be proud of

    me. To see me. Really see me. They never did." She drew a

    shaky breath. "Victoria saw me from the beginning. The real me, beneath the perfect daughter, beneath the devoted wife, beneath the victim. She saw who I could be." Alexander''s hand tightened on hers. "Tell me what you''re afraid of."

    The directness of his question broke something inside her. The careful wall she had constructed over the past two days crumbled.

    "I''m afraid the surgery won''t work," she whispered. "I''m afraid I''ll lose her. I''m afraid of walking into that boardroom as the controlling shareholder of Kane Industries and failing. I''m afraid Rose and Herod will wir strong enough."

    She looked into Alexander''s eyes, her own burning with unshed

    tears. ˇ°But mostly, I''m afraid she''ll never know. That I never told her what she means to me. That she gave me more than revenge, more than power. She gave me back myself."

    Alexander moved from his chair, kneeling beside her. The gesture-

    so unexpected from this powerful man-unlocked

    the tears she had been holding back. They spilled down her cheeks, hot and unstoppable.

    "Then tell her," he said simply. "When she wakes up from surgery, tell her."

    Camille shook her head. "Victoria doesn''t want Sessfully unlocked!

    s control, discipline."

    "That''s what she shows the world," Alexander countered. But she chiuse you, Camille. Not a business partner not a prot¨¦g¨¦. She chose you, named you her daughter in every way that matters. That wasn''t a bu Camille closed her eyes, remembering Victoria''s rare moments of vulnerability. The night

    she had taken Camille to Sophia''s grave. The day she had given Camille her daughter''s silver phoenix pendant. The quiet pride in her eyes when Camille had

    Chapter:114

    sessfully navigated her first board meeting. Small cracks in the armor of the formidable Victoria

    Kane, glimpses of the woman beneath.

    "What if she doesn''t wake up?" The question emerged as barely a whisper, giving voice to her deepest fear.

    Alexander stood, pulling Camille to her feet and into his arms. She stiffened at first-

    physicalfort was not something she had allowed herself since her transformation began-

    then melted against him, burying her face in the solid warmth of his shoulder.

    "Victoria Kane is the most stubborn woman I''ve ever met," he murmured against her hair. "That includes you, which is saying something. She didn''t build an empire by giving up, and she won''t start now." Camille allowed herself to be held, drawing strength from Alexander''s certainty. After a moment, she pulled back, wiping her eyes.

    "I''ve never seen you cry before," Alexander said quietly.

    "I''ve never let anyone see me cry since..." She trailed off, thinking of the night she had signed those divorce papers, walked out of her marriage, and been attacked in that parking,garage. The night that had end "Victoria taught me that emotion is weakness," she said.

    Alexander shook his head. "Victoria taught you that uncontrolled emotion is weakness. There''s a difference."

    He brushed a strand of hair from her face with unexpected tenderness. "What you''re feeling right now, fear of losing someone you love, someone who changed your life, that''s not weakness, Camille. It''s the co Camille took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Victoria would say humanity is overrated."

    Alexander smiled slightly. "Victoria says a lot of things. But she also took in a stranger who reminded her of her daughter, rebuilt her, and made her

    heir to everything she values. Those aren''t the actions of someone who doesn''t understand love." A nurse appeared at the caf¨¦ entrance, scanning the room until she spotted them. "Ms. Kane? They''ve taken M Camille nodded, pulling herself together with visible effort. "Thank you. I''ll be up shortly."

    After the nurse left, Camille turned back to Alexander. "Will you stay? During the surgery?"

    "Of course," he replied without hesitation. "As long as you need me."

    She gathered Victoria''s folder from the table, hugging

    it to her chest. "She left me notes. Things she wants me to know. I haven''t been able to read them yet."

    "Would it help if we read them together?"

    Camille considered the offer. The papers felt intensely private, a direct line to Victoria''s thoughts. But the idea of facing them alone seemed suddenly overwhelming.

    "Yes," she admitted. "It would."

    They walked to the private waiting room that had been prepared for them, a small space withfortable furniture and windows overlooking the hospital gardens. Camille sat on the sofa, Alexander beside her, Victoria''s handwriting

    filled the pages, elegant, precise strokes that reflected her personality. Camille began to read aloud, her voice soft in the quiet room.

    "Camille," she began, "If you''re reading this, I am either in surgery or have not survived it. I prefer to believe the former, but I''ve never been one to ignore possibilities, however unpleasant."

    Camille paused, steadying her voice before continuing.

    "There are practical matters addressed in these notes, strategies for dealing with the board, warnings about potential rivals, advice for

    thepletion of the Phoenix Grid. All important, all necessary. But there

    are other things I need to say, things I''ve never found the right moment to tell you."

    Alexander''s hand found hers, warm and supportive.

    "When I found you that night, beaten and broken, I saw myself as I had been thirty years ago, a woman betrayed, left with nothing. I told myself I was helping you for Sophia''s sake, that saving you would someh Camille looked up, meeting Alexander''s gaze with surprise. Victoria Kane rarely admitted being wrong about anything.

    "I helped you because you deserved to be helped. Because the strength in you called to the strength in me. Because in your eyes, I saw not just pain but a fire that others had tried and failed to extinguish." Tears threatened again. Camille blinked them back, determined to continue.

    "I have never been demonstrative. Emotion was a luxury I couldn''t afford when building Kane Industries. Perhaps I forgot how to express it along the way. But know this, Camille: In you, I found the daughter of Camille''s

    voice broke on thest words. Alexander squeezed her hand, grounding her.

    "If I survive this surgery," she read on, "I may never speak of these things again. Pride is a difficult habit to break, especially at my age. But I needed you to know, once and for all, that you are more than my heir The letter continued with practical advice about thepany, but Camille couldn''t read further. She closed the folder, pressing it to her

    heart, Victoria''s words echoing in her mind.

    "She never said any of this to me," she whispered. "Not once."

    "Some people can only say certain things on paper," Alexander said gently. "Or when they fear they''re running out of time." Camille nodded, understanding flooding through her. Victoria had given her so much, a purpose, a future. And now, in these pages, she had given Camille something even more precious: the knowledge that she was

    truly loved. "She has

    to survive," Camille said, a new determination threading through her voice. "She has to. Because I need to tell her..."

    "Tell her what?" Alexander prompted when she fell silent.

    Camille looked toward the windows where dawn was beginning to break, pale

    light seeping through the rain clouds. "That she saved me. Not just from Rose and Stefan, not just from being destroyed. She saved me from bing like them, someone who

    only takes, who only destroys."

    She turned to Alexander, her eyes bright with

    unshed tears and newfound rity. "Victoria Kane gave me back myself, and then she gave me a mother. A real one. I need her to know that before...."

    The door opened, and a doctor in surgical scrubs stood

    in the doorway. Camille froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. It was too soon. Far too soon for the surgery to beplete.

    "Ms. Kane?" the doctor said. "There''s been a development. You

    need toe with me right away."

    Camille stood, Victoria''s folder clutched against her chest like armor. Alexander rose beside her, his hand at the small of her back, a silent promise of support.

    Whatever waited beyond that door, hope

    or heartbreak, Camille would face it standing tall, just as Victoria had taught her.

    ents. Because that''s what daughters did for their mothers. They made them proud, even in the darkest m

    Especially then.

 Chapter 115

    Camille followed the doctor down

    the sterile corridor, each step echoing against the polished floor. Alexander walked beside her, his presence steadying as the world seemed to tilt beneath

    her feet. The hospital''s antiseptic smell burned her nostrils, mingling with the lingering scent of coffee on her breath.

    "Is she..." Camille couldn''t finish the question, fear clogging her throat.

    The doctor nced back, his face unreadable beneath his surgical mask. "The chief surgeon will exin everything."

    They turned a corner into a small consultation room where Dr. Lin, Victoria''s lead surgeon, stood washing her hands. She turned as they entered, pulling

    down her mask. Exhaustion lined her face, but her eyes held a rity that made Camille''s heart leap.

    "The surgery was sessful," Dr. Lin said without preamble.

    The words hit Camille like a physical force. She reached for the wall to

    steady herself, her knees suddenly weak. Alexander''s arm came around her waist, supporting her weight.

    "She''s alive," Camille whispered, the two words holding the weight of a universe.

    Dr. Lin nodded. "We encountered aplication during the

    procedure, unexpected bleeding that concerned us enough to notify you. But Ms. Kane responded well. We removed the tumorpletely

    and found less spread than the imaging suggested."

    Camille pressed a hand to her mouth, containing a sob of relief. "When can I see her?"

    "She''s in recovery now. The anesthesia will take time to wear off." Dr. Lin checked her watch. "Perhaps another hour. She''ll be groggy, confused. That''s normal.ˇ±

    "But she''ll recover? Fully

    recover?" Alexander asked, his voice steady where Camille''s could not be.

    "The prognosis is excellent," Dr. Lin confirmed. "We''ll need to monitor her closely and begin immunotherapy once she''s healed from surgery, but yes, I believe Ms. Kane has a very good chance of full recovery."

    Camille closed her eyes, waves

    of relief washing through her. The tightness in her chest, present since Victoria had copsed in her office, finally began to ease.

    "Thank you,"

    managed, opening her eyes to meet the surgeon''s gaze. "Thank

    you for saving her."

    Dr. Lin''s professional demeanor softened slightly. "Ms. Kane is remarkably strong. Her body responded the surgery better than someone half her age might have. She did most of the work herself."

    "That sounds like Victoria," Alexander said with a faint smile.

    Dr. Lin excused herself to check on her patient, leaving Camille and Alexander alone in the consultation

    room. The moment the door closed, Camille''sposure crumbled. She turned to Alexander, burying her face against his chest as tears came, not tears

    of fear or grief now, but overwhelming relief.

    "She''s going to live,ˇ± she whispered against the fabric of his shirt. "She''s going to live."

    Alexander held her, one hand

    stroking her hair. "I told you she was too stubborn to give up."

    Augh bubbled up through Camille''s tears. "She is the most stubborn person I''ve ever met."

    They stayed like that for several minutes, Camille allowing herself this moment of vulnerability. When she finally pulled away, wiping her eyes, she felt lighter somehow, as if a weight had shifted inside her. "I need to call the office," she said, reaching for her phone. "The board expects an update this morning."

    Alexander caught her hand. "What will you tell them?"

    Camille hesitated. Victoria had been clear, no one could know

    about her illness. "That Victoria came through her medical procedure sessfully and is restingfortably. That she''ll be working remotely during her recovery from... exhaustion."

    Alexander nodded. "And Rose and Herod?"

    "They don''t get to know anything," Camille said, her voice hardening. "If they suspect Victoria is weakened, they''ll elerate whatever they''re nning."

    "They already are," Alexander reminded her. "The stock purchases, the whisper campaign, the

    attempts to ess our systems."

    Sessfully unlocked!

    "Then we''ll be ready," Camille said, a new deterna ung nie win Victoria alive, with the threat of loss retreating, her mind cleared. "In fact, let theme. I''m tired of ying defense."

    *** **

    An hourter, Camille stood outside Victoria''s recovery room, her heart hammering against her ribs. Through the small

    window in the door, she could see

    Victoria''s still form, surrounded by machines that beeped and hummed.

    "Go on," Alexander urged gently. "I''ll wait here."

    Camille nodded, squaring her shoulders before pushing the door open. The room was dimly lit, the blinds drawn against the morning sun. Victoriay against white sheets, her silver hair spread across the pillow

    She approached the bed quietly, sinking into the chair positioned beside it. Victoria''s handy atop the nket, an IV line snaking from her wrist. Camille hesitated, then carefully took that hand in her

    own.

    "I''m here," she said softly.

    Victoria''s eyelids fluttered at the sound of her voice. Camille held her breath, watching as Victoria struggled toward consciousness, fighting against the heavy pull of anesthesia.

    Finally, her eyes opened-

    unfocused at first, then gradually sharpening as they found Camille''s face.

    "Camille," she murmured, her voice rough and faint.

    "I''m here," Camille repeated, squeezing her hand gently. "The surgery was sessful. They got the entire tumor."

    Victoria''s gaze drifted around the room, taking in her surroundings with growing awareness. ˇ°How long?"

    "Just over four hours," Camille told her. "Dr. Lin said

    there was less spread than they feared. Your prognosis is excellent."

    Victoria nodded slightly, the movement clearly requiring effort. "Thepany?"

    Even now, even here, Victoria''s thoughts turned to Kane Industries. Camille almost smiled.

    "Everything is under control," she assured her. "Section B of the Grid is fully operational. The stock price is stable. I''ve updated the

    board that your procedure was sessful and you''re resting."

    "Good," Victoria whispered. Her eyelids drooped, the medication still heavy in her system.

    Camille leaned closer. "Victoria," she said softly. "I read your notes."

    Victoria''s eyes opened again, fixing on Camille''s face with surprising rity.

    "I need to tell you something," Camille continued, her voice catching. "Something I should have said before."

    Victoria waited, a rare patience in her

    gaze.

    "You saved me," Camille said simply. "Not just from Rose and Stefan. Not just from being destroyed. You saved me from bing like them, someone who only takes, who only ruins what others build."

    She paused, gathering courage for the words that mattered most. "When my own mother chose Ros me. You saw me when no one else did. You became..."

    er me, you chose

    Camille''s voice faltered, tears threatening again. "You became my mother. Not by blood, but

    by everything that matters." Victoria''s fingers tightened around hers with unexpected strength. For a moment, Camille feared she had gone too

    far, crossed a

    boundary that Victoria would never permit. But when she met Victoria''s eyes, she saw something she had never witnessed before- tears gathering at the corners, making the gray irises shine in the dim light.

    "I know," Victoria whispered.

    Just those two words, but they held everything Camille needed to hear. Victoria knew. She understood. She epted the bond between them, not mentor and student, not

    benefactor and recipient, but mother and daughter in the ways that truly mattered.

    Victoria''s eyes began to close again, the medication pulling her back toward sleep. "Stay," she murmured, her grip on Camille''s hand loosening as consciousness slipped away.

    "I will," Camille promised. "As long as you need me."

    She sat with Victoria

    as her breathing deepened into sleep, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. Through the window, sunlight had begun to break through the clouds, casting a warm glow across the bed.

    After some time, Camille wasn''t sure how long, a quiet knock sounded at the door. Alexander entered, carrying two cups of fresh coffee.

    "How is she?" he asked, handing Camille one of the cups.

    "Sleeping now," Camille replied. "But she woke briefly. She knew me. Asked about thepany, of course."

    Alexander smiled. "Some things never change."

    "Did you tell her?" he asked after a moment.

    Camille nodded, her eyes still on Victoria''s sleeping face. "Yes. And she..." She paused, remembering the shine of tears in Victoria''s eyes, the simple acknowledgment that had meant everything. "She already knew."

    Alexander pulled a chair beside Camille''s, sitting close enough that their shoulders touched. "What happens now?"

    23

    Camille took a sip of her coffee, organizing her thoughts. "Victoria will need time to recover, then begin immunotherapy. We keep running Kane Industries ording to her directives. And we prepare for whateve She turned to him, a new fire lighting her eyes. "But we don''t just defend anymore. We attack."

    Alexander studied her face. "You''re different today."

    "Am I?"

    "Yes." He gestured toward Victoria. "Yesterday, you were terrified of losing her. Of being left to

    face everything alone. Today...

    "Today I know she''ll live," Camille finished. "And that changes everything."

    She stood, moving to the window to look out at the city sprawled

    below them. Somewhere out there, Rose and Herod were plotting, believing Victoria Kane was simply suffering from exhaustion, unaware that Camille now stood ready to protect everything Victoria had built. "We need to identify their next move," she said. "The stock purchases, the technical probes, those are just the beginning. Herod wants Kane Industries. Rose wants to destroy me. They won''t stop until they get

    "Or until we stop them," Alexander added,ing to stand beside her.

    Camille nodded, her reflection in the ss showing a woman transformed, no longer just

    Victoria''s creation, but something new. Someone who had found her own strength, her own purpose.

    "I''ll need your help," she said quietly.

    Alexander''s hand found hers, their fingers intertwining. "You have it. Always."

    Behind them, Victoria slept on, her breathing deep and regr, each rise and fall of her chest a silent victory. The machines

    beeped steadily, marking the rhythm of her survival.

    Camille turned back to look at her, the woman who had be her mother in every way that

    mattered. For twenty five months, Camille had followed Victoria''s lead, learning

    from her, bing what Victoria shaped her to be. Now, for the first time, their roles would reverse. Camille

    would protect Victoria, would guard her secret, would fight her battles while she healed.

    The thought no longer terrified her. Instead, it filled her with a fierce determination that burned brighter than any desire for revenge ever had.

    "We should go," she said softly. "There''s work to do."

    Alexander nodded, understanding in his eyes. As they moved toward the door, Camille paused for on

    look at Victoria.

    In sleep, the formidable CEO of Kane Industries looked almost peaceful, the lines ofmand and control softened by vulnerable humanity.

    "Rest," Camille whispered. "Recover your strength. I''ll handle everything until you return."

    She closed the door quietly behind them, her mind already racing with ns and strategies. Victoria Kane had survived. Now it was Camille''s turn to ensure that everything Victoria valued survived as well, herpany, her legacy, and most

    importantly, her vision for the future they would build together.

    Mother and daughter, not by blood, but by choice. By strength. By love.

 Chapter 116

    Finally, her eyes opened-

    unfocused at first, then gradually sharpening as they found Camille''s face.

    "Camille," she murmured, her voice rough and faint.

    "I''m here," Camille repeated, squeezing her hand gently. "The surgery was sessful. They got the entire tumor."

    Victoria''s gaze drifted around the room, taking in her surroundings with growing awareness. "How long?"

    "Just over four hours," Camille told her. "Dr. Lin said

    there was less spread than they feared. Your prognosis is excellent."

    Victoria nodded slightly, the movement clearly requiring effort. "Thepany?"

    Even now, even here, Victoria''s thoughts turned to Kane Industries. Camille almost smiled.

    "Everything is under control," she assured her. "Section B of the Grid is fully operational. The stock price is stable. I''ve updated the

    board that your procedure was sessful and you''re resting."

    "Good," Victoria whispered. Her eyelids drooped, the medication still heavy in her system.

    Camille leaned closer. "Victoria," she said softly. "I read your notes."

    Victoria''s eyes opened again, fixing on Camille''s face with surprising rity.

    "I need to tell you something," Camille continued, her voice catching. "Something I should have said before."

    Victoria waited, a rare patience in her

    gaze.

    "You saved me," Camille said simply. "Not just from Rose and Stefan. Not just from being destroyed. You saved me from bing like them, someone who only takes, who only ruins what others build."

    She paused, gathering courage for the words that mattered most. "When my own mother chose Ros me. You saw me when no one

    else did. You became..."

    er me, you chose

    Camille''s voice faltered, tears threatening again. "You became my mother. Not by blood, but

    by everything that matters." Victoria''s fingers tightened around hers with unexpected strength. For a moment, Camille feared she had gone too far, crossed a

    boundary that Victoria would never permit. But when she met Victoria''s eyes, she saw something she had never witnessed before-

    tears gathering at the corners, making the gray irises shine in the dim light.

    "I know," Victoria whispered.

    Just those two words, but they held everything Camille needed to hear. Victoria knew. She understood. She epted the bond between them, not mentor and student, not

    benefactor and recipient, but mother and daughter in the ways that truly mattered.

    Victoria''s eyes began to close again, the medication pulling her back toward sleep. "Stay," she murmured, her grip on Camille''s hand loosening as consciousness slipped away.

    "I will," Camille promised. "As long as you need me."

    She sat with Victoria

    as her breathing deepened into sleep, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. Through the window, sunlight had begun to break through the clouds, casting a warm glow across the bed.

    After some time, Camille wasn''t sure how long, a quiet knock sounded at the door. Alexander entered, carrying two cups of fresh coffee.

    "How is she?" he asked, handing Camille one of the cups.

    "Sleeping now," Camille replied. "But she woke briefly. She knew me. Asked about thepany, of course."

    Alexander smiled. "Some things never change."

    "Did you tell her?" he asked after a moment.

    Camille nodded, her eyes still on Victoria''s sleeping face. "Yes. And she..." She paused, remembering the shine of tears in Victoria''s eyes, the simple acknowledgment that had meant everything. "She already knew."

    Alexander pulled a chair beside Camille''s, sitting close enough that their shoulders touched. "What happens now?"

    23

    Camille took a sip of her coffee, organizing her thoughts. "Victoria will need time to recover, then begin immunotherapy. We keep running Kane Industries ording to her directives. And we prepare for whateve She turned to him, a new fire lighting her eyes. "But we don''t just defend anymore. We attack."

    Alexander studied her face. "You''re different today."

    "Am I?"

    "Yes." He gestured toward Victoria. "Yesterday, you were terrified of losing her. Of being left to face everything alone. Today...

    "Today I know she''ll live," Camille finished. "And that changes everything."

    She stood, moving to the window to look out at the city sprawled

    below them. Somewhere out there, Rose and Herod were plotting, believing Victoria Kane was simply suffering from exhaustion, unaware that Camille now stood ready to protect everything Victoria had built. "We need to identify their next move," she said. "The stock purchases, the technical probes, those are just the beginning. Herod wants Kane Industries. Rose wants to destroy me. They won''t stop until they get "Or until we stop them," Alexander added,ing to stand beside her.

    Camille nodded, her reflection in the ss showing a woman transformed, no longer just

    Victoria''s creation, but something new. Someone who had found her own strength, her own purpose.

    "I''ll need your help," she said quietly.

    Alexander''s hand found hers, their fingers intertwining. "You have it. Always."

    Behind them, Victoria slept on, her breathing deep and regr, each rise and fall of her chest a silent victory. The machines

    beeped steadily, marking the rhythm of her survival.

    Camille turned back to look at her, the woman who had be her mother in every way that

    mattered. For twenty five months, Camille had followed Victoria''s lead, learning

    from her, bing what Victoria shaped her to be. Now, for the first time, their roles would reverse. Camille

    would protect Victoria, would guard her secret, would fight her battles while she healed.

    The thought no longer terrified her. Instead, it filled her with a fierce determination that burned brighter than any desire for revenge ever had. "We should go," she said softly. "There''s work to do."

    Alexander nodded, understanding in his eyes. As they moved toward the door, Camille paused for on

    look at Victoria.

    In sleep, the formidable CEO of Kane Industries looked almost peaceful, the lines ofmand and control softened by vulnerable humanity.

    "Rest," Camille whispered. "Recover your strength. I''ll handle everything until you return."

    She closed the door quietly behind them, her mind already racing with ns and strategies. Victoria Kane had survived. Now it was Camille''s turn to ensure that everything Victoria valued survived as well, herpany, her legacy, and most

    importantly, her vision for the future they would build together.

    Mother and daughter, not by blood, but by choice. By strength. By love.

 Chapter 117

    The Kane Industries conference center buzzed with tension as stockholders filed into the auditorium. Camille watched from the wings, studying the anxious faces of investors and board members gathering for t "And the independent assessment?" Camille asked.

    "Just arrived." Hannah handed her a sealed envelope. "The Grid exceeds every safety parameter by significant margins.ˇ±

    Camille nodded, scanning the room again. "Is Herod here?"

    "Fifth row center, moving toward the front."

    She spotted him, confident and poised as he greeted several board members. The stage manager appeared, signaling they were ready.

    Camille straightened Victoria''s midnight blue jacket, tailored to fit her perfectly. Wearing it felt like carrying

    a piece of Victoria''s strength.

    "He wants you to lose your temper," Hannah reminded her. "To appear emotional, unstable."

    "I know exactly what he wants," Camille replied. "And he won''t get it."

    She stepped onto the stage, heels clicking against the polished floor as she moved to the podium.

    "Good morning," she began, her voice steady. "Thank you for attending this emergency meeting. As interim

    CEO during Victoria Kane''s recovery, I felt it necessary to address certain rumors regarding the Phoenix Grid project."

    She paused, finding Herod''s face in the crowd. "Before we begin, Ms. Kane''s doctors

    report excellent progress in her recovery from exhaustion. She expects to return to full duties within two weeks."

    A murmur ran through the audience. Victoria''s copse had already affected their stock price, dropping it three percent.

    "The Phoenix Grid represents Kane

    Industries''mitment to revolutionizing urban power distribution," Camille continued, disying performance metrics. "Power efficiency has exceeded projections by twelve percent. Maintenance costs are trending seventeen percent below budget. And most importantly, zero safety incidents since inception."

    As she presented more data, she noticed Herod rising from his seat.

    "Ms. Kane," he called out. "If I might address the gathering?"

    The room fell silent, all eyes shifting between them.

    "Mr. Preston," she acknowledged, tone neutral. "I wasn''t aware you were a Kane Industries shareholder."

    Herod smiled, the expression not reaching his eyes. "A recent acquisition. Mypany now holds five percent of Kane Industries stock."

    Louder murmurs spread

    through the audience. Five percent was significant, not enough for control, but enough to demand attention.

    "In that case," Camille said smoothly, "you''re certainly

    entitled to speak. Please join me."

    Herod climbed the steps with unhurried confidence, stopping at a distance that might appear respectful to observers

    but felt intrusive to Camille.

    "As a significant shareholder, I feelpelled to express

    concerns about the Phoenix Grid that have recentlye to my attention," he began, withdrawing a folder. "I''ve received technical analyses from several independent engineers who believe the Grid''s current c He disyed diagrams showing theoretical failure points. "These experts

    g three critical issues: ry overheating during peak demand, insufficient circuit breaker redundancy, and potentially catastrophic

    failure scenarios during power surges. Under certain conditions, sections of the Grid

    could experience cascading failures leading to explosions and fires."

    The audience shifted ufortably. A board member scribbled furious notes.

    ˇ°I bring these concerns forward not as an attack,ˇ± Herod continued with false sincerity, "but out of genuine concern for public safety and shareholder value. If these issues prove valid, the liability alone could bar He turned to Camille. "Perhaps Ms. Kane could address these technical

    concerns? Although, with her background in, what was it before Victoria Kane adopted you? Fashion marketing, she might want to defer to actual engineers."

    Sessfully unlocked!

    The deliberate slight hung in the air. Camille

    fei, anger sh but conta ed, studying the diagrams with calm

    consideration.

    "Thank you for

    your concern, Mr. Preston," she said coolly. "May I ask about the source of these analyses?"

    Herod shrugged. "The engineers prefer to remain anonymous, fearing professional repercussions."

    "I understandpletely," Camille replied. "Dr. Zhao, would you join us please?"

    Hannah crossed to the podium. Camille introduced her: "Dr. Hannah Zhao, chief engineer of the Phoenix Grid project. MIT doctorate in electrical engineering, former lead designer for the European Union''s sust Camille turned back to Herod. "Before addressing your anonymous concerns, I''d like to present some attribution-

    friendly

    data."

    Hannah uploaded

    new diagrams. "These are the actual schematics of the Phoenix

    Grid as currently implemented, not the theoretical models Mr. Preston presented."

    With methodical rity, Camille walked the audience through each system. "The Grid employs quadruple, not triple, ry protection

    systems. Each junction includes three independent circuit breakers with automatic cut-

    off protocols."

    She pulled the sealed envelope from her portfolio. "This morning, we received the final report from ckwood Engineering, the industry''s most respected independent safety assessment firm. Their conclusion: She disyed the report with ckwood''s certification clearly visible.

    "As for power surges, the Grid includes surge protectors at every connection point. We''ve tested the system against surges five times stronger than anything recorded in New York''s history." She turned to face Herod

    directly. "Interestingly, the diagrams Mr. Preston presented appear to be based on outdated blueprints, blueprints that were altered during a recent attempted sabotage of our systems."

    A shocked silence fell over the room.

    "Kane Industries discovered this sabotage attempt three weeks ago. The FBI has been investigating quietly to avoid market panic. We have reason to believe the modified blueprints were created specifically to She paused, letting her gaze move from Herod to Martin Greene, who had gone pale in his seat. "We''ve identified the internal source of the leak and

    have terminated their employment as of this morning."

    Security personnel moved discreetly toward Martin, who stood abruptly, knocking over his coffee in his haste to reach the

    exit.

    Herod maintained hisposure, though a muscle twitched in his jaw. "These are serious allegations. I merely presented concerns brought to my attention as a responsible shareholder."

    "Of course," Camille agreed pleasantly. "Which is why I''ve prepared copies of Dr. Zhao''s full technical report for all shareholders, along with the ckwood certification and

    contact information for their engineers, who are happy to answer questions about their findings."

    Assistants distributed folders to the audience.

    "To further demonstrate our confidence in the Phoenix Grid, Camille continued, "Kane Industries'' global headquarters will be the first building to

    transition entirely to Grid power next

    week, three months ahead of schedule. Victoria Kane and I will personally be working from those offices during the transition. We believe in the safety of our technology enough to bet our lives on it.ˇ±

    The audience erupted in apuse. Camille saw Herod reassessing as his ambush transformed into a victory for Kane Industries.

    When the apuse died down, Camille asked, "Are there any other questions about the Grid''s specifications or safety features?"

    Leonard Ackerman, theirrgest investor, stood. "I think Ms. Kane has addressed the concernsprehensively. I''m satisfied with the safety protocols and impressed with the leadership disyed today." "In that case," she said, "I suggest we adjourn the

    emergency portion of this meeting."

    As the meeting transitioned, Herod leaned close

    while her microphone was off. "Impressive performance. Victoria trained you well."

    "Not well enough," Camille replied quietly. "I still haven''t figured out why you''re targeting us specifically."

    "Perhaps I simply enjoy the game," he suggested.

    "No. This is personal for you. Just as it''s personal for Rose."

    Something flickered in his eyes, surprise that she had made the connection. "You think you''ve won today," he said, his voice hardening. "But you''ve merely dyed the inevitable."

    "Have I?"

    Herod smiled thinly. "Kane Industries was built by Victoria. Without her, it''s nothing but an empty shell waiting to copse."

    "Then why do you look so disappointed?" Camille asked.

    Before he could respond, she turned away. When she looked back, Herod was already walking down the steps, phone pressed to his ear.

    The rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly. Stock prices began recovering as news spread through financialworks. By conclusion, Kane Industries shares had regained most of their recent losses.

    In Victoria''s office afterward, Camille finally allowed herself to exhale. Hannah joined her, bringing coffee.

    "You destroyed him out there," Hannah said admiringly. "You reminded me of Victoria."

    Theparison warmed Camille more than she cared to admit. "Speaking of whom, I should call her with an update."

    After Hannah left, Camille looked out over the city where sections of the Phoenix Grid now powered thousands of homes and businesses. Somewhere, Rose and Herod were regrouping.

    She reyed Herod''s words: *Kane Industries was built by Victoria. Without her, it''s nothing but an empty shell waiting to copse.*

    Not true, she told herself. Yet she wondered, was she truly leading, or merely following Victoria''s instructions? Had she proven herself today, or simply executed someone else''s n?

    Her phone rang, Alexander.

    "I heard what happened," he

    said. ˇ°Congrattions. The stock is up seven points since the meeting ended." "Herod miscalcted," Camille replied. "He thought I wouldn''t be able to respond to technical challenges."

    "He underestimated you. A mistake I suspect he won''t make again."

    After they disconnected, Camille remained at the window. Today she had protected Victoria''spany, defended her vision. It should have felt like a triumph.

    Instead, she found herself wondering, when would she stop fighting Victoria''s battles and start

    defining her own? When would Camille

    Kane be more than Victoria Kane''s chosen weapon?

 Chapter 118

    Rose stared at theptop screen, a smile

    spreading across her face as she scrolled through the photographs. The yacht had been easy to find once Herod''s investigators had traced

    Alexander''s movements. Getting someone with a telephoto lens onto a nearby boat had been even easier.

    "Perfect," she whispered, zooming in on a

    particrly intimate image of Camille and Alexander on the deck of his yacht. Her sister, not that she deserved

    that title anymore, locked in an embrace with the billionaire, their kiss leaving nothing to the imagination.

    The penthouse suite Herod had secured for her sparkled with morning light, illuminating dozens of photos and documents spread across the ss table. Three empty coffee cups testified to her sleepless night Her phone buzzed. Herod.

    "Are you watching the financial news?" he asked without preamble.

    "No," Rose replied, still scrolling through the photos. "I''ve been busy with our little project."

    ˇ°Kane Industries stock jumped twelve points after yesterday''s meeting," Herod said, frustration sharpening his voice. "Your sisterpletely dismantled my safety concerns. Made me look like a fool."

    Rose switched to speaker phone and set it down. "She''s not my sister. And don''t worry about yesterday. By this afternoon, no one will be talking about the Phoenix Grid anymore."

    She selected nine photos, each more damning than thest. Camille and Alexander kissing. Camille in his arms at the railing. The two of them disappearing below deck, then emergingter with unmistakable si "The photos are ready?" Herod asked.

    "Better than we hoped." Rose moved them to a separate folder. "The lighting is perfect. No question about who they are. No possibility of iming they''re doctored."

    She heard Herod''s approving chuckle. "And the other material?"

    Rose clicked to another folder containing documents, emails, and financial records, some

    real, most fabricated by the expert Herod had hired.

    "All prepared," she confirmed. "The story writes itself. Alexander Pierce, using Camille

    Kane to gain control of Victoria''spany through the bedroom rather than the boardroom."

    "Which outlets are you sending them to?"

    Rose picked up a handwritten list. "New York Spectator gets the exclusive on the photos. They''ll reach the

    widest audience fastest. The financial documents go to

    the Wall Street Journal and

    Bloomberg simultaneously, more credible sources for that angle."

    She checked her watch. "The Spectator will run the photos online at noon. The financial pieces will hit the wire services an hourter, just as everyone is talking about the scandal."

    "Excellent.ˇ± Herod''s voice carried grudging admiration. ˇ°I underestimated your media instincts.ˇ±

    "I lived with these people for seven years," Rose reminded him. "I know exactly how to manipte

    public perception. It was my specialty, remember?"

    "Don''t get too confident," Herod warned. "Your sister has proven remarkably resilient."

    "She won''t recover from this," Rose said, certainty hardening her voice. "Victoria Kane values control above all else. The suggestion that

    Camille ispromised by a rtionship with a business rival, letting emotions cloud her judgment, that strikes at the heart of everything Victoria believes in."

    She clicked through the photos again, savoring each one. "Victoria may have epted Camille as her heir, but she''ll never tolerate

    this kind of vulnerability. Not with Alexander Pierce of all people."

    "Why does that name matter specifically?" Herod asked.

    Rose smiled, pleased to know something Herod didn''t. "Victoria and Alexander have history. Years ago, Pierce Industries tried to acquire a shippingpany Victoria wanted. He outmaneuvered her, and Victor She pulled up another document, an old news Sessfully unlocked! looking coldly at Alexander across a

    conference table. "Victoria sees him as a threat Always res

    "All the better for our purposes," Herod said thoughtfully.

    Rose stood and stretched, moving to the floor-to-

    ceiling windows overlooking Central Park. "How much more do you need to buy?"

    "With what I already have secretly through shellpanies, another fifteen percent would give me effective control," Herod replied. "The remaining shareholders are scattered, disorganized. They''ll follow whoe Rose nodded, watching a jogger far below. "And when you control Kane Industries?"

    "We dismantle it," Herod said simply. "Sell off the profitable divisions, shut down the rest. Including the Phoenix Grid."

    "And Camille?"

    "Publicly humiliated. Professionally destroyed. Exactly what you wanted."

    Rose closed her eyes, imagining the scene. Camille watching helplessly as everything she''d built crumbled. The press that had praised her as Victoria''s brilliant prot¨¦g¨¦e would tear her apart as the foolish wom "What time is your meeting with the reporters?" Herod asked.

    "Eleven," Rose replied, ncing at her watch. "I''m meeting the Spectator''s editor off the record at that caf¨¦ near Columbus Circle. He gets the exclusive photos, and I feed him quotes from ''sources close to Kar rtionship has been going on for months."

    "You''re not worried about being recognized?"

    Roseughed. "I''ve spent my life learning how to change my appearance. Besides, the media has forgotten me already. Six months is an eternity in their world."

    She had dyed her hair dark brown and now wore it in a severe bob, nothing like her previous flowing blonde style. Thick-

    framed

    sses and carefully applied makeup altered the shape of her face. The transformation was soplete that she''d walked past a former client in the lobby yesterday without being recognized.

    After ending the call, Rose returned to the table, meticulously organizing the materials for her meeting. The fabricated financial documents suggesting Alexander had been buying Kane Industries stock through email trail indicating he had pursued her with calcted intent, not genuine interest. The manufactured evidence that he

    had previously used rtionships to gain business advantage.

    None of it would stand up to serious investigation, but that didn''t matter. By the time anyone disproved the allegations, the damage would be done.

    An hourter, Rose sat in the back corner of the caf¨¦, waiting. She''d arrived early to secure the perfect table, private enough for a confidential conversation, but public enough that the editor wouldn''t feel trapped.

    She spotted him the moment he entered, Malcolm Reed, the Spectator''s executive editor, a

    man whose tabloid had once featured Rose herself in its society pages. He scanned the caf¨¦, not recognizing her even as his gaze passed over her. She raised

    a hand slightly, and he approached.

    "Ms. Johnson?" he asked, using the fake name she''d given.

    Rose nodded, gesturing to the chair across from her. "Thank you foring, Mr. Reed."

    "Your message said you had information about Camille Kane and Alexander

    Pierce," he said, getting straight

    to business. Something that would ''shock New York society.""

    "I do." Rose removed the memory drive from her purse and ced it on the table. "These photos were taken three days ago on Mr. Pierce''s private yacht." Reed picked up the drive, turning it in his fingers with caution.

    "And you obtained these how?"

    "That''s not important," Rose replied smoothly. "What matters is their authenticity. They''repletely unaltered. Your technical team can verify that."

    "And what do you want in exchange for this... exclusive?"

    Rose leaned forward slightly. "Two things. First,plete anonymity. I was never here, we never met, you found the drive in your mailbox from an unknown source."

    Reed nodded. This was standard procedure for tabloid bombshells.

    "Second," Rose continued, "I want you to include certain... context in your reporting."

    "What kind of context?"

    Rose withdrew a sealed envelope from her purse. "Background information

    about Mr. Pierce''s business dealings. His history of using personal rtionships for corporate gain. The convenient timing of this affair with Ms. Kane''s sudden rise to power at Kane Industries." Reed''s eyes narrowed. "You''re suggesting Pierce is using Kane to get to Victoria''spany?"

    "I''m not suggesting anything," Rose said innocently. "I''m simply providing context that your readers might find... illuminating."

    Reed took the envelope, weighing it in his hand. "If these photos are what you say they are, this

    will be front page. Online

    232

    within the hour."

    "I would expect nothing less," Rose replied. "The public deserves to know when the acting CEO of one

    of New York''srgestpanies ispromised by a personal rtionship with a knownpetitor."

    After Reed departed, Rose remained at the table, ordering lunch she had no intention of eating. Her appetite had been reced by a humming excitement. She checked her watch: 11:47. In thirteen minutes, th website.

    Her phone buzzed with a text from Herod: *Financial documents delivered to WSJ and Bloomberg. Contacts confirm they''re following up.*

    Rose smiled. Perfect timing. She replied: *Photos delivered to Spectator. Expect online by noon.*

    At exactly 12:01, the headline appeared:

    *EXCLUSIVE: CAMILLE KANE''S SECRET YACHT ROMANCE WITH BUSINESS RIVAL*

    Rose''s heart

    leapt as the page loaded, revealing the most damning photo front and center, Camille in Alexander''s arms on the deck of his yacht, locked in a passionate embrace that left no doubt about their rtionship. The She scrolled down, pleasure washing through her as she took in the article. Malcolm

    Reed had used everything she''d given him, framing the rtionship exactly as she''d suggested, not as a simple romance, but as a potential conflict of interest, a betrayal of Victoria Kane''s trust, a scandal that *Sources close to Kane Industries express shock at the revtion,* one paragraph read. *ˇ°Victoria Kane has always maintained strict boundaries between personal and professional rtionships,ˇ± said one insider who requested anonymity. "She would never approve of her chosen sessor bing involved with Alexander Pierce, of all people."*

    Roseughed softly. She had written those quotes herself, knowing exactly how Victoria would react. Reed had swallowed them whole.

    Her phone buzzed again, a notification

    from a financial news app. Kane Industries stock had dropped three points in the first minutes after the

    story broke. As she watched, it fell another two.

    This was just the beginning. When the financial allegations hit in an hour, the real damage would begin. By market close, Camille''s reputation would be in tatters, Kane Industries stock would be in freefall, and ions About Pierce-

    In the taxi back to Herod''s penthouse, she received another alert: *BREAKING: Documents Raise C Kane Rtionship*. The Wall Street Journal had published their story,plete with the fabricated emails a Rose leaned back against

    the seat, closing her eyes as satisfaction washed through her. By tomorrow, Camille''s world would lie in ruins. Her professional reputation destroyed. Her rtionship with Victoria damaged beyond repair. Her r Everything Camille valued, everything she had built since Victoria rescued her from that parking garage, all of it copsing because she had dared to feel, to connect, to be vulnerable. The taxi pulled up outside Herod''s building. As Rose stepped out, her phone buzzed with yet another: Kane Industries stock had been halted after falling twenty points in a single hour.

    The destruction had begun, faster and morepletely than even she had hoped. By this

    time tomorrow, nothing would remain of Camille Kane''s carefully constructed new life.

 Chapter 119

    The

    Kane Industries executive suite had transformed into a war room. Phones rang without pause. Screens disyed financial tickers bleeding red. In the center of the chaos stood Camille, her face a mask of calm.

    "They''re calling from everywhere," Hannah said, covering her phone. "Forbes, CNN, MSNBC. They all want a statement about the photos."

    Camille stared at the

    and Alexander''s private moment sshed across it. Their embrace

    on his yacht, now public property.

    "Who leaked these?" she asked, her voice controlled despite the vition she felt.

    "We''re working on it," said Michael Chen, head

    of security. "The metadata suggests they were taken three days ago on Mr. Pierce''s yacht."

    Camille''s fingers tightened around her coffee cup. Three days ago. The afternoon she had allowed herself a few hours of peace. The first time she had felt truly alive since Victoria''s copse. Her phone buzzed. Alexander.

    *I''m downstairs. Security won''t let me up.*

    She texted back: *Coming down.*

    ˇ°I''ll be back in five minutes,ˇ± she told Hannah. ˇ°Keep monitoring the stock situation."

    "It''s still falling," Hannah warned. "Down twenty-three points since the photos

    hit, and the financial allegations aren''t helping."

    The fabricated

    documents suggesting Alexander had pursued her for insider information had emerged just as the photo scandal peaked. A perfect one- two punch designed to destroy her reputation and their rtionship.

    Camille rode the private elevator down. When the doors opened, she spotted Alexander immediately.

    "This way," she said, leading him to another elevator requiring her thumbprint. Once inside, away from prying eyes, her guard dropped slightly.

    "I''m sorry," Alexander said immediately. "I should have been more

    careful. My security team is trying to determine..."

    "It wasn''t your fault," Camille interrupted. "It was a targeted attack. The timing, the financial ''revtions'' emerging right after the photos, this was nned."

    Alexander''s face darkened. "Rose and Herod."

    Camille nodded. "Who else would benefit from discrediting us both simultaneously?"

    The elevator opened directly into Victoria''s office, now temporarily Camille''s.

    "The board is meeting in an hour," Camille said. "Several members have already called for my resignation."

    "Based on what? That you have a personal life?"

    "Based on the suggestion that my personal life creates a

    conflict of interest." She gestured to a tablet. "These documents they''re circting, they''re fake, but convincing. Emails showing you

    pursued me for information about Kane Industries. Records suggesting you''ve been buying our stock through proxies."

    Alexander scanned the article with growing anger. "These emails

    never existed. I can prove it."

    "By the time

    we prove it, the damage will be done." Camille turned toward the window. "They''re trying to force a crisis of confidence. If the stock falls far enough, Herod can move to acquire controlling interest."

    "I won''t let that happen," Alexander said firmly.

    Camille turned back to him. "We need to be strategic. The board will want to separate us publicly to stabilize the stock price."

    Alexander stepped closer. "And what do you want?"

    The question hung between them. What did she want? For months, her focus had been on revenge, then on Victoria''s recovery, then on proving herself worthy. Her own desires had seemed irrelevant.

    Until Alexander. Until that afternoon when she had allo

    omething beyond victory.

    Sessfully unlocked!

    "I want..." she began, then stopped as the door opened.

    Victoria Kane stood in the doorway.

    Camille froze. Victoria should still be at home recovering. The surgery

    had been sessful, but her doctors had rmended another week of rest.

    "Victoria," she said, moving forward. "You shouldn''t be here."

    Victoria waved away her concern, walking in with only the slightest stiffness. Despite her recent surgery, she radiated authority, dressed impably in a charcoal suit.

    "I go where I''m needed," she said simply. "And clearly, I''m needed here."

    She crossed to her desk, setting down a small leather portfolio. Her gaze traveled from Camille to Alexander, assessing them both.

    "So," she said finally. "This is our crisis."

    She gestured to the New York Spectator website still disyed.

    "Yes," Camille acknowledged, bracing for disappointment or anger.

    Instead, Victoria nodded thoughtfully. "Sit down, both of you. We don''t have much time before the board meeting."

    They obeyed, taking chairs across from Victoria.

    "The photos are real," Victoria stated. Not a question.

    "Yes," Camille confirmed. "Taken without our knowledge three days ago."

    "And the financial documents? The emails?"

    "Fabricated," Alexander answered firmly. "I can prove it if given time."

    Victoria nodded. "Time is precisely what Rose and Herod

    are trying to deny us. A ssic strategy, create a crisis, then exploit the chaos while everyone is scrambling to respond."

    She opened her portfolio. "Our stock has fallen twenty-

    six points since the story broke. Trading was temporarily halted, but has resumed with continued decline."

    "The board wants me to step down," Camille said quietly.

    "Of course they do," Victoria replied, unsurprised. "They''re panicking, looking

    for the easiest way to stop the bleeding." She turned

    to Alexander. "And you? What does your board think of this... entanglement?"

    Alexander met her gaze

    directly. "They''re concerned about the suggestions of impropriety, but they''re standing behind me." "Because you control yourpany," Victoria observed. "I control mine." She looked at Camille. "Or rather, we a flicker of hope. Victoria wasn''t shutting her out.

    "What''s your assessment of the attack?" Victoria asked.

    Camille straightened. "Two-

    pronged and sophisticated. The photos were meant to create scand

    stract, and embarrass.

    The financial allegations were the real attack, designed to undermine confidence in both Kane Industries and Pierce Enterprises simultaneously."

    "Making bothpanies vulnerable to acquisition," Alexander added.

    "Precisely," Victoria agreed. "And your counter-strategy?"

    Camille hesitated. "Conventionally, we would issue denials of

    the financial allegations, promise an investigation, and..." She paused. "And

    announce that Alexander and I would be maintaining a purely professional rtionship going forward." "Conventional indeed," Victoria said, disapprovingly. "And entirely reactive. You''re letting them dictate the t "What would you suggest?" Alexander asked.

    A hint of respect showed in Victoria''s expression. "When attacked, advance. When they

    expect you to retreat, charge. When they expect denial, affirm."

    She leaned forward slightly. "They''ve exposed your rtionship, expecting shame, expecting retreat. So instead, you confirm it. Proudly. On your terms."

    Camille stared at her mentor, momentarily speechless. "You want us to publicly acknowledge our rtionship? After these photos?"

    "I want you to seize control of the narrative," Victoria

    corrected. "The photos exist. The rtionship exists. Denying either makes you appear dishonest or ashamed."

    She turned to Alexander. "Yourpaniespete in some markets, but also coborate in others. The Phoenix Grid uses Pierce technology. There''s no inherent conflict, just potential synergy."

    "The board won''t see it that way," Camille warned.

    "The board will see it however I tell them to see it," Victoria replied with steel in her voice. "I still hold controlling interest."

    She stood, moving to the window. "The question isn''t what the board thinks. It''s what you two think. Is this rtionship real? Or is it merely a distraction, a moment of weakness during a stressful time?"

    Camille looked at Alexander, finding his eyes already on her, warm and certain.

    "It''s real," Alexander said, his gaze never leaving Camille''s face.

    "Yes," Camille agreed quietly. "It''s real."

    Victoria nodded, as if confirming something she had already known. "Then fight for it. Together." She turned back to face them. "Tonight, you will attend the Hamilton Foundation G. Together. Arriving openly a Camille felt her heartbeat quicken. The Hamilton G was guaranteed to attract press and attention.

    "Before that," Victoria continued, "you will hold a press conference. Together. You will confirm your rtionship, exin that while it is rtively new, it is genuine. You will address the financial allegations directly, announcing that bothpanies will provide evidence of their falsity within twenty-

    four hours."

    The strategy was bold, unexpected, ssic Victoria Kane. Instead of hiding, they would meet the attack head-

    on, turning vulnerability into strength.

    "What about Rose and Herod?" Camille asked. "They won''t stop with this."

    "No, they won''t," Victoria agreed. "But by taking control of this narrative, you buy time to identify their next move. And you deny them what they truly want, to see you fractured, separated, weakened." She gathered her papers. "The board meeting begins

    in thirty minutes. I will handle them. You two prepare for the press conference at four o''clock. That gives the evening news cycle time to pick it up before the g."

    As she moved toward the door, Victoria paused. "One more thing. This rtionship-

    while I don''t object to its

    existence, I expect it to strengthen both of you, not distract you. Rose and Herod targeted it because they believed it would divide your focus, create vulnerability. Prove them wrong."

    With that, she left, the door closing firmly behind her.

    For a moment, Camille and Alexander sat in silence. Then Alexander reached for Camille''s hand.

    "She''s right," he said simply.

    "About which part?"

    "All of it. Especially proving Rose and Herod wrong." His fingers tightened around

    hers. "They want to use what we have against us. So instead, we use it as strength."

    Camille looked down

    at their joined hands. "Are you ready for this? Once we confirm our rtion going back. Every aspect of it will be scrutinized, questioned, analyzed." publicly, there''s no

    "I''ve spent my entire life in the public eye," Alexander reminded her. "But this is the first time I''ve had something-

    someone -worth facing that scrutiny for."

    His words warmed her, easing some of the dread that had filled her since seeing those photos. She thought of how far she hade-

    from a woman broken by betrayal to someone strong enough to stand tall under public scrutiny, to fight for what she valued instead of retreating.

    "A press conference, then the g," she said. "It''s going to be intense."

    "Good thing we''re both at our best under

    pressure," Alexander replied with a hint of a smile.

    Outside the office, they could see Hannah approaching with several members of the PR team. The

    next few hours would be a whirlwind of preparation.

    But for this moment, Camille allowed herself to feel not just the anger at the vition of her privacy or the worry about Kane Industries'' stock price, but also the certainty that had been growing inside her since th

    Some things were worth fighting for. Some connections too valuable to sacrifice, even in the face of public scandal. Rose had

    meant to destroy her by exposing her rtionship with Alexander. Instead, she had forced Camille to acknowledge

    what it truly meant to her, and to defend it, openly and without shame.

    As Hannah-

    knocked on the door, Camille squeezed Alexander''s hand once more before letting go. "Let''s show them exactly what they''re up against," she said quietly.

    Together, they rose to meet the storm head-on.

 Chapter 120

    Chapter 120:

    Lights shed like lightning as Camille and Alexander stepped onto the small stage set up in the Kane Industries media room. The wall behind them disyed bothpany logos side by side, a visual stateme Camille wore a deep blue dress that matched Alexander''s tie, another deliberate choice. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but her face remained calm, poised. Only Alexander could feel the slight tremor in "Thank you all foring on such short notice," she began, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "I know there has been considerable spection today regarding my rtionship with Alexander Pierce The cameras clicked furiously. In the front row, she

    spotted Malcolm Reed from the New York Spectator, the man who had published those intimate photos from the yacht. He watched her with calcting eyes, no doubt hoping for signs

    of distress he could feature in tomorrow''s edition.

    "I''m here to address that

    spection directly," Camille continued. "Yes, Alexander Pierce and I are in a rtionship. It began recently, but it is genuine and important to both of us."

    A murmur rippled through the room. They had expected denial, damage control, perhaps even resignation, not

    this straightforward confirmation.

    "We recognize that as leaders of majorpanies that asionallypete in the same markets, our personal connection raises questions about potential conflicts of interest," Alexander added, stepping forw He looked at Camille, their eyes meeting

    briefly. In that moment, something passed

    between them, strength, certainty, a shared resolve that steadied them both.

    "Both Kane Industries and Pierce Enterprises have strict protocols regarding information sharing andpetitive practices," Camille said. "Those protocols remain in ce and will be enhanced with additional

    A reporter from the Wall Street Journal stood. "What about the documents suggesting Mr. Pierce pursued this rtionship specifically to gain insider information about Kane Industries?"

    Camille nodded, having anticipated this question. "Those documents are fabricated. Both ourpanion have initiated forensic analyses that will prove this conclusively within twenty- four hours. We believe they were creat and distributed as part of a deliberate attempt to damage both ourpanies and drive down our stock prices."

    "For what purpose?" someone called out.

    "That''s

    a question we''re actively investigating," Alexander replied. "We have reason to believe certain parties are attempting to acquire controlling interests in ourpanies during the artificial stock downturn they created."

    A reporter from Bloomberg raised her

    hand. "Ms. Kane, what does Victoria Kane think about your rtionship with a business rival?"

    The question hung in the air, loaded with implications. Everyone knew Victoria''s reputation

    for keeping business and personal matters strictly separated.

    "Ms. Kane values integrity and transparency," Camille

    answered carefully. ˇ°She supports our decision to address this matter openly rather than allow spection to damage ourpanies."

    More hands shot up, voices calling over each other.

    "Mr. Pierce, how long has this rtionship been going on?"

    "Ms. Kane, will you be stepping down from your position?"

    "Are there concerns about insider trading?"

    Alexander raised his hand, quieting the mor. "Our rtionship began after we had already established professional connections through the Phoenix Grid project. Neither of us sought this connection for busi "As for my position at Kane Industries," Camille added, "I remain fullymitted to leading thepany during Victoria Kane''s recovery. The board has been briefed on our rtionship and appropriate safegua A reporter from Entertainment Tonight stood, shifting the tone. "Can you tell us about your rtionship? How did it begin?" Camille felt a momentary hesitation. This was the line between professional transparen and stepped in.

    "Some details remain private," he said firmly. "What I can share is that our connection grew from mutual respect. We

    discovered we share simr values, simr visions for the future. The rest is between us."

    His answer drew appreciative nods from some reporters. There was something refreshing about a public figure who refused to trade privacy for sympathy.

    "One final question," Camille said, pointing to a young reporter

    from the New York Times,

    "Ms. Kane, you''ve been through a very public betrayal before, with your former husband and sister. Has that experience affected how you''re handling this situation?"

    A hush fell over the room. The question touched directly on what everyone knew but

    few had dared mention, Camille''s painful past, exposed all over again with these new photos.

    Camille felt Alexander''s presence beside her, steady and supportive, as she considered her answer.

    "Yes," she said finally. "That experience taught me the difference between shame and privacy. I''m not ashamed of my rtionship

    with Alexander Pierce. But I did deserve the right to reveal it on my own terms, not through stolen photographs."

    She paused, making eye contact with several reporters around the room. "What happened with my former husband and sister taught me that some connections destroy you. Others help you rebuild. I''ve been fo Her words resonated through the quiet room. Even Malcolm Reed

    looked somewhat chastened, though he quickly masked the expression.

    "Thank you for your time," Camille concluded. "We appreciate your understanding as we navigate this situation."

    As they turned to leave the stage, a spontaneous apuse broke out, starting

    with a few journalists in the back and spreading until most of the room

    had joined in. It wasn''t

    universal, but it was significant, a recognition of grace under pressure, of dignity maintained despite invasion.

    Backstage, the PR team was already monitoring the

    immediate reactions. Headlines were appearing on news sites with surprising speed:

    *"Kane and Pierce Confirm Rtionship: ''Genuine and Important"

    *"Power Couple Goes Public: Kane and Pierce Address Photos Head-On"*

    *Business Leaders Turn Personal Attack Into Professional Statement"*

    Social media was erupting withments, many supportive:

    *"That''s how you handle a privacy invasion! No denials, no shame, just facts. #KaneAndPierce"*

    *Two brilliant business minds together? The definition of power couple!"*

    *"Watching Camille Kane turn an attack into a victory is honestly inspiring."*

    In the privacy of Victoria''s office, Camille finally allowed her shoulders to rx slightly. "It''s going bethan we expected," she admitted, scrolling through the reports. Alexander nodded, loosening his tie. "People respect directness. No denials, no excuses, just the truth."

    Hannah entered

    with tablet in hand, excitement visible despite her professional demeanor. "The stock is recovering already," she reported. "Up

    four points since you started speaking. The transparency approach is working."

    Camille''s phone buzzed with a message from Victoria: *Well done. First hurdle cleared.*

    "What happens now?" Alexander asked, looking around at the team.

    "Now we monitor," Hannah exined. "The initial response is positive, but we need to track how the narrative develops over the next few hours."

    Another

    staff member approached with a tablet disying financial news. "Look at this, analysts are praising the potential business synergies between Kane Industries and Pierce Enterprises. They''re framing your rtionship as a potential strategic alliance."

    "Not exactly romantic," Alexandermented dryly, "but certainly better than usations of impropriety."

    Camille smiled for the first time since the

    photos had appeared online that morning. "We''ve changed the story

    from scandal to strategy. Victoria would approve."

    The PR director handed them each a folder. "These are thetest media requestsing in. Everyone wants exclusive interviews, magazine features, inˇŞ depth profiles of you both."

    "No exclusives yet," Camille decided after a quick nce. "Let''s stick with the press conference statement for now. Give it time to settle."

    As the team dispersed to continue monitoring the situation, Camille and Alexander

    found themselves momentarily alone in Victoria''s office. Through the ss walls, they could see the activity continuing, phones ringing, screens disying news coverage, staff moving with purpose.

    "Are you okay?" Alexander asked quietly, searching her face. "That question about your past...ˇ±

    "Was inevitable," Camille finished. "And answering it honestly was the right choice." She moved to the window, looking out at the city below. "Rose wanted to use our rtionship

    to destroy me. To remind everyone of how foolish I was the first time around."

    "Instead, you showed them how much you''ve grown," Alexander said,ing to stand beside her. "How much stronger you''ve be."

    Camille nodded. "Rose never understood that the difference between then and now isn''t just about who I''m with. It''s about who I am."

    Outside the office, Hannah approached with fresh news. "The phones won''t stop ringing. Every major outlet is praising your handling of the situation. Some are even suggesting the leaked photos were designed "Keep that

    narrative going," Camille instructed. "The focus should be on ourpanies'' innovations, not our personal lives."

    "Already happening," Hannah confirmed, showing them a new headline from CNBC: *"Kane-

    Pierce Rtionship Announcement Coincides with Phoenix Grid Expansion, Coincidence or Strategic Timing?"* Alexander read it andughed. "They think we leaked the photos ourselves as a publicity stunt for the Grid."

    "Better than the alternative," Camille observed.

    Her phone buzzed again with more messages, board members expressing support, business associates offering encouragement. The tide was turning visibly with each passing minute.

    One message, from a number she didn''t recognize, simply read: *This isn''t over.*

    Camille showed it to Alexander, who frowned. "Rose?"

    "Probably," she agreed, handing the phone to Hannah. "Trace this if possible."

    As the afternoon progressed, the positive response continued to

    build. Financial analysts began specting about potential coborations between Kane Industries and

    Pierce Enterprises. Social media users created supportive hashtags that quickly trended. Entertainment sites ran glowing pieces about "New York''s Most Powerful Couple."

    By evening, Kane Industries stock had not only recovered its losses but gained additional points. Pierce Enterprises was simrly thriving. What had been intended as a destructive scandal had transformed into

    "We should head to the g soon," Alexander reminded her as the work day came to a close. The Hamilton Foundation G, their

    first public appearance as an acknowledged couple, awaited them. n. A new article

    Before leaving, Camille paused at her desk, looking at a notification

    that had just appeared on

    her s from the New York Spectator, Malcolm Reed''s publication that had broken the

    yacht photos that morning. The headline read: *"Kane and Pierce: A Modern Business Romance That Defies Convention."*

    The same outlet that had sought to humiliate them hours earlier was now framing their rtionship as aspirational, forward-

    thinking, revolutionary. The article quoted rtionship experts, business analysts, and socialmentators, all praising the couple''s approach to the situation.

    Camille felt a surge of satisfaction that went beyond professional

    victory. This was personal vindication, proof that she had truly transformed from the woman who had once been destroyed by betrayal into someone who could face humiliation with dignity and emerge stronger. "Ready?" Alexander asked, offering his hand.

    She took it, feeling the warmth of his fingers around hers. "Ready."

    Together, they walked toward the elevator, preparing to step out again into the public eye, not as victims of an invasion, but as a united front, stronger for having weathered their first storm together. Behind them, screens continued to light up with supportive messages

    and rising stock prices.

    The story was no longer about leaked photos or fabricated documents. It was about two people who had chosen to stand together, openly and without shame, turning vulnerability into strength.

 Chapter 121

    Rose hurled the crystal ss

    across the penthouse. It shattered against the wall in a spray of liquid and glittering shards. On the television screen, Camille and Alexander stood side by side at their press conference, hands joined, faces "How?" Rose screamed at the screen. "How is this happening?"

    She grabbed the remote, increasing the volume to hear her sister''s voice, calm, dignified, unashamed: "Yes, Alexander Pierce and I are in a rtionship. It began recently, but it is genuine and important to both Genuine. Important. The words

    burned in Rose''s ears like acid. This was not how it was supposed to go. Camille should have been destroyed by this exposure, her reputation in tatters, her position at Kane Industriespromised. Instead, sl Rose grabbed another ss, ready to send it flying, when the penthouse door opened. Herod entered, his face a thundercloud of barely contained rage. He tossed his phone onto the coffee table, where it displ "They''ve turned it aroundpletely," he said, his voice dangerously quiet. "The market is responding positively to their announcement. The financial

    documents we nted are being questioned by every major outlet."

    "I can see that," Rose snapped, gesturing to the television where financial analysts were now discussing the "Kane-

    Pierce power alliance" with enthusiasm. "They''re practically celebrating them!"

    Herod loosened his tie with sharp, angry movements. "Victoria. This has her fingerprints all

    over it. Only she would have the audacity to turn a scandal into a strategic announcement."

    Rose paced across the penthouse, unable to contain the energy coursing through her. "I nned this perfectly," she hissed. "The photos, the timing, the fake emails, it should have destroyed them both!"

    "Yet here we are," Herod said, pouring himself a drink from the bar. He didn''t offer Rose one, knowing she was beyond such niceties now. "Our strategy has not only failed but backfired spectacrly."

    On the screen, the camera showed Camille and Alexander leaving the press conference together. Thementator''s voice gushed: *"In an age of spin and denial, the directness of Kane and Pierce''s approach

    has resonated deeply with the public. Social media is overwhelmingly supportive, with many praising their honesty and courage in the face of what appears to be a targeted attack.ˇ°*

    "Turn it off," Rose demanded, her voice shaking with fury. "Turn it off now."

    Herod obliged, the screen going ck, leaving only their reflections staring back at them, Rose with her hair disheveled from running her hands through it repeatedly, Herod still outwardlyposed but with rag "This was your strategy," he reminded her, a dangerous edge to his voice. "Your expertise in social maniption. Your certainty that exposing their rtionship would destroy them."

    Rose whirled on him. "Don''t you dare me this all on me! You approved every step. You provided the resources, the connections to get

    those photos, to nt those documents."

    "Which we''ve now wasted," Herod replied coldly. "Hundreds of thousands of dors for what? To make your sister and Pierce more popr than ever? To strengthen Kane Industries'' stock position?" Rose''s hands curled into fists, nails digging into her palms hard enough to leave half-

    moon

    marks. "It should have worked," she insisted. "No one recovers from a scandal like this. No one."

    "Apparently, they do." Herod drained his ss. "The question is, what now? Our opening move has failed. We''ve lost the element of surprise. They''ll be watching for our next attack."

    Rose walked to the floor-to-

    ceiling windows, staring out at the city lights. Somewhere out there, Camille was probably celebrating her victory,ughing with Alexander about how they had turned Rose''s attack against her. The thought mad "We need something bigger," she said, her breath fogging

    the ss. "Something they can''t spin into a positive."

    "Such as?" Herod asked, his reflection appearing behind her in the window.

    Rose turned to face him. "Victoria. She''s their weak point. Remove her

    from the equation, and Camille loses her guide, her mentor, her backup n."

    "Victoria Kane is untouchable," Herod said dismissively. "We''ve been through this."

    "No one is untouchable," Rose insisted, a new fire burning in her eyes. "Everyone has secrets. Everyone has vulnerabilities. We just haven''t found hers yet."

    13

    Herod studied her for a long moment. "You truly hate her, don''t you? Your sister."

    "She''s not my sister," Rose snapped automatically. "And hate doesn''t begin to describe what I feel for her."

    She moved closer to Herod, energy radiating from her in waves. "Camille took everything from me. My reputation, my business, my future. She exposed me to the world as a fraud, a cheat, a viin. And now sh in shadows?"

    Her voice rose with each word, trembling with rage, with injustice, with the bitter taste of defeat. "I will not ept this. I will not let her win. Not after everything I''ve sacrificed, everything I''ve endured." Something shifted in Herod''s expression as he watched

    her, a dark appreciation for the fury burning through her. He set down his

    empty ss and stepped closer.

    "Then we''ll find another way," he said, his voice lower now. "A more direct approach."

    "What do you mean?"

    ˇ°?

    mean," Herod said carefully, "that perhaps we''ve been too subtle. Too focused on financial maneuvers and public opinion. Perhaps it''s time for something more... definitive."

    The implication hung in the air between them. Rose felt her heart beat faster, not with fear but with a terrible excitement You mean..."

    "I mean Victoria Kane is scheduled to return to work next week, Herod interrupted. "The Phoenix Grid''s final section goes live the day after. Both events will require their physical presence at specific locations, a His eyes held hers, dark and unblinking. ˇ°Predictability creates vulnerability."

    Rose felt her breath catch. This was new territory, beyond anything they had discussed before. Not reputation destruction or financial ruin, but something far more permanent. The thought should have frightened "Would you really go that far?" she asked quietly.

    Herod''s hand came up, fingers tracing the line of her

    jaw with unexpected gentleness. "The Prestons have a long memory for those who destroy what''s ours. Victoria took everything from my family. I''ve waited years for my chance at justice." His touch sent an ele "And you?" he asked, his fingers still against her skin. "How far would you go to destroy your sister?"

    Rose didn''t hesitate. "All the way."

    Something sparked between them then, a recognition, an understanding deeper than words. Herod''s hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her toward him. Their lips met in a kiss that contained nothing of te Rose''s anger didn''t diminish

    with his touch, it transformed, channeling into a different kind of heat that raced through her veins. She pressed against him, fingers digging into his shoulders hard enough to bruise. Their bodies collided like st Clothes fell away, scattered across the penthouse floor as they moved toward the bedroom. Rose weed the pain of his grip, the harsh press of his mouth against hers. This wasn''t about pleasure or affectio Later, tangled in sheets damp with sweat, Rose stared at the ceiling, her body still humming with nervous

    energy despite physical exhaustion. Beside her, Herod traced the line of her spine with idle fingers.

    "We''ll need to be careful," he said, breaking the long silence. "What we''re considering... there''s noing back from it." Rose turned to face him, her eyes glittering in the dim light. "I crossed the point of no retu parking garage."

    A shadow crossed Herod''s face. "You never told me the details of that night."

    "I never meant for her to die," Rose admitted, the words sounding hollow even to her own ears. "I just wanted her scared enough to leave town, to disappear from my life. Things... escted."

    "And now?"

    Rose''s lips curved in a smile that held no warmth. "Now I understand my mistake. Half measures. I left too much to chance." She sat up, the sheet falling away, her naked body silver in the moonlight streaming same error. This time, there will be no room for failure."

    Herod watched her, his expression unreadable. "Victoria first?"

    Rose nodded. "Cut off the head, and the body will follow. Without Victoria, Camille is just a woman ying dress-

    up in

    someone else''s life. She''ll crumble."

    "And Alexander?"

    "Will be too busy grieving to see using," Rose replied coldly. She leaned down, her hair creating a curtain around their faces as she kissed him again, harder this time, iming, marking. "Together, we''ll tak Herod pulled her back down beside

    him, his hands tangling in her hair. "Tomorrow we n. Tonight..."

    "Tonight we celebrate the beginning of the end," Rose finished for him, her body moving against his with renewed purpose. The anger that had consumed her earlier hadn''t disappeared, it had transformed into

    As dawn broke over the city, Rose stood naked at the penthouse windows, watching the first light touch the buildings where her enemies slept, unaware of what wasing for

    them. Behind her, Herod''s reflection appeared as he approached, wrapping his arms around her waist.

    "What are you thinking?" he asked, his breath warm against her neck.

    Rose ced her palm against the cool ss, as if reaching for the city beyond.

    "I''m thinking about the day Camille found

    those divorce papers. How surprised she looked, how hurt. How satisfying it was to finally drop the mask after all those years of pretending to care about her."

    She turned in

    his arms, her eyes hard with certainty. "I want to see that look on her face again. The

    moment she realizes she''s lost everything. The moment before the end."

    Herod''s hands tightened on her waist. "And you will. I promise you that."

    Rose smiled as she kissed him again, the taste of victory

    already sweet on her tongue. This time, there would be

    no clever press conferences, no strategic announcements, no spinning failure into sess.

    This time, there would be only ashes.

 Chapter 122

    The Metropolitan Museum sparkled under crystal chandeliers as New York''s wealthiest gathered for the annual Children''s Hospital Benefit Auction. Camille stood just outside the entrance, her heart

    pounding against her ribs. Tonight marked their first public appearance as an acknowledged couple since the press conference three days ago.

    "Nervous?" Alexander asked beside her, his hand warm against the small of her back

    She smoothed her midnight blue gown. "A little. Everyone will be watching us."

    "Let them watch," he replied. "We have nothing to hide anymore."

    The double doors opened. A hundred heads turned as they entered together. Conversations paused. For one breathless moment, the entire room seemed frozen, assessing, judging.

    Then apuse broke out, scattered at first, then spreading until it filled the hall. People were actually pping for them, smiling in approval. Camille felt Alexander''s hand tighten slightly on her back, a silent signal of shared surprise.

    "Well," she murmured, maintaining her smile as they moved forward, "that wasn''t what I expected."

    As they mingled through the crowd, Camille noticed the changed atmosphere. These

    same people had viewed her primarily as Victoria Kane''s prot¨¦g¨¦e before. Now they approached with newfound interest, as if her rtionship with Alexander had somehow made her more essible, more hur "Everyone''s staring," she whispered as they epted champagne.

    "Not staring," Alexander corrected. "Admiring."

    They separated for a while, a deliberate choice to show their independence despite their connection. Camille spoke with hospital board members about the new pediatric wing Kane Industries had funded. Alexa "He can''t take his eyes off you," remarked Eleanor Westfield, chairwoman of the hospital board. "It''s refreshing to see genuine feeling in this room for once."

    The auction began at nine. Guests moved toward the arrangement of chairs facing a small stage. Camille felt Alexander beside her again, his hand finding hers as they took their seats.

    After several items were auctioned, the auctioneer lifted a ck velvet box. "Our next

    item,dies and gentlemen, is truly exceptional. From the private collection of the Whitmore family, the ''Ocean''s Heart'' ne."

    An assistant opened the box, revealing a stunning creation that drew audible gasps. A massive sapphire, deep blue and wless, hung suspended from

    a cascade of diamonds that caught the light like captured stars.

    "This historic piece features a twenty-

    carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by fifteen carats of diamonds, set in tinum. Truly extraordinary." The auctioneer''s

    eyes

    twinkled as his gaze passed over Camille. "Bidding will start at ten million dors."

    Beside her, Camille felt Alexander shift slightly, his shoulders straightening.

    "Ten million," called a voice from the back.

    "Fifteen million," countered another bidder.

    Alexander remained silent as the figures climbed. The room hummed with excitement as the ne became the center of a bidding war between a Saudi prince and a hedge fund manager. "Twenty-five million," the prince offered, voice bored as if the sum meant nothing.

    The hedge fund manager shook his head, withdrawing from the contest.

    The auctioneer beamed. "Twenty-five

    million for the ''Ocean''s Heart.'' Do I hear twenty-six?"

    Alexander raised his hand. "Thirty million."

    The room went utterly silent. Camille turned to him, eyes wide with shock. He met her gaze with a small smile, private despite their public setting.

    "Thirty million dors from Mr. Alexander Pierce," the auctioneer repeated, barely containing his delight. "Do I hear thirty- one?"

    Sessfully unlocked!

    The Saudi prince considered for a moment, then hook his head slightly, conceding defeat.

    "Thirty million going once... going twice..." The auctioneer paused dramatically. "Sold to Mr. Alexander Pierce!"

    Apuse erupted, this time with an undercurrent of excitement. Alexander stood, buttoning his jacket as he moved toward the stage to im his purchase.

    Camille watched him, heart racing This wasn''t nned. They had discussed their strategy for the evening in detail, and nowhere had it included Alexander bidding thirty million dors for a ne. He epted the velvet box, then turned to face the

    audience. "I believe jewelry this beautiful deserves to be worn, not kept in a box. With your permission, I''d like to present this ne to the woman who has brought unexpected joy to my life." All eyes turned frozen, caught between self-

    consciousness and a fluttering excitement in her chest.

    "Camille, Alexander said formally, though his eyes held warmth only she could recognize. "Would

    you do me the honor?"

    The room held its breath as Camille rose from her seat. Her legs felt unsteady as she walked toward him, aware of hundreds of

    eyes following her every move, of phones discreetly recording.

    She reached Alexander''s side, turning so her back was to

    him. With careful movements, he removed the

    sapphire ne from its velvet nest. The weight of it settled against Camille''s corbone as he fastened the sp, his fingers warm against her neck.

    When she turned to face him again, something in his expression made her breath catch. This wasn''t just for show, not just another strategic move. This was real.

    Alexander cupped her face in his hands with unexpected tenderness. "Perfect, he murmured, quiet enough that only she could hear. "It matches your eyes."

    1

    Then he kissed her, not a polite peck for their audience, but a real kiss, deep and unhurried. Carnille felt herself responding without thought, her hands finding his shoulders, her body leaning into his as if they w The audience erupted in apuse and cheers. Camera

    shes surrounded them, capturing the moment for tomorrow''s society pages.

    "You nned this," Camille used softly, her fingers touching the heavy sapphire at her

    throat.

    Alexander''s smile held secrets. "Not entirely. I knew the ne would be

    auctioned. I didn''t know it would match your dress so perfectly."

    "Thirty million dors,ˇ± she murmured, still stunned. "For a ne."

    "For you," he corrected. "And for them." He gestured subtly to the watching crowd. "Sometimes theater serves a purpose beyond entertainment."

    She understood then. This wasn''t just a gift. This was Alexander cementing the public narrative

    they wanted, the billionaire besotted with his powerful girlfriend, their rtionship too genuine to be questioned, too public to be undermined by further scandal.

    The remainder of the auction

    passed in a blur. Camille was acutely aware of the ne''s weight against her skin, of the asional brush of Alexander''s hand against hers, of the changed quality in the nces sent their way, no longer m When the formal proceedings ended and the crowd dispersed for dancing and further socializing, Alexander led her to a quiet alcove partially hidden by potted palms.

    "Too much?" he asked, studying her face. "I should have warned you."

    Camille touched the sapphire. "It''s beautiful. But thirty million, Alexander... What are we doing here? Is this still about countering Rose and

    Herod? About protecting ourpanies? Or is it something else now?"

    Alexander''s fingers traced the line of the ne, then the curve of her jaw. "Does it have to be just one

    thing?"

    The question hung between them, weighted with possibilities neither had fully acknowledged. Camille thought of how far they hade since Victoria''s copse, from strategic allies to something much more co "No," she admitted finally. "I suppose it doesn''t."

    His smile warmed his eyes, crinkling the corners in a way Camille hade to cherish. ˇ°Then let''s enjoy tonight. Just us, no strategy, no nning.ˇ±

    For the rest of the evening, they danced, theyughed, they mingled with genuine ease. The sapphire gleamed against Camille''s skin, catching the light with every movement, drawing admiring nces from ev By the time they left, photos of their kiss had

    already spread across social media, apanied by headlines celebrating New York''s newest power couple. What Rose had intended as a weapon against them, the exposure of their rtionship had be As they stepped into the waiting car, Alexander lifted Camille''s hand to his lips. "Sessful evening?"

    She smiled, touching the ne that now symbolized not just his extravagant gesture but the public deration of their rtionship. "Very sessful."

    The sapphire glowed in the dim light of the car, a brilliant blue reminder that they had taken control of their narrative.

 Chapter 123

    Herod stared at the monitors, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of his desk. The data scrolling across the screens made no sense. ording to every parameter, the Phoenix Grid

    should be showing signs of stress by now. The modified circuits James Walsh had installed were designed to create power fluctuations after seventy-

    two hours. That deadline had passed yesterday.

    Yet the Grid ran perfectly.

    He pulled up news footage of Victoria Kane''s press conference from that morning, where she proudly announced the sessful activation of the Grid''s third section. Her silver hair gleamed under the lights as s Something was very wrong.

    "Damn

    it," he muttered, mming his palm against the desk. The coffee cup beside his keyboard jumped, spilling dark liquid across his papers.

    Behind him, the penthouse door opened. Rose entered, carrying shopping bags from exclusive boutiques, her face flushed with the particr pleasure she took in spending his money.

    "You won''t believe what I found at Bergdorf''s," she began, then stopped when she saw his expression. "What is it?ˇ±

    Herod gestured at the screens. "The Grid. It''s still functioning perfectly."

    Rose set down her bags, moving to stand behind him. "Maybe it''s just dyed. The failure might still happen."

    "No." He pulled up the schematics Walsh had worked from. "These modifications

    should have created visible problems within seventy-two hours. It''s been ny-

    six. Nothing has happened."

    He swiveled in his chair to face her. "They found our sabotage."

    Rose''s eyes narrowed. "That''s impossible. Walsh had clearance. No

    one questioned him."

    "Yet here we are." Herod stood, pacing the length of

    his office. The Manhattan skyline stretched beyond the windows, Kane Industries tower visible in the

    distance, mocking

    him with its uninterrupted power supply. "They not only found it, they corrected it without alerting anyone, without changing their timeline. They wanted us to think our n was working." "Have you spoken to Walsh?" Rose asked.

    "Yes, this morning. He swears he installed everything exactly as nned." Herod''s voice tightened with frustration. "He has no idea how they could have fixed

    it without him knowing. No one has approached him or questioned his work."

    Rose sank into

    a chair, her shopping forgotten. "So they somehow discovered our modifications without

    identifying Walsh as the source."

    "Exactly." Herod brought up another screen, showing Kane Industries stock price over the past week. Despite their attempts to

    create doubt about the Grid''s safety, despite the scandal

    with Camille and Alexander''s rtionship, the stock had risen steadily.

    "We''re losing," he said tly.

    Rose stood abruptly, her chair

    scraping against the floor. "No. I refuse to ept that."

    "ept what? Reality?" Anger edged Herod''s voice. "We''ve spent millions on this sabotage. And for what? To make Kane Industries stronger? To turn your sister and Pierce into New York''s favorite couple?" He gestured to a newspaper on his desk, the society pages open to a full-

    color spread of Camille and Alexander at the charity auction. The sapphire

    ne gleamed against her skin as he kissed her, cameras capturing what should

    have been their humiliation but had somehow be their triumph.

    "They''ve outyed us at every turn," Herod continued. "The Grid sabotage, discovered and fixed. The rtionship scandal, turned into a publicity coup."

    Rose stared at the photograph, something dark and

    hungry in her gaze. "Then we stop ying their game. We stop being subtle."

    "What does that mean?"

    She turned to him, her eyes glittering with dangerous intent. "It means we take a more direct approach."

    Herod felt a chill at her tone. "Exin."

    "The Grid can''t function without its architects." Rose moved closer, her voice dropping. "Victoria. Camille. The chief engineer -

    what''s her name? Hannah Zhao. Remove them, and the project falls apart."

    Herod stepped back, studying her face. "You''re talking about.."

    "I''m talking about solving our problem permanently." Rose ced her hand on his chest, fingers syed across his expensive shirt. "We''ve tried it your way. The financial maneuvers, the technical sabotage, the She gestured to the screens showing the Grid''s perfect performance metrics. "Nowhere. It''s time for my approach." "Your approach." Herod removed her hand from his chest, holding it between them like somet "I mean efficiency." Rose didn''t pull away, her

    gaze locked with his. "The Grid goes online fully next week. Victoria is scheduled to throw the switch personally at their headquarters. Everyone will be there -

    Victoria, Camille, Alexander, the board, the press."

    Herod released her hand, turning away. "You''re talking about an attack. In public. With casualties."

    "I''m talking about results." Rose followed him, unwilling to let him retreat. "Isn''t that what you want? Kane Industries dismantled, the Grid technology in your hands, Victoria destroyed?"

    "Not like this." Herod ran a hand through his hair, suddenly uncertain. When had

    this escted so far? "I wanted to acquire thepany legitimately, through stock purchases and board pressure. Business, not bloodshed."

    Roseughed, the sound sharp enough to cut. "Legitimately? After everything we''ve done? The sabotage, the leaked photos, the fabricated evidence? There''s nothing legitimate about any of this."

    She was right, and they both knew it. They had crossed lines already, legal

    and ethical. But this... this was different.

    "Rose," he began, choosing his words carefully. "Your hatred for Camille is clouding your judgment."

    Her expression hardened. "My hatred for Camille is the reason we''re here. Don''t pretend your hands are clean, Herod. Not after everything you''ve done."

    Tension stretched between them, the easy intimacy of recent weeks suddenly strained. For the first time, Herod saw clearly the darkness that drove Rose, the bottomless well of resentment that no amount of re "This isn''t what I signed up for," he said finally.

    Rose''s eyes narrowed. "It''s exactly what you signed up for. Destruction of Victoria Kane, the woman who ruined your family. You just didn''t want to acknowledge the cost."

    She moved to the window, her silhouette sharp against the city lights. "If you''re having second thoughts, say so now. I can find other partners."

    The threat hung in the air between them. Herod studied her profile, this woman who had be his lover and his co-

    conspirator. He had known she was dangerous when they''d begun this. Her

    ruthlessness had been an asset. Now he wondered if it might be his downfall.

    "What exactly are you proposing?" he asked, his voice careful.

    Rose turned, a smile curving

    her lips. She sensed his weakening resolve. "Nothingplicated. A simple disruption during the activation ceremony. Something that requires evacuation, creates confusion. During that chaos, we eliminate the Herod moved to the bar, pouring himself a drink with unsteady hands. "And you think no one will connect this back to us?"

    "Not with proper nning." Rose followed, taking the ss from his hand and sipping from it herself. "I have contacts from my previous life. People who can arrange things discreetly, for the right price." Herod watched her drink from his ss, her lipstick leaving a scarlet mark on the rim. When had she be this person? Or had she always been this person, and he simply hadn''t wanted to see it? "This is a significant esction," he said carefully.

    Rose set down the ss, moving closer until her body pressed against his. "Don''t overthink this, Herod. We want the same things. We''re just discussing methods."

    Her fingers traced the line of his jaw, her touch both seductive and threatening. "You were willing to destroy lives through financial ruin. Is this really so different?" "Yes," he said simply. "It is."

    Something cold shed in her eyes, there and gone in an instant. Then she smiled, her expression softening. "Of course it is. I understand your hesitation. Take your time."

    She kissed him lightly, her lips barely brushing his. "Just don''t think too long. Our window of opportunity closes after the Grid activation."

    Rose stepped away, retrieving her shopping bags as if the conversation had never happened. "I''m going to try on my new dresses. Join me

    if you''d like."

    She disappeared into the bedroom, leaving Herod alone with his troubled thoughts and the evidence of their failed sabotage still disyed across the monitors.

    For the first time since their alliance began, he wondered if their goals were truly aligned. If her vendetta against Camille might ultimately destroy not just the Kane women, but him as well.

 Chapter 124

    Camille sat in the back of the town car, watching familiar

    streets pass by outside the window. Each turn brought her closer to the mansion she had grown up in, the ce she had once thought safe until Rose had shattered that illusion forever.

    "You''re sure about this?" Victoria asked from beside her.

    Camille turned, still surprised that Victoria had insisted on apanying her to dinner with her parents. She had announced her decision that morning, brooking no argument when Camille had tried to dissuade "I''m not sure about anything where my family is concerned," Camille admitted. "But my mother has called every week since the press conference. They''ve apologized multiple times. At some point, I have to at le Victoria''s expression remained neutral, but her eyes held a protective wariness. "Apologies are easy. Changed behavior is what matters."

    The car slowed as they approached the Lewis estate, an imposing limestone mansion set back from the street behind ornate iron gates. Lights glowed behind curtained windows, warm and inviting. Yet Camille'' "They don''t know you''reing," she reminded Victoria.

    A small, almost mischievous smile curved Victoria''s lips. "I know. Consider it a test of their sincerity."

    The gates opened automatically, recognizing the car Camille had

    registered with security. They rolled up the circr driveway, stopping at the front entrance where light spilled onto marble steps.

    The butler, Harrison, opened the door before they

    could ring the bell. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of Victoria but his professional training prevailed.

    "Miss Camille," he greeted with a slight bow. "Ms. Kane. Pleasee in. Mr.

    and Mrs. Lewis are in the drawing room."

    They followed Harrison through the grand foyer with its sweeping staircase and crystal chandelier. Camille caught

    sight of the family portrait above the firece, showing her at sixteen with her parents. Rose was noticeably absent, one of the few family images that hadn''t included her adopted sister.

    Harrison announced their arrival. "Miss Camille and Ms. Victoria Kane."

    Her parents rose from their seats, faces showing the progression of joy at seeing Camille followed by stunned surprise at Victoria''s presence.

    "Victoria Kane," her mother said, recovering quickly. "What an unexpected pleasure."

    "I hope I''m not imposing," Victoria replied smoothly. "Camille means a great deal to me. I wanted to meet the people who raised her."

    The undercurrent in Victoria''s words was unmistakable, she was here to

    evaluate, to judge, to protect.

    "Not imposing at all," Richard insisted, signaling to Harrison. "Please, both of you, make yourselvesfortable. Harrison, inform Mrs. Martha we''ll have an additional guest for dinner."

    The drawing

    room looked exactly as Camille remembered, yet somehow smaller. The antique furniture, the grand piano where she had practiced for countless hours, the rare first editions her father collected, all unchanged, yet all different through her now-

    experienced eyes.

    ˇ°A drink before dinner?ˇ± Richard offered, gesturing to the uniformed server who had appeared with a silver tray.

    "Water is fine for me," Victoria said. "I never mix alcohol with business, and I consider tonight business."

    Margaret''s smile tightened. "And what business might that be, Ms. Kane?"

    "The wellbeing of your daughter," Victoria replied without hesitation.

    An awkward silence fell. Camille took a seat on the brocade sofa, Victoria beside her, her parents opposite them. The physical arrangement underscored the new reality, Camille and Victoria as a unit, her paren "Have you heard from Rose?" Camille asked, the question escaping before she could stop it.

    Richard shook his head. "Not since the day after your press conference with Alexander Pierce. She called, furious, using

    us of betraying her. When we refused to take her side, she said we were dead to her."

    "Ironic," Victoria observed coolly, "considering what she tried to do to Camille."

    Margaret flinched visibly. "We had no idea she had arranged that attack. You have to believe that."

    "What I believe," Victoria replied, "is that you chose not to see many things about your adopted daughter. Just as you chose

    not to

    see the truth when Camille tried to tell you about her husband''s betrayal with Rose."

    The bluntness of Victoria''s wordsnded like physical blows. The server who had entered with drinks quietly retreated,

    20.25 Inu, I may

    < Chapter 124

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    believe her. Because admitting the truth meant facing our own blindness."

    She reached across the coffee table, her hand extended

    tentatively toward Camille. "We cannot undo that damage. But we can acknowledge it. And try to do better, if you''ll let us."

    Camille stared at her mother''s outstretched

    hand, the hand that had once dried her childhood tears, that hadter pushed her away when

    she needed support most. After a long moment, she ced her own hand briefly in her mother''s before withdrawing it.

    Harrison appeared at the doorway. "Dinner is served, madam."

    The dining room gleamed with silver and crystal. A maid stood ready by the ornate sideboard, another waited to serve the wine. Four ces had been set, though Harrison was already signaling for a fifth setting maintained a regal posture beside her, more observer than participant in the stilted small talk that passed for conversation.

    Halfway through the main course, Richard dismissed the servants with a wave. When thest one had left, closing the door behind them, he set down his fork

    with unexpected force.

    "This isn''t working," he said bluntly. "We''re dancing around everything that matters."

    Margaret looked rmed. "Richard, please..."

    "No, it''s time for honesty." He turned to Camille, his eyes meeting hers directly. "We were wrong. Not just about Rose and Stefan, but about everything. About who you were, what you needed from us, the suppo He nced at Victoria, something like grudging respect in his expression. ˇ°Ms. Kane has done what we should

    have done, stood by

    you, believed in you, helped you be the remarkable woman you now are.ˇ±

    Victoria inclined her head slightly, epting the acknowledgment withoutment.

    "When you disappeared," Richard continued, "when we thought you were dead, the grief nearly destroyed us. Not just grief for your loss, but for all the ways we had failed you while you were with us." Margaret reached for her husband''s hand. "We don''t expect forgiveness, Camille. We haven''t earned it. But we want you to know that our door is always open to you. On whatever terms you set." Camille felt tears threatening and fought them back. This was what she had wanted for so long, acknowledgment, apology, the possibility of healing. Yet now that it was offered, she found herself uncertain how to respond.

    "I don''t know what to say," she admitted. "Part of me wants to forgive you instantly

    and pretend none of it happened. Another part isn''t ready to trust again."

    "Then don''t decide now," Victoria said, surprising everyone. "Healing doesn''t happen in a single dinner. It takes time.. Consistent effort. Proof."

    Richard nodded slowly. "That''s fair. More than fair.ˇ±

    Harrison entered with barely a sound. "Mr. Pierce has arrived, sir."

    "Send him in," Richard instructed, though tension showed in his eyes.

    Alexander entered the dining room momentster, looking impable

    as always, though surprise flickered across his face at finding Victoria present.

    "Alexander," Victoria greeted him with a

    small nod. "Perfect timing. We''ve just finished dinner."

    He recovered quickly, professional mask sliding into ce. "I hope I''m not interrupting."

    "Not at all," Margaret assured him. "Would you like some dessert?"

    "Thank you, but

    we should probably get going," Alexander replied, sensing the charged atmosphere. "Camille has an early meeting tomorrow."

    Camille stood, grateful for the escape route. "Yes, the final Grid inspection

    before next week''s full activation."

    Margaret''s face fell slightly, but she nodded. "Of course. Your work is important."

    An awkward silence fell as they gathered in the entrance hall. Harrison held Camille''s coat while a maid retrieved Victoria''s

    wrap.

    "Thank you for dinner," Camille said finally. "It was... good to see you both."

    nodded, allowing him to embrace her briefly. His arms felt both familiar and strange, the scent of his aftershave triggering

    memories of childhood.

    Margaret moved forward next, her eyes asking the same silent question. Camille permitted another quick embrace, more formal than the one with her father.

    "We''re proud of you," her mother whispered. "So proud of who you''ve be."

    Victoria watched the exchanges with an unreadable expression before extending her hand to Richard.

    "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Lewis. Mrs. Lewis."

    The formality of the gesture underscored the vast gulf between Camille''s old life and her new one. Victoria, elegant, powerful, unyielding, stood in stark contrast to the wealthy but wed parents who had raised As they stepped outside, Alexander''s hand found the small of her back. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly.

    "I''m not sure," she answered honestly.

    Victoria moved

    ahead of them. "Take her home, Alexander," she instructed as she reached the car. "She''s had quite enough family drama for one evening."

    As they settled into the car, Alexander took Camille''s hand, his fingers intertwining with hers in silent support.

    The car pulled away, carrying her from her past toward her future. In

    the backseat, Camille sat between the two pirs of her new life, Victoria on one side, Alexander on the other. Behind them, the mansion of her childhood grew smaller in the distance, neither fully reconciled nor fully abandoned.

    Progress and wounds. Beginnings and

    endings. The evening had offered both, leaving Camille suspended between what had been and what might yet be.

 Chapter 125

    Hannah Zhao stared at herputer screen, the blue light reflecting off her sses as she analyzed ess logs to the Phoenix Grid''s secure database.

    "I found it," she said as Camille approached with coffee. "The leak in our team.ˇ±

    Camille set down the cups, suddenly alert. "Show me."

    Hannah disyed a series of highlighted entries. "Someone''s been essing our secure servers between 2:00 and 3:00 AM three times weekly. Always the same nights, always looking at Grid specifications, s "Do you know who?" Camille asked, leaning closer,

    Hannah nodded grimly. "I installed a silent trackerst week." She opened another

    window showing screenshots. "It''s Walsh."

    "The maintenance technician who installed the

    modified circuits?" Camille''s eyes narrowed.

    "The same. We were watching his physical ess, but overlooked his digital footprint." Hannah pulled up financial records. "He''s still receiving payments from an offshore ount." "Rose," Camille said, the name like a curse.

    "I''ve prepared termination paperwork," Hannah continued. "Security can escort him out today."

    Camille didn''t respond immediately, her expression shifting from anger to calction.

    "Don''t fire him," she said finally.

    "What?" Hannah looked up, startled. "But he''s leaking critical information!"

    "Exactly. And now that we know, we can control what information he leaks." Camille straightened. "We''ve been on the defensive with Rose and Herod for too long. It''s time we took control."

    "You want to feed him false information?"

    "Not just false, misleading. Information that serves our purposes." Camille pulled up a chair. "What if Walsh received ess to files suggesting vulnerability in the Grid''s west junction? Nothing that would actuall Understanding dawned in Hannah''s eyes. "We create a trap, and they walk right into it."

    "Better yet, when they act on this information, we''ll know exactly where they''ll be and what they''ll be targeting."

    "We can track them," Hannah said, fingers already moving across her

    keyboard. "I can create dummy files with embedded trackers. When they''re opened on another system, we''ll know the location."

    "How soon can you set it up?"

    "By tonight," Hannah promised. "I''ll create a special portal that looks identical

    to our regr system but contains only the files we want Walsh to find."

    "Don''t tell anyone else yet. Not even Alexander," Camille instructed. "We need to brief Victoria first."

    Victoria listened silently as Camille and Hannah exined their discovery and proposed response, her fingers steepled

    beneath her chin.

    "Instead of eliminating the threat," Victoria said finally, "you want to manipte it. Use their own weapon against them."

    "Yes," Camille confirmed. "Walsh is

    more valuable to us as an unwitting double agent than as a fired employee."

    Victoria''s lips curved slightly. "And the risk? If he discovers

    your trap, or if the information he passes causes unexpected problems?"

    "We''ll

    control every bit of data he sees," Hannah exined. "The files will appear genuine to anyone who doesn''t know our actual systems intimately."

    Victoria rose, moving to the window where the Phoenix Grid control center was visible in the distance.

    "There''s elegance in your approach," she said.

    Sessfully unlocked! sed early in my career. Apetitor had ced someone in mypany-

    much like Rode has done with Walsh Everyone advised me to fire him

    immediately." She turned to face them. "Instead, I kept him close. Fed him exactly what I wanted mypetitor to know. When they moved against me based on that information, they found themselves outman Camille felt a rush of pride at theparison.

    Victoria studied her for a long moment. "You''re not just reacting anymore. You''re anticipating, nning three moves ahead. Good."

    Hannah disyed her preliminary design for the false portal. "Everything Walsh esses will be logged and tracked. Any files he copies will contain hidden markers that will activate when opened on another device."

    "When will you deploy this?" Victoria asked.

    "Tonight," Hannah replied. "Walsh always esses the system between 2:00 and 3:00 AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays."

    For the next hour, the three women constructed an borate deception. They identified a junction box in the Grid''s western sector that would appear vulnerable based on the false data, though it was actually or

    system.

    "Any attempt to exploit this ''vulnerability'' would be immediately contained and would identify exactly who was behind it," Camille exined.

    Victoria''s eyes gleamed with appreciation. "This isn''t just about defending anymore. This is about setting a trap, forcing them to expose themselves."

    "They''ve been dictating the terms of this battle from the beginning," Camille said. "This is our chance to reverse the dynamic."

    Victoria approved the n. As Hannah left to implement it, Victoria gestured for Camille to remain.

    "You''re changing," Victoria observed. "The woman I found eighteen months ago would never have conceived of such a strategy. She would have reacted with immediate retribution." Camille nodded. ˇ°That woman was defined by her wounds, her need for direct revenge."

    "And now?"

    "Now I understand that true power isn''t about immediate satisfaction. It''s about patience, strategy, control." Camille met Victoria''s gaze. "You taught me that."

    Something shifted in Victoria''s expression-

    pride, perhaps. "When I found you in that parking garage, I saw potential. Raw strength that others had tried to break. But even I didn''t anticipate howpletely you would transform."

    The rare personal acknowledgment caught Camille off guard.

    "You gave me the tools," she said simply.

    Victoria shook her head slightly. "Tools are useless without the right person

    wielding them. What you''ve be, that''s your own creation."

    ion. Han

    That night, Camille and Hannah watched as Walsh logged into their system remotely at 2:00 AM, He navigated through files, spending nearly twenty minutes examining the fabricated vulnerability reports. "He''s copying them," Hannah noted. "The trackers are embedded. When those

    files are opened, we''ll know exactly where." At 2:47 AM, Walsh logged out, having downloaded precisely the information they wanted Rose

    and Herod to have.

    "Now we wait," Camille said. "Let''s see what Rose does with her new ''intelligence."

    Hannah smiled. "It''s like watching a mouse approach the cheese, not realizing the trap is about to spring."

    "No," Camille corrected, "it''s like watching a snake slither toward

    what it thinks is a wounded

    bird, not realizing the bird is actually a predator in disguise."

    She moved to the window, gazing at the city lights. Somewhere out there, Rose was waiting for information, believing herself clever, believing herself in control.

    "For weeks, Rose has been attacking us, forcing us to defend," Camille said. "That changes tonight."

    The tracker program hummed quietly, ready to

    alert them the moment their false information reached its intended recipient. Within days, they would have a direct line to Rose''s location, her ns, her next move.

 Chapter 126

    "Where are we going?" Camille asked as Alexander''s car turned onto an unexpected street. They had left Kane Industries after a long day of final preparations for the Phoenix Gridunch. Alexander smiled, eyes on the road. "A small detour. Something I want

    to show you."

    They rounded a corner, and Boston Memorial Hospital came into view, its ss fa?ade gleaming in thete afternoon sun.

    "The hospital?" Camille''s brow furrowed. "Why here?"

    "This ce matters to us," Alexander said simply, parking the car. "Where everything began."

    He

    turned to face her, his expression unusually nervous. "I wanted to bring you back here

    for a reason."

    Without further exnation, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out

    a small ck velvet box. Camille''s heart stuttered in her chest.

    "Alexander," she breathed.

    "I''ve been carrying this

    for weeks." He opened the box, revealing a stunning ring, a brilliant diamond set in a tinum phoenix, its wings

    curving to cradle the stone, tiny rubies forming the eyes.

    "I had it designed to represent who you are, not who you were when we first met, but who you became. A woman who rose from the ashes, stronger and more beautiful than before."

    Camille stared at the ring, emotion making it hard to speak. After everything, Stefan''s betrayal, Rose''s attempted murder, rebuilding her life, this moment felt almost unreal. Someone seeing her, truly seeing her, choosing her.

    "I didn''t n to do this in a parked car," Alexander continued

    with a small smile. "But once I decided to bring you here, to close the circle of our beginning... I couldn''t

    wait any longer."

    He took the ring from its velvet nest. "Camille, will you marry me?"

    Time seemed to stop. Through the windows, hospital staff moved about, unaware of the life-

    altering moment happening nearby. Camille thought of how far she hade, the pain she had endured, the strength she had found, the woman she had be.

    "Yes," she said, her voice steady despite the emotion threatening to overwhelm her. "Yes, I will marry you."

    Alexander''s face transformed with joy as he slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly, the phoenix''s wings catching the light as she turned her hand.

    "But," she continued, "I want to wait until

    after the Gridunch. Until we''ve dealt with Rose and Herod once and for all."

    Alexander nodded, understanding. "The Gridunches next week. We can announce our engagement afterward."

    "Victoria should know first," Camille said. "Before anyone else."

    "Of course." He leaned forward, cupping her face in his hands. "She gave me my fianc¨¦e, after all."

    The thought hung between them, how different both their lives might have

    been if Victoria Kane hadn''t discovered Camille that night.

    "Do you think she''ll approve?" Camille asked, suddenly uncertain. Victoria had never criticized her rtionship with Alexander, had even encouraged it when Rose tried to use it against them. But marriage was different, permanent, binding, a potential distraction from the empire Victoria was preparing her to lead.

    "She will," Alexander said with conviction.

    "Not because I''m worthy of you, no one could be that, but because Victoria Kane values strength above all else. And we are stronger together than apart."

    He kissed her then, sealing their promise. Camille felt the

    cool metal of the ring against her skin, the physical manifestation of this new beginning.

    When they separated, Camille looked down at the

    phoenix ring, its diamond catching the fading sunlight. "I never expected this, she admitted. "After Stefan and Rose... part of me believed I would never trust again. Never love again."

    "And now?" Alexander asked, his voice soft.

    "Now I understand that what happened with them wasn''t love. It was performance, maniption. This..." she gestured between them, "....this is real. Built on truth, on seeing each otherpletely." As they pulled away from the hospital, Camille Sessfully unlocked!ists of fate that had brought them together

    and

    reunited them in circumstances neither could have imagined

    "Where to now?" Alexander asked. "Dinner to celebrate?"

    Camille twisted the ring on her finger, still getting used to its weight, its significance. "Actually, I''d like to tell Victoria tonight, if she''s avable. This feels too important to wait."

    Alexander nodded, changing

    "No," Camille decided. "This is something I should do alone. She found me when I had nothing, rebuilt me when I was broken. She deserves to hear this news from me, personally."

    As they drove through the darkening city, Camille watched lights

    begin to appear in buildings and streemps. The Phoenix Grid would power those lights soon, her vision made real through years of work. Now she had a new vision to look forward to, a life with Alexander, a f

    "One

    week," she said softly. "One week until the Gridunches, until we deal with whatever Rose and Herod have nned. And then..."

    "And then we begin," Alexander finished, squeezing her hand. "No more looking back. Only forward."

    Camille nodded, her mind racing

    ahead to the conversation with Victoria. Would she be surprised? Concerned? Approving? Victoria Kane was not a woman who revealed her thoughts easily, even to Camille.

    But somehow, Camille wasn''t worried. The woman Victoria had shaped her to be, strong, strategic, unstoppable, was precisely the woman who could bnce a

    powerful marriage with leading Kane Industries. The woman who could have both love and power, without sacrificing either.

    As they approached Victoria''s building, Camille

    touched the ring onest time before slipping it off temporarily. This news deserved

    its proper moment, its proper revtion.

    "I''ll call you after I speak with her," she promised Alexander as the car stopped.

    He leaned across to kiss her goodbye. "Take all the time you need. I''ll be waiting."

    Camille slipped the ring into her pocket, its weight a secret promise against her thigh as she

    walked into the building. The phoenix would emerge again soon enough, once Victoria understood that this engagement wouldn''t weaken Camille''s resolve, wouldn''t distract her from the final confrontation with Rose.

    If anything, it would make her stronger. More determined than

    ever to secure the future she now knew was possible, a future with both love and power, both personal happiness

    and professional triumph.

 Chapter 127

    Rose stared at the photos spread across the marble countertop of Herod''s penthouse kitchen. Grainy images captured through a long-

    distance lens, yet clear enough to show what mattered. Camille and Alexander outside Boston Memorial Hospital. His hand holding something small. Her visible shock. Their embrace. And most damning of all, "She''s engaged," Rose whispered, the words burning her throat like acid. "He proposed and she said yes."

    She''d sent one of their hired men to follow Camille that afternoon, a precaution after Walsh had provided them with the misleading Grid information. She hadn''t expected this.

    "Are you certain?" Herod asked, examining the photos over her shoulder. "The quality isn''t great."

    Rose''s fingernail stabbed at the clearest image. "Look at her finger. That''s an engagement ring."

    Herod squinted. "Could be any ring."

    "It''s not just any ring." Rose''s voice sharpened. "I know what an engagement ring looks like, and I know my sister''s face. She''s... happy."

    Thest word emerged like a curse. Her fingers curled around the edge of the photo, crumpling it slightly.

    "Does this change our ns?" Herod asked carefully.

    Rose didn''t answer. Her mind raced through images from their childhood, Camille always the perfect daughter, the talented musician, the brilliant student. Rose, the adopted outsider, working twice

    as hard for half the recognition. And now, after everything Rose had done to destroy her, Camille was

    engaged to a Trillionaire who gazed at her with undisguised adoration.

    "Rose?" Herod prompted.

    Her hand swept across the counter, sending the photos flying.

    "It''s not fair! Why does she get everything? The career, the money, Victoria''s approval and fortune and now him too?"

    She stalked across the kitchen, her movements sharp and erratic. Herod watched her warily, keeping the marble ind between them.

    "We''re still going to destroy her," he reminded her. "The Gridunch is in a week. We have the information about the western junction vulnerability..."

    "Information she''ll protect now more than ever," Rose cut in. "She has a reason to survive, a future to protect. It makes her more dangerous."

    She yanked open a cab, grabbed a crystal tumbler, and mmed it down. The decanter of bourbon rattled as she poured, amber liquid sshing over the rim.

    "She''s going to have the life that should have been mine," Rose

    continued, her voice rising. "Marriage to someone powerful, Our parents wealth, Victoria''spany, respect, admiration, all of it stolen from me."

    "Nothing''s changed," Herod said soothingly. "Our n remains the same. The vulnerability in the western junction..."

    "Forget the junction!" Rose snapped, spinning to face him. The bourbon sloshed over her hand, unnoticed. "We need to hit her directly. No more sabotage, no more games. I want her gone." The naked violence in her tone made Herod pause. He''d always known Rose was ruthless, had admired

    that quality in her. But the woman

    before him now, with wild eyes and trembling hands, seemed unhinged in

    a way that sent warning signals through his brain.

    "Directly meaning what, exactly?" he asked carefully.

    Rose drained her ss in one swallow. "Meaning exactly what it sounds like. We''ve been too subtle. The Gridunch, the press, Victoria, Alexander, all of them in one ce, a perfect opportunity."

    A chill

    ran through Herod. They had discussed more aggressive approaches before, but always in hypothetical terms. The look in Rose''s eyes now suggested something far less theoretical.

    "That''s not what we agreed to," he said, keeping his voice even. "Corporate takeover, yes. Financial ruin, yes. Physical harm is a different matter entirely."

    "Is it?" Rose''sugh held no humor. "You''ve be Sessfully unlocked! igh business. Why draw the line here?" "Because there''s noing back from that line, nervu replied. Right now, we''re engaging in corpor Rose stalked toward him, her movements predatory. "Don''t pretend your

    hands are clean, Herod. Don''t pretend you haven''t thought about it."

    She was right, and they both knew it. He had imagined Victoria Kane''s downfall a thousand times, had pictured the

    moment when she recognized him as the architect of her destruction. But there

    was a vast gulf between imagination and action, between revenge fantasies and actual violence.

    "We need to be smart about this," he said, trying a different approach. "Hastily nned actions

    lead to mistakes, and mistakes lead to prison."

    "Prison is for people who get caught," Rose whispered, her eyes fixed on

    some distant point. "And Camille has gotten away with everything. Stealing Stefan. Taking my ce at Kane Industries. Winning

    Victoria''s approval. And now an engagement ring and a fairy-tale ending?"

    Her voice rose until she was nearly screaming. "No! She doesn''t get to win! Not after what I''ve suffered, what I''ve worked The crystal tumbler went flying, shattering against the wall in an explosion of ss shar need to calm down," he said, regretting the words immediately.

    Rose''s eyes snapped to his, narrowing dangerously. "Don''t tell me to calm down. Don''t you dare."

    She moved closer, invading his space. "You promised me her destruction. You promised me she would lose everything, just as I did."

    "And she will," Herod assured her. "But we do it my way. Calcted. Precise. Not with some half-

    formed n bom of jealousy over an engagement ring."

    Wrong

    move. Rose''s hand struck his face with surprising force, the crack of the p echoing in the sleek kitchen. "Jealousy?" she hissed. "Is that what you think this is?"

    Herod touched his cheek, feeling the sting. For the first time since their partnership began, he felt a whisper of fear. Not of Rose''s physical capabilities, he outmatched her there, but of her unpredictability, her wi

    "I

    think," he said carefully, "that this news has affected you strongly, and we should take time to incorporate it into our ns properly."

    Rose stepped back, her breathing

    ragged. For a moment, she seemed to regain some control, smoothing her hair with shaking hands.

    "Fine," she said after a beat. "We''ll n. But I want her to hurt, Herod. Not just herpany, not just her reputation. I want her to feel what I felt when she took everything from me."

    She moved to the windows, staring out

    at the twinkling city lights. "I want her to know, in her final moments, that her perfect life, her engagement, her future, all of it was just an illusion."

    Herod watched her silhouette against the ss, recognizing the dangerous precipice they were approaching. The woman he had partnered with for revenge was transforming before his eyes into something mo "I can make that happen," he promised, though doubt crept into his mind for the first time. "But we stick to the n. The Gridunch, the vulnerability in the western junction."

    Rose didn''t

    respond, continuing to stare out at the city. Herod moved to his office, needing distance, needing to think. He closed the door behind him, leaning against it as a wave of uncertainty washed over him. This had begun as a business venture, albeit one motivated by vengeance. Take down Victoria Kane, acquire herpany. dismantle her achievements, all while making a profit. Clean, strategic, controlled. Rose''s vendetta against her sister had seemedplementary to his goals. Her inside knowledge of Camille, her ruthless determination, her willingness to do whatever necessary, all assets to his n.

    Now he wondered if he

    had miscalcted. If Rose''s hatred for Camille might actually be a liability rather than an advantage. If her deteriorating stability might bring them both down.

    He moved to his desk, unlocking the bottom drawer where he kept contingency ns for every business venture. Inside was a slim folder containing documents he had prepared but hoped never to use, dissolu His finger traced the folder''s edge, contemting. Cutting Rose loose now would be the prudent business decision. She was bing erratic, emotional, dangerous. Yet the thought of telling her, of watching th A crash from the kitchen interrupted his thoughts. Something else thrown, something else broken in Rose''s rage. He closed the drawer without removing the folder. Not yet. Not until after the Gridunch. He ne After that... after that, they would see.

    Herod returned to the main room to find Rose still staring out the window, a fresh tumbler of bourbon in her hand. The floor

    around her feet glittered with fragments of whatever she

    had broken in his absence.

    "I''ve been thinking," he said, maintaining a safe distance. "Perhaps we should attend

    the Gridunch ourselves."

    Rose turned, something predatory in her movement. "Why would they allow us anywhere near it?ˇ±

    "They wouldn''t," Herod agreed. "But security will be focused on protecting the dignitaries, the press, the VIPS. With the right disguises, we could be there, watching our n unfold up close."

    A slow, terrible smile spread across Rose''s face. "Yes," she breathed. "I want to

    see her face. When it all falls apart, I want to be there."

    "Then we''ll make it happen," Herod promised, not mentioning that his real reason was to keep Rose under his direct supervision, to prevent whatever impulsive action she might take if left alone with her spiralin She moved toward him, the smile still ying on her lips. "I knew you''d understand," she murmured, reaching for him. "You'' re the only one who ever has."

    Her kiss tasted of bourbon and desperation. Herod returned it automatically, his mind calcting even as his body responded. This vtile version of Rose was unpredictable, dangerous, but perhaps manageal Later, as Rose slept beside him, Herody awake staring at

    the ceiling. Her naked body was curled possessively around his, one arm flung across his chest like a im. In sleep, her face had softened, the manic energy temporarily subdued.

    He carefully extricated himself from her grip, moving silently to the window. The city sprawled below, millions of lives interconnected yet separate.

    He nced back at the sleeping woman, seeing not the polished socialite who he

    had first approached with her scheme for revenge, but something altogether more dangerous, a woman with nothing left to lose, who viewed her sister''s happiness

    as a personal affront, a final insult that demanded blood.

    Herod had wanted Victoria Kane''s empire, her power, her legacy. He had never signed up for the madness that now slept in his bed, the unpredictable fury that might consume them all.

    A week until the Gridunch. A week to either contain Rose''s vtile rage or to extricate himself from her entirely.

    A week that suddenly seemed far too short, and the path ahead far too uncertain.

 Chapter 128

    The Phoenix Grid control room hummed with activity. Massive screens disyed real-

    time data from thousands of connection points throughout the city. Engineers moved between workstations, checking and rechecking every system.

    Hannah Zhao stood in the center, tablet in hand disying the master checklist. Three days until the officialunch, and the pressure weighed on her shoulders.

    "Junction forty-three, status?" she called.

    "All green," came the response. "Power flow nominal, security protocols active, redundancy systerns standing by."

    Hannah marked it off her list. They had been working for twenty hours straight, methodically testing everyponent. The sabotaged systems that Walsh hadpromised required particrly careful attention Camille entered, immacte in a tailored suit

    despite the early hour. Only the shadows under her eyes betrayed her exhaustion.

    "Progress report?" she asked, moving to Hannah''s side.

    "Eighty-seven percentplete," Hannah

    replied, handing over her tablet. "Western sector is fully operational. Northern at ny-

    three percent. Eastern and southern at eighty-two and seventy-nine."

    "And the corrected systems?"

    Hannah lowered her voice. "All fixed. We''ve reced everyponent Walsh tampered with,

    updated allpromised software. The Grid is clean."

    Relief flickered across Camille''s face. "Show me."

    Hannah led her to a workstation where thermal imaging disyed the

    entire Grid. Each junction

    point glowed green, power flows represented by pulsing blue lines.

    "We''ve triple-

    checked the western junction," Hannah exined, zooming in on the area they had deliberately marked as vulnerable in the false information fed to Walsh. "It''s actually our most secure point now. Extra monitor "And the trackers we embedded in the files Walsh copied?"

    "Active. When Rose and Herod ess those files, we''ll know exactly where they are."

    A technician approached. "Dr. Zhao? We have an anomaly in junction twenty-

    nine."

    Hannah frowned. That junction wasn''t among thepromised systems they had identified. "What kind of anomaly?"

    "Power fluctuation. Minor, but outside standard parameters."

    They moved quickly to the technician''s station. The monitor showed a slight oscition in the power flow.

    Hannah initiated a diagnostic, watching the progress bar fill. After finding and fixing every sabotagedponent, an unexpected anomaly sent warning signals through her system.

    The results appeared. Hannah''s shoulders rxed. "Faulty sensor. The junction itself is fine. The measuring equipment is giving a false reading."

    "Rece it," Camille instructed.

    "Already on it." Hannah dispatched a maintenance team. "This is why we test repeatedly. Even the best technology asionally fails."

    They continued through the control room, reviewing data at each station. Hannah watched Camille''s face as they progressed. The project had be more than just a professional achievement, it had be a symbol of her transformation.

    "Central server farm status?" Camille asked at the final station.

    "All servers running at optimal capacity. Cooling systems maintaining perfect temperature. Backup generators tested

    and ready. Firewall protections at maximum."

    "Show me the load testing results," Hannah requested.

    Graphs appeared, disying the Grid''s performance under various stress scenarios. The lines remained steady even at three times the expected maximum load.

    "We''ve

    simted every possible scenario," the engineer exined. "Power surges, brownouts, cyber attacks, physical breaches. The Grid maintains stability through all of them."

    "What about the western junction?" Camille asked again. "The false vulnerability we created for Walsh?"

    Hannah pulled up the specific diagnostics. "We''ve set up special monitoring. Any attempt to ess or manipte that

    junction will trigger

    immediate alerts. And we''ve stationed additional security personnel nearby."

    "Run the full system integration test," Camille instructed. "One final check."

    Hannah initiated the mostprehensive diagnostic-

    aplete simtion of the Grid''sunch and operation.

    The main disy changed, showing the entire Grid as one interconnected system. Lights flowed from the central

    control hub outward, representing power distribution across all sectors.

    The room fell silent as everyone watched. One by one, the sectors illuminated, Western. Northern. Eastern, Southern. Each junction point activated in sequence. The disy became a web of light, a glowing re Two minutester, the final connection point activated. A soft chime sounded.

    "System integration testplete," announced the automated voice. "All systems functioning within optimal parameters. Phoenix Grid ready for full activation."

    Apuse broke out among the engineers. Hannah felt a wave of emotion, relief, pride, exhaustion, all mingled together.

    Camille didn''t join the celebration immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on the disy, searching for any imperfection, any vulnerability that Rose might exploit. "It''s ready," Hannah said quietly. "We''ve found and fixed everything Walsh sabotaged. The Grid is secure."

    Camille finally looked away from the screens. "Walsh''s information will lead them to the western junction during theunch

    ceremony."

    "And we''ll be waiting. Extra guards positioned discreetly. Cameras covering every angle. The moment anyone attempts to ess that junction, we''ll have them."

    Something passed across Camille''s face, not doubt, but caution. "Rose won''t give

    up easily. Even with Walsh''s sabotage neutralized, she''ll find another way to attack."

    "Let her try," Hannah replied with uncharacteristic fierceness. "This is our creation. We''ve built it to withstand anything she can throw at it."

    Camille nodded, allowing herself a small smile. "You''re right. We''ve done everything possible.*

    She turned to address the room. "Excellent work, everyone. The final inspection isplete. The Phoenix Grid is officially ready forunch."

    As the celebration continued, Camille drew Hannah aside. "Have you sent the final report to Victoria?"

    "Just now. Full documentation

    of all the corrected systems, security measures, and test results."

    "Good. These next three days are critical. Maintain twenty-four-

    hour monitoring. Any anomaly gets immediate attention."

    After Camille left, Hannah returned to her station, reviewing the test results one

    more time. The data confirmed what she already knew, the Phoenix Grid was

    ready. Every sabotagedponent had been identified and reced.

    Yet as she stared at the pulsing lights representing the city''s new powerwork, Hannah couldn''t shake a lingering unease. Not about the Grid itself, she was confident in its integrity, but about what Rose might do when she discovered her sabotage had failed.

    Hannah shook off the thought. That was Camille''s concern, and Victoria''s. Her job was the Grid itself, and she had done that job perfectly.

    Three days until theunch ceremony. Three days until the Phoenix Grid powered up for real. Three days until Camille''s vision became reality.

    The Grid wouldunch as

    nned. Hannah had made sure of that. Whatever happened next was beyond her control, but this magnificent creation of technology and vision was secured.

    Hannah allowed herself a moment of satisfaction as she gazed at thepleted Grid disy. They

    had done the impossible despite every attempt to sabotage their work.

    The Phoenix Grid, like its namesake, had emerged from the fire stronger than before. In three days, the world would see it rise.

 Chapter 129

    Herod stared at hisputer screen, forehead creased with confusion. The data from Walsh''stest information

    drop sat before him, schematics of the Phoenix Grid''s western junction, maintenance logs, security protocols, power flow diagrams. Everything they would need to exploit the supposed vulnerability during the It looked perfect. Too perfect.

    He zoomed in on a section of the ess codes, his suspicion growing with each passing second. He had spent decades in the technology sector before turning his attention to Victoria Kane. He knew systems "What''s the matter?" Rose asked, entering his home office with a cup of coffee. Her movements were jagged, tense, like a loaded spring ready to snap. Her obsession with Camille''s engagement had only worse "I''m not sure yet," Herod murmured, not looking up from the screen. He pulled up another file,paring the two side by side. "Something about Walsh''s information doesn''t add up."

    Rose set the coffee down harder than necessary, liquid sloshing over the rim. "What do you mean, doesn''t add up? We paid him enough, it better be urate."

    "That''s just it," Herod said, pointing to

    a sequence of code. "It''s too perfect. Look here, the vulnerability is exactly where we would want it to be. The ess points are clearly marked. The security protocols have an obvious bypass method."

    ˇ°And that''s..... bad?ˇ± Rose''s voice held a dangerous edge. Her patience had worn thin since learning of Camille''s engagement.

    Herod leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. "In my experience, real system vulnerabilities are

    never this convenient. They''re buried inplex code, hidden behindyers of security, difficult to identify without specialized knowledge."

    He clicked through several more files, his unease growing stronger. "This looks like someone gift- wrapped a way into the Grid and handed it to us. That never happens by ident."

    Rose''s hand clenched

    around the coffee mug. "Are you saying we''ve been yed?"

    "I''m saying it''s possible." Herod opened an encrypted folder on his hard drive, pulling up older files, the original Grid schematics they had obtained months ago, before Walsh''s employment. He beganparing Minutes passed in tense silence. Rose paced behind

    him, her reflection visible in the window across from his desk. With each circuit of the room, her movements grew more agitated.

    "There," Herod finally said, pointing

    to the screen. "The power ry configuration in the original schematics doesn''t match what Walsh provided. ording to his information, there''s a bypass circuit that could be overloaded during peak usage, cre He pulled up the original diagram. "But in the actual design, that bypass doesn''t exist. It''s been added to the files Walsh gave us."

    The coffee mug shattered against the wall, making Herod flinch. Rose

    stood with her arm still extended from the throw, her face contorted with rage.

    "They know," she hissed. "They''ve been feeding us false information."

    Herod nodded grimly. ˇ°Not just false information. Targeted misinformation. They identified Walsh as our inside man and used him to feed us exactly what they wanted us to see." He continued searching

    through the files, looking for further evidence. "The question is when they figured it

    out. How long have they been ying us?"

    "Does it matter?" Rose snapped. "Our n is ruined. If

    we try to exploit this fake vulnerability during theunch ceremony, we''ll walk straight into a trap."

    Herod didn''t answer immediately. His fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard, running a specialized scanning program over Walsh''s

    files. The program was designed to detect hidden code, embedded tracking software, digital fingerprin anything that might reveal the true nature of the data.

    The scanpleted. Results appeared on screen. Herod''s blood ran cold.

    "They''ve embedded trackers in these files," he s activated."

    Sessfully unlocked!es. The moment we opened them, they

    "Meaning what, exactly?" Rose''s voice had dropped to a dangerous whisper.

    "Meaning they know we have this information. They know we''ve looked at it. And they''re tracking our location right now."

    He began shutting down systems, disconnecting from

    Rose didn''t move, her body rigid with fury. "That bitch," she breathed. "She''s been two steps ahead of us this whole time."

    "Not the whole time," Herod corrected, still working to secure his systems. "Just since they identified Walsh. The question is what else they know."

    He opened a secure line to Walsh''s phone. The call went straight to voicemail. He tried again with the same result.

    "Walsh isn''t answering," he reported. "Either they''ve already gotten to him, or he''s realized something''s wrong and is running."

    Rose mmed her palms on his desk, leaning over to stare directly into

    his eyes. x this, Herod. You promised me Camille s destruction. You promised me she would pay for everything she took from me."

    The desperation in her voice was matched only by the dangerous glearn in her eyes. Herod recognized the look, the same one she''d worn when she''d learned of Camille''s engagement. Rose was reaching her "We need to be smart about this," he said carefully. "They''re expecting us to target the western junction. We need a new approach, something they won''t anticipate."

    "Like what?" Rose demanded.

    Herod remained silent for a moment, weighing options. Finally, he stood, moving to a wall safe concealed behind a painting. He entered thebination and retrieved a small thumb drive.

    "This contains ns for the main power ry station that controls the entire Grid," he exined. "Not just the junction points, but the central hub itself. We

    obtained this months ago, before Walsh, through different channels."

    He plugged the drive into hisputer, careful to use a non-

    ?

    "The

    He

    pulled up a detailed blueprint of the Kane building. "It wouldn''t give us control of the Grid itself, but it would allow us to disrupt theunch ceremony

    spectacrly. ckouts, system failures, possibly even minor explosions from power surges." "Not enough," Rose said tly. "I don''t want to just embarrass Camille. I want to destroy her. Completely." Herod studied her face, measuring his next

    words carefully. "Then webine approaches. The

    ceremony disruption provides a distraction. In the chaos, we implement... more direct measures."

    The meaning hung between them, unspoken but clear. Rose''s eyes lit with dark anticipation.

    "Yes," she whispered. "That''s exactly what we need."

    Herod felt a chill at

    her enthusiasm for what he was suggesting. He had always meant to stop short of actual violence, to draw the line at financial and professional ruin. But Rose had moved beyond such boundaries.

    "It will require precise timing," he cautioned. "And significant risk."

    "I don''t care about risk," Rose replied. "I only care about results."

    Herod''sputer emitted a soft beep. A warning appeared on screen, unexpectedwork activity detected. Someone was attempting to breach his security remotely.

    "They''re trying to ess our systems," he said, quickly initiating countermeasures. "The trackers must have opened a back door."

    His fingers moved rapidly, shutting down

    connections, erecting firewalls, wiping temporary files. "We need to go. Now. Bring only what''s essential."

    Rose didn''t argue, moving immediately to gather her things. Her single-

    minded focus

    had shifted from rage to action, a cold determination recing the hot fury of moments before.

    Herod finished securing his system, then removed a small device from his desk drawer. He activated it with a stmands.

    "What is that?" Rose asked, returning with a small bag.

    of

    "Signal jammer,ˇ± he exined. "It will disrupt any tracking devices within fifty feet. Should give us enough time to get clear." They moved quickly through the penthouse, taking only what couldn''t be reced. He with his phone, within hours, his financial assets would move through a series of offshore ounts, bing virtually untraceable.

    At the private

    elevator, Herod paused. "Once we leave, we can''te back. They''ll have this ce under surveince."

    Rose didn''t hesitate. "I don''t care

    about things. I only care about making Camille pay."

    The elevator doors closed behind them. As they descended, Herod studied Rose''s profile. Her face

    had taken on a strange calm, the eye of a hurricane. He recognized the expression, someone who had moved beyond desperate to dangerous. "We have two days until theunch ceremony," he said. "We''ll ne Rose nodded, her gaze fixed on the descending floor numbers. "Two days. After eighteen months of waiting, it seems fitting. Full circle."

    The elevator reached the basement garage. Herod led the way to a car he kept registered under a different name, one not connected to any of his known identities.

    As they drove away from the building, through a service exit to avoid the main entrance, Herod nced in the rearview mirror. No signs of pursuit yet, but they wouldn''t be far behind. Camille and Victoria would their best people hunting them now.

    "Where are we going?" Rose asked, breaking the silence.

    "Somewhere they won''t think to look," Herod replied. "A property not connected to either of

    us."

    Rose nodded, epting his vague answer without further questions. Her mind seemed elsewhere, likely already at theunch ceremony, imagining the chaos they would create.

    Herod navigated through the city streets, taking a circuitous route to ensure they weren''t followed. His mind raced through contingencies, assessing risks, calcting odds. The rational part of him recognized th Victoria Kane had destroyed his family. Camille had risen from that destruction to be Victoria''s heir, her chosen sessor. They deserved whatever came next.

    Even if it meant crossing lines he had never intended to cross.

    "We''ll need supplies," he said, breaking the

    silence. "Equipment for the new n."

    Rose turned to him, something almost like a smile ying at her lips. "I already have everything we need." The cold determination in her voice sent another chill through

    him.

    He wondered, not for the first time, exactly what he had unleashed by partnering with Rose Lewis. And whether either of them would survive what came next.

 Chapter 130

    Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-

    ceiling windows of Camille''s penthouse, casting long silver shadows across the living room. The city sparkled below, millions of lights that would soon be powered by the Phoenix Grid. Camille stood by the wind

    The door opened behind her. Alexander''s reflection appeared in the ss, his tie lessened, jacket discarded. He moved toward her with quiet steps, his eyes never leaving her face.

    "Hannah just called," he said, his voice low in the stillness of the room. "They found trackers in the files they fed to Walsh. Herod essed them three hours ago."

    Camille turned, a smile spreading across her face. "So they took the bait."

    "Completely." Alexander closed the distance between them, taking her free hand in his. "The trackers activated and showed them at Herod''s penthouse, but only briefly. They must have discovered the monitorin gone without a trace."

    Satisfaction warmed Camille''s chest. For months, Rose and Herod had been one step ahead, forcing her to react, to defend. Now, finally, the tables had turned.

    "And Walsh?" she asked.

    "Under surveince. He doesn''t know we''re onto him." Alexander took the champagne from her hand, setting both sses on a nearby table. "We know they recognized our trap, but not before revealing they ha we know our suspicions were correct."

    Camille felt something

    loosen inside her, a tension she had carried for so long she had almost forgotten what it felt like to be without it. "We caught them," she whispered, almost afraid to say the words too loudly, as if that might break managed to escape."

    Alexander''s hands moved to her shoulders, solid and warm through the thin

    fabric of her blouse. "You outyed them, Camille. This was your strategy. Your trap."

    She shook her head, unwilling to take all the credit. "Hannah discovered Walsh. Victoria helped n the false information. You provided extra security. It was a team effort."

    "A team you led." Alexander''s eyes held hers, filled with an admiration that still caught her off guard sometimes. "Do you realize how far you''vee in

    twenty five months? From that night in the parking garage to now, it''s remarkable."

    Camille felt her throat tighten with unexpected emotion. She had been so focused on the next challenge, the next battle with Rose, that she rarely stopped to consider the journey. From broken victim to the arch "I never thought this moment woulde,ˇ± she admitted, turning back to the window, the vast cityscape spread out before them. "There

    were times I thought Rose would win. That no matter what I did, she''d find a way to destroy everything I built." Alexander''s

    arms encircled her from behind, pulling her against the solid warmth of his chest. His chin rested on her shoulder, their reflections merging in the window ss. "She never had a chance," he murmured. "Not ag

    For a long moment, they stood in silence, watching the city, feeling the weight of their victory settle around them. The Phoenix Grid wouldunch in two days. Rose and Herod''s sabotage had been discovered a their backup n, whatever it might be, would face

    a security team now fully alert and prepared.

    "I keep waiting," Camille said

    softly, "for the other shoe to drop. For Rose to reveal some new attack we haven''t anticipated." Alexander''s reflection smiled. "That''s what

    makes you so effective. You never stop anticipating, nning, preparing. But tonight..." his arms tightened around her, "... tonight, just for a few hours, let yourself enjoy this moment. This triumph."

    Camille turned in his arms, reaching up to touch his face. The rough

    texture of evening stubble under her fingertips grounded her in the reality of this moment, this victory they shared.

    "I couldn''t have done this without you," she said. The words felt inadequate for what she wanted to express, how his ~*eady presence had anchored her through the stormy months of battling Rose, how his beli "Yes, you could have," Alexander replied with certainty. "But I''m d you didn''t have to."

    He reached into his pocket, removing something Sessfully unlocked! light. Camille felt her

    breath catch as she recognized the phoenix ring, the one she had temporarily removed to tell Vic.oria about their engagement.

    "I thought you might want to wear this again," he said, holding it between them. "Now that the trap has been sprung, now that we know they took the bait."

    Camille extended her hand, watching as he slid the ring onto her finger once more. The diamond captured moonlight and

    transformed it, scattering tiny rainbows across their skin. The phoenix wings seemed to move in the shifting light, a reminder of her journey from ashes to rebirth.

    "Two more days," she said, looking from the ring to his face. "Two days until the Gridunches. Until we end this once and for all."

    Alexander nodded, his expression turning more serious. "They''ll

    be dangerous now. Desperate. Cornered adversaries often

    are."

    "I know." Camille had considered this from every angle. "Security has been doubled at theunch venue. Victoria has her own team of guards. Hannah has implemented extra safeguards on the Grid itself. We''r

    "And us?" Alexander asked. "What''s our role in all this?"

    Camille smiled, a genuine expression that reached her eyes. "We show up. Weunch the Grid. We refuse to let them steal even one more moment of our future."

    She moved away from the window, pulling him

    toward.the sofa. They sat close together, the city lights creating a backdrop of glittering stars behind them.

    "When this is over," she said, her voice soft but steady, "when Rose and Herod are dealt with, when the Grid is fully operational, then we n our wedding. Then we begin our life together without shadows from what t you needed. The timing doesn''t matter to me. Only that it happens."

    The certainty in his voice, the patience and understanding, it filled Camille with a warmth that pushed back against the cold fear that had been herpanion for so long. Even now, with victory within reach, tha taken so much from her. The possibility that she might somehow take

    this too, this chance at happiness with Alexander, had haunted Camille''s darker moments.

    "I want a

    small ceremony," she found herself saying, allowing the future to take shape in her mind for perhaps the first time. "Just close friends. Victoria, of course. Hannah. My parents." Alexander nodded, encouraging her to continue this rare moment of looking forward rather than

    back.

    "Somewhere peaceful," she went on. "Not a church or a hotel ballroom. Somewhere outdoors, perhaps. With flowers and simple decorations."

    "Spring?" he suggested, joining her in this careful construction of possibilities.

    "Spring would

    be perfect. New beginnings." She gazed down at the phoenix ring, symbol of

    her rebirth. "I''ll wear white, I think. Traditional in some ways, unexpected in others."

    Alexander smiled. "You''ll be beautiful no matter what you wear."

    Camille leaned against him, allowing herself to sink into thefort of his presence, the solid reality of him beside her. For so long, her life had been

    defined by struggle, first against Rose and Stefan''s betrayal, then against Rose''s attempts to destroy her new life. The

    possibility of peace, of happiness without looking over her shoulder, seemed almost unreal. "Do you think it''s really almost over?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "After

    all this time, all the attacks and counterattacks, could it really end in two days?ˇ±

    Alexander was quiet for a moment, considering her question with the seriousness it deserved. "I think," he said finally, "that your battle with Rose will end when you

    choose to end it. When you

    decide that your future matters more than her past actions."

    His words settled over her like a gentle nket. She had never thought of it that way, that continuing to fight Rose was, in some ways, a choice. That she had the power to determine when the war was truly ove "You''re right," she said slowly. "After

    the Gridunches, after we''ve neutralized whatever n they''ve made for the ceremony, that''s when I choose to end it. To focus on us, on the future, not on Rose and what she tried to take from me."

    Alexander kissed her temple, his lips warm against her skin. "Then that''s when it ends."

    Outside, the city continued its nighttime rhythm, unaware of the private moment of

    victory unfolding in the penthouse above. Camille closed her eyes, memorizing this feeling, this rare sense

    of triumph untainted by the next looming threat.

    In two days, the Phoenix Grid would power those city lights. In two days, Rose and Herod would make their final move, and Camille would be ready. In two days, one chapter would close, and another would be The phoenix ring caught the moonlight once more as she raised her hand to

    touch Alexander''s face. Tomorrow, they would return to vignce, to preparation for whatever Rose nned next. But tonight, tonight was theirs alone.

 Chapter 131

    The Kane Industries tower gleamed like a

    diamond against the night sky, every window aze with light. Inside the grand ballroom on the fortieth floor, crystal chandeliers cast golden reflections across the sea of New York''s elite who had gathered for th celebrating the Phoenix Gridunch. Tomorrow, the city''s power system would change forever.

    Camille stood at the entrance, her midnight blue gown catching the light with each breath. The dress hugged her curves before ring at her knees in a subtle reminder of the phoenix that had be her symb "Ready?" he murmured, his lips close to her ear.

    She nodded, straightening her shoulders as they stepped into the room together. A hush fell over the crowd, followed by enthusiastic apuse. Cameras shed, capturing the moment for tomorrow''s society pa "They love you," Alexander said as they moved through the crowd, epting congrattions from every side.

    "They love what we represent," Camille corrected. "Sess. Power. The future."

    The mayor approached, hand extended. "Ms. Kane, Mr. Pierce, the guests of honor! New York can''t thank you enough for what you''ve aplished with the Phoenix Grid."

    "Victoria Kane''s vision made it possible," Camille replied smoothly, the practiced responseing easily.

    "But you and Mr. Pierce made it reality," the mayor insisted. "Everyone''s talking about you two, the power couple who revolutionized how this city runs. Your rtionship has be a symbol of what partnerships can achieve!"

    More people crowded around them, eager to im a moment with the night''s stars. Camille smiled and responded to their praise with gracious nods, while keeping track of the room''s key yers. The governor at the

    central tables. Everyone who mattered hade to witness history in the making.

    Victoria appeared at

    their side, resplendent in silver that matched her hair. "The governor wants to speak with you both," she said, skillfully extracting them from the admiring crowd.

    As they crossed the room, Camille caught whispers following in their wake.

    "They make such a handsome couple..."

    "...their romance began during the Grid development..."

    "...transformed Kane Industries and pierce enterprises in less than few months."

    The night continued in a whirl of significant conversations and strategicworking. Though champagne flowed freely, Camille sipped sparingly. Tomorrow required absolute rity. Rose and Herod remained at At midnight, Victoria tapped a crystal ss, bringing the room to attention. "Tomorrow," she began, her voice carrying effortlessly, "we change

    New York forever with the activation of the Phoenix Grid."

    She gestured to Camille and Alexander, who moved forward to stand beside her. "This revolutionary system exists because of the extraordinary partnership between Kane Industries and Pierce Enterprises, per More apuse, louder now as the crowd''s enthusiasm was fueled by hours of expensive champagne. Victoria waited for silence before continuing.

    "Their vision, determination, and brilliant coboration has created something

    none thought possible, clean, efficient power for every home and business in this city." She raised her ss. "To Camille and Alexander, New

    York''s most formidable team, in business and in life!"

    The crowd echoed the toast, sses raised. Camille felt Alexander''s hand find hers, their fingers intertwining as hundreds of eyes focused on them. For this moment, they were the center of New York''s universe, celebrated and admired by those who controlled

    the city''s fate.

    ** **

    Exactly four blocks away, in an empty office with a direct view of the Kane Industries tower, Rose pressed binocrs

    to her eyes. The g''s mour

    was visible even at this distance, the glittering crowd, the shing cameras, the unmistakable figure of her sister epting adtion that should have been hers.

    "Look at

    them," she hissed, jealousy burning like acid in her stomach. "Celebrating as if -

    they''ve already won."

    Beside her, Herod studied the building through a high-

    powered scope. "Security is even tighter than we anticipated. Armed

    guards at every entrance. ID checks. Metal detectors."

    "I don''t care," Rose snapped. "We''re getting in tomorrow, no matter what it takes."

    Herod lowered the scope, turning to look at her. In the dim light of the

    empty office, her face was transformed by hatred, her beauty hardened into something almost unrecognizable.

    "Our original n won''t work," he said carefully. "They''ve discovered Walsh. They''ve fixed the Grid vulnerabilities. We need to reconsider our approach." Rose didn''t seem to hear him, the binocrs still pressed to her eyes. "She''s

    wearing

    blue. Always trying to look regal, superior. And Pierce hasn''t left her side all night. The way everyone fawns over them as the perfect couple. It''s disgusting."

    "Rose." Herod''s voice

    sharpened. "We need to focus. The ceremony starts at noon tomorrow. We have less than twelve hours to finalize our new n."

    She finally

    lowered the binocrs, but her gaze remained fixed on the distant tower. " Everything

    she has should have been mine. Thepany. The fame. Victoria''s approval." Her fingers tightened around the binocrs until her knuckles turned white. "I was the one who worked

    harder, who sacrificed more. I was the one who deserved

    it all."

    "And you''ll get your revenge," Herod assured her, trying to redirect her focus. "But not with our original n. We need to adapt."

    Rose turned to the table where their equipment was spread out, floor ns of Kane Industries, security rotations, the ceremonial schedule for tomorrow''sunch. But her mind remained across those four blocks, in the ballroom where Camille basked in

    admiration that Rose believed rightfully belonged to her.

    "They think they''ve won," she said, her voice dropping to a

    whisper. "They think they''ve outsmarted us."

    "They have anticipated our moves," Herod admitted. "But they don''t know everything. We still have options."

    Rose picked up a photo of Camille, taken at a press conference announcing the Gridpletion. "Look at her. So confident. So secure in her perfect new

    life with her perfect new boyfriend." Her nail scraped

    across Camille''s face, leaving a thin scratch on the glossy surface. "By

    this time tomorrow, she''ll have nothing. No Grid. Nopany. No future with Alexander Pierce."

    Herod watched her with growing concern. Rose''s obsession had intensified beyond his control, beyond

    reason. What had begun as a strat¨¦gic partnership to acquire

    Kane Industries had evolved into something more primal, more dangerous.

    "The best approach now is subtlety," he suggested, keeping his voice even.

    "A targeted disruption

    during the ceremony. Something that causes chaos without revealing our presence."

    Rose''sugh held no humor. "Subtlety? We''re past that, Herod. They''ve pushed us into a corner. Now they''ll discover what happens when we push back."

    She moved to another bag, unzipping it

    to reveal a sophisticated electronic device Herod hadn''t seen before.

    "What is that?" he asked.

    "n B," Rose replied calmly. "A signal jammer powerful enough to disrupt the

    entire Grid activation ceremony. When Victoria tries to throw

    the switch tomorrow, nothing will happen. Their precious Grid will fail spectacrly in front of the entire world."

    Herod studied the device. "That won''t cause permanent

    damage to the Grid. It''s just a temporary embarrassment."

    "The damage to their reputations will be permanent," Rose countered. "Kane Industries stock will plummet. The city will question whether the Grid

    is safe. Government contracts will

    be reconsidered." She smiled coldly. "And while everyone is focused on the Grid''s failure, we''ll implement the rest of

    our n."

    "Which is?" Herod asked, suddenly wary of where her mind was going.

    Rose''s eyes gleamed in the darkness. "Victoria Kane destroyed your family''s legacy. Tomorrow, we''ll destroy hers, not just the Grid, but herpany, her reputation, and most importantly, her precious prot¨¦g¨¦e."

    Through the window, the Kane Industries tower continued to shine, the

    celebration inside reaching its peak. Herod looked from the distant building to Rose''s focused form, recognition

    dawning that he had allied himself with someone whose hatred ran deeper than he

    had ever understood.

    "This isn''t just about business for you

    anymore, is it?" he asked quietly. "It''s not even about revenge."

    "It''s about justice," Rose replied, her voice

    frighteningly calm. "For years I watched Camille get everything while I got nothing. Tomorrow, the scales finally bnce."

    Herod felt a chill as he heard the utter conviction in her voice. "Rose, what exactly are you nning beyond the signal jammer?ˇ°.

    She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the distant lights of the tower where

    her sister celebrated. "Do you really want to know? Or would you prefer

    usible deniability?"

    The question hung between them, weighted with implications. Across

    those four city blocks, champagne

    sses clinked in celebration of tomorrow''s triumph. Here, in the shadows, Rose awaited his answer.

    Herod stood at the crossroads, watching the point of

    no return approach with terrifying speed.

 Chapter 132

    The sun shone bright

    over Kane Industries za as thousands gathered for the Phoenix Gridunch. News vans lined the streets. Cameras from every majorwork pointed at the stage. Reporters from six continents spoke into microphones,

    broadcasting to viewers around the world.

    Behind the stage, Camille took deep breaths. Her navy suit felt tight against her

    skin despite its perfect fit. In minutes, she would step out to face not just New York, but the world.

    Victoria approached, regal in silver gray. "Nervous?"

    "A little," Camille admitted. "It''s not just about the Grid anymore. It''s about everything we''ve ovee to get here."

    Victoria nodded, understanding in her eyes. "Sometimes our greatest achievementse from our hardest battles."

    Alexander appeared, handsome in his dark suit. "Security reports everything

    looks clear so far."

    "That doesn''t mean they''re not out there," Camille said. Her hand moved to her pocket where she carried the phoenix ring. Once today was over,

    she could wear it openly.

    "Five minutes," a stage manager called.

    Victoria straightened Camille''s

    jacket. ˇ°Remember who you are. What you''ve ovee. The girl who signed those divorce papers is gone. The woman who stands in her ce has risen from those ashes."

    Camille nodded, throat tight with emotion. The journey from that night in the parking garage to this moment shed through her mind-

    the pain, the growth, the transformation.

    A tech slipped an earpiece to Camille. "You''re connected to Hannah now."

    ˇ°Camille?ˇ± Hannah''s voice came through clearly. "Grid control room is fully staffed. We''re monitoring everything."

    "Any unusual activity?" Camille asked quietly.

    "Nothing yet. We''ve got eyes on every junction point. The western sector where

    Walsh tried to sabotage us has

    extra security. We''re watching for anything suspicious."

    "Thank you, Hannah," Camille said. "For everything."

    The stage manager approached again. "It''s time."

    Camille shared onest look with Victoria

    and Alexander. Then she stepped out onto the stage alone.

    The crowd erupted. Apuse washed

    over her like a wave. Camera shes burst like stars. For a moment, the noise was so loud she could barely

    hear herself think.

    She reached the podium and gazed out at the sea of faces. Important people filled the first rows-

    the mayor, the governor, business leaders, foreign dignitaries. Behind them spread

    thousands of ordinary New Yorkers who hade to witness history.

    "Good morning," she began, her voice strong and clear through the speakers. "Today marks not just a technological breakthrough, but a testament to human possibility."

    The crowd quieted, hanging on her words.

    "The Phoenix Grid represents more than a new

    power system for our city. It symbolizes what we can achieve when we refuse

    to ept limitations, when we rise above obstacles, above sabotage, above those who say it cannot be done."

    In the Grid control room, Hannah sat surrounded by monitors. Twenty engineers watched their stations, tracking power flows, security systems, ess points. Threerge screens dominated the front wall, one disying the Grid''s status, one monitoring

    security cameras throughout the system.

    "So far so good," said Mike, her second-inmand. "No unusual activity."

    Hannah nodded, but her eyes never

    stopped scanning the data. "Keep watching. We can''t let our guard down now."

    Back on stage, Camille continued her speech. "Eighteen

    months ago, I stood at a crossroads. I had lost everything I thought mattered. My marriage. My family. My identity."

    The crowd grew utterly silent, surprised by this personal turn.

    "Victoria Kane found me at my lowest

    moment. She saw what others couldn''t, not just pain, but potential. She

    taught me that our darkest times can forge our greatest strengths."

    In her front-row seat, Victoria watched with carefully hidden pride. This

    was not the broken woman she had discovered that night. This was someone transformed, powerful, confident, whole.

    "The Phoenix Grid was born from that same principle," Camille continued. "Taking outdated systems, reimagining them, creating something stronger and more efficient from what existed before."

    She paused, looking out over the crowd with new intensity.

    "We all face moments that threaten

    to destroy us. The question is not whether we will face such moments, but

    what we choose to be because of them. Do we remain in the ashes of what

    was lost? Or do we rise, transformed?"

    In the control room, Hannah suddenly

    straightened. "Wait. There''s something happening at Junction 17.ˇ±

    Her team immediately focused on the area. "Power fluctuation," one called out. "Minor but unusual."

    "Pull up the security cameras," Hannah ordered.

    Screens shifted to show Junction 17. Nothing seemed wrong at first nce.

    "Diagnostic scan," Hannahmanded. Her fingers flew across her keyboard. "This is exactly how the sabotage startedst time."

    On stage, unaware of the potential problem, Camille moved toward her conclusion.

    "Today, we activate a system that will power not just our lights and

    buildings, but our

    future. Cleaner energy. Lower costs. Greater reliability. The Phoenix Grid will transform how this city functions for generations toe."

    She gestured to therge switch on a podium beside her, symbolic rather

    than functional, but impressive for the cameras.

    "In a moment, we will activate the Phoenix

    Grid. But first, I want to thank those who made

    this possible when others tried to ensure it would fail."

    In the

    control room, rms began to sound. Hannah''s screen shed with warning messages.

    "Someone''s trying to ess Junction 17 remotely, she announced. "Blocking

    now." Her

    team worked with frantic precision, cutting off the unauthorized ess attempt. "Got

    it," Mike said after tense seconds. "They didn''t get through our firewalls."

    "But they''re still trying," Hannah noted, watching the attack patterns. "This is sophisticated. Someone really wants to disrupt theunch."

    She touched her earpiece. "Camille, we have an attempted

    breach. Nothing serious yet, but someone''s definitely trying something."

    On stage, Camille''s expression never changed as she heard Hannah''s warning in

    her ear. She continued thanking key team members while her mind raced.

    "What should we do?" Hannah asked through the earpiece.

    Camille made a split-

    second decision. "Proceed as nned. Don''t let them stop us." She looked out at the crowd, at the cameras broadcasting this moment worldwide, and refused to let anything take this triumph from her.

    "The time hase," she announced, moving

    toward the ceremonial switch. "New York, are you ready for the future?"

    The crowd roared its approval.

    In the control room, Hannah watched the attack intensify. "They''re hitting

    multiple junctions now. Trying to overwhelm our defenses."

    Her team worked frantically, blocking each attempt. "We''re holding them off, but

    barely."

    Hannah''s jaw set with determination. "Keep blocking them. Don''t

    let them through."

    On stage, Camille

    ced her hand on the ceremonial switch. "Three... two... one!"

    She pulled the lever down. For one terrible moment, nothing happened. Camille''s heart stopped.

    Then the za erupted in light. Digital disys around the stage lit up, showing

    the Grid activating sector by sector across the

    city. The crowd gasped, then cheered as they witnessed power flowing through the new system.

    "We did it," Camille said into her microphone, genuine emotion breaking through her professional facade. "The Phoenix Grid is now online!"

    The crowd''s roar was deafening. Music swelled. Confetti fell from

    buildings surrounding the za.

    In her ear, Hannah''s voice:

    "Grid functioning perfectly. We blocked their attackpletely."

    Camille maintained her smile for the cameras, relief washing through her

    that the Grid was working despite the attempted sabotage.

    Victoria rose gracefully from her seat and joined Camille

    on stage. The crowd''s apuse doubled

    as the two women stood side by side, mentor

    and prot¨¦g¨¦e, the past and future of Kane Industries.

    "I couldn''t be prouder," Victoria said, her

    words caught by the microphone. "Of the Grid. Of you."

    For Camille, those simple words meant everything. The girl who had never been enough for her

    own family had be enough, more than enough, for Victoria Kane.

    In

    the control room, Hannah watched the celebration on screen while continuing to monitor the Grid.

    "The attack has stopped," she told Mike. "For now at least."

    Mike nodded toward the main screen where

    Camille stood triumphant. "She did it. Despite everything they tried."

    "We all did," Hannah corrected/allowing herself a rare smile. ˇ°The Phoenix

    Grid is officiallyunched. And it''s working perfectly."

    On stage, Camille concluded the ceremony with words

    she had dreamed of saying for months:

    "Today marks not just a technological revolution, but a personal one. We have

    all been transformed by this journey. Like the phoenix of legend, we

    have emerged stronger, brighter, more powerful than before." She looked out at the cheering crowd, at

    the cameras broadcasting her triumph. around the world, and finally

    allowed herself to feel the full weight of what they had aplished.

    "The Phoenix has risen,ˇ± she said, her voice ringing with conviction. "And nothing will ever be the same again."

    As she stepped back from the microphone, as the crowd''s apuse washed over her, as Victoria''s hand found hers in a rare public disy of affection, Camille felt something she had not experienced in years,

    uplicated joy.

    They had done it. Against all odds, against every obstacle ced in their path, they had seeded.

    The Phoenix Grid was alive.

 Chapter 133

    Rose hurled the empty bottle against the wall. It shattered into tiny pieces, much like their ns. On the television, news channels couldn''t stop talking about the Phoenix Grid''s sessfulunch. Camille''s face

    "Turn it off!" she screamed, her voice raw from hours of

    rage.

    Herod stood by the window of their shabby motel room, his back to her. They had been forced to hide here after abandoning his penthouse. His finger pressed the remote button, silencing Camille''s voice mid- sentence about "transformation" and rising from the ashes."

    "All of it," Herod said, his voice hollow with defeat. "All

    my nning, all my resources, all the time spent cultivating Walsh as our inside

    man, wasted."

    "We knew they discovered Walsh," Rose paced the

    worn carpet, her movements sharp and erratic. "But how did

    they block the signal jammer too? That was supposed to be foolproof!"

    Herod turned to face her. His expensive suit looked out of ce against the peeling wallpaper. The

    room smelled of old cigarettes and cheap cleaning products.

    "Their systems had protections I''ve never seen

    before," he said, frustration evident in the tightness of his jaw. "Everything I''ve

    built since approaching you with this n, gone in an instant."

    Rose twisted the

    cap off a new bottle with such force it cut into her palm. She didn''t seem to notice the small line of blood.

    "She''s always one step ahead now," she

    muttered, taking a long drink. "My sister. The great Camille Kane, Phoenix rising from the ashes."

    Her mocking tone

    couldn''t hide the raw jealousy beneath. She turned to the mirror, barely recognizing herself. Her carefully maintained appearance had crumbled over the past days. Dark roots showed in her hair. Her eyes looked wild, rimmed with smeared makeup.

    "We''re finished," Herod said quietly. "Kane Industries stock

    is soaring. The Grid is operational. Every n we had has failed."

    Rose spun toward him, bottle clutched in her white-

    knuckled hand. "Finished? FINISHED? We haven''t even started!"

    "Rose..."

    "No!" She moved closer, her face inches from his. "We didn''t fail because

    of Walsh or better security. We failed because we weren''t willing to go far enough."

    Herod studied her, seeing something dangerous in her eyes.

    "What do you mean?"

    ˇ°I

    mean we''ve been ying by their rules." Rose''s voice dropped to an intense whisper. " Trying to sabotage their precious Grid through codes and software. Trying to damage their reputation. It''s too subtle." "There''s nothing subtle about what we''ve tried," Herod argued.

    "Yes, there is." Rose''s smile chilled him. "We never targeted the actual infrastructure. The physical Grid itself."

    Herod stepped back. "You''re talking about destroying Gridponents directly."

    "Yes." Rose''s eyes lit up. "The main control hub. The primary junction boxes. The central servers. Not

    through codes, but through direct action."

    ˇ°That''s not sabotage anymore, Rose. That''s terrorism."

    Sheughed, the sound brittle and sharp. "Such a dramatic word. I prefer to call

    it direct action."

    Herod moved to the small table where hisptop sat. He closed it deliberately. "When I first approached you about working together, I wanted to acquire Kane Industries, to make Victoria pay for destroying my family''spany. "But this..."

    "This is exactly what we''ve been working toward all along!" Rose mmed her bottle on the table, liquid sloshing

    over the sides. "Don''t

    pretend you''re shocked now. Don''t act like you haven''t thought about it too."

    "There''s a difference between thinking and doing," Herod said quietly.

    "Is there?" Rose''s voice softened dangerously. "When Victoria destroyed your family''spany, when your brother killed himself, didn''t you imagine making her suffer? Physically suffer?" Herod turned away, unable to deny it. In his darkest moments after his brother''s suicide, he had

    imagined Victoria Kane suffering, dying even. But fantasy was different from reality.

    "The Grid is operational now," he said instead. "Security will be even tighter."

    "But they think they''ve won." Rose moved closer again, her body pressing against his back, her voice a caress against his ear. "They

    think we''ve been neutralized. They won''t expect a physical attack now."

    Her hands slid around his waist. "Think about it, Herod. The Phoenix

    Grid''s grandunch, celebrated worldwide. And

    then, just dayster, its spectacr failure. Camille''s moment

    of triumph turned to public humiliation."

    Her words painted a picture he couldn''t help but

    find appealing. Victoria''s pride crushed. Camille''s reputation destroyed. His brother

    finally avenged.

    "How would we even do it?" he asked, already hating himself for considering it.

    Rose''s smile widened. She moved to her bag, pulling out papers. Diagrams of Grid

    infrastructure. Security rotations. ess points.

    "You''ve been nning this all along," Herod realized.

    "I''ve been considering all options," Rose corrected, spreading the papers on the bed. The main control hub has the weakest physical security. Attack there, and the entire Grid fails."

    "People could be hurt," Herod pointed out.

    Rose didn''t even blink. "Casualties are inevitable in war."

    "This isn''t war."

    "Isn''t it?" Her eyes shed. "You came to me because Victoria Kane destroyed

    your family. I joined you because Camille stole my life. They dered war first."

    She pressed against him again, her body warm and familiar. "We''ve tried it your way, Herod. The careful, calcted approach. And we''ve failed every time." Her lips brushed his ear, "Now we try it my way."

    Herod felt himself weakening. The humiliation of today''s failure burned inside him. The thought of Camille

    and

    Victoria celebrating their victory while he and Rose hid in this pathetic motel made his blood boil.

    "When?" he asked, already knowing he would regret this.

    "Tomorrow night," Rose replied, triumph

    in her voice. "While they''re still congratting themselves. While their

    guard is down."

    She pulled him

    toward the bed and the papers spread across it. ˇ°I''ve already started nning. The security patterns, the ess points, everything."

    As she walked him through

    her n, Herod felt a growing unease. This wasn''t the Rose he had first approached month''s ago, calcting, strategic, focused on financial gain

    and professional destruction. This Rose burned with something darker, more primal.

    "What happens after?" he asked when she finished

    outlining her n. "If we do this, there''s no going back. We''d be fugitives."

    Rose shrugged, unconcerned, "We have money. Fake identities. We could disappear anywhere."

    "Together?" The question slipped out before he could stop it.

    Rose looked at him with an expression he couldn''t quite read. Not love, he

    wasn''t sure she was capable of that emotion

    anymore. But need, certainly. Dependency.

    "Of course together," she said, her hand cupping his face. "Who else do we have

    now? Who else would understand what we''ve done, what we''ve sacrificed?"

    There was truth in her words. They had burned all other

    bridges. Their mutual hatred of Victor

    in ways that went beyond normal

    and Camille had bound the together

    rtionships. They needed each other now, not from love, but from shared

    guilt, shared obsession, shared destruction.

    "I need you with me on this," Rose whispered, her fingers digging into his shoulders with desperate strength. "I can''t do this alone."

    The admission of weakness from a woman who showed none was more persuasive than any argument. Herod found himself nodding, even as part of him screamed this was madness.

    "Together," he agreed, sealing his fate.

    Rose''s smile blossomed, beautiful

    and terrible at once. For a moment, he glimpsed the woman she must have been before hatred consumed her, stunning, vibrant, alive. Then

    the moment passed, and the hardness returned to her eyes.

    "We''ll finish what we started," she

    said, pulling him closer. "We''ll watch it all burn."

    Later, as Rose slept beside him, Herod stared at the ceiling. The peeling paint formed patterns like a

    map to nowhere. He had crossed

    a line today, agreeing to Rose''s n. There would be no redemption, no

    going back.

    He looked at the woman curled against him. In

    sleep, her face softened, the constant rage temporarily eased. Yet even now, her fingers clutched his arm possessively, afraid he might vanish while she slept.

    They had be something terrible

    together, he realized. Something worse than either might have been alone. Rose''s hatred

    and his strategic mind. Her willingness to destroy everything and his ability to make it happen.

    Tomorrow they would cross the final line. From revenge to something far darker. And though he had agreed, though he would follow

    through, a small part of him hoped they would fail again.

    Because the

    alternative meant bing exactly what Victoria Kane had always believed the Prestons to be, monsters willing

    to destroy lives for their own satisfaction.

    Rose stirred beside him, her eyes

    opening. ˇ°What are you thinking about?" she asked, voice thick with sleep.

    "Tomorrow," he answered honestly.

    She smiled, that terrifying smile that mixed eagerness and rage. "Tomorrow we take everything from them, just like they took everything from us."

    Her hand moved to his face, fingers tracing his jaw with surprising gentleness. ˇ°No more failures. No more watching from a distance while they celebrate. Tomorrow we win."

    Herod nodded, unable to voice his growing doubts. Rose

    would see any hesitation as betrayal now. They were too far down

    this road together.

    "Tomorrow," he agreed, the word tasting bitter on his tongue.

    Rose settled against him again, falling back to sleep with the ease of someone whose conscience troubled her not at

    all. Herod remained awake, watching shadows move across the ceiling, feeling the weight of what was toe pressing down on him like a physical

    thing.

    Tomorrow they would attack the Phoenix Grid directly. Tomorrow they would cause real, physical destruction. Tomorrow they would be everything they had pretended not to be.

    The final battle wasing. And Herod feared no one would emerge unscathed.

 Chapter 134

    Camille''s penthouse glowed with warm light against the evening sky. Floor-to-

    ceiling windows disyed the city below, where thousands of lights

    now powered by the Phoenix Grid sparkled like earthbound stars. The dining table, set for twelve, gleamed with crystal and silver.

    Hannah arrived first, bringing a bottle of champagne and a shy smile. She looked different outside the control room-

    softer somehow in a simple blue dress, her usual ponytail reced by loose waves.

    "It''s strange to celebrate," she said as Camille weed her. "Part of me is still waiting for another crisis."

    Camille squeezed her hand. "Tonight, we just enjoy our sess."

    The others arrived in quick session, Mike from Hannah''s team, board members

    who had supported the Grid from the beginning, Alexander''s chief engineer who had helped design the power rys. Each brought congrattions, small gifts, happy exhaustion from the work finallypleted

    Camille moved among them easily, the perfect hostess, but her eyes kept drifting to the door. When the bell rang again, she hurried to answer it herself.

    Her parents stood in the hallway, looking uncertain. Her mother clutched a small gift bag. Her father shifted from foot to foot like a schoolboy called to the principal''s office.

    "You came," Camille said, surprising herself with the relief in her voice.

    "We wouldn''t miss it," her mother replied. "Your moment of triumph.ˇ±

    Camille stepped back to let them enter. Their rtionship remained fragile, a delicate bridge being rebuilt one careful board at a time. But they hade. That mattered. The door opened once more, and Victoria swept in

    with her usual regal presence. She wore deep blue tonight instead of her usual silver gray, perhaps her own small acknowledgment that this evening marked something new.

    "The Grid is performing above all projections," she announced as her greeting. "The mayor called personally to congratte

    us."

    Camille smiled. Even in celebration, Victoria remained focused on the work.

    Alexander was thest to arrive, apologizing for histeness, bringing a case of rare wine. His eyes found Camille immediately across the room, a private message passing between them. Tonight was the night Dinner began with light conversation about the Grid''s sessfulunch, newspaper headlines, congrattory calls from around the world. The food, prepared by Camille herself, drew appreciativements. "I didn''t know you could cook," her father said, surprise in his voice.

    "There''s a lot you don''t know about me," Camille replied, not unkindly. Just a statement of fact.

    Her mother looked down at her te. "We''re trying to learn."

    Hannah, sensing tension, quickly changed the subject to the Grid''s performance metrics, drawing the table into technical discussion that carried them through the main course.

    As dessert was served, Alexander stood, tapping his ss gently. The room quieted, all eyes turning to him.

    "I want to propose a toast," he began. "To the Phoenix Grid and its brilliant creator, Camille Kane."

    sses raised around the table. Camille felt warmth rise to her cheeks.

    "But," Alexander continued, "I also have an announcement to make." He looked at Camille, a question in his eyes. She nodded, her heart suddenly racing.

    He reached for her hand, drawing her to stand beside him. "A few days ago, I asked Camille a question. A very important question." His voice filled with emotion. "And she said yes."

    For a moment, confusion showed on some faces. Then understanding dawned as Camille raised her left hand, the phoenix ring catching the light..

    "We''re engaged," she said simply.

    The table erupted in surprised delight. Hannah squealed and jumped up to hug Camille. Victoria showed no surprise-

    she had known, of course-but satisfaction yed at the corners of her mouth.

    Camille looked

    toward her parents. Her mother''s eyes shone with tears. Her father seemed frozen, processing this unexpected news.

    "When?" Mike asked. "How long have you been keeping this secret?"

    Alexander smiled. "I proposed the day before the Gridunch. We

    wanted to wait until after the activation to share our news."

    "So all those rumors about you two were true, Hannah''s assistant said. "The tabloids had it right for once"

    "Not quite," Camille corrected. "They knew we were together. They didn''t know about this. She wiggled her fingers, making the diamond sparkle.

    Her mother approached cautiously. "May 1?" she asked, reaching for Camille''s hand.

    Camille extended it, allowing her mother to examine the ring.

    "It''s beautiful," her mother said softly. "The phoenix, it suits you."

    "That''s what I thought," Alexander replied. "A symbol of who she''s be."

    "And when is the wedding?" someone asked.

    Camille and Alexander exchanged nces. "We haven''t set a date," she said. "We wanted to get through the Gridunch first."

    "Well, now you can focus on something joyful," Hannah said, raising her ss. "To Camille and Alexander!"

    Everyone drank to their health, offering congrattions, questions about their ns, teasing about keeping such

    a big

    secret.

    Through it all, Camille noticed her father hanging back, watching her with an expression she couldn''t quite read. When there was a moment between well- wishes, she approached him.

    "You''re quiet," she said.

    He nodded, looking down at his ss. "I missed so much of your life. Your career sess. Meeting Alexander. Now your engagement." Pain shed across his face. "I have only myself to me." Camille felt the old hurt rise within her, but also something else, a tiny wish to heal. "You''re here now," she said. "That''s a start."

    He looked up, hope in his eyes. "Is it enough?"

    "I don''t know yet," she answered honestly. "But it''s not nothing."

    He seemed to understand that this was the most she could offer right now. He nodded and raised his ss slightly. "He seems like a good man. Better than-" He stopped himself.

    "Better than Stefan? Yes. Very much so." Camille''s voice held no bitterness, only certainty.

    Across the room, Victoria tapped her ss, bringing the

    happy chatter to a halt. All heads turned to her, respect automatic in their attentiveness.

    "I would like to say something," she announced. Her voice, usually so controlled and measured, held an unusual note of emotion.

    She moved to stand beside Camille, tall and

    straight as always, but with a softness in her eyes few ever witnessed.

    "Twenty two months ago," Victoria began, "I found a young woman who had lost everything. Her marriage. Her family. Her sense of self."

    The room grew utterly still. Victoria rarely spoke of that

    night, of how she and Camille hade together.

    "What struck me then was not her pain, though it was considerable. Not her loss, though it was great." Victoria''s gaze swept the room before returning to Camille''s face. "What struck me was her fire. Her refusa Camille felt her throat tighten with emotion.

    "I have builtpanies. I have created wealth. I have won battles in boardrooms across the world," Victoria continued. "But nothing.... nothing.... has given me more pride than watching this woman transform h Victoria raised her ss. "The Phoenix Grid is a remarkable achievement. But it pales beside the achievement of its creator''s transformation. I could not be prouder of the woman Camille has be if she were my own daughter by blood." Tears filled

    Camille''s eyes. Around the table, others dabbed at their eyes as well. Even Victoria''s voice wavered slightly as she concluded:

    "To Camille. May your future with Alexander bring you the happiness you have earned through your strength, your courage, and your unwavering spirit."

    "To Camille," everyone echoed, raising their sses.

    Alexander''s arm slipped around her waist, steadying her as emotion threatened to overwhelm her. Victoria''s

    words.... so unexpected, so heartfelt, had reached ces inside her she had thought permanently closed.

    As conversations resumed around them, Victoria leaned close to Camille''s ear. "I meant every word," she said quietly."

    Never doubt that."

    Before Camille could respond, Victoria straightened, her usualposed demeanor returning "Now, I believe someone mentioned dessert?"

    The moment passed, but its impact remained. Camille moved through the rest of the evening in a glow of happiness she had never expected to feel again after the night Rose and Stefan shattered her world. Later, as guests began to leave, her mother approached with her father behind her. "We want you to have this," her mother said, pressing the small gift bag into Camid Camille opened it to find a small silver fran hands. "It''s not much, but..."

    "Before everything gotplicated," her father exined. "When you were just our little girl with a big talent."

    Camille stared at the photo, at the child she had been before Rose, before disappointments, before pain. Something turned over in her heart.

    "Thank you," she said softly. "Really."

    It wasn''t forgiveness exactly. Not yet. But it was acknowledgment of the possibility.

    As thest guests departed, Camille found herself on the balcony, watching the city glow with the power her Grid provided. Alexander joined her, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

    "Happy?" he asked, his breath warm against her ear.

    ˇ°Yes,ˇ± she answered truthfully. "For perhaps the first time in years."

    She turned in his arms to face him. "Victoria''s

    words... my parents trying... Hannah''s excitement about our engagement... it felt like..."

    "Like family," Alexander finished for her. "The family you''ve built for yourself."

    Camille nodded, resting her head against his chest. The steady beat of his heart grounded her in this moment of perfect contentment.

    Inside the penthouse, Victoria was speaking with Hannah about tomorrow''s

    Grid maintenance schedule. Some things never changed. The thought made Camille smile.

    "We did it," she whispered. "We really did it."

    "The Grid?" Alexander asked.

    "Everything. The Grid. Surviving Rose''s attacks. Finding our way to each other." She looked up at him. "Living instead of just existing."

    He kissed her then, gentle and promising at once. Above them, stars glittered in the clear night sky. Below them, the city hummed with power, their power, created together.

 Chapter 135

    A thunderous boom shook the early morning quiet. Orange me shot into the dark sky as Substation 12 of the Phoenix Grid exploded. Pieces of metal and concrete flew in all directions. The night security guard, having stepped outside for a cigarette moments earlier, stared in shock from the parking lot.

    Three blocks away, Rose watched from the passenger seat of a stolen van, her facit by the distant mes. A small smile yed on her lips as smoke rose into the night sky. ˇ°Beautiful,ˇ± she whispered. "Just like I nned.ˇ±

    Beside her, Herod gripped the steering wheel, his face tight. "Drive now, admireter," he said, shifting the van into gear." Security cameras might have caught us."

    As they sped away, emergency sirens began to wail in the distance. Fire trucks and police cars raced toward the burning substation.

    "Phase oneplete," Rose said, her voice filled with satisfaction. "Now we wait for phase two, the system copse."

    Herod kept his eyes on the road, his mind racing through escape routes, contingency ns. There was no going back now. They had crossed the final line.

    *** **

    Camille jolted awake to the sound of her phone ringing. She fumbled for it in the darkness, Alexander stirring beside her.

    "Camille Kane," she answered, voice still thick with sleep.

    Her body tensed as she listened. "How bad?" she asked, already climbing out of bed. "How many injured?"

    Alexander sat up, instantly alert at her tone.

    "I''ll be there in twenty minutes," Camille said, ending the call. She turned to Alexander, her face pale in the dim

    light. "Someone bombed Substation 12. No one hurt, but the Grid is destabilizing."

    "Rose," Alexander said. It wasn''t a question.

    "Has to be." Camille pulled clothes from her closet with shaking hands. "Hannah''s

    already at control headquarters. The backup systems are holding for now, but if we don''t reroute power soon, we could lose the whole eastern sector."

    Alexander was already dressing. "I''ll drive you."

    They raced through the pre-dawn streets, the city still quiet

    except for emergency vehicles heading toward the

    smoke rising in the distance. Camille clutched her phone, watching real-

    time alerts from the Grid''s monitoring system.

    "Junction 17 showing stress, she muttered. "Power loads increasing on the northern ry."

    Her phone rang again. Hannah''s voice came through, tight with panic.

    "It''s spreading faster than we predicted," she said without preamble. "The safety protocols are shutting down rys

    to prevent overload, but that''s pushing too much power to the remaining

    stations."

    "Can you bypass the safety protocols manually?" Camille asked.

    "Too risky. We''d burn out the whole system. We need to redirect the power flow from the damaged substation."

    "I''m almost there," Camille promised.

    The Grid control center hummed with frantic activity when they arrived. Engineers rushed between workstations. Warning signals shed on screens. Hannah stood in the center, issuing instructions, her usual "Camille!" Relief washed over Hannah''s face. "The situation''s getting worse."

    Camille moved immediately to the main control panel. Disys showed the Phoenix Grid as an interconnected web of light. One section glowed angry red-

    Substation 12 and its connecting rys. Yellow warning indicators spread outward like a disease, showing

    stress points throughout the system.

    "Where will it fail next?" she asked, eyes scanning the data.

    Hannah pointed to three junctions. "Any of these could go. When one does, it will trigger a cascade."

    Alexander studied the

    schematics over Camille''s shoulder. "Can you iste Substation 12pletely?"

    "If we do, we lose power to eight city blocks," Hannah replied.

    "Better than losing the whole eastern sector," Camille decided. "Do it."

    Hannah typedmands into the system. On the main disy, the connections to Substation 12 went dark. Warning lights across the board shed as the Grid adjusted to the sudden change. "Power load redistributing," Hannah reported. "Junction 24 now at ny-

    five percent capacity. That''s too high."

    Camille leaned

    forward, fingers flying across the keyboard. "Rerouting through the western sector backup. System should bnce in three... two... one..."

    The warning lights for Junction 24 shifted from red to yellow, then green.

    "It''s holding," Hannah said, not quite believing it.

    "For now," Camille cautioned. "But we''ve lost redundancy. If there''s another failure-

    *

    Alexander''s phone rang. He stepped away to answer, his expression growing darker as he listened.

    "Police found evidence of explosives at the substation," he reported when he retumed. "Professional job. They''re checking security footage now."

    Camille''s fists clenched. "She''s escted. This isn''t just sabotage anymore."

    "The press is already at the scene," Alexander added. "They''re calling it a terrorist attack on the Grid."

    Camille felt sick. After all their work, all their sess, Rose had managed to cast a shadow over the Grid''s triumph. If public confidence in the system fell, everything they''d built could copse.

    "Iing power surge!" Hannah suddenly called out. "Junction 17 is overloading!"

    All heads turned to the main disy. Junction 17-a key

    connection point for the northern sector-shed red.

    "It shouldn''t be surging," Camille said, rushing back to the controls. "We rerouted away from that section."

    Hannah''s hands flew over her keyboard. "Someone''s tampering with the load bncers remotely. They''re forcing power into that junction."

    "Shut it down!" Camille ordered.

    "I can''t! The controls aren''t responding!" Hannah''s voice rose with panic.

    Alexander moved to another terminal. "It''s a secondary attack. They''re hacking the system while we''re distracted by the explosion."

    Camille felt cold dread spread through her chest. Rose hadn''t just nned

    a physical attack, she''d coordinated a cyber attack to follow, hitting them when their defenses were focused elsewhere.

    "Manual override," Camille decided. "We need to physically disconnect Junction 17 before it overloads and takes down the northern sector." "That would mean going on-

    site," Hannah said. "The junction box is in the Riverside facility."

    "I know." Camille grabbed

    her jacket. "Alexander, stay here and coordinate with Hannah. I''m going to Riverside."

    Alexander caught her arm. ˇ°It could be a trap.ˇ±

    "Of course it''s a trap," Camille replied, her eyes hard. "But if we lose the northern sector, hospitals will lose power. People could die."

    He held her gaze for a long moment, then nodded. "Take security with you."

    "No time," she said, already moving toward the door. "Send them after me. And keep working on the remote override-

    if f you get control back, shut down Junction 17 immediately."

    The drive

    to Riverside took twelve agonizing minutes. Camille kept Hannah on speakerphone, listening to the worsening situation.

    "Junction 17 at one hundred ten percent capacity," Hannah reported. "Safety systems failing. We''re losing control of the connected rys."

    Camille pressed the elerator harder, weaving through early morning traffic. "Hold it together. I''m almost there."

    The Riverside facility loomed ahead, a concrete building surrounded by chain-

    link fence. Camille screeched to a halt at the gate, swiping her security card. The gate slid open too slowly. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, counting each precious second.

    "Junction at one hundred fifteen percent," Hannah''s voice crackled through the phone. "Camille, hurry."

    She parked haphazardly and ran for the building entrance. Inside, red emergency lights bathed the corridor in an eerie glow. The hum of

    electrical equipment grew louder as she approached the main control room.

    "Where''s the manual disconnect?" she asked Hannah.

    "East wall, blue panel. You''ll need your override code."

    Camille pushed through the door into the control room. The junction box dominated the center-

    a massive metal cab with blinking lights and digital readouts showing dangerously high numbers. She spotted the blue panel and ran toward it. Her fingers trembled as she entered her override code. The pa

    "I''m at the disconnect," she told Hannah. "What happens when I pull it?"

    "Riverside district loses power temporarily. Backup generators will kick in for essential services in thirty seconds."

    "Junction status?"

    "One hundred twenty percent. Metal housing is heating up. Camille, if it blows..."

    "It won''t," Camille said firmly. She grabbed the lever with both hands. "Disconnecting now."

    She pulled with all her strength. The lever resisted, then gave way with a metallic argan. The lights on the junction box immediately went dark. The hum of power ceased, plunging the room into eerie silence bro "Junction 17 offline," Hannah confirmed through the phone. "Power

    surge contained."

    Camille sagged against

    the wall, adrenaline still coursing through her body. "Damage assessment?"

    "Substation 12 destroyed. Junction 17 offline but intact. Grid redistributing power through secondary channels. We''ve lost redundancy in two sectors, but the system is holding."

    Alexander''s voice came through the speaker. "Security teams are en route to your location. Don''t leave the building until they arrive."

    Camille nodded, though they couldn''t see her. "Has anyone called Victoria?"

    "She''s already at control headquarters,ˇ± Hannah replied. "She arrived right after you left."

    Of course she had. Victoria would never stay away during a crisis.

    "The press is gathering outside headquarters," Alexander added. "They want a statement."

    Camille closed her eyes briefly. Rose hadn''t just attacked the Grid, she''d attacked public confidence in their creation. Even with the immediate danger contained, the damage to their reputation could be severe.

    "Tell them I''ll make a statement when I return," she said. "And Alexander... have security check all other

    substations and junctions. This might not be the end of Rose''s attack."

    The line went silent for a moment. "You think there are more bombs?"

    "I think Rose won''t stop until she''s destroyed everything we''ve built," Camille

    replied. "Or until we stop her."

    As if to confirm her fears, a distant boom echoed through the early morning air. Camille rushed to the window in time to see smoke rising from another part of the city.

    "Alexander! What was that?" she demanded.

    His voice came back tight with tension. "Substation 8 just went offline. Another explosion."

    Cold fear gripped Camille''s heart. One explosion could be managed. Two meant they were facing a

    coordinated attack designed to bring down the entire Grid.

    "I''ming back," she said. "Have Hannah start emergency shutdown procedures for all non-

    essential systems. We need to reduce load on the remaining substations."

    As she hurried back to her car, Camille''s phone buzzed with a text message from an unknown number. She

    opened it, already knowing who it would be from.

    *Enjoying my surprise, sister? This is just the beginning. Everything you''ve built will burn.*

    Rose''s words glowed on the screen, a digital taunt. Camille''s fingers tightened around the phone, rage and determination warring within her.

    As Camille drove back toward control headquarters, her resolve hardened into something unbreakable. Rose wanted a war? She would get one. But not on her terms. Not anymore.

 Chapter 136

    Rose stared at the television screen, her eyes bright with a feverish glow as breaking news footage showed smoke billowing from Substation 12. The explosion had done exactly what she wanted, Chaos. Fear. "It''s beautiful,ˇ± she whispered, running her fingertips over the screen as if caressing lover. "Look at them scramble."

    Herod stood behind her, his face ashen as he watched emergency vehicles rushing to the scene. This wasn''t what he

    had signed up for. Sabotage was one thing. Corporate espionage, stock maniption, those were the weapons of business warfare he understood. But this... this was terrorism.

    "We''ve made our point," he said, his voice tight. "The market will respond. Kane Industries stock will plummet. We can..."

    "Point?" Rose spun

    around, her eyes wild. "We haven''t even started." She crossed to the hotel room''s small table where she''d spread out maps of the Phoenix Grid''s infrastructure. The maps were covered in red circles, targets. Herod''s stomach lurched. "Kane Industries? The building could have hundreds of people inside."

    "And?" Rose tilted her head, genuine confusion crossing her features. "Since when did you develop a conscience? Victor¨Şa Kane destroyed your family. Your brother killed himself because of her." "This is different," Herod said, backing

    away from the table. ˇ°Business is business. This is..." He gestured at the television where reporters were discussing the explosion. "This could kill people, Rose."

    Rose''sugh was brittle, splitting the air like breaking ss. "Oh, Herod. My sweet, naive Herod." She stepped closer to him, reaching up to brush her fingers along his jawline. "Did you think this was ever just a watch it burn."

    Herod pulled away, his hand going to the small cuts her nails had left. "You

    promised we would destroy

    her reputation, force Victoria to cut ties with her. You said nothing about mass casualties."

    "ns evolve," Rose said with a shrug. "Besides, I arranged the bombing without you, and look...." She pointed to the television, now showing footage

    of a new explosion. "It worked perfectly."

    Herod stared at her, truly seeing her for the first time. The woman he''d thought was a cunning partner with a justified grudge had disappeared. In her ce stood someone unhinged, consumed by hatred. "You''re insane," he whispered.

    Rose smiled, the expression cold and empty. "No, I''m determined. There''s a difference." She turned back to her maps. "Now, for the main control center, I need you to...."

    "I''m not doing this," Herod interrupted, backing toward the door. "We''re done, Rose. This partnership is over."

    Rose went still, her back to him. When she spoke, her voice was soft, almost gentle. "You don''t want to do that, Herod."

    "Watch me." He grabbed his jacket from the chair.

    Rose turned slowly, and the look in her

    eyes made him freeze. ˇ°If you walk out that door, I''ll tell the FBI everything. How you helped

    n the bombing. How you provided the explosives. How you hacked into their security systems." She smiled." Your fingerprints are all over this, darling."

    "You''re bluffing," he said, but uncertainty crept into his voice.

    "Am I?" She reached for her phone. "I''ve

    documented everything. Every meeting, every n. I have recordings." She held up the phone, showing him a screen full

    of audio files with timestamps. "I''ve always been careful, Herod. It''s how I''ve survived."

    Herod''s mind raced. Could he call her bluff? But what if she wasn''t bluffing? The evidence she imed to have would send him to prison for decades.

    "Why?" he asked, his voice hollow. "I thought we

    were in this together. I thought we..."

    "Had something?" Rose finished for him, her voice mocking. "Oh, we did. It was fun while it

    "A mistake," Rose snapped. "It was supposed t

    Sessfully unlocked!

    "But it did," Herod said. "And now you''re doing it again, only worse."

    It wasn''t supposed to go that far."

    Rose waved her hand dismissively. "Coteral damage. The point is, Camille needs to suffer. Victoria needs to suffer." "And me?" Herod asked. "Was I just coteral damage too?"

    Something flickered across Rose''s face, regret, perhaps, or the ghost of genuine feeling. But it vanished quickly, reced by cold determination.

    "You were useful," she said. "You still are. But if you try to leave now, I''ll bury you."

    Herod sank into a chair, the weight of his choices crushing him. How had he not seen thising? He''d been so focused on his vendetta against Victoria Kane that he''d blinded himself to Rose''s true nature. "What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice t with defeat.

    Rose''s smile returned, triumphant. "I need you to help me with the final phase. The main control center, and then Kane Industries itself."

    "You''re talking about mass murder," Herod said.

    "I''m talking about justice," Rose

    countered. "Victoria Kane destroyed your family. She''s the reason your brother is dead." Herod shook his head. "My brother made his choice. I was angry for years, but this..." He gestured at the television, now showing the aftermath of both explosions. "This isn''t justice."

    "It''s the only justice we''re going to get," Rose insisted. She knelt before him, taking his hands in hers. For a moment, she looked like the woman he''d thought he was falling for, passionate, determined, focused. Herod pulled his hands away. "No, Rose. They haven''t. We still have choices. We can still walk away from this."

    "Walk away to what?" Rose demanded, her voice rising. "Prison?

    Disgrace? We''ve crossed lines, Herod. There''s no going back."

    "There''s always a way back," he said

    quietly. "We could turn ourselves in. Exin that things got out of hand."

    Rose''sugh was bitter. "And you think they''ll believe that? That they''ll show mercy?" She stood, pacing the small room like a caged animal. "No.

    We finish this. We finish them."

    Herod watched her, truly seeing the madness that drove her. She wasn''t just bent on revenge, she was obsessed with destroying Camille, with bing Camille by taking everything she had. It was a sickness And he had helped feed it.

    "I need some air," he said, standing. "I need to think."

    Rose''s eyes narrowed. "If you''re not back in an hour, I''ll assume you''ve made your choice, and I''ll send everything I have to the FBI."

    He nodded, numb. "One hour."

    Outside in the cool night air, Herod looked up at the

    stars, barely visible through the city''s light pollution. What had he be? His quest for revenge against

    Victoria Kane had led him to partner with a monster, to be a monster himself. He thought

    of his brother Charles, who had taken his own life after Victoria destroyed their family business. Would Charles approve of what he''d done? Bombing buildings, endangering innocent lives?

    No. Charles had been gentle, kind. He''d loved Sophia Kane truly. He''d been devastated by her death, a death their father had arranged out of pure business calction.

    Herod had told himself he was avenging Charles, but the truth hit him like a physical blow: he''d be exactly like their father. Calcting. Cold. Willing to sacrifice anyone and anything for his goals. His phone buzzed with a text from Rose: "50 minutes."

    He

    stared at the screen, the decision before him impossible. Turn himself in and face

    justice for

    what he''d done? Try to stop Rose and likely fail? Go along with her insane

    n and be the monster she already was?

    The weight of his choices pressed down on him like a physical force. What had started as a justified vendetta

    against Victoria Kane had twisted into something unrecognizable. Something evil.

    He looked up at Kane Industries tower in the distance, its lights shining against the night sky. Inside that building, Camille and her team were fighting to save what he and Rose had tried to destroy. His father would have been proud of what he''d done. That thought sickened him more than anything else.

    His phone buzzed again. Rose: "45 minutes. Don''t make mee find you."

    Time was running out. For him. For Rose. For everyone.

    He looked back at the hotel, where Rose waited with her maps and her hatred and her bombs.

    Then he began to walk.

 Chapter 137

    Camille stared at the wall of screens in Kane Industries'' crisis management room. Each one showed a different news channel, all broadcasting the same images: smoke pouring

    from the damaged substations, firefighters battling mes, and worried faces of New York citizens wondering if their power would fail next. Three hours had passed since the second explosion. The sun would rise soon, bringing with it questions they needed answers for.

    "The press is gathering downstairs," Hannah said, cing a tablet in front of Camille. ''Over forty reporters. All majorworks."

    Camille nodded, her eyes never leaving the screens. The headline crawling across the bottom of Channel 7''s broadcast made her stomach clench: "PHOENIX GRID FAILURE? KANE INDUSTRIES FACES QUESTIONS AFTER TWIN EXPLOSIONS

    "Stock futures are dropping." Alexander added quietly from behind her. "Down twelve percent already."

    Victoria, still pale from her recent surgery but standing straight-

    backed and defiant, turned to Camille. "You need to address them. Now. Before the market opens."

    Camille felt the weight of all eyes in the room. The engineering team. The security personnel. Victoria. Alexander. All waiting for her to fix this nightmare.

    "What do we know for certain?" Camille asked, her voice steadier than she felt.

    Hannah stepped forward. "The Grid didn''t fail. Our safety systems worked exactly as designed. Despite two major attacks, ny-

    three percent of thework remains operational."

    "And the power supply?"

    "Stable.

    We''ve rerouted through secondary pathways. No service disruptions to critical infrastructure."

    Camille stood, smoothing her blouse with trembling hands. "I need five minutes to prepare. Then I''ll speak to them."

    In the small bathroom off the crisis room, Camille sshed cold water.on her face and stared at her reflection. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Her skin looked pale under the harsh fluorescent light. Fear gnaw "You can do this," she whispered to herself. "You''ve faced worse than reporters."

    But had she? Facing Rose''s betrayal, Stefan''s cruelty-

    those were personal wounds. This was different. The Phoenix Grid wasn''t just a business project. It represented everything she''d be since Victoria had rescued her. It was her rebirth, her transformation fro And now Rose was trying to destroy that too.

    A soft knock interrupted

    her thoughts. Alexander stood in the doorway, his tie loose, his face tired but determined.

    "I thought you might need this," he said, handing her a small velvet box.

    Insidey her phoenix pendant, the one Victoria had given her at the beginning of her transformation. Camille touched it, feeling its weight, the smooth metal cool against her fingers.

    "I can''t fix this," she whispered, the admission tearing from

    her throat. "Everything we built..."

    Alexander stepped closer, his hands gentle on her shoulders. "You''re not fixing anything because

    nothing is broken. The Grid worked. The safety systems worked. We''re still standing."

    "But the public perception..."

    "Can be shaped." His eyes held hers. "Remember who you are, Camille. You''ve survived worse than this."

    She sped the pendant around her neck, drawing strength from its familiar weight. The woman who had worn it when Victoria first gave it to her had been broken, desperate for revenge. The woman wearing it something. Created something. And she wouldn''t let it be destroyed.

    "I''m ready," she said.

    The press room buzzed with tension. Camera shes exploded as Camille walked to the podium, her steps measured, her back straight. Dozens of reporters shouted questions, their voices blending into a wall "Good morning," she began, her voice clear and unwavering. "Last night, Kane Industries'' Phoenix Grid substations were attacked in what authorities are investigating as

    acts of terrorism. I want to be clear: these were not idents. These were not system failures. These were deliberate attacks designed to destroy what we have built."

    She paused, scanning the room, meeting the gaze of several reporters directly.

    "They failed."

    The simple statement hung in the air. A reporter from the Wall Street Journal broke the silence.

    "Ms. Kane, how can you im they failed when two substations arepletely destroyed?"

    Camille nodded at the question. "Because destruction was not

    their only goal. Whoever did this wanted to prove the Phoenix

    Grid was vulnerable that our promise of reliable, safe power for New York was empty" She gestured to therge screen behind her, which flickered to life showing a real- time map of the city''s power grid. ''As you can see, power remains stable across all five boroughs. Hospital systems, emergency services, public transportation- all operating normally

    Another reporter raised her hand.

    "But what about the safety concerns raisedst week? Could those vulnerabilities have been exploited in these attacks?"

    Camille felt a sh of rage at the mention of the fabricated safety concerns Rose and Herod had nted. She pushed it down, keeping her expression professional.

    "Those concerns were based on falsified documents, as we demonstrated at our stockholder meeting. In

    fact, it was our advanced safety systems that prevented these attacks from having their intended effect. The Phoenix Grid was designed with multipleyers of protection precisely because we understood the c we were building."

    "What about

    the cost of repairs?" shouted a man from the back. "Will Kane Industries stock take a hit?

    Camille allowed herself a small smile. "The Phoenix Grid was named for a reason. The mythical phoenix bums and is reborn stronger. By this afternoon, our repair teams will have restored the damaged section: to eighty percent capacity. By this time tomorrow, we expect full restoration."

    She leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping so the reporters had to lean in to hear her. "Whoever attacked us clearly doesn''t understand what we

    built. The Phoenix Grid isn''t just infrastructure, it''s a new way of thinking about power. Distributed, resilient,

    self-healing. You can knock down parts, but the whole remains strong"

    The questions continued for twenty minutes. With each answer, Camille felt the mood in the room shifting. The initial skepticism gave way to something else, a grudging respect, even admiration. She answered When she sensed the moment was right, she yed her final card.

    "Before I take myst question, I want to share something with you." She nodded to Hannah, who tapped her tablet.

    Therge screen behind Camille changed to show the Kane Industries building. "As of four a.m. this morning, this building. our headquarters is running entirely on Phoenix Grid power. Not backup generators. N A murmur ran through the assembled reporters.

    "The lights you''re sitting under, the microphones you''re

    speaking into, the cameras recording this, all powered by the same system that was attackedst night." Camille spread her hands. "We''re not just talking about our confidence in this technology. We''re demons Industries does. We don''t just tell you that something works, we show you."

    The press conference ended

    with a barrage of camera shes. As Camille walked from the podium, she caught sight of Victoria standing in the back of the room, a rare smile on her normally stern face.

    Back in the crisis room, the mood had transformed. The engineering team was cheering as they watched the first positive headlines

    appear on the screens.

    "PHOENIX RISES: KANE GRID WITHSTANDS TERRORIST ATTACK"

    "KANE INDUSTRIES DEMONSTRATES GRID RESILIENCE AFTER BOMBING*

    "CAMILLE KANE TURNS CRISIS INTO TRIUMPH"

    Alexander wrapped his arm around Camille''s waist. "Masterful," he whispered in her ear.

    Victoria approached, her expression solemn despite the celebration

    around them. "Well done," she said simply, but Camille could see the pride in her eyes. "The market''s responding. Stock''s now down only three percent."

    "We''ll recover," Camille said.

    "Yes," Victoria agreed. "But this isn''t over." She lowered her voice so only Camille and Alexander could hear. "Rose and Herod are desperate now. They failed twice. They won''t stop."

    "I know," Camille said, her hand going to the phoenix pendant at her throat. "But neither will we."

    Hannah rushed over, her

    face flushed with excitement. "The repairs at Substation 12 are ahead of schedule," she said, holding up her tablet. "And look

    at these numbers."

    The screen showed power distribution figures across the city. Despite the damage, the system had maintained stability.

    "We''re getting calls from three major techpanies," Hannah continued. "They want to license the safety protocols we designed. The attack actually proved how effective our systems are."

    Victoria nodded, a hint of satisfaction breaking through her exhaustion. "Crisis bes opportunity."

    "We''re not out of danger yet," Alexander cautioned, his voice low. "The security team found this."

    He handed Camille a tablet showing surveince footage from the damaged substation. In theer of the frame, barety visible in the smoke and confusion after the explosion, was a familiar figure watching fro "Rose," Camille whispered, her fingers unconsciously touching the phoenix pendant at her throat.

    Victoria leaned closer to study the image. "She was there. Watching her handiwork."

    "She won''t stop," Camille said, her voice hardening. "Two substations down, but the Grid remains functional. She''ll try again Alexander nodded grimly. "Security at all remaining substations has been tripled, and "It''s not just the Grid she wants to destroy," Camille said quietly. "It''s me. Everything I''ve built. Everything I am.ˇ±

    Victoria ced a hand on Camille''s shoulder, a rare gesture of physical support. "Then we make sure she fails. Again and again, until she has nothing left."

    Camille looked at the monitors showing the positive headlines, the rising stock price, the intact power grid. Rose had tried to destroy everything she''d built, but instead, she''d only proven its strength. Just as she "Let here," Camille said, her voice steady and cold. "This time, I''m ready for her."

 Chapter 138

    Rain pounded against the windows of Pierce Tower

    as Alexander pored over security reports. Three days had passed since the Phoenix Grid attacks, and the constant worry had etched new lines around his eyes. His phone buzzed. Unknown number. He almost

    "Pierce."

    "I need to see you." A male voice, quiet but urgent. "It''s about Camille. And Rose."

    Alexander stiffened. "Who is this?"

    "Stefan Rodriquez."

    The name sent a surge of anger through Alexander. His grip tightened on the phone. "You have nothing I want to hear."

    "Please," Stefan''s voice cracked. "Rose has contacted people, dangerous people. Camille is in danger."

    Alexander checked his watch. "The za Hotel. Thirty minutes. Come alone."

    He ended the call, his thoughts churning. Stefan Rodriguez, the man who had broken Carmille''s heart, who had chosen Rose over her. His instinct screamed to ignore him. But if there was even a tiny chance C Alexander made another call. "Double security on Ms. Kane. And run a background check on any criminal associates of Rose Lewis."

    The za''s Oak Room was nearly empty at this hour. Alexander chose a corner booth with a clear view of all entrances. He ordered nothing, his body tense as he waited.

    Stefan arrived five minutes early, soaked from the rain. His expensive suit hung poorly on his frame, as if he''d lost weight. Dark circles shadowed his eyes. "Thank you for..." Stefan began.

    ˇ°Sit. Talk. Make it quick." Alexander cut him off, gesturing to the opposite seat.

    Stefan sank into the chair, running a hand through his wet hair. "Rose has reached out to Anton Bessonov."

    Alexander raised an eyebrow. "The Russian?"

    "Yes. He has ties to organized crime in Brighton Beach. I learned about it yesterday. One of my former shipping managers still has connections in the import business. He overheard something." Stefan leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Rose asked about

    getting weapons. Serious ones."

    "And why would your manager tell you this?"

    Stefan''s eyes dropped to the table. ˇ°Because he knows what I did to Camille. Everyone does now. He thought..." His voice faltered. "He thought I might want to make things right."

    Alexander studied the

    information."

    man before him, looking for signs of deception. "You could have called the police with this

    "And tell them what? That my ex fiance might be talking

    to a Russian businessman with shady connections? I have no proof. Nothing

    they could act on." Stefan met Alexander''s gaze directly. "But I know Rose. I know

    how she thinks. When the bombings didn''t work, she''d escte. Make it personal."

    "Whye to me? Why not go to Camille directly?"

    Pain shed

    across Stefan''s face. "You think she''d believe anything I said? After what I did?" He shook his head. "No. But she trusts you."

    Alexander remained silent, processing. The information aligned with their security team''s assessment. Rose had disappeared after the bombings. Herod Preston hadn''t been seen either.

    "What do you want, Rodriguez?"

    "To help.ˇ± Stefan straightened in his chair. "I have connections of my own. People who owe me favors. I can get information you can''t ess through regr channels." "Out of the goodness of your heart?" Alexander''s tone dripped with skepticism.

    Stefan flinched. "I know you won''t

    believe this, but I care what hannens to Camille. I always did, even when..." He trailed off. "I made terrible choices. I can''t undo them. But Sessfully unlocked! "You had your chance to protect her. You chose Ruse insteau.

    "Yes." The simple admission hung in the air between them. "I did. I was blind, selfish, easily manipted. I''ve lost

    everything

    because of those choices. Mypany. My reputation. My soul." His voice broke on thest word. "I''m not asking for forgiveness. I''m asking for a chance to do one decent thing."

    Rain hammered against the

    windows, filling the silence that followed. Alexander studied the broken man before him. His instinct was to throw him out, to protect Camille from even the memory of this man. But his practical side recognized t "If.... and it''s a big if..... we use your help, it would be on my terms, Alexander said finally. "You don''t approach Camille. You don''t call

    her. Everything goes through me."

    Relief flooded Stefan''s face. "Agreed. Whatever you need."

    "I''ll need names. Contacts. Every detail you can get on Bessonov''s operation."

    "I''ll get it." Stefan produced a small sh drive from his pocket. "This has everything I know so far. Security footage from one of Bessonov''s clubs showing Rose entering three days ago. Cell phone records show Alexander took the drive, surprised. "How did you get this?"

    "Like I said, people owe me favors. And money still opens doors, even when your name is mud." A ghost of Stefan''s former confidence flickered across his face.

    ˇ°If this checks out, I''ll be in touch." Alexander stood, signaling the end of the meeting.

    "Pierce," Stefan called as Alexander turned to leave. "She deserves happiness. With you. I see that now."

    Alexander said nothing, pocketing the drive as he walked away.

    *** ***

    Two hourster, Alexander stood in Camille''s office at Kane Industries, the contents of Stefan''s drive disyed on her screen. She stared at the image of Rose entering Bessonov''s club, her face unnaturally still.

    "Where did you get this?" she asked, her voice carefully controlled.

    Alexander hesitated before answering. "Stefan Rodriguez brought it to me."

    Camille''s head snapped up, shock washing over her features. "Stefan? Why would he...."

    "He''s worried about you." Alexander moved closer, resting his hands lightly on her shoulders. "He came

    to me because he didn''t think you''d believe him directly."

    "He''s right about

    that." Bitterness edged her words. She turned back to the screen, studying Rose''s face. "So she''s working with Bessonov now. After everything Victoria did to expose him." "There''s more." Alexander swiped to

    the next file. "Phone records showing multiple calls. And this..." A document appeared, a transaction record. "A withdrawal of half a million dors from an offshore ount linked to Rose, the day before she met with Bessonov."

    "She''s buying something. Or someone." Camille''s fingers tightened on the

    edge of her desk. "What did Stefan want in return for this information?"

    "Nothing."

    Camilleughed, a sharp, harsh sound with no humor. "Stefan

    always wants something."

    "He wants to help. To make amends, in whatever small way he

    can." Alexander watched her carefully. "I told him everything goes through me. He won''t contact you directly."

    "You believe him?"

    Alexander considered the question. "I believe he

    regrets what he did to you. Whether that makes him trustworthy is another question."

    Camille rose from her chair, walking to the window that overlooked the city. The afternoon sun glinted off distant buildings, a stark contrast to the darkness of their conversation.

    "I never expected him to care what happened to me. Not after everything." Her voice was soft, almost wondering. "It feels strange. Like finding money in the pocket of a coat you haven''t worn in years. Unexpect Alexander joined her at the window. "I told him I''d use his information, but that''s all. If you don''t want his help...."

    "No." Camille

    turned to face him. "Use him. Use whatever resources we have. Rose is escting. If Stefan can help us stop her before anyone else gets hurt..." She paused, aplex mix of emotions crossing her face. "It did. But it''s something."

    "I''ll handle him," Alexander promised. "You

    won''t have to see him or speak to him."

    "Actually," Camille said slowly, "I think I should meet with him. Once."

    Alexander frowned. "Are you sure? After everything he did..."

    "I''m not the woman he betrayed anymore." Camille touched the phoenix pendant at her throat, a gesture that had be almost instinctive. "That Camille died in a parking garage. I want him to see who I''ve be

    Alexander recognized the determination in her eyes. The same look she''d had when

    facing the press after the bombings. The look of a woman who had walked through fire and emerged stronger.

    "I''ll arrange it," he said. "Somewhere secure."

    Camille nodded, then returned to her desk, pulling up the security files Again. Half a million dors buys a lot

    of damage she said, her focus returning to the threat at hand. "We need to increase security at all remaining substations. And at the main control hub."

    "Already done." Alexander touched her shoulder gently. "We''ll stop her, Carille."

    She covered his hand with hers, drawing strength from his touch. "Yes, we will." A faint smile touched her lips. "And then, when this is over, we''ll have that wedding we talked about."

    "Is that a promise, Ms. Kane?" Alexander asked, his voice softening.

    "It''s a certainty, Mr. Pierce."

    The following morning, Stefan arrived at Pierce Tower, escorted by two security guards to a private conference room on the top floor. He''d expected to meet Alexander. He was not prepared to see Camille rise f She looked different than he remembered. Stronger. Her posture straight and confident, her eyes clear and direct. The woman before him bore little resemnce to the broken creature who had signed divorce p "Sit down, Stefan." Her voice was cool, professional. Not angry, not sad. Simply distant.

    He sank into a chair across from her, suddenly aware of his rumpled appearance, the weight he''d lost, the shadows under his eyes. Alexander stood by the window, his posture protective, watching Stefan like a "Alexander showed me what you brought

    him," Camille said. "Thank you for the information."

    Stefan nodded, his throat tight. "I''ll get more. I have a meeting with someone close to Bessonov tonight."

    "Why are you doing this?" Camille asked, the direct question catching him off guard.

    Stefan looked down at his hands. "Because I owe you. Because it''s the right thing to do."

    "You never cared about the right thing before."

    The truth of her words stung, but he didn''t argue. "No. I didn''t." He forced himself to meet her gaze. "I can''t fix what I broke, Camille. I know that. But I can''t stand by and watch Rose hurt you again." "Why now? After all this time?"

    "Because I finally see clearly." His voice dropped to nearly a whisper. ˇ°Because when I heard about the bombings, my first thought wasn''t about Rose or myself. It was about whether you were safe." Camille studied him, searching for deception. Finding none, her expression softened slightly. "You look terrible."

    A surprisedugh escaped him. "Thank you. I feel worse than I look."

    "Good." But there was no malice in her voice. "Alexander says you''ve agreed to help. That everything goes through him."

    "Yes. Whatever terms you set, I''ll ept them."

    Camille nced at Alexander, who nodded almost imperceptibly. She returned her gaze to Stefan. "Then I ept your help. But understand this, it changes nothing between us. The past is still the past."

    "I understand." Relief flooded through

    him. "Thank you for this chance. I won''t let you down."

    "See that you don''t." She stood, indicating the meeting was over. "Alexander will be your contact. If you learn anything about Rose or Bessonov, you

    tell him immediately."

    Stefan rose as well, knowing he''d been dismissed. At the door, he paused, turning back to look at the woman he''d once called his wife. "You found someone who deserves you," he said quietly, ncing at Alexander. "I''m d."

    Something flickered in Camille''s eyes, not forgiveness, but perhaps the beginning of peace. "Goodbye, Stefan."

    After he left, Camille turned to Alexander, emotion finally breaking through herposed facade. "That was harder than I expected."

    Alexander crossed the room, drawing her into his arms. "You were magnificent. As always."

    She leaned into his embrace, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability. "Do you think we can trust him?"

    "I think he''s desperate to prove himself. To you, to himself." Alexander

    stroked her hair gently. "We''ll use his information but verify everything. And I''ll make sure

    he never has ess to anything sensitive."

    Camille nodded against his chest. "It''s strange. Seeing him try to do the right thing after everything. Part of me wants to believe he''s changed."

    "People can change," Alexander said softly. "You did. I did."

    "The difference is, we changed for ourselves. Not for someone else''s forgiveness." She pulled back slightly, looking up at him. "But if his information helps us stop Rose, I won''t turn it away."

 Chapter 139

    Special Agent Diana Chen ducked under the yellow tape surrounding what remained of Substation 12. The smell of burnt metal and melted stic filled her nose. Five days after the explosion, the site still smol Chen pointed to a corner where three techs huddled around something. "They found pieces of the detonator. Military grade, just like at Substation 8."

    "So we''re looking at the same person for both bombings, Morgan said, scribbling in his

    notebook.

    "It gets better." Chen led him toward a table where collected evidence sat in clear stic bags. She picked up one containing a twisted piece of metal. "Look at this."

    Morgan squinted at the bag. "Is that a business card?"

    ˇ°What''s left of one." Chen nodded. ˇ°Fire damaged it, but ourb confirmed part of a name. ''TON.'' And look at theer,that s a corporate logo."

    Morgan took the bag, studying it closely. "Preston Enterprises."

    "As in Herod

    Preston," Chen said, her voice rising with excitement. "The FBI database has his fingerprints from when he applied for an international business license. They found a match on pieces of wire from both explosion sites." Morgan

    let out a low whistle. "So we''ve got him at both scenes. We''ve got his business card. Motive?"

    "That''s where it gets interesting." Chen pulled out her tablet, bringing up a file. "Preston''s family had a shipping empire that copsed about ten years ago after some kind of conflict with Victoria Kane. His father "Revenge against Kane Industries," Morgan mused.

    "But why now? Why wait ten years?"

    "The Phoenix Grid is Victoria Kane''s biggest project in a decade," Chen said. "Maximum damage to her legacy."

    "We need everything on this guy," Morgan said, his eyes hardening. "Get a warrant for his apartment and office. I want to know what else he''s nning."

    Three hourster, the FBI tactical team broke down the door of Herod Preston''s penthouse apartment. Morgan and Chen followed them in, weapons drawn.

    "Clear!" called the team leader after checking each room. "No one''s home."

    Morgan holstered his weapon, looking around the luxurious space. Floor-to-

    ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city. Expensive furniture, original artwork on the walls, a bar

    stocked with top-shelf liquor.

    "He lives well," Chen remarked, pulling ontex gloves.

    "Lived well," Morgan corrected. "After this, his life is over."

    The evidence response team moved

    through the apartment, dusting for fingerprints, photographing everything, searching for evidence.

    "Agent Morgan!" called one of the techs from the bedroom. "You need to see this."

    Morgan and Chen hurried into the master bedroom. On the bedy architectural blueprints of the Phoenix Grid substations. Red marks highlighted vulnerable points, the exact locations where the bombs had be "Holy mother of...." Chen whispered. "It''s like he wasn''t even trying to hide it."

    Morgan flipped through the notebook. Page after page of detailed

    ns, all in the same handwriting. "Check these for prints," he ordered a nearby tech.

    Near the blueprintsy a map of the entire Grid system, with one location circled multiple times in red: the main

    control

    center.

    "He''s nning another attack," Morgan said, his voice tight. "Get me everything on the security measures at the main control center. Now."

    Sessfully unlocked!

    Another agent approached holding a tablet. "Sir, we in this in the salt.

    On the screen were pages of text, emails between Preston and someone identified only as "H.P." discussing the bombings. Messages sent from Preston to himself, documenting his ns, his hatred for Victoria Kane, his determination to destroy everything she had built.

    "It''s a journal," Chen said, scrolling through the entries. "He documented everything."

    Morgan shook his head, amazed at the man''s arrogance. "He thought he was untouchable."

    As the team continued searching, more evidence mounted. Financial records showing Preston had withdrawnrge sums of cash in the weeks before each bombing. Receipts forponents that matched thos

    "It''s overwhelming," Chen said as they stood in the living room, surveying the collected evidence. "I''ve never seen a case this clear-

    cut."

    "He''s not just a bomber," Morgan said grimly. "He''s a would-

    be mass murderer." He pointed

    to a page of the notebook a tech had just bagged. "Look at his calctions for casualties if he hits the main control center during working hours."

    Chen looked sick as she read the numbers. "He''s estimating at least fifty dead."

    "Issue an APB immediately," Morgan ordered. "All airports, train stations, bus terminals. I want Preston''s face everywhere. Consider him armed and extremely dangerous."

    "What about his associates?" Chen asked. "Anyone who might be helping him?"

    Morgan considered this. "Check his phone records, emails, social media. But from what we''re seeing, this looks like a one-

    man vendetta. A rich guy with resources, technical knowledge, and a decade-

    old grudge."

    "The worst kind of enemy," Chen murmured.

    As the team packed up the evidence, Morgan stood at the window, looking out at the city, at the millions of people who would be affected if the main control center was destroyed. Somewhere out there, Herod F

    next move.

    "We''re not just trying to solve

    two bombings anymore," Morgan said quietly. "We''re trying to prevent a massacre."

    ***

    Back at FBI headquarters, Morgan stood before a wall covered in

    photos, documents, and timelines. At the center was a picture of Herod Preston, tall, handsome, with

    cold eyes that seemed to challenge anyone looking at him.

    "Financial analysis came in," Chen said, entering with a stack of

    reports. "Preston was on the verge of bankruptcy three months ago. Hispany was failing, his

    investments tanking. Then suddenly, he pays off all his debts, starts spending like crazy."

    "Source of the money?" Morgan asked, not looking away from Preston''s photo.

    "That''s the thing," Chen said. "We can''t find it. He emptied several offshore ounts, but we don''t know where those funds came from originally."

    "So he was preparing," Morgan mused. "Getting his finances in order beforeunching his attacks."

    A junior agent entered, holding a report. "Sir, ballistics confirmed the explosives used in both substations

    were military grade, avable only through ck market channels."

    "Preston has shipping connections all over the world," Chen noted. "He could have brought them in through any number of ports."

    Morgan nodded, pieces falling into ce. "What about his personal life? Any rtionships we should

    know about?"

    "He''s been seen at several events with Rose Lewis, 28, the adopted sister of Camille Kane," Chen said, checking her notes. But there''s nothing to suggest she knows anything about the bombings. She was at The za Hotel during both attacks, confirmed by multiple witnesses and security footage."

    "Just a coincidence, then," Morgan said, dismissing it. "Focus on Preston. I want to know where he is, who he''s contacted, what he''s nning next."

    His phone rang, theb with preliminary results on the notebook found in Preston''s apartment.

    "Morgan," he answered, putting the call on speaker.

    "Sir, we''ve confirmed all the handwriting in the notebook belongs to

    Preston, came the voice on the other end. " Fingerprints match too. And we found traces of the same explosivepounds used in the bombings on several pages." "Anything else?"

    "Yes, sir. We analyzed the map with the control center circled. Based on the pen impressions, we

    believe he was nning to attack tomorrow night, around 9 PM."

    Morgan and Chen exchanged rmed looks.

    "That''s when

    the Grid is scheduled to reach full operational capacity," Chen said, checking her tablet. "Maximum impact."

    "Get me Kane Industries security on the phone," Morgan ordered. "And I want a tactical team ready to move to the control center immediately."

    As agents rushed to carry out his orders, Morgan stared at Preston''s

    photo on the evidence wall,

    "What drives a man to this?" he wondered aloud. "The bombings weren''t just about damage, they were about sending a message. Making Kane suffer."

    "Revenge is powerful," Chen said quietly. "Especially when it''s been brewing for a decade."

    Morgan nodded slowly. "But revenge this calcted, this patient... it''s almost admirable in a twisted way. He waited for the perfect moment, the perfect target."

    "And now he''s disappeared," Chen added. "With enough explosives to take down the main control center."

    "He won''t seed," Morgan said firmly. "We know his target. We know his timeline. For the first time, we''re ahead of him."

    A junior agent approached with a tablet. "Sir, we found something else in Preston''s files. ns for after the attack. A private ne waiting at a small airfield in New Jersey, scheduled for tomorrow night. Destinat "No extradition," Chen noted.

    "He wasn''t nning to die in the attack," Morgan said. "He wanted to watch the fallout from afar. To see Kane suffer." "ssic narcissist," Chen agreed. "He doesn''t just want revenge, he wants to enjoy it." Morgan turned to the assembled team, his voice

    As the team dispersed to carry out his orders, Morgan turned back to the evidence wall. Something about the case bothered him, a feeling he couldn''t quite define. It was all too perfect, too neat. Preston had let But why? Why leave so much evidence?

    "Maybe he wants the recognition," Chen suggested when Morgan voiced his concern. "Some bombers do it for the fame, the notoriety."

    "Maybe," Morgan conceded, though he wasn''t convinced.

    Whatever Preston''s reasons, one thing was clear: he needed to be stopped. Before more lives were lost. Before Victoria Kane''s legacy was destroyed.

    Before Herod Prestonpleted his decade-long quest for revenge.

    ***

    As night fell over the city, Morgan stood on the

    roof of the FBI building, watching lights flicker on across the skyline. Many of those lights now powered by the Phoenix Grid, the same grid

    Herod Preston was determined to destroy.

    His phone buzzed with a text from the surveince team: "No sign of Preston at any known locations. Still searching." Morgan put the phone away, frustration gnawing at him. How did a man like Preston, wealthy, visible, well-

    known, simply disappear?

    The answer was as troubling as it was obvious: he''d nned this. All of it. The bombs, the evidence, the escape. Every detail meticulously arranged over months, perhaps years.

    This wasn''t a crime of passion. This was calcted hatred, refined like high-

    grade uranium, deadly and precise. Tomorrow night, Preston would try to destroy the control center. To kill dozens of innocent people. To cripple the city''s power grid and bring Victoria Kane''s empire crashing d Unless Morgan found him first.

    The city lights blurred as exhaustion crept in. Morgan rubbed his eyes, knowing he should sleep but too wired to even consider it.

 Chapter 140

    Herod''s phone rang at 3:17 AM. The cheap motel room was dark except for the blue light of his burner phone cutting through the ckness. He squinted at the screen. Unknown number. His finger hovered ove

    "Hello?"

    "They found everything." The voice on the

    other end was hushed, stressed, Derek Martinez, his contact at the FBI. "Your business card in the wreckage. Your

    fingerprints on the detonator parts. ns for the bombings in your apartment." Herod sat up, suddenly wide awake. "What ns? I never kept anything in the apartment."

    "Well, someone did. Blueprints of the substations. Notebooks with st calctions. A journal talking about your hatred for Victoria Kane."

    "That''s impossible. I never wrote any journal." Herod''s mouth went dry. "What else?"

    "Your emails. Detailing everything. The FBI has enough to lock you away forever." Martinez paused. "I''m risking everything telling you this. My career, my freedom."

    "I appreciate it." Herod''s mind raced. "Any mention of Rose Lewis in the evidence?"

    "Nothing. Not a trace." Martinez''s voice dropped even lower. "Look, I can''t help you anymore. They''re searching for you everywhere. Airports, train stations, the works. I need to disappear from your life now."

    The line went dead before Herod could respond.

    He sat motionless in the darkness, the truth settling over him like a heavy nket. Rose had set him up. Completely. Thoroughly. She''d nted evidence while he was out. Created a fake journal. Fabricated em And made sure none of it pointed to her.

    Herod got up and flicked on the light. The motel

    room was small and dirty, nothing like the luxury he was used to. Rose had insisted they move here two days ago, iming they needed to stay hidden.

    Now he understood why.

    She''d wanted him in this dump, away from his resources, while she set her trap. And he''d walked right into it, blind and willing.

    The bathroom door opened. Steam escaped as Rose emerged, wrapped in a thin

    towel, her hair wet from the shower. She smiled when she saw him, but the smile didn''t reach her eyes.

    "You''re up early," she said, toweling her hair. "Couldn''t sleep?"

    "I just got a call from Martinez." Herod watched her face, looking for any reaction. "The FBI found evidence in my apartment. Evidence I never put there."

    Rose''s expression didn''t change. "What kind of evidence?"

    "ns for the bombings. A journal. Emails detailing everything."

    "Someone must have broken in," she said, turning away to look for her clothes. "nted

    that stuff to frame you."

    "The funny thing is," Herod said, his voice deadly quiet, "Martinez said your name doesn''t appear anywhere in the evidence. Not once."

    Rose stilled for just a moment before continuing to sort through her clothes. "Lucky for me, I guess."

    "No, not luck." Herod stood up. "nning. Careful, detailed nning."

    Rose turned to face him, her mask finally slipping. The coldness in her eyes matched the chill

    spreading through Herod''s body.

    "What exactly are you suggesting?" she asked.

    "You set me up." The words hung in the air between them. "You arranged for evidence that points only to me. You made sure you had alibis for both bombings. You''ve been nning to make me the fall guy from beginning."

    Rose didn''t deny it. Instead, she tilted her head, studying him like a scientist might observe ab specimen. "And if I did? What would you do about it?" Sessfully unlocked!

    The question caught him off guard. He had expected denial, ou

    maybe even tears. Not this calm admission.

    "I could go to the FBI," he said. "Tell them everything. About your involvement, your nning."

    "With what proof?" Roseughed, a harsh sound that scraped

    his nerves raw. "Your word against the mountain of evidence showing you acted

    alone? A desperate attempt to shift me from a guilty man?"

    She was right, and they both knew it. He had nothing to prove her involvement, while she had carefully built a case that would bury him.

    "Why?" he asked, his voice breaking slightly. "I thought we were in this together. I thought..." He couldn''t finish the sentence. It sounded pathetic even in his head.

    "You thought I loved you?" Rose dropped her towel and began dressing, unconcerned with her nakedness. "Poor Herod. Always wanting what he can''t have."

    Her casual cruelty cut deeper than he expected. Despite everything, some foolish part of him had believed their connection was real. The nights they''d spent nning, talking, making love, had it all been strategy on her part?

    "I gave you everything," he said. "Money. Resources. I helped you go after Camille. Why turn on me?"

    Rose pulled

    on her shirt and faced him. "Because someone needs to take the me, and it was never going to be me. I''ve spent my life being careful, covering my tracks. Did you really think I''d risk everything now?" "So what happens next?" Herod asked, feeling hollow. "The FBI catches me while you walk away clean?"

    "That''s one option." Rose sat on the bed, crossing her legs. "Or we could make a new n."

    Something in her tone made him wary. "What kind of n?"

    "We still need to hit the main control center. One final blow to bring down Camille and Victoria." Rose

    smiled, the expression not touching her eyes. "You''re already facing life in prison for the first two bombings. What''s one more? Especially if it means hurting them where it counts?"

    Herod stared at her, unable to believe what he was hearing. "You want me to keep helping you, knowing you''ve set me up to take the fall?"

    "I''m offering you a chance toplete what we started." Rose stood and moved toward him, cing her hand on his chest. "To make Victoria and Camille pay, just like we nned."

    Her touch, once exciting, now made his skin crawl. Yet he couldn''t pull away. Despite everything, some broken

    part of him still craved her approval, her touch, her presence.

    "And afterward?" he asked.

    "Afterward, I help you escape. Get you out of the country with new identity papers, enough money to start over."

    It was a lie. He knew it was a lie. Yet he found himself considering it, weighing his options. The FBI was closing in. His life

    as he knew it was

    over. What did he have to lose by ying along with her n a little longer?

    "You''re asking me to trust you," he said. "After learning you''ve betrayed me."

    Rose''s fingers moved to his face, tracing his jaw. ˇ°I''m asking you

    to finish what we started. Together."

    "Until you no longer need me."

    Her smile turned predatory. "Everyone leaves eventually, Herod. At

    least with me, the ride is exciting while itsts."

    Herod searched her face, looking for any sign of genuine feeling, any crack in her perfect mask. He

    found nothing but cold. calction.

    "You never cared about me at all, did you?" he asked.

    "I cared about what you could provide," Rose answered, her honesty

    brutal. "Money. Connections. The means to hurt Camille. And you delivered beautifully."

    The admission should have angered him, should have sent him storming out. Instead, it created a strange calm. The final illusion had been stripped away. He saw Rose clearly now, not as a partner or lover, but Just as she had done with Stefan. With her parents. With Camille.

    And now with him.

    "We need to leave this motel," Rose said, moving away to pack her bag. "The

    FBI might trace Martinez''s call. I know another ce we can stay while we n

    the control center attack."

    Herod watched her efficient movements, the way she packed only essentials, ready to disappear at a moment''s notice. She was offering him a poisoned choice: continue helping her and face certain capture aft "What''s it going to be, Herod?" Rose asked, zipping her bag closed. "Are you in or out?"

    The smart choice was to run. To get as far from Rose as possible. To try

    to save himself.

    But where would he go? His ounts were frozen, his home watched, his face on every news channel. And the thought of being alone, without Rose, created a hollow feeling in his chest that frightened him mo When had he be so dependent on her? When had she be his entire

    world?

    "I''m in," he said, the words tasting like ash in his mouth.

    Rose''s smile was triumphant. "I knew you would be." She tossed him his jacket. "Now let''s go. We have one more job to do"

    As they left the motel room, Herod felt like a man walking to his own execution. Rose had destroyed him, used him, set him up to take the fall for her crimes. Yet here he was, following her into the night, unable He could still turn around, still go to the FBI and tell them everything. They might not believe him, but at least he''d have tried to do the right thing.

    Instead, he got into the passenger seat of the stolen car Rose had acquired, watching as she started the engine.

    "Where are we going?" he asked.

    "Somewhere they won''t find us," she answered, pulling onto the empty street. "Somewhere we can n our final move." As the city lights blurred past, Herod realized the truth about himself. He wasn''t just Rose The knowledge should have shamed him. Instead, it

    brought only a dull eptance.

    Rose reached over and squeezed his hand, the gesture almost caring. "It''ll be over soon," she promised. "One more job, and Victoria and Camille will pay for everything they''ve done."

    Herod nodded, not

    trusting himself to speak. He knew what "over" meant for him. Prison, if he was lucky. Death, if he wasn''

    But as the car sped through the night, taking them toward whatever end Rose had nned, he couldn''t bring himself to care. He had given her everything, his money, his future, his freedom.

    And still, it wasn''t enough.

    It would never be enough.

 Chapter 141

    Victoria Kane stared at the medical report on her desk, the words blurring as her eyes filled with unwanted tears. The cancer had spread faster than expected. Six months, maybe less, was all the time she had

    Her own reflection stared back at her, thinner now, her face pale and drawn from thetreatments that weren''t working. The doctor had suggested stopping them, focusing instead onfort measures. "Quality of needed time. Time to secure Camille''s future. Time to make sure her daughter by choice would be protected when Victoria was gone.

    Her assistant''s voice came through the inte. "Mrs. Lewis has arrived."

    Victoria straightened her jacket, checked her reflection once more, and squared her shoulders. No one, not even Margaret Lewis, would see her weakness today.

    "Send her in."

    Margaret Lewis stepped into the office, hesitating just inside the doorway. The mother of the daughter Victoria had imed as her own. Once, Victoria had hated this woman for her blindness, for choosing Rose "Thank you foring," Victoria said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk.

    Margaret sat, her hands fidgeting with her purse.

    "Your message said it was about Camille."

    "Yes." Victoria lowered herself into her chair, fighting not to show how much the simple movement pained her. "I need to speak with you about Camille''s future."

    ˇ°Her future?ˇ± Margaret''s eyebrows rose. "I thought that was firmly in your hands."

    "For now." Victoria pushed a small button on

    her desk, and the office windows darkened, giving themplete privacy." But my time is limited."

    "What do you mean?"

    Victoria rarely showed her cards to anyone, but death had

    a way of changing the rules. "I''m dying, Mrs. Lewis. Cancer. It''s spread to my liver and bones."

    Margaret''s shock showed inly on her face. "Does Camille know?"

    "No." Victoria shook her head. "She thinks the surgery was sessful. That I''m recovering."

    "Why lie to her?"

    "To protect her. She has enough to deal with right now. Rose is still out there, still dangerous." Victoria leaned forward. ". And Camille would put everything aside

    to care for me if she knew the truth. Her work. Her rtionship with Pierce. Her own healing. I can''t allow that."

    Margaret studied Victoria''s face. "So why tell me? We''ve hardly been allies."

    "Because I''m running out of time to secure what matters." Victoria''s voice hardened. "And despite everything, you''re still Camille''s mother. She may need you when I''m gone."

    The words seemed to hit Margaret like a physical blow. "You''ve been more of a mother to her this past year than I was for decades."

    "That''s not entirely true." Victoria''s voice softened. "You raised her to be kind. To be strong in ways I never understood until

    lives." I met her. You gave her eighteen good years before Rose entered your

    Tears filled Margaret''s eyes. "And then I failed her. Completely."

    Victoria nodded, not offering falsefort. "Yes. You chose wrong. Repeatedly. But now you have a chance to choose differently." "Is that why I''m here? For absolution?"

    "No." Victoria shook her head. "I''m not in the business of forgiveness. I''m here to make sure Camille is protected when I''m gone."

    Margaret straightened in her chair. "Protected from Rose, you mean."

    "From Rose. From opportunists who will see her as Victoria Kane''s inexperienced

    heir. From her own tendency to see the best in people who don''t deserve it." Victoria coughed, a harsh sound that left her breathless for a moment. When she continued, her voice was rougher. "I need to know no matter what."

    "Of course I will." Margaret sounded offended by the question. "She''s my daughter."

    "She was your daughter when Rose manipted her. When Stefan betrayed her. When she

    tried to tell you the truth and you chose not to believe her." Victoria''s eyes were cold. "Being your daughter wasn''t enough to protect her then."

    Margaret flinched but didn''t look away. "I''ve learned from my mistakes."

    "Have you?" Victoria pressed. "If Rose appeared tomorrow with tears and a convincing story, would you wee her back? Would you urge Camille to forgive her again?"

    The question hung between them. Margaret''s hands trembled slightly as she sped

    them in herp.

    "No," she said finally, her voice firm. "Never

    again. Rose tried to have my daughtered. No mother could forgive that."

    Victoria studied her face, looking for deception. Finding none, she nodded slowly. "Good. Because

    Rose will return. People like her always do. And when she does, Camille will need people who see clearly. Who won''t be fooled by whatever mask Rose wears next."

    "I won''t be fooled," Margaret promised. "Neither will Richard. We''ve read the journals. We''ve seen

    the evidence. We know who Rose really is now."

    Victoria felt a wave of pain wash through her body. She closed her eyes briefly, waiting for it to pass. When she opened them, Margaret was watching her with concern. "You need medical attention," Margaret said. "I''ll call-ˇ°,

    "No." Victoria''s voice was sharp. "I''ve seen every specialist worth

    seeing. There''s nothing more to be done." She took a shaky breath. "Which is why this conversation is so important. I''ve made legal arrangements for Camille.

    Financial provisions. But money and power

    aren''t enough. She''ll need family. Real family."

    "We want to be there for her," Margaret said softly. "We''ve been trying to rebuild our rtionship. It''s slow, but..."

    "There''s no more time for slow," Victoria cut her off. "I need your promise now. That you''ll support Camille unconditionally. That you''ll stand with her against Rose, against anyone who tries to use her or hurt her. Margaret''s

    chin lifted slightly. "I promise. I should have made that choice years ago."

    Victoria nodded, some of

    the tension leaving her body. "And Pierce? What do you think of him?"

    "He clearly loves her," Margaret said. "And she loves him. They seem good together."

    "They are." Victoria agreed. "Better

    than I expected. He''s been good for her." She paused. "I''ve made my peace with him. With others too."

    "Others?"

    Victoria smiled

    thinly. "Death focuses the mind wonderfully, Mrs. Lewis. I''ve spent decades building a fortress of grudges and vendettas. Now I find myself... clearing ounts."

    "Forgiveness doesn''t seem like your style," Margaret observed.

    "Not forgiveness," Victoria corrected. "Reconciliation where possible. Resolution where necessary." She looked down at her desk, at the medical report she''d pushed aside. "I''ve made mistakes too, you know. H

    "Like who?"

    Victoria considered the question. "Like you. I took Camille from you."

    Margaret shook her head. "No. We lost her through

    our own blindness. You saved her."

    "Perhaps." Victoria paused, feeling another wave of pain. "But I also wanted to punish you. To show you what a real mother would do for her child."

    The admission hung in the air between them. Victoria was surprised by how much lighter she felt having said it aloud.

    "Were you a real mother to your own daughter?" Margaret asked quietly. "Before she died?"

    The question should have angered her. Instead, Victoria felt a strange urge to answer honestly. "No. I was too busy building my empire. Too focused on proving myself in a man''s world." Her voice dropped. "Sop her."

    "I''m sorry," Margaret said, and seemed to mean it.

    Victoria waved away

    the sympathy. "That''s why I took in Camille. She reminded me of Sophia. Of who she might have be if I''d protected her better." She looked directly at Margaret. "I won''t make the same mistake with Camille "And after that?" Margaret asked. "What then?"

    "After that, she''ll have you. And Pierce. And the tools I''ve given her to protect herself." Victoria''s voice strengthened with determination. "But I need your word. Your solemn promise that you''ll be the mother she Margaret stood, unexpected strength in her posture. "I promise. On my life. I choose

    Camille. I will always choose Camille from now on."

    Victoria nodded, satisfied. "Then there''s one more thing I need from you"

    "What''s that?"

    "Don''t tell Camille about my condition. Not yet. Let her focus on the

    Phoenix Grid, on Rose''s threats. Let her have this time without the shadow of my death hanging over her."

    Margaret frowned. "She deserves to know."

    "She deserves peace," Victoria countered. "Time to be happy with Pierce. Time to focus

    on building something, not losing

    someone."

    "When will you tell her?"

    "When the time is right. When I can''t hide it anymore." Victoria sighed. "Or when the end is near enough that she won''t have long to suffer through my decline."

    Margaret looked as if she wanted to argue, then nodded reluctantly. "I''ll keep your secret. For now. But don''t wait too long. Victoria. She''ll never forgive you if you don''t give her the chance to say goodbye." Vict Margaret returned the smile, tentative but real. "Perhaps we both are, in our

    own ways."

    As their meeting concluded and Margaret prepared to leave, Victoria felt a strange sense of peace. One more piece secured for Camille''s future. One more protection in ce for when Victoria was gone. She watched Margaret leave, then turned back to the medical report. Six months. Maybe less.

    It would have to be enough time

    to finish what she''d started. To make peace where she could, to

    settle old scores where she must, and to make sure Camille would be surrounded by people who truly loved her

    when Victoria was gone.

    Outside her window, the sun broke through the clouds, sending shafts of golden light across the city. Victoria touched the ss, feeling its warmth.

    "Be happy, Camille," she whispered to the empty room. "Be strong. Be loved."

    The words felt like a prayer, like a promise, like a goodbye.

 Chapter 142

    The morning news red from the small TV in theirtest hideout, a run-

    down motel on the outskirts of the city. Herod sat on the edge of the bed, watching his own face sh across the screen. The reporter''s voice filled the cramped room.

    "Federal authorities have issued an arrest warrant

    for Herod Preston, naming him as the primary suspect in the Phoenix Grid bombings. Officials cite overwhelming evidence found in Preston''s apartmen including detailed ns and materials matching those use Rose emerged from the bathroom, her wet hair wrapped in a towel. "Turn that off, she snapped. "We already know what they''re saying."

    Herod didn''t move. His eyes

    remained fixed on the screen as the reporter continued.

    "Sources close to the investigation reveal Preston had a long-

    standing grudge against Victoria Kane, whosepany developed the Phoenix Grid. If convicted, Preston faces terrorism charges that could carry multiple life sentences without possibility of parole."

    Life in prison. The words echoed in Herod''s mind. A lifetime behind bars for borbs that were

    never meant to kill. A future destroyed for a n that wasn''t even his.

    "I said turn it off!" Rose grabbed the remote and shut off the TV. "Why are you torturing yourself with this garbage?"

    Herod looked at her,

    really looked at her. The woman he thought he loved. The woman who had set him up to take the fall for everything.

    "My father''s oldwyer called," he said quietly.

    Rose froze. "What? When?"

    "This morning. While you were in the shower." Herod rubbed his hands over his face. "He saw the news. He talked about dishonoring my family''s memory."

    "You didn''t tell him where we are, did you?" Rose''s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

    "No." Herod stood, walking to the grimy window to

    look out at the parking lot. "He reminded me of what Charles would think. How disappointed he would be in what I''ve be."

    Roseughed, the sound harsh in the

    small room. "Your brother killed himself because of Victoria Kane. He''d understand revenge better than anyone."

    "No." Herod turned to face her. "We both

    know that''s not true. I told you what Charles was like when we first talked about working together. He was gentle. Kind. When Victoria destroyed our family business, he couldn''t bear the shame, the failure. But "Then he was weak," Rose said coldly.

    Something snapped inside Herod. "He was better than me. Better than both of us." His voice shook with emotion. "He wouldn''t have nted bombs. He wouldn''t have risked innocent lives." Rose watched him with calcting eyes. "What''s gotten into you? Yesterday you were fine with our ns. Now suddenly you''re having

    a moral crisis?"

    Herod

    sank back onto the bed, the weight of his choices crushing down on him. "I keep thinking about Charles. About what he would think. About how I''ve dishonored everything he stood for." "Your brother is dead," Rose said bluntly. "Your parents killed themselves rather than face reality. You''re the only Preston left. You get to decide what the name means now."

    The casual cruelty in her voice cut through him. How had he not seen this side of her before? How had he been so blind? "You never cared about avenging my family, did you?" he asked quietly. "You only cared "We wanted the same thing," Rose insisted, sitting beside him. "Revenge against the Kanes. Justice for what they did to us.". "No," Herod shook his head. "You wanted Camille''s life. Her identity. I was just usefu Something dark shed in Rose''s eyes. "You''re being ridiculous."

    "Am I?" Herod stood again, unable to bear her cle Sessfully unlocked! you. Listening to you. The way you talk about Camille isn''t normal. It''s obsessive. You don''t just want to destroy her, you want to b "Shut up," Rose hissed.

    ˇ°It makes sense now," Herod continued, the pieces

    falling into ce. "Why you took her husband. Why you tried to take her parents. Why you hate that she''s

    Victoria''s heir. It was never about hurting her, it was about recing her."

    Rose stood, her face contorted with rage. "I said shut up!"

    "What''s your n after this, Rose?" Herod pressed. "After you destroy Camillepletely? Will you try to take her ce with Victoria too? Be the daughter she never had?"

    Rose pped him, the sound cracking through the room. "You know nothing about me."

    Herod touched his stinging cheek, staring at this woman he thought he knew. "I know you set me up to take the fall for everything. I know you left evidence in my apartment. I know you made sure you had alibis Fear flickered in Rose''s eyes before she masked it with anger. "That''s insane. Why would I do that?"

    "Because you never nned for us to be together after this was over, Herod said quietly. I was always going to be the scapegoat. The crazy bomber with a grudge against Victoria Kane,"

    "If that''s what you believe, then we have nothing left to discuss," Rose said coldly, turning away to gather her things.

    Herod watched her pack, a strange calm settling over him. "Thewyer reminded me of something Charles used to say."

    Rose didn''t look up. "I don''t care what your dead brother said."

    "He said it''s

    never toote to be the person you should have been." Herod''s voice was soft but steady. "I''ve been living with anger for so long. ming Victoria Kane for everything bad in my life. Using that as an excuse to "Spare

    me the sermon." Rose zipped her bag closed. "We need to leave. Now," She nced at her watch. "I have a contact meeting us at the bus station in an hour. He''ll get us new IDs, enough to cross the border." Herod didn''t move. "I''m not going with you."

    "Don''t be stupid." Rose grabbed his arm. "If you stay, they''ll catch you. You''ll spend the rest of your life in prison."

    "Maybe that''s what I deserve." Herod pulled his arm away. "For the bombs. For working with you. For betraying everything my brother stood for."

    "This is ridiculous." Rose threw his jacket at him. "Get dressed. We''re leaving in five minutes."

    Herod caught the jacket but didn''t put it on. "Why did you do it, Rose? Why set me

    up to take all the me?"

    Her expression hardened. "I didn''t."

    "Stop lying," Herod said, surprising himself with how calm he felt. "Just tell me the truth. Once. Was I ever anything to you besides a useful tool?" Something flickered in Rose''s eyes, hesitation, perhaps, or calction. Then her face softened, and she sat beside him, taking his hand.

    "Of course you were," she said, her voice gentle. "You still are. I care about you, Herod. That''s why I need you toe with me now. Before it''s toote." The performance was wless, the concerned lover, the devoted partner. If he hadn''t already seen behind her mask, he might have believed her. "You''re very good," he said quietly. "I almost believe you."

    Rose''s grip on his hand tightened painfully. "We need to go. Now."

    Herod pulled his hand away and stood. "I''m done running, Rose. I''m done being your puppet."

    Anger shed across her face. "If you turn yourself in, they''ll

    make you tell them everything. I''ll be implicated."

    "Isn''t that what you''re afraid of?" Herod asked. "That I''ll tell them the truth? That the bombings were your idea? That you nned everything?"

    "They''ll never believe you," Rose said, but uncertainty tinged her voice. "You''re the one with the grudge against Victoria Kane. You''re the one with the fingerprints at the bomb sites. You''re the one with the ns "ns you put there," Herod said. "But you made one mistake."

    "What mistake?" Rose demanded.

    "You got greedy. The fake journals, the blueprints, it was too much. Too perfect. It looks staged."

    Rose''s face paled slightly. "You''re delusional."

    "Am I?" Herod walked to his

    jacket and pulled something from the pocket. A small digital recorder. "I''ve been recording our conversations, Rose. For days now. Ever since I suspected you were setting me up."

    Rose lunged for the recorder, but Herod held it out of reach. "It''s toote. I''ve already made copies. Sent them to people who will know what to do with

    them if anything happens to me."

    "You''re lying," Rose hissed, but doubt showed in her eyes.

    "Maybe." Herod pocketed the recorder. "But can you risk it?"

    They stood facing each other, the air thick with tension. In Rose''s eyes, Herod saw something he''d never seen before, fear.

    Chapter 142 Real fear.

    "What are you going to do?" she asked finally.

    "What Charles would have wanted me to do." Herod picked up his phong from the nightstand. Turn myself in. Tell them everything. Take responsibility for my part in this madness." "They''ll lock you up forever," Rose warned, a hint of desperation in her voice.

    "Probably," Herod agreed. "But at least I''ll be able to look at myself in the mirror again."

    Rose watched him, her mind visibly racing. Then she smiled, that slow, confident smile that had once made his heart race. Now it just made him sad.

    "You won''t do it," she said. "You''re too scared. Too weak. That''s why I had to n everything. Why I had to push you to act." Herod shook his head. "You''re wrong. I was weak when I let you manipte me. When I helped you hurt innocent people. I''m finding my strength now."

    He dialed a number on his phone. Rose watched, her confidence faltering.

    "Who are you calling?" she demanded.

    "The FBI." Herod held her gaze as he raised the phone to his ear. "It''s time to end this."

    Rose grabbed her bag and rushed to the door. "You''re making a terrible mistake."

    "No," Herod said quietly. "I already made my mistakes. Now I''m trying to fix them."

    As Rose flung open the door, Herod spoke into the phone. "My name is Herod Preston. I want to turn myself in. But first, I need to tell you about Rose Lewis."

    Rose froze in the doorway, hatred burning in her eyes. "You''ll regret this," she hissed.

    "I already regret so much," Herod said. "But not this."

    The door mmed behind her. Through the thin curtains, Herod watched Rose run across the parking lot, her figure growing smaller as she disappeared into the distance.

    On the phone, a voice asked for his location. Herod gave it, then sat heavily on the bed.

    "Sir? Are you still there?" the voice asked.

    "Yes," Herod said, a strange peace settling over him. "I''m ready."

    As he waited for them to arrive, Herod thought of his brother Charles. Of his gentle smile. His kindness. His integrity. "I''m sorry, Charles," he whispered to the empty room. "For everything. But I''m trying to make Outside, sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder. Coming for him. Coming to end one chapter of his life and begin another, one of punishment, of atonement.

    Herod closed his eyes, picturing his brother''s face. For the first time in years, he didn''t see disappointment there. Just the gentle understanding Charles had always shown him, even when he didn''t deserve it. The sirens grew louder. Closer. Herod opened his eyes and stood, straightening his shoulders.

    It was time to face what he had done.

 Chapter 143

    Rose ran across the motel parking lot, her mind racing faster than her feet. The worn soles of her expensive shoes pped against cracked asphalt as panic wed at her chest. Herod was going to tell the FBI She reached her car, not her car, really, but one of

    Herod''s cars. Her hands shook ashe fumbled with the keys. The recorder. The damned recorder he''d shown her. How long had he been recording their conversations? What exactly had she said? Rose stopped, the key halfway to the lock.

    She couldn''t run. Not yet. Not while Herod sat in that motel room with a phone pressed to his ear, her name on his lips, and evidence of her crimes in his pocket.

    In the distance, sirens wailed. Still far away, buting closer.

    Rose looked back at Room 17, its faded blue door visible from where she stood. Behind that door sat the man who

    could destroy everything she''d built. Everything she''d sacrificed for.

    If he talked, it was over.

    If he lived, she was finished.

    Rose reached into her bag, her fingers wrapping around the cold metal of the gun she''d bought from one of Anton Bessonov''s men. She''d never fired it. Had never nned to. It was just insurance, protection a rough types she had to deal with for their n.

    Now it was her only option.

    The weight of the weapon felt strange in her hand as she pulled

    it from her bag. She''d watched enough movies to know how to hold it, how to aim. But the reality of it, the solid heaviness of death in her palm, made her stomach turn.

    Rose didn''t allow herself to hesitate. Hesitation was for weak people. For people like Camille, always looking for someone else to make decisions for her. Rose wasn''t weak. She''d proven that time and again. The sirens grew louder. Minutes, maybe seconds before they arrived.

    She walked back toward Room 17, each step steady despite the storm inside her mind. All those years fighting to escape the foster

    system. All those years pretending to be the perfect adopted daughter. All those

    years watching Camille get everything Rose deserved.

    She wouldn''t let Herod take it all away. Not now. Not when she was so close to winning.

    Outside Room 17, Rose paused, listening. Through the thin door, she could hear Herod''s voice, the words unclear but the tone unmistakable. He was telling them. Giving them details. Betraying her. Rose raised the gun, aimed at the door, and pulled the trigger.

    The explosion of sound shocked her. The gun jumped in her hand, the recoil stronger than she expected. A hole appeared in the cheap wooden door.

    Inside, Herod''s voice stopped.

    Not enough. She couldn''t be sure. She fired again.

    And again. Three holes now punctured the door, forming a rough triangle.

    Silence from inside the room.

    Rose stepped closer, pressed her ear to the door. Nothing. Not even movement.

    Had she hit him? Was he dead? Wounded?

    She had to know. Had to be sure.

    With her left hand, Rose turned the doorknob slowly. The door swung open with a creak.

    Herody

    on the floor near the bed, the phone fallen from his hand. Blood spread across his chest, staining his white shirt with expanding circles of red. His eyes were open, staring at the ceiling, his mouth moving slightly "Rose," he managed, the name barely audible.

    Sessfully unlocked!

    She stepped into the room, the gun still raised. You should we betrayed me," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.

    "They''ll... know..." His words came between shallow breaths.

    "They''ll know nothing," Rose replied. "By the time they find you, I''ll be gone. And if theye after me, I''ll tell them you were obsessed with me. That you forced me to help you. That I was afraid for my life."

    Herod''s eyes found hers, filled with a rity that unnerved her. Even dying, he saw through her. They

    wt bebevey "They always believe me, Herod." Rose''s finger tightened on the trigger again. "Everyone always does fmvery convers He tried to reach for the phone that had skittered across the floor. Rose steppe hand, grinding it under her hed he gasped in pain.

    "Where''s the recorder?" she demanded.

    Herod''s eyes closed briefly, then opened again. The ghost of a smile touched his lips "Gone

    "Don''t lie to me." Rose knelt beside him, keeping the gun aimed at his head while her free hand searched his pockets. Nothing. "Where is it?"

    "Safe." Blood bubbled at the corner of his mouth. "Evidence... against you."

    Panic surged through Rose again. The sirens were closer

    now, maybe only blocks away. "Tell me where it is, or 13 make yourst moments very painful."

    Herod''s breathing had grown morebored. Each word seemed to cost him tremendous effort. "You can''t hurt me anymore."

    Rose stood, aiming the gun directly at his face. "Last chance. Where''s the recorder?"

    "With... someone... who''ll know... what to do..." Herod''s voice faded to a whisper. "Charles... would be... proud

    Rage exploded in Rose''s chest. Even dying, Herod

    defied her. Even with a gun pointed at his face, he wouldn''t give her what she wanted.

    Her finger tightened on the trigger.

    The sirens screamed into the parking lot outside, red and blue lights shing through the thin curtains. Car doors mmed. Voices shoutedmands.

    Rose didn''t have time for a clean shot anymore. She needed to run.

    She fired once more, the bullet striking the floor beside Herod''s head. Not a kill shot, but enough to make her point. This isn''t over," she hissed, then turned and ran for

    the bathroom window.

    It was small, but Rose was smaller. She forced it open and squeezed through, dropping into the narrow alley behind the motel. Her car was out front, now blocked by FBI vehicles. She''d have to find another wa Behind her, shouts came from the motel room. They''d found Herod. Soon they''d be looking for her.

    Rose ran through the alley, away from the motel, away from the

    sirens, away from the man she''d shot but not killed. Her mind raced with possibilities, contingency ns forming and dissolving with

    each step.

    Herod might survive. He might tell them everything. But without the recorder, without proof, it would be his word against hers. And Rose had always been very good at making people believe her.

    She''d

    need a new identity. New papers. Money. She''d had all of that arranged already, in case their n went wrong. In case they needed to disappear after destroying Camille and Victoria Kane. Now she''d use those preparations to save herself.

    Rose slowed to a walk as she reached a busier street. She couldn''t look like

    she was running. Couldn''t draw attention to herself. She smoothed her hair, adjusted her clothing, and

    wiped the fear from her face. The gun went back into her bag. hidden beneath a scarf.

    A taxi approached. Rose raised her hand, forcing her most charming smile.

    "Where to?" the driver asked as she slid into the back seat.

    "Bus station," Rose said. "I''ve got a long journey ahead."

    As the taxi pulled away, Rose watched

    police cars speed past in the opposite direction. More units responding to the shooting. More people who would soon be looking for her.

    She leaned back against the seat, forcing her breathing

    to slow, forcing her mind to focus. This wasn''t over. She could still win. She just needed to adapt. To evolve her n.

    Herod had been a tool. A useful one, but receable. She''d find another way to destroy Camille. Another path to the life that should have been hers all along.

    And if Herod lived? If he told them everything?

    Rose touched the gun in her bag, her finger tracing its deadly shape through the fabric.

    Then she''d just have to silence him permanently. Him and anyone else who stood in her way.

    The FBI would be watching airports, train stations, bus terminals. They''d have her photo, her description. But Rose Lewis had disappeared before. Had be someone new. She could do it again.

    For now, she needed to get out of the city. To vanish until the

    hunt died down. And then, when they least expected it, she would return.

    After all, she still had unfinished business with Camille.

    Special Agent Diana Chen

    crouched beside the bleeding man on the motel room floor. The medical team worked frantically to stabilize him, their hands moving with practiced efficiency.

    "Three gunshot wounds to the chest," one of them reported. "He''s losing blood fast

    "Can he talk?" Chen asked.

    The medic shook his head. "Not now. Maybe not ever."

    Chen stood, surveying the room. Three bullet holes in the door. Shell casings on the carpet near the entrance. Signs of a hasty departure through the bathroom window. "Rose Lewis," said Agent Morgan, joining her. "Room''s registered under her name. Paid cash for three nights."

    "She was careless," Chen remarked.

    "Or in a hurry." Morgan pointed to the open drawers, clothes strewn about. "They left in a rush. Split up when he decided to turn himself in.ˇ±

    "And she decided to shut him up permanently." Chen''s eyes fell on the phone on the floor beside the victim. "Was he still connected when we arrived?"

    Morgan nodded. "Call to the FBI tip line. Operator said he

    identified himself as Herod Preston, said he

    wanted to turn himself in. Then she heard gunshots and the line went dead."

    "So she shot him to keep him from talking." Chen

    looked at the man being loaded onto a stretcher, an oxygen mask covering his face, IV lines already running into his arms. "But she failed. He''s still alive."

    "For now," Morgan said grimly. "Doctor says it''s fifty-fifty at best."

    Chen watched as the medical team rushed Preston out to the waiting ambnce. "Put guards on him at the hospital. If he wakes up, I want to be the first person he talks to."

    "Already arranged." Morgan handed her an evidence bag containing

    a phone. "Found this in his jacket pocket. Tech team''s working on it now."

    "And the woman? Rose Lewis?"

    "APB is out. Everyw enforcement agency in the

    state is looking for her." Morgan''s face hardened. "She won''t get far." Chen wasn''t so sure. Women like Rose Lewis, women who could shoot a man three times and still have the presence of mind to escape thr As the team dispersed to carry out her instructions, Chen stood in the center of the room, trying to read the story written in blood and bullet holes.

    Herod Preston had been ready to confess. To implicate Rose Lewis in the bombings. And she had tried to kill him for it. What had Preston been about to reveal? What secrets was Rose Lewis willing to kill for? Chen didn''t know yet. But she would find out. And when she did, Rose Lewis would have nowhere left to

    hide.

    The chase was on.

 Chapter 144

    Camille stood at the window of her office, a cup of coffee cooling in her hands as she watched the city below. The Phoenix Grid had fully recovered from the bombings, with the repairs finished ahead of schedul Until Alexander Pierce walked in, his face grim.

    "We need to talk," he said, closing the door behind him.

    Something

    in his voice made Camille''s stomach tighten. She set down her coffee cup. "What happened?"

    Alexander

    loosened his tie, a gesture he only made when upset. "Herod Preston was shot three times in a motel room yesterday. He''d called the FBI to turn himself in, but before they got there, someone tried to kill him.ˇ± "Rose," Camille said immediately. It wasn''t a question.

    Alexander nodded. "The motel room was registered under her name. She escaped through the bathroom window. Police are still looking for her."

    Camille sank into her chair, trying to process this news. "Is Preston dead?"

    "No.

    But it''s close. He''s in intensive care, heavily guarded." Alexander sat on the edge of her desk. "The FBI thinks Rose shot him to keep him from talking. He was about to tell them everything." "About her involvement in the bombings."

    "Yes."

    Camille stared at her hands, noticing they were perfectly steady despite the storm inside her. Three years ago, news of Rose''stest violence would have shaken her. Now it just confirmed what she already kne "So Rose is on the run," Camille said. "With the FBI hunting her."

    "Yes. But that makes her more dangerous, not less." Alexander reached for Camille''s hand. "She has nothing left to lose

    now."

    Before Camille could respond, the door opened again. Victoria Kane

    swept in, her face pale but determined. Despite her recent surgery, she moved with purpose, though Camille noticed she leaned slightly on her cane.

    "You''ve told her?" Victoria asked Alexander.

    "Just now," he confirmed.

    Victoria turned to Camille. "We need to postpone the charity g."

    "What? No." Camille stood. "Everything is ready. The donors are confirmed. The hospital is counting on us."

    2

    "Rose is out there," Victoria said sharply. "She''s armed. She''s desperate. And she wants to destroy you."

    "She''s always wanted to destroy me," Camille replied, her voice steady. "That hasn''t changed."

    "What''s changed is that she''s shot a man three times and is now running from the FBI," Victoria countered. "She''s crossed a line, Camille. She''s proven she''s willing to kill."

    The three of them fell silent, the weight of Victoria''s words hanging in the air. Camille moved back to the window, looking out at the city she''d helped rebuild after Rose''s attacks. Her city now. "I won''t hide," she said finally. "I won''t cancel the g because I''m afraid of Rose."

    Victoria sighed, the sound heavy with frustration. "This isn''t about fear. It''s aboutmon sense. Basic safety."

    "It''s about sending a message," Camille insisted, turning to face her mentor. "If we cancel the g, Rose wins. She''ll know she can disrupt our lives, make us run and hide, anytime she wants." "Better disrupted than dead," Victoria said bluntly.

    Alexander watched them both, his face thoughtful. ˇ°"What if we went ahead with the g, but with increased security? My team plus Kane Industries security. The FBI might even provide protection if we tell then Victoria shook her head. "Too risky. Rose knows this event is important to Camille. She''ll see it as the perfect opportunit to strike."

    "Good," Camille said, surprising them both. "Let here."

    "Camille..." Victoria began, rm clear in her voice.

    "No, listen." Camille moved closer, her mind racing ahead. "Rose is unpredictable when she''s hiding, when she can n her attacks in secret. But if shees to the g, we''ll be ready. We''ll know where she i Chapter 144

    "You want to use the g as bait," Alexander realized, his expression torn between admiration and concer

    "Yes." Camille''s eyes burned with determination. "We find her before she finds us. End this once and for all

    Victoria stared at her adopted daughter, seeing not the broken woman she''d rescued from a parking garage, but someone new. Someone who had been forged in fire and emerged stronger. Part of her felt prou afraid

    "It''s too dangerous," Victoria insisted. "Rose has already tried to kill Herod. She won''t hesitate toe after you''

    "I''m not Herod," Camille said quietly. "I''ve never

    underestimated Rose. I know exactly what she''s capable of

    Alexander stood, moving to Camille''s side. "If we do this, we do it my way. Every guest checked and rechecked. Security at every entrance. inclothes guards throughout the event."

    "And you stay by my side the entire night," Camille added, taking his hand. "No wandering off to charm donors

    on your own."

    He smiled slightly. "I wouldn''t dream of it."

    Victoria watched them, seeing their determination, their unity. She had taught Camille to face her enemies, to show strength instead of weakness. Now her student was putting those lessons into practice, despit "You''re both insane," Victoria

    said finally. "But if you''re determined to do this, we''ll need a detailed security n. One that assumes Rose will find a way in no matter what we do."

    "Already working

    on it," Alexander assured her. "I''ll have a draft by this afternoon."

    Victoria nodded, then focused on Camille. "You understand what you''re risking, yes? Rose isn''t just

    angry anymore. She''s cornered. Desperate. The most dangerous she''s ever

    been."

    "I understand," Camille

    said, her voice soft but firm. "But I''m not the woman she tried to destroy in that parking garage. I''m not afraid of her anymore."

    Something flickered across Victoria''s face, pr¨Şde mixed with worry. "Just remember that not being afraid doesn''t make you bulletproof."

    "That''s why we have security," Camille replied with a small smile.

    Victoria didn''t return the smile. "I''ll make some calls. Add my own resources to Pierce''s team." She turned to leave, then paused at the door. "Camille, promise me one thing."

    "What?"

    "That you''ll listen to your security team. No heroics. No unnecessary risks. Rose isn''t worth dying for."

    Camille nodded solemnly. "I promise."

    After Victoria left, Alexander pulled Camille into his arms. "Are you sure about

    this? Really sure?"

    She rested her head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "Yes. I''m tired of waiting for Rose to attack. Tired of wondering where she''ll strike next." She looked up at him, her eyes clear. "It''s time to end thi "I know." Camille''s voice was firm, confident. "That''s why I''m not afraid. We face her together."

    He kissed her gently. "Together."

    As Alexander left to begin working on the security ns, Camille returned to the window. The city stretched before her, glittering in

    the afternoon sun. From this height, the people below looked tiny, fragile. Once, she had felt that way, small and breakable in a world too big and harsh. Now she

    stood tall, unafraid.

    Victoria''s voice came through on the inte. "Camille, can youe

    to my office? The security team is here."

    "On my way," she replied.

    Camille took onest look at the view from her window. She thought of how

    far she hade from that night in the parking garage. How much she had built from the ashes of

    her old life. The Phoenix Grid. Her position at Kane Industries. Her rtionship with Alexander. Her reconciliation with her parents.

    Rose had tried to take everything from her, again and again. But each time, Camille had emerged stronger.

    "Not this time, Rose," she whispered to herself. "This time, I''m ready for you."

    She straightened her shoulders and headed to Victoria''s office, where Alexander waited with the security team. They had a g to prepare for. And this time, Camille would be the one setting the trap, not walkin The door closed behind her with a soft click of finality.

    The hunt was about to begin.

 Chapter 145

    Rose paced the tiny motel room, her expensive boots wearing a path in the cheap carpet. The walls closed in on her, yellow from decades of cigarette smoke, spotted with water stains. How had ife to this? Lewis, hiding in this filthy ce while her sister lived in luxury

    The TV red the noon news. Rose turned up the volume when she heard the words "Kane Industries."

    "The annual Phoenix Foundation charity g will proceed as nned this Friday night, despite recent

    security concerns," the reporter announced "Camille Kane released a statement today confirming that the event, which raises funds for the Children''s Hospital, will not be postponed."

    The camera cut to Camille standing at a podium, looking confident and polished. "We refuse to let fear dictate our actions," she said, her voice strong. "The children who benefit from this g need our support r Rose hurled her

    coffee mug at the TV screen. It shattered, coffee sshing across Camille''s face on the screen.

    "Liar" Rose screamed. "Fake! Thief!"

    Her whole body shook with rage. Once again, Camille was ying the hero, the perfect daughter, the generous benefactor. The role that should have belonged to Rose.

    She kicked the dresser, pain shooting through her foot only fueling her anger. Everything had fallen apart. Herod was in the hospital, probably talking to the FBI right now. Her name and face were all over the ne this dump without being recognized.

    All her careful ns, destroyed. The Grid still functioned. Kane Industries still thrived. Camille still stood tall beside Victoria

    Kane.

    Rose grabbed the remote and switched off the TV before she smashed itpletely. She couldn''t afford to draw attention. Not with every cop in the city looking for her.

    She sank onto the bed, pressing her palms against her eyes. The headache that had started three days ago, when she''d shot Herod, pounded behind her temples. She hadn''t slept more than two hours at a stretch since then. Every siren made her jump. Every knock on a nearby door sent her heart racing.

    This wasn''t how it was supposed to go. She was supposed to win.

    Rose reached for her bag, pulling out the newspaper she''d bought that morning. The

    front page showed a picture of Herod being wheeled into the hospital on a stretcher. The headline read: "BOMBING SUSPECT CRITICALLY WOUNDED, POLICE SEEK FEMALE ACCOMPLICE." Aplice. The word burned in her mind. After everything she''d nned, everything she''d sacrificed, she was reduced to Herod''s "aplice." Not even the mastermind. Not even worth her own headline. Her gaze moved to the smaller article in the bottom corner: "PHOENIX FOUNDATION GALA EXPECTED TO DRAW CITY''S ELITE." Below it, details about the event. Friday night. Eight o''clock. The Grand z would be tight, the article noted, but the guest list remained impressive. Business leaders. Politicians. Celebrities.

    Rose read the article three times, her mind racing.

    Everyone who mattered would be there. Victoria Kane. Alexander Pierce. And of course, Camille. They would dress in their finest. Drink champagne. Congratte themselves on their generosity. While Rose hid in this rat hole, eating vending machine food and jumping at shadows.

    The unfairness of it all hit

    her like a physical blow. She''d been the one with the real ns, the real vision. She''d been the one willing to do whatever it took to win. And yet Camille, sweet, simple Camille who had never had to fight for any "Not this time," Rose whispered, her fingers tightening on the newspaper until it tore. "Not this time."

    She stood abruptly, a new energy

    flooding her body. The charity g was the answer. Onest strike, bigger than

    anything she''d attempted before. A final chance to destroy everything Camille had

    built.

    Rose pulled her burner phone from her bag and dialed a number from memory. It rang three times before a gruff male voice answered.

    "Who is this?"

    "It''s Lewis," Rose said quietly. "I need to speak to Anton

    A long pause. "Anton''s not talking to anyone righ

    Sessfully unlocked!

    ne the FBI is hunting."

    "Tell him I have money. A lot of it. And I need his services."

    "Lady, you''re bad news. Everyone''s looking for you."

    "Just put him on the phone," Rose snapped. "Tell him it''s about finishing the Kane job, once and for all."

    Another pause, longer this time. Then the sound of the phone changing hands.

    "Rose Lewis," said a heavily ented voice. "You have caused me much trouble"

    "I can make it worth your while, Anton," Rose said, forcing her voice to remain calm "I need help with onest job"

    "The police watch all my businesses now, thanks to you. My men are

    questioned daily."

    "I''ll pay double your usual rate," Rose offered. "Triple, if you can get me what I need by tomorrow."

    The line went quiet for so long Rose feared he''d hung up. Finally, Anton spoke again, "What exactly do you need?"

    Rose smiled, the first real smile in days. "Something that will make a statement. Something

    big enough

    that they can''t ignore it. And I need it delivered to the Grand za Hotel

    "For the charity g," Anton said, not a question. "You know security will be impossible to prate."

    "Not for the right people with the right tools." Rose sat down at the small desk in the corner of the room, pulling out a pen and notepad. "Here''s what I need..."

    For the next twenty minutes, she detailed her requirements. Anton listened without interruption. When she finished, he named a price that would have made most people gasp. Rose didn''t even flinch. "Half now, half when you deliver," she said.

    "Cash only. And I''ll need the first payment today."

    "I''ll have it within the hour."

    After ending the call, Rose tore the pages

    from the notepad and burned them in the bathroom sink, watching the ashes swirl down the drain. No evidence. No trail. Nothing that

    could be tied back to her.

    She gazed at her reflection in the spotted mirror. Dark circles shadowed her eyes. Her

    newly dyed ck hair hung limply around her pale

    face. She barely recognized herself.

    But soon, everyone would know her name. Not as Herod''s aplice. Not as Camille''s sister. But as Rose Lewis, the woman who brought down Kane Industries and everyone connected to it. Rose sshed water on her face, the cool liquid washing away some of the exhaustion. She had preparations to make. Money to gather. ns to finalize.

    The charity g was only three days away. Camille and Victoria thought they were untouchable in their tower of ss and steel. They thought their money and their security teams would keep them safe. They were wrong.

    Rose dried her face and began packing her

    few belongings. She couldn''t stay here anymore. She needed a new hiding ce, somewhere closer to the Grand za Hotel. Somewhere she could watch the chaos unfold.

    As she zipped her bag closed, Rose felt calmer than she had in days. The path forward was clear now. One final strike. Onest

    chance at the revenge she deserved.

    Camille had taken everything from her, her future, her reputation, her freedom. Now Rose would take everything from Camille, starting with the precious charity g she refused to cancel.

    The Phoenix Foundation. How fitting that it would all end in mes.

    Rose checked the room onest time, making sure she''d left nothing behind. Then she slipped out the back door, pulling a baseball cap low over her face.

    Three days until the g. Three days to prepare for the biggest night of her life.

    Three days until Camille Kane learned what true loss felt like.

 Chapter 146

    Pain came first. A deep, burning ache in his chest that seemed to pulse with each heartbeat. Then sounds filtered in, the steady beep of machines, the squeak of rubber- soled shoes on linoleum, hushed voices just beyond his reach

    Herod Preston opened his eyes

    The hospital room swam into focus slowly White ceiling Blue curtains Clear tubes running into his arms. And a man in a dark suit sitting beside his bed, watching him with tired eyes.

    "Mr. Preston," the man said, leaning forward. Im Special Agent Morgan with the FBI. Can you hear me?"

    Herod tried to speak, but his throat

    felt like sandpaper. A nurse appeared, holding a small cup of water with a straw. He sipped, the cool liquid both painful and soothing as it went down.

    "Yes," he managed finally, his voice a raspy whisper. "I hear you."

    Agent Morgan nodded to someone Herod couldn''t see. A woman stepped into view, also in a dark suit. ''Agent Chen," she introduced herself. "You''ve been unconscious for four days, Mr. Preston, Do you remem The memories hit him like a physical blow. The motel room. The phone call to the FBI. Rose''s face when she realized what he was doing. The sound of gunshots. The burning pain in his chest. "Rose," he said. "Rose shot me."

    The agents exchanged nces. "Rose Lewis," Agent Morgan confirmed. "We''ve been looking for her, but she''s disappeared." Herod closed his eyes briefly, gathering his strength. Each word cost him, but he needed to speak. Needed to finally tell the

    truth.

    "She was behind everything," he said, each word careful and deliberate. "The bombings. The sabotage. All of it."

    Agent Chen pulled out a recorder. "Mr. Preston, would you be willing to make

    an official statement? You have the right to have an attorney present."

    "No attorney," Herod said. "I want to talk now. Before....." He didn''t finish the thought. Before Rose could silence him permanently. Before he lost his courage.

    Agent Morgan turned on the recorder, stating the date, time, and those present. Then he nodded to Herod. "Tell us what happened, from the beginning."

    Herod took another sip of water, organizing his thoughts. The beginning. Where was the beginning? With his family''s downfall at Victoria Kane''s hands? With his first meeting with Rose? With the moment he rea "I met Rose Lewis six months ago," he started. "She knew about my hatred for Victoria Kane. She used that. Encouraged it. Made me believe we were partners with the same goal, revenge against the Kanes." "And were you?" Agent Chen asked. "Partners?"

    Herod gave a small, bitterugh that turned into

    a wince of pain. "No. I was a tool. A convenient scapegoat with resources she needed."

    "Resources for what?" Morgan pressed.

    "Money. Connections. A name that gave her ess to ces she couldn''t go on

    her own." Herod''s voice grew stronger as he spoke, as if the words themselves

    were giving him energy. "Rose nned everything. The attacks on the Phoenix Grid. The sabotage attempts. The bombings."

    Chen leaned forward. "Are you saying Rose Lewis nted the bombs herself?ˇ±

    "Yes." Herod met her eyes. "She had training-I never asked

    where she learned it. She nted both devices. Made sure my fingerprints were onponents. My DNA at the scenes. All while establishing alibis for herself."

    "And you?" Morgan asked. "Where were you during the bombings?"

    Herod looked down at his bandaged chest. "I knew about them. I provided money. Equipment. I helped her n the damage to maximize impact while minimizing casualties."

    "But you didn''t nt the bombs yourself?"

    "No." The admission brought no relief, no absolution. "But I didn''t stop her either. That makes me guilty too." Agent Chen made notes on a small pad. "Mr. Preston, do you have any proof of what you''re telling us Herod had been waiting for this question. "The

    Sessfully unlocked!

    mentioned when I called you. Did you fir

    The agents exchanged nces again. "No recorder was found at

    the scene," Morgan said carefully.

    Herod closed his eyes, thinking. The recorder had been in his jacket pocket when Rose shot him. If the FBI didn''t have it, where was it?

    "Check the jacket I was wearing," he said. "Inside pocket. Or maybe it fell out when I was shot

    "We''ve been through your clothing, Mr. Preston, Chen said. "There was no recording device''

    A cold realization washed over Herod. ''She took it. After she

    shot me. Before you arrived"

    Morgan''s face remained impassive. "That''s convenient for your story."

    "It''s the truth," Herod insisted, frustration making his heart rate spike. The machines beside him beeped faster "Rose Lewis nned and executed the bombings. I knew about them but didn''t stop her. I''m guilty she was the one who actually nted the devices."

    "Without evidence, it''s your word against hers, Chen pointed out. And you have a strong motive to shift me

    Herod felt a wave of despair. Of course they didn''t believe him. Why would they? Rose had done her job

    too well, making sure all trails led back to him and him alone.

    But then he remembered something. A small detail that might change everything.

    "The hotel," he said suddenly. "The za Hotel."

    Morgan raised an eyebrow. "What about it?"

    *Rose established her alibis there during both bombings. Made sure she was visible, surrounded by witnesses." Herod''s words came faster now, urgent. "But she had to leave at some point. There would be a gap in the security footage. A period when she slipped out, nted the bombs, and

    returned."

    Agent Chen was writing rapidly now. "We can check the

    hotel''s security cameras."

    "Not just the main entrances," Herod added. "Service doors. Fire exits. Rose is smart, she would find a way out that wouldn''t be obvious."

    For the first time, Morgan looked genuinely interested. "Anything else?"

    Herod thought carefully. What other evidence might Rose have missed? What other trail might she have left?

    "Her phone," he said. "She used a burner for mostmunications, but sometimes she used her regr phone. Check the tower data on the nights of the bombings. It might show her location."

    "We''ll look into it," Morgan said, nomittal.

    Herod sensed their continued skepticism. He needed something more concrete, something they couldn''t ignore.

    "The storage unit," he said suddenly, the memory surfacing through the fog of pain medication.

    "What storage unit?" Chen asked.

    "In Queens. Under the

    name Sarah Miller. Unit 217 at Secure Storage on Vernon Boulevard." The details came back to him in a rush.

    "Rose kept supplies there. Equipment. Maybe ns. She thought I didn''t know about it, but I followed her once, saw her using a key with the number on it."

    Now Morgan was taking notes too. "You''re sure about this? Unit 217, Secure Storage, Vernon Boulevard?"

    "Yes." Herod felt a glimmer of hope. "And there''s more. Check her connection to Anton Bessonov. Russian businessman with ties to organized crime. She bought

    the explosives through him."

    The agents looked at each other, a silentmunication passing between them. Then Morgan turned back to Herod. "Mr. Preston, if what you''re telling us proves true, would you be willing to testify against Ros The question hung in the air. Testify against Rose. The woman he had thought he loved. The woman who had used him, betrayed him, and tried to kill him.

    "Yes," Herod said, his voice stronger now. "I''ll testify."

    "Even knowing

    that would mean admitting your own role?" Chen pressed. "You''d still face significant jail time for conspiracy."

    Herod thought of his brother Charles. Of what he would want Herod to

    do. The right thing, no matter the cost.

    "I''ll ept whatever punishment I deserve," he said quietly. "But Rose needs to be stopped

    before she hurts anyone else." Morgan nodded slowly, seeming to reassess the man

    lying

    before him. "We''ll need aplete statement. Every detail you can remember about the bombings, about Rose''s involvement, about your own actions."

    "I''ll tell you everything," Herod promised. "But there''s something else you need to know. Something urgent."

    "What''s that?" Chen asked.

    "Rose won''t stop,ˇ± Herod said, fear creeping into his voice for the first time. ˇ°The bombings were just the beginning wants to destroy Camille Kanepletely. She''ll try again. Something bigger. More dangerous "Do you know what she''s nning?" Morgan leaned forward, suddenly alert.

    Herod shook his

    head, pain shooting through his chest at the movement. "No specific ns. But I know how she thinks.

    Chapra 146

    She go after wyhave matters most to Carratia''

    "The charity g, Chen said, reatuation dawang on her face. "We in two days very sensorer has somed

    "That would be her style, Hernd agreed weakly exhaustion starting to genre km Mamun meri PitchS Complete destruction

    Morgen stood, aiready putting out this phone contact Kana industrins security Have them Kuvan yderson to be

    "n

    "It won''t be enough" Herod warned, his voice fading as fatigue washed over hans don''t onderstand how far the mists go. What she''s capable of

    "We''ll handle it, Mr. Preston, Chen assured him, but the worry in her eyes betrayed her confiden

    Herod wanted

    to say more, to make them understand the true nature of the theat Pose posed But his body had reached its first. The pain medication pulled him toward unconsciousness, the room growing word the stor "Check the storage unit," he managed to say "Stop her before. His voice trailed off as datiness damned him once more Thest thing he heard was Agent Morgan''s voice, sharp and urgent, ordering a team to Q finally be found

    As Herod drifted into unconsciousness, a strange peace settled over him. He had done it. Finally. Told the truth Chores the right path, even knowing it would lead to his own punishment.

    For the first time since his family''s downfall, Herod Preston felt something like redemption. Whether it would be enough to stop Rose remained to be seen.

 Chapter 147

    Alexander Pierce stood in the ballroom of the Grand za Hotel, watching his security team transform the elegant space into a fortress. Men in ck suits installed hidden cameras in crystal chandeliers. Others "The sniper teams will be positioned here, here, and here," his head of security exined, pointing to locations on the blueprint spread across a table. "Full view of all approaches. No one gets within a bundred The silent threats were always the deadliest.

    His phone buzzed. Stefan Rodriguez''s name shed on the screen. Alexander stepped away from the security team to take the call.

    "What do you have for me?" he asked without preamble.

    "My contact at Bessonov''s club just called," Stefan''s voice was tense, urgent. "Rose met with Anton yesterday. Paid him arge amount of cash."

    Alexander''s grip tightened on the phone. "For what?"

    "He wouldn''t say exactly. But it wasn''t just muscle. She asked for

    something special. Something with ''impact."

    A cold knot formed in Alexander''s stomach. "Explosives?"

    "Maybe. Or worse." Stefan paused. "You need to check everything thates into that ballroom. Food deliveries, Flower arrangements. Staff uniforms. Everything."

    "We already are." Alexander looked across the ballroom, where security personnel were using dogs to sniff every package, every decoration. "What else can you tell me about her tactics? How she thinks?" Stefan was silent for a moment. "Rose likes to strike where it hurts most. She won''t just go after the building or random guests. She''ll target what matters to Camille personally."

    "The Phoenix Foundation donations."

    "Yes. Or the people Camille cares about. You. Victoria. Maybe even her parents if they''re attending.ˇ±

    Alexander''s jaw tightened. "They are."

    "Then watch them closely. Rose knows hurting them would destroy Camille in a way that physical harm to Camille herself never could."

    Alexander made a mental note to assign additional security to the Lewis family and Victoria. "Anything else?"

    "Yes." Stefan''s voice dropped lower. "Rose won''te herself. Not directly. She''ll use someone else. Someone no one would suspect."

    "Like who?"

    "Someone desperate for money. Someone who needs a job. A waiter. A valet. Ast-

    minute recement for a sick staff member."

    Alexander turned toward the hotel manager, who was reviewing staff assignments nearby. "We''ll

    check every employee. Run background checks

    on everyone who enters the building."

    "It might not be enough," Stefan warned. "Rose is... creative. She thinks steps ahead."

    "So do I," Alexander said firmly. "Keep working your

    contacts. If you hear anything else, call me immediately." "I will."

    After ending the call, Alexander summoned his team

    leaders. In rapid session, he ordered additional security measures: background checks on all hotel staff extended to family members and associates; bomb- sniffing dogs to check every guest as they arrived; facial recognition software programmed with Rose''s features to scan the crowd continuously.

    "Sir,"

    one of his team leaders said hesitantly, "some of these measures are quite... intrusive. The guests may object."

    "I don''t care," Alexander said tly. "Better ufortable guests than dead ones."

    The man nodded and returned to his duties. Alexander checked his watch. Four hours until

    Camille would arrive to inspect the arrangements. Four hours

    to make this ce imprable.

    His phone rang again. Camille.

    "How''s it going?" she asked, her voice calm but with an undercurrent of tension.

    "We''re turning the Grand za into Fort Knox, Alexander assured her. "No one gets in without being thoroughly checked."

    "Stefan called," Camille said. "He told me about Rose meeting with Bessonov."

    "I''m handling it."

    A pause. "I had another nightmarest night."

    Alexander stopped pacing. Camille rarely mentioned her nightmares, though he knew she still had them sometimes." About the g?"

    "Yes." Her voice was quieter now. "Everyone was there. Smiling. Celebrating. Then everything went dark. When the lights came back on, people were screaming. There was blood on my dress."

    "It was just a dream," Alexander said gently, though his own unease deepened. "The security we have in ce..."

    "I know." Camille cut him off. "I know it''s just anxiety. But I can''t shake this feeling, Alexander. Like we''re missing something obvious."

    Alexander looked around the ballroom, at the dozens of highly trained security personnel, at the

    state-of-the-

    art equipment being installed. What could they possibly be missing?

    "I''ll go over everything again," he promised. "Triple-check every detail."

    "Thank you." She paused. "I love you, you know."

    The simple statement caught him off guard. "I love you too. Are you okay?"

    "Yes. Just... be careful. I''ll see you soon."

    After they hung

    up, Alexander stood motionless for a moment, Camille''s words echoing in his mind. The fear in her voice had been subtle but unmistakable. Not fear for herself, but for him. For everyone she loved. With renewed determination, Alexander turned to the hotel''s head of security. "I want to see theplete staff list. Everyone who will be in this building tonight. From the head chef to the parking attendants." "Yes, sir. Right away."

    As the man hurried off, Alexander''s phone buzzed with a text from Stefan: "Rose always has a backup n. Always."

    Alexander texted back: "So do I."

    But even as he returned to reviewing security protocols, a nagging doubt crept

    into his mind. What if it wasn''t enough? What if Rose had found a way around all their precautions?

    What if Camille''s nightmare was a warning?

    ***

    Two hourster, Camille stood in her apartment, staring at the gownid out

    on her bed. The deep blue silk seemed to shimmer even in the dim light of her

    bedroom. A gown fit for the hostess of the most prestigious charity event of

    the year.

    So why did looking at it fill her with dread?

    Victoria sat in the armchair by the window, watching Camille with concern. "We

    can still cancel," she

    said quietly. "No one would me us, given the circumstances."

    "No." Camille turned away from the dress. "The hospital needs this funding. And I won''t let Rose take this away from us too."

    Victoria didn''t look convinced. "Security reports just came in. Alexander has transformed the Grand za into a military zone. But even he admits there are vulnerabilities. Staff changes. Deliveries. A hundred s "Stefan is helping," Camille reminded her. "He knows how Rose thinks. What she might

    try."

    "Stefan lost to Rose once before," Victoria pointed out. "When he chose her over you. His judgment isn''t infallible."

    Camille

    sank onto the edge of the bed, smoothing the silk of the gown with her fingertips. "I had another nightmarest night." Victoria''s expression softened. "About the g?ˇ±

    "Yes." Camille looked up, meeting Victoria''s gaze. "It felt so real. So... inevitable. Like watching

    a movie where you know the ending but can''t change it."

    "Dreams aren''t prophecies," Victoria said firmly. "They''re just our fears taking shape in our sleep."

    "I know. But this feeling won''t go

    away." Camille pressed a hand to her chest. "It''s like a weight right here. A certainty that something terrible ising."

    lle,

    Victoria rose from her chair, moving with the careful grace of someone managing constant pain. She sat beside taking her hand. "Then we don''t go. We issue a statement. Send the donations directly. The hospi Camille shook her head. "If we do that, we''ll be running from Rose forever. Always wondering when she''ll strike next.

    Always looking over our shoulders. She squeezed Victoria''s hand. "I can''t live that way. Not anymore."

    Victoria studied her adopted daughter''s face, pride mingling with worry in her eyes. "You''vee so far from the woman I found in that parking garage."

    "Because of you," Camille said softly. "You taught me to face

    my fears. To transform pain into power"

    "Perhaps I taught you too well," Victoria murmured. "Sometimes wisdom lies in strategic retreat."

    "Not this time." Camille stood, renewed determination straightening her spine. "Alexander has done everything possible to secure the g. Stefan has provided insights into Rose''s tactics. We''re as prepared as Victoria rose more slowly, wincing slightly as she put weight on her left leg. The pain from her cancer was getting worse, though she tried to hide it. "Then at least promise me you''ll stay close to Alexander all nig

    "I promise."

    Victoria nodded, apparently satisfied. "I should go. My security team is waiting downstairs. I need to change for tonight."

    After Victoria left, Camille returned to staring at the gown on her bed. The feeling of

    dread hadn''t disappeared. If anything, it had grown stronger, a shadow at the edge of her consciousness that refused to be dismissed.

    She picked up her phone, scrolling to Alexander''s number. Her finger hovered over the call button. What would she say? That she was afraid of a dream? That despite all their preparations, she couldn''t shake t Camille put the phone down without calling. Alexander was already doing everything humanly possible to protect the g. Her fears would only distract him.

    Instead, she turned to get ready. As she stepped

    into the shower, Camille tried to focus on the positive. The money they would raise tonight. The children who would benefit from the new hospital wing. The statement they would make by proceeding despite the But as water cascaded over her shoulders, Camille couldn''t help but feel like she was preparing for her own funeral rather than a celebration.

    "Stop it," she told herself firmly. "This is just what Rose wants. For

    you to be afraid. To doubt yourself."

    Camille finished her shower and began drying her hair, forcing herself to go through the familiar motions of preparation. Hair. Makeup. Jewelry. The routine helped calm her nerves, pushing the nameless dread As she slipped into the blue silk gown, Camille caught her reflection in the full-

    length mirror. The woman who stared back at her looked confident, powerful, unafraid. The perfect image of Camille Kane, heir to Victoria''s empire, hostess of the most exclusive event of the season. Only her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.

    Camille took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. Whatever happened tonight, she would face it with the strength and dignity Victoria had taught her. She would not cower. Would not hide.

    Even as the shadow of her nightmare hung over her like

    a storm cloud ready to break.

    Her phone chimed with a text from Alexander: "Everything secure. Ready when you are."

    Camille replied: "On my way."

    With onest look in the mirror, she gathered her small clutch purse and headed

    for the door. The g awaited. Her guests would soon arrive. The show must go on.

    Despite the voice in her head that whispered: Danger ising. Danger ising. Danger ising.

    And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

 Chapter 148

    Camille knocked on Victoria''s office door, files clutched under her arm. The security ns for the

    g needed one final approval, and despite Victoria''s reluctance about the event, Camille knew she would want to review the details.

    When no answer came, she knocked again.

    Still silence.

    Camille turned the handle, expecting to find the office empty. Instead, she found Victoria slumped in her chair, eyes closed, face pale as paper. A small bottle of pills had tipped over on the desk, its contents sca

    Victoria''s eyes fluttered open. For a moment, confusion clouded her face, then recognition dawned. "Camille. I was just resting my eyes."

    But Camille wasn''t listening. Her gaze had locked on the pill bottle. Thebel faced upward, the word "OXYCODONE" visible in bold print, along with Victoria''s name.

    "What are these?" Camille picked up the bottle, dread pooling in her stomach. "Why are you

    taking such strong pain medication?"

    Victoria straightened in her chair,posing

    herself with visible effort. "It''s nothing. Just some difort from the surgery."

    "This isn''t for ''some difort," Camille said, reading the dosage on thebel. "This is for serious pain. And your surgery was months ago. You should be fully healed by now."

    Victoria reached for the bottle, but Camille pulled it away.

    "Tell me the truth." Camille''s voice shook. "What''s really going on?"

    Something shifted in Victoria''s

    eyes, a surrender, a resignation. She sighed deeply, then opened her

    desk drawer and pulled out a folder.

    "I was going to tell you after the g," she said, sliding the folder across the desk. "I didn''t want to distract you. Not with Rose still out there. Not with everything at stake." Camille stared at the folder, afraid to open it. The hospital logo embossed on its cover told her everything she needed to know.

    "How bad is it?" she whispered.

    "Open it," Victoria said gently.

    With trembling fingers, Camille opened

    the folder. Medical terms jumped out at her: "metastatic pancreatic carcinoma," " stage four," "poor prognosis." Dates of treatments. Surgical notes. Oncologist rmendations.

    But one sentence burned into her brain: "Estimated survival: 3-6 months."

    The room tilted around her. Camille gripped the edge of the desk to steady herself.

    "Three to six months?" Her voice sounded strange in her own ears, distant and hollow. "That''s... that can''t be right.ˇ±

    "The estimates are often conservative," Victoria said, her tone matter-of-

    fact. "I could have longer."

    "Or shorter." The words escaped before Camille could stop them.

    Victoria didn''t answer, which was answer enough.

    "How long have you known?" Camille asked, papers crumpling in her tight grip.

    "Since before the bombing of

    the substations. The first symptoms started even earlier."

    Camille stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. "All this time?

    All these months, you''ve been dying, and you didn''t tell me?"

    "I was protecting you."

    "From what?" Camille''s voice rose. "From the

    truth? From having time to prepare? From being able to help you?"

    Victoria''s face softened, showing a vulnerability Camille had rarely seen. "From pain, Camille. I was protecting you from pain. You''ve had enough of that in your life."

    "That wasn''t your choice to make!" Tears spilled down Camille''s cheeks now, hot and angry. "We''re supposed to be partners. Family. You don''t keep something like this from family." Victoria flinched at the word "family," and suddenly Camille understood.

    "You didn''t tell me because you didn''t want me to act like your daughter,ˇ± she said, the realization bitter in her mouth. "You

    wanted me to focus on thepany. On bing your sessor."

    "No." Victoria reached for Camille''s hand, but Camille stepped back. "That''s not it at all."

    "Then why?" Camille demanded. "Why hide something this important?",

    Victoria stood with effort, her face tightening with pain as she moved. "Because I couldn''t bear to see you look at me the way you''re looking at me now. With pity. With grief. Like I''m already gone." "How did you expect me to look when I found out the woman who saved my life is dying?" Camille''s voice broke on thest word

    Victoria moved around the desk, closing the distance between them. "I expected you to be strong. To be ready to carry on without me. That''s what I''ve been preparing you for all along."

    "I thought you were preparing me to work beside you," Camille said. ˇ°Not to rece you."

    Victoria took Camille''s hands, her grip surprisingly

    firm despite her weakened state. "Listen to me. What we''ve built together,Kane Industries, the Phoenix Grid, your transformation, it can''t

    end when I do. It needs to continue. You need to continue,"

    Camille pulled her hands away. "How can you talk about business at a time like this? We should be discussing treatments. Specialists. Clinical trials."

    "I''ve seen every specialist worth seeing," Victoria said patiently. "Tried every treatment with any chance of sess. The cancer has spread too far, too fast."

    "So you''re just giving up?" Anger red again, hot and desperate. "The Victoria Kane I know would never surrender without a fight."

    "I have fought." For the first time, real

    emotion cracked Victoria''sposed exterior. "I have fought with everything I have. But some battles can''t be won, Camille. Some enemies can''t be defeated through sheer will." The vulnerability in Victoria''s voice - something Camille had never heard before -

    punctured her anger. Suddenly, she saw not the formidable

    businesswoman who had rescued and transformed her, but a woman facing her own mortality. Afraid. In pain. Alone.

    Camille''s anger dissolved, reced by a wave of pure grief so powerful it nearly knocked her off her feet. She stumbled forward, wrapping her arms around Victoria.

    "Don''t leave me," she sobbed against Victoria''s shoulder. "Please don''t leave me, Mommy."

    The word slipped out without thought, a raw, honest expression of

    what Victoria had truly be to her. Not just a mentor. Not just a business

    partner. But a mother who had saved her, protected her, loved her when she needed it most.

    Victoria froze for a moment, then her arms came around Camille, holding her tightly. Camille felt a dampness against her hair and realized Victoria was crying too -

    girl."

    silent tears she had probably never allowed herself to shed in front of anyone. "My girl," Victoria whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "My wonderful

    They stood like that, holding each other, tears mingling. For a moment, there was no Kane Industries, no Rose, no uing g. Just a mother and daughter facing the cruelest separation.

    A knock at the door interrupted them. They pulled apart as Alexander entered, his expression changing instantly as he took

    in the scene, Victoria''s pallor, Camille''s tear-

    streaked face, the medical files on the desk.

    "What happened?" he asked, closing the door behind him.

    Camille couldn''t speak. Victoria answered for her, her voice steadier than her tear-

    stained face suggested.

    "She knows," Victoria said. "About my condition."

    Understanding dawned on Alexander''s face. "I see."

    Camille spun toward him, fresh betrayal cutting through her grief. "You knew? You knew and you didn''t tell me?"

    Alexander approached her carefully, as one might approach a wounded animal. "It wasn''t my ce to tell you, Camille. Victoria asked me to respect her privacy."

    "Everyone knew but me," Camille said bitterly. "My parents. You. Probably half the board members too."

    "Only Alexander and your mother knew," Victoria corrected. "And only because I needed their help with certain arrangements."

    "Arrangements." Camille spat the word. "You mean your will. Your

    funeral ns. All the details of your death that you kept from me."

    Alexander reached for her, but Camille stepped away. "Don''t. Just... don''t."

    Victoria swayed slightly, gripping the edge of the desk. Alexander moved quickly to her side, helping her back into her chair. "You should rest," he told her. "The doctor said...."

    "I know what the doctor said, Victona interrupted. "But we

    have a gata in a few hours, and my daughter just received difficult news Resting can wall"

    Daughter. The word hung in the air between them Victoria had never called her that before not directly. Just as Camille had never called her "Mommy" until today

    "There won''t be a g: Camille said suddenly "Not tonight. Not with your live this

    Especially tonight. Especially with me like this Victoria''s voice regained its familiar steel "We don''t show weakness, Camille Not to the world. Hot to our enemies. And certainly not to Rose

    "I don''t care about flose right now Camille enapped "" care about you"

    "Then honar my wishes Victoria said "Stand beside me at the gata. Show everyone that Kane Industries remains strong, regardless of what happens to me personally"

    Camille looked to Alexander for support, but his expression told her he agreed with Victoria Of course he did. He always saw the strategic angle, just like Victoria herself

    "Fine, Camille relented, wiping tears from her cheeks. "The g goes on. But afterwards, we talk about treatment options Real options, not just palliative care

    Victoria nodded, though something in her eyes suggested she was merely humoring Camille ''Of course''

    "I need some air," Camille said, moving toward the door. ''Till be on the roof"

    She left without looking back, unable to bear another moment in that office with its medical files and pill bottles and unspoken goodbyes.

    The elevator ride to the roof passed in a blur. Once outside, the cold air hit her face, a shock that somehow failed to clear her mind. Camille walked to the edge, gripping the railing as she looked out over the city Victoria was dying. The woman who had saved her, transformed her, given

    her a second chance at life-was slipping away. And Camille hadn''t even noticed.

    She heard the roof door open

    behind her but didn''t turn. Alexander''s footsteps approached, stopping just behind her.

    "Go away." Camille said. "I don''t want to talk right now."

    Instead of leaving, Alexander moved beside her at the railing. "Then we won''t talk."

    They stood in silence, watching the city below. After a long while, Camille spoke.

    "How long have you known?"

    "Since just after her surgery," Alexander admitted. ˇ°She made me promise not to tell you."

    "And you always keep your promises," Camille said bitterly.

    "Not always." Alexander''s voice was gentle. "But I try to respect the wishes of

    people I care about. Victoria wanted to tell you herself, when she felt you were ready."

    "When would that have been? At her funeral?"

    "She was trying to protect you."

    "That''s what she said too." Camille''s grip tightened on the railing. "But it feels more like she didn''t trust me. Didn''t think I was strong enough to handle the truth.ˇ±

    Alexander turned to face her. "Victoria has never doubted your strength, Camille. If anything, she was protecting herself. From your grief. From having to face what her death would mean to you."

    Camille hadn''t considered that. That Victoria, stoic, practical Victoria, might be afraid of emotional vulnerability. Of seeing her own pain reflected in Camille''s eyes.

    "I called her Mommy," Camille whispered, still shocked by her own outburst. "I''ve never called her that before." Alexander''s expression softened. "What did she do?"

    "She cried," Camille said, the memory fresh and painful. "I''ve never seen her cry before."

    Alexander pulled her into his arms then, holding her as fresh tears came. "That''s because you gave her something she never thought she''d have again after Sophia died. A daughter who loves her as a mother,

    "I can''t lose her," Camille sobbed. "I can''t do this without her."

    "Yes, you can," Alexander said, his voice firm but gentle. "It will hurt. It will feel impossible. But you are stronger than you know, Camille. Victoria sees that strength in you, even if you don''t see it yourself."

    Camille

    pulled back enough to look at him, her vision blurred with tears. "How do I face this? How do I walk into that g

    tonight and pretend everything is normal when my world is falling apart?"

    Alexander wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "One step at a time. One moment at a time. And not alone." He pressed his forehead to hers. "Never alone."

    Camille closed her eyes, drawing strength from his presence. After a while, her breathing steadied. The initial shock of Victoria''s revtion was fading, leaving a dull ache in its ce.

    "We should go back down," she said eventually. "Victoria needs us. And we have a g to prepare for."

    Alexander nodded, taking her hand as they walked toward the door. Just before they reached it, Camille paused.

    "Alexander," she said quietly. "Promise me something."

    "Anything."

    "No more secrets. No matter how painful the truth might be. No matter who asks you to keep it from me." Her eyes held his, demanding honesty. "Promise me."

    Alexander looked at her for a long moment, then nodded. "I promise."

    Camille took a deep breath, then opened the door. It was time to face Victoria again. Time to face the future however difficult, however painful, that awaited them all.

    As Camille stepped inside, she wondered if this was what

    true strength meant, not the absence of pain, but the ability to carry it without being crushed beneath its weight.

 Chapter 149

    Spotlights swept across the Grand za Hotel''s ballroom, catching on crystal chandeliers that scattered light like diamonds. Underneath them, New York''s elite mingled in formal wear that cost more than most people earned in months. Women draped in silk and jewels. Men in perfectly tailored tuxedos. The soft notes of a string quartet floated above the murmur of conversations and tinkling champagne sses.

    Camille Kane stood just outside the ballroom doors, watching through a crack. Her blue gown shimmered in the dim light of the hallway, but she had never felt less festive.

    "Security checkplete," said Jason, Alexander''s head of security, into his earpiece. "Main floor is clear. Balconies and kitchens clear. All entrances covered."

    Camille nodded, barely hearing him. Her thoughts remained with Victoria, who was gathering her strength in a private room upstairs before making her entrance.

    "Camille." Alexander''s voice brought her back to the present. He stood beside her in his tuxedo, handsome as ever, though worry lined his eyes. "Everyone''s waiting. It''s time."

    She smoothed her dress, checking her reflection in a nearby mirror. Hours of professional makeup had hidden the evidence of her tears, but nothing could conceal the sorrow in her eyes.

    "I can''t believe we''re doing this," she whispered. "Pretending everything is normal when Victoria is...."

    "Following her wishes," Alexander cut in gently. "Being exactly who she''s always been."

    Camille touched the phoenix pendant at her throat. "I just want to keep her safe."

    "I know." Alexander squeezed her hand. "That''s why we have thirty security personnel in the ballroom alone. Another twenty covering the surrounding blocks. Two teams on the roof. Nothing gets through tonight."

    Camille wished she could believe him. But the dread that had haunted her since her nightmare remained, hovering at the edges of her mind like a shadow.

    "Ms. Kane?" Another security guard approached. "Ms. Victoria Kane is ready for you."

    They followed him to a small elevator reserved for staff. As the doors closed, Camille''s stomach knotted with anxiety-not for herself, but for what waited upstairs.

    The private room on the tenth floor had been converted into a makeshift preparation area. Victoria sat in a chair by the window, her silver hair styled elegantly, her ck evening gown showing no hint of the weight she had lost. Only the pallor of her skin and the slight tremor in her hands betrayed her condition.

    She looked up as Camille entered, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her face before her usual mask of strength slid back into ce.

    "You look beautiful," Victoria said.

    Camille approached, kneeling before Victoria''s chair to look up into her face. "How are you feeling? Really?"

    "Well enough for what needs to be done." Victoria touched Camille''s cheek. "No more tears now. Tonight isn''t about my illness. It''s about what we''ve built together."

    Camille nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "The doctor said you should only stay an hour. Two at most."

    "I''ll stay as long as necessary." Victoria stood with effort, her back straight despite the pain Camille knew she must be feeling. "Now, help me with these earrings. My hands aren''t cooperating tonight."

    Camille fastened the diamond earrings, noticing how Victoria''s cheekbones had be more prominent, how the skin of her neck had grown thinner. Signs she had missed for months.

    "Are you ready for your speech?" Victoria asked, checking her reflection.

    "Yes." Camille had spent the afternoon rewriting it, focusing on the foundation''s initiatives rather than the emotional tribute to Victoria she had originally nned. Victoria had insisted on it. No hint of farewell. No suggestion of endings.

    Alexander knocked and entered. "The guests are getting restless. We should make our entrance soon."

    Victoria squared her shoulders. "Then let''s not keep them waiting."

    The three of them took the private elevator down to the main level. Security personnel lined their path to the ballroom. At the doors, the master of ceremonies waited to announce them.

    "Remember," Victoria said quietly to Camille. "Head high. Shoulders back. Show no weakness."

    Camille nodded, taking her ce beside her mentor. The doors swung open.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer''s voice boomed. "The Grand za Hotel and Kane Industries are proud to present Ms. Victoria Kane and Ms. Camille Kane!"

    Apuse filled the room as they entered, Victoria moving with a grace that belied her condition. Camille felt the weight of hundreds of eyes upon them as they made their way through the crowd. Important people stepped forward to greet them, politicians, business leaders, celebrities. All wanting a moment with the famous Kane women.

    Through it all, Camille scanned the room. Not for familiar faces, but for unfamiliar ones. For staff members who didn''t belong. For anyone who might be working for Rose.

    "Stop looking so tense," Victoria murmured as they epted champagne from a waiter. "You''ll make everyone nervous."

    Camille forced a smile. "I can''t help it. I feel like she''s here. Watching us."

    "If she is, she''ll regret it." Victoria nodded toward the perimeter of the room, where security personnel stood at regr intervals. "Alexander has this ce locked down tighter than Fort Knox."

    Before Camille could respond, the mayor approached, hand extended.

    "Victoria! Magnificent as always. And Camille, you look stunning." He bent to kiss Victoria''s cheek. "I hear you''ve raised over three million tonight for the children''s hospital wing."

    "Four million now," Victoria corrected with a smile. "The Westfield Foundation doubled their contribution this afternoon."

    The conversation continued, Victoria ying her role perfectly. If the mayor noticed her asional winces of pain, he showed no sign. Camille stayed close, ready to support Victoria if needed, while maintaining her own part in the social dance.

    After what seemed like hours but was likely only thirty minutes, the master of ceremonies called for attention.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats for dinner and the program."

    As guests moved toward the elegantly set tables, Alexander appeared at Camille''s side.

    "Everything okay?" he asked quietly.

    "So far." Camille nced at Victoria, who was now seated at the head table, engaged in conversation with the hospital director. "Any sign of trouble?"

    "None. Every guest has been verified. Every staff member checked and double- checked." He touched the small earpiece he wore. "Security teams are reporting all clear at regr intervals."

    Camille nodded, not entirely relieved. "Keep watching."

    "Always." Alexander escorted her to her seat beside Victoria.

    Dinner passed in a blur of exquisite food that Camille barely tasted and conversation she hardly heard. Her focus remained on Victoria, who ate little but spoke with animation, her public persona never slipping.

    When the dessert tes were cleared, the master of ceremonies returned to the microphone.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce Ms. Camille Kane, Executive Director of the Phoenix Foundation."

    The ballroom erupted in apuse as Camille stood and made her way to the podium. Hundreds of expectant faces turned toward her. In the back of the room, security personnel remained vignt. Camille took a deep breath and began.

    "Thank you all foring tonight. Your generosity will change countless lives." She looked out at the audience, fixing a smile on her face. "The Phoenix Foundation was born from a simple truth: that from the ashes of our darkest moments, we can rise stronger."

    As she spoke, Camille felt a strange sensation. A prickling at the back of her neck. The feeling of being watched, not by the audience, but by someone else. Someone hidden.

    She continued her speech, describing the foundation''s three major initiatives: a nationwidework of shelters for abuse survivors; legal support for those seeking to escape dangerous rtionships; and education programs to help women rebuild their lives.

    "Tonight, I''m proud to announce that the Phoenix Foundation''s first shelter will open next month right here in New York." Apuse interrupted her. "This facility will offer not just safety, butprehensive support, from legal aid to job training to trauma counseling."

    As the audience apuded again, Camille''s gaze swept the room. The feeling of being watched had intensified. Her eyes caught on a server standing near the kitchen doors. Something about her posture seemed off. Too still. Too focused.

    Camille faltered slightly, then recovered. "In addition, we are establishing a schrship program for survivors seeking to continue their education..."

    She finished her speech to enthusiastic apuse, but her mind was elsewhere. As she returned to her seat, she leaned close to Alexander.

    "The server by the kitchen door. Dark hair. Red lipstick. Check her."

    Alexander nodded subtly, touching his earpiece to ry the instruction.

    Victoria squeezed Camille''s hand under the table. "Beautifully done," she whispered. "I''m proud of you."

    The words, so simple, made Camille''s eyes sting with unshed tears. How many more times would she hear Victoria say that? How many more moments like this did they have left?

    The master of ceremonies returned to introduce Victoria. As she rose to approach the podium, Camille noticed how she gripped the table for support, how carefully she measured each step. But by the time Victoria reached the microphone, she stood tall andmanding, every inch the powerful woman the world knew. "Twenty years ago," Victoria began, her voice strong despite her weakened state, "Kane Industries was just a dream. Today, it stands as proof that with vision and determination, anything is possible."

    As Victoria spoke about thepany''smitment to phnthropy, Camille watched Alexander receive a message through his earpiece. His expression remained neutral, but she saw his posture tighten. Something was wrong.

    He slipped back to their table, bending to whisper in Camille''s ear. one matching that description is on the approved staff list

    "The server is gone.

    for tonight."

    Camille''s blood ran cold. "Find her."

    Alexander nodded, moving away to coordinate with his security team.

    On stage, Victoria continued her speech, unaware of the potential threat. "The Phoenix Foundation represents the future of Kane Industries'' phnthropic efforts. Under Camille''s leadership, it will transform countless lives..."

    Camille tried to focus on Victoria''s words, but her attention kept returning to the ballroom doors, the kitchen entrance, the service corridors. Where had the mysterious server gone? What was she nning?

    And then, as Victoria concluded her speech to thunderous apuse, Camille saw

    her. Not the server this time. A woman in a green evening gown, her dark hair pulled back in an elegant twist, standing near the exit. For a split second, their eyes met across the crowded room.

    Rose.

    Despite the distance, despite the subtle changes to her appearance, Camille knew her sister instantly. The recognition hit her like a physical blow.

    Rose smiled, a small, knowing smile, then turned and disappeared through the

    exit.

    Camille stood, heart pounding. "Alexander!" she called, but he was already moving toward the exit, security personnel following.

    Victoria returned to the table, flushed with the sess of her speech but clearly exhausted. "What''s wrong?" she asked, seeing Camille''s face.

    "Rose is here," Camille said quietly, not wanting to cause panic. "I just saw her."

    Victoria''s expression hardened. "Are you sure?"

    "Positive."

    Victoria reached for her clutch purse, removing a small phone. "I had hoped we

    wouldn''t need this," she said, pressing a single button. "But I came prepared." Within moments, additional security personnel entered the ballroom, positioning themselves near all exits and around their table. The head of Victoria''s private security team approached.

    "The building is being locked down, Ms. Kane," he said quietly. "No one leaves until we find her."

    Camille looked around at the guests, still enjoying their drinks and conversation as the orchestra began ying for dancing. "We can''t cause a panic."

    "We won''t," Victoria assured her. "The security teams will handle this discreetly."

    But Camille couldn''t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Rose wouldn''t show herself without a reason. Without a n.

    "She wanted me to see her," Camille realized aloud. "She wanted me to know she was here."

    "Why?" Victoria asked.

    Before Camille could answer, Alexander returned, his expression grim.

    "She''s gone," he reported. "Security footage shows her leaving the building two

    minutes ago. But that''s not all." He lowered his voice further. "The missing server was found unconscious in a storage closet. Her uniform is gone." Camille scanned the crowd, looking for any staff member who seemed out of ce. "She has someone else inside." "We''re checking everyone now," Alexander assured her.

    Victoria touched Camille''s arm. "We should leave. It''s not safe."

    Camille shook her head. "No. That''s what she wants. To disrupt the g. To make

    us run scared." She looked at Alexander. "Double the security around Victoria. I''m

    going to finish what we started tonight."

    As Alexander moved toply, Camille took Victoria''s hand. "I won''t let her ruin this. Not after everything you''ve done to make it happen."

    Victoria studied Camille''s face, then nodded slowly. "Very well. But you stay where

    I can see you. No wandering off."

    The orchestra continued ying, the dance floor filling with elegantly dressed

    couples. The charity auction was about to begin, with priceless art and luxury experiences up for bid. The g was in full swing, with hours still to go.

    But beneath the glittering surface, tension ran like an electric current. Security

    personnel moved through the crowd, checking every server, every staff member.

    Alexander stood at Camille''s side, hyperaware, watching every movement in the ballroom.

    As Victoria presented the first auction item, a week at a private ind resort, Camille felt the weight of Rose''s presence like a shadow. She was here. Maybe not physically anymore, but her threat remained. Waiting. Watching. nning. The feeling of danger hung over Camille like a storm cloud, making the hairs on her arms stand on end. Whatever Rose had nned, it was stilling. The g continued around them, champagne flowing, music ying, wealthy

    donors bidding higher and higher amounts for charity. But for Camille, every moment stretched with tension, everyugh seemed too loud, every movement in the corner of her eye a potential threat.

    Rose had made her move tonight, not to attack, but to send a message: I can

    reach you anywhere. Even in your moment of triumph. Even surrounded by

    security.

    And there was nothing Camille could do but wait for the next strike, knowing it woulde when they least expected it.

 Chapter 150

    Rose adjusted the ck bow tie of her server''s uniform, checking her reflection in the service elevator''s mirrored wall. The disguise was perfect, hair tucked under a cap, face subtly altered with makeup to change her bone structure. No one would recognize her as the woman in the green dress who had shown herself to Camille earlier.

    That had been the distraction. This was the real n.

    "Two minutes," the man beside her said, his Russian ent thick even in those two words. Anton Bessonov had sent his best, Mikhail, a man whose hands had ended many lives. Tonight, those hands carried a ck duffel bag that would end many more.

    Rose nodded, ncing at her watch. "Security will be focused on the ballroom now. The maintenance corridors should be clear."

    The elevator stopped at the basement level. When the doors opened, Rose peered out first, confirming the hallway was empty before stepping out. Mikhail followed, his movements fluid despite hisrge frame.

    "This way," Rose whispered, leading him down a dim corridor lined with pipes. The building ns she had memorized guided her through the maze of service areas beneath the Grand za Hotel.

    They reached a junction where the corridor split three ways. "You take the west wing," she instructed, pointing left. "I''ll handle the east. We meet back here in twenty minutes."

    Mikhail unzipped the duffel bag, revealing six identical ck devices. He handed three to Rose. Each was the size of a paperback book, with a digital timer and a small red light.

    "Remember," he said, his voice low and serious. "ce them near support columns. Set timer for sixty minutes."

    Rose took the devices, sliding them carefully into her uniform''srge pockets. "I know what to do."

    As Mikhail headed down the west corridor, Rose turned east, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and exhration. After months of nning, after all the setbacks, she was finally going to win. Finally going to take everything from Camille, just as Camille had taken everything from her.

    The first location was the electrical room. Rose slipped inside, finding it mercifully empty. She moved quickly to the main circuit breaker panel, using the maic back of the first device to attach it to the metal surface. The tiny screen lit up as she set the timer: 60:00. 59:59. 59:58...

    The countdown had begun.

    ***

    Stefan Rodriguez sipped champagne at the bar, feeling distinctly out of ce among the glittering elite of New York society. He hadn''t expected an invitation to the Phoenix Foundation g. When it arrived, his first instinct had been to decline. After all, what ce did Camille''s ex-husband have at her triumphant moment?

    But Alexander Pierce had called personally, exining that Stefan''s intelligence about Rose had been valuable. That his continued help was appreciated. That his presence would show unity against amon enemy.

    So here he stood, in a rented tuxedo, watching from a distance as Camille dazzled the crowd. She looked happy, confident,pletely transformed from the broken woman who had signed divorce papers eighteen months ago. The sight filled Stefan with aplicated mixture of regret and pride.

    "Another champagne, sir?" a server asked.

    Stefan shook his head, setting down his half-empty ss. "No, thank you."

    As the server moved away, Stefan''s attention caught on something unusual, a man in hotel staff uniform entering a door marked "Authorized Personnel Only" near the kitchens. What struck Stefan as odd wasn''t the act itself, but the way the man checked his watch as he did it. The careful nce around before entering. The subtle bulge in his jacket pocket.

    Stefan had spent months learning Rose''s patterns, her associates, her tactics. That vignce had be second nature to him.

    He set down his ss and moved casually toward the door, pretending to look for the restroom. When he reached it, he hesitated only briefly before pushing it open.

    Inside was a service corridor, dimly lit and silent. Stefan closed the door quietly behind him and followed the hallway, his footsteps echoing slightly on the hard floor.

    Around a corner, he caught sight of the man again. He was kneeling beside an ornate column that supported the ceiling, cing something against its base. Something small and ck, with a glowing digital disy.

    Stefan''s blood ran cold as understanding dawned. He backed away slowly, careful not to make a sound, then turned and moved quickly back toward the ballroom. He needed to find security. Now.

    ***

    The second device went beneath the kitchen, tucked against a main support beam. Rose worked quickly, efficiently. The kitchen staff was too busy preparing desserts to notice her slip in and out through the back entrance.

    As she headed for her third location, the main venttion system, Rose caught sight of a security guard patrolling the corridor ahead. She ducked into a small cleaning closet, holding her breath as his footsteps approached, then passed. Her heart hammered against her ribcage.

    This was the part she loved, the danger, the risk, the knowledge that discovery meant failure. But she wouldn''t fail. Not tonight. Not when she was so close to destroying everything Camille had built.

    When the footsteps faded, Rose continued on her path. The venttion room was locked, but the key she had taken from the unconscious maintenance worker opened it easily. Inside, massive fans circted air throughout the building. Rose ced her final device where the st would damage the maximum number of ducts, potentially filling the entire building with smoke and debris.

    Timer set. 42:17. 42:16. 42:15...

    She checked her watch. Five minutes until she needed to meet Mikhail. Plenty of time to make her way back through the service corridors. She closed the venttion room door behind her, locking it to prevent anyone from discovering her handiwork too soon.

    As she turned toward the rendezvous point, a voice made her freeze.

    "Excuse me, you shouldn''t be here."

    Rose turned slowly, finding herself face to face with a hotel security guard. His hand rested on his radio, ready to call for backup.

    She smiled sweetly. "I''m so sorry. I got lost looking for the storage room. They sent me to get more napkins for the bar."

    The guard''s expression remained suspicious. "ID badge?"

    Rose fumbled in her pocket as if searching for it, then brought her hand out in a swift, practiced motion. The taser made contact with the guard''s neck before he could react. He dropped to the floor, body convulsing briefly before going still. Rose dragged him into the nearby cleaning closet, taking his radio and security badge. She couldn''t risk him waking and raising the rm too early.

    Time to meet Mikhail and get out before the real show began.

    ***

    "Mr. Pierce." Stefan approached Alexander with urgency, keeping his voice low to avoid rming nearby guests. "We need to talk. Now."

    Alexander excused himself from a conversation with donors and moved to a quieter corner with Stefan. "What is it?"

    "I just saw a man cing what looked like an explosive device near a support column in the service corridor." Stefan''s words came out in a rush. "Russian,rge build, staff uniform."

    Alexander''s face hardened. "You''re sure?"

    "Absolutely." Stefan had never been more certain of anything in his life. "Rose is making her move tonight."

    Without hesitation, Alexander tapped his earpiece. "Jason, potential explosives in the building. Lock down all service areas immediately. Full sweep, starting with support columns and infrastructure." He turned back to Stefan. "Where exactly did you see this?"

    Stefan described the location, watching as Alexander ryed the information to his security team. Within moments, dark-suited men were discreetly moving toward service doors around the ballroom perimeter.

    "We need to evacuate," Stefan said.

    Alexander shook his head. "Not yet. If we cause a panic, Rose wins. We need to find the devices first, confirm they''re real." He checked his watch. "Camille is about to give her keynote speech. Keep this quiet until we know more."

    "And if they are real?" Stefan pressed.

    "Then we have evacuation protocols ready." Alexander''s expression was grim. "Thank you for the alert. Stay close in case you recognize anyone else suspicious."

    Alexander moved back into the crowd, his posture casual but his movements purposeful. Stefan watched him gather his security team leaders for quiet instructions, all while maintaining the appearance that nothing was wrong. On the stage, the master of ceremonies approached the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, please wee back to the stage the Executive Director of the Phoenix Foundation, Ms. Camille Kane, who will deliver tonight''s keynote address."

    ***

    Rose and Mikhail met in the basement corridor as nned. His face showed satisfaction, he had ced all three devices sessfully.

    "Any problems?" Rose asked.

    "None." His thick ent wrapped around the word. "All set for big boom."

    Rose checked her watch. "Thirty-four minutes until detonation. We need to be well clear by then." She handed him the security guard''s radio. "Keep this. We''ll know if they discover the devices."

    As they turned toward the service exit, the radio crackled to life. "All security personnel, Code Bravo. Repeat, Code Bravo. Immediate sweep of all service areas. Potential suspicious packages."

    Rose and Mikhail exchanged rmed looks. Someone had spotted them.

    "We go now," Mikhail said urgently. "Different exits."

    Rose nodded. "Meet at the backup location in one hour." She could hear footstepsing from multiple directions now. Security would have every exit covered

    soon.

    "What about devices?" Mikhail asked. "They will find."

    Rose smiled, cold and confident despite her racing heart. "That''s why we had backups nted yesterday. They''re hidden too well to be found in time." Even if security found these six devices, they wouldn''t find the others. The ones already in ce. The ones set to detonate during Camille''s speech.

    "Go," she ordered Mikhail, turning in the opposite direction. As she ran, Rose imagined the scene above, Camille taking the stage, smiling at the adoring crowd,pletely unaware that her moment of triumph was about to be her greatest tragedy.

    Thirty-two minutes until the foundation she had built crumbled around her.

    ***

    Camille approached the podium, smiling as apuse filled the ballroom. From her

    elevated position, she could see nearly all eight hundred guests, the sh of

    expensive jewelry under crystal chandeliers, the expectant faces turned toward

    her.

    She could also see Alexander moving around the perimeter of the room, speaking urgently into his earpiece. Something was wrong. But the microphone was already live, her speech about to begin.

    Victoria sat at the head table, looking pale but proud. Whatever was happening, Camille couldn''t show rm. Couldn''t let the crowd sense any danger. She had learned that much from Victoria, appearances mattered, especially in crisis.

    She took a deep breath and began.

    "Distinguished guests, generous donors, dear friends. Tonight represents not just theunch of the Phoenix Foundation, but the beginning of a new chapter for survivors of abuse across this country."

    As she spoke, Camille noticed more security personnel entering the ballroom,

    moving with controlled urgency toward service doors and exits. Stefan stood near Alexander now, both men looking grim.

    Still, she continued, keeping her voice steady despite the growing knot of fear in

    her stomach.

    "The phoenix rises from ashes, transformed by fire into something stronger, more beautiful. That transformation is what we offer to women who have lost everything, their safety, their confidence, their hope."

    Through the bright lights, Camille could see Alexander receiving information through his earpiece, his expression darkening. Security teams were fanning out across the ballroom now, some kneeling to check under tables, others examining the walls and support columns.

    They were looking for something. Something dangerous.

    Rose. It had to be Rose.

    Despite the realization, Camille''s voice remained strong, her words clear. She wouldn''t give Rose the satisfaction of seeing her falter.

    "Tonight, as we gather in celebration, I''m reminded of my own journey. Of the moments when I thought I couldn''t go on. When the pain and betrayal seemed too much to bear."

    Camille locked eyes with Victoria, drawing strength from the woman who had saved her, who had taught her to transform pain into power. Victoria nodded slightly, a signal to continue despite whatever was happening behind the scenes. "But I did go on. We all do. And with your help, countless women will find the strength to rise from their own ashes, to rebuild their lives brick by brick, to discover the power that has always existed within them."

    The ballroom erupted in apuse, but Camille barely heard it. Her focus remained split between her speech and the increasingly frantic movements of security personnel. Something was very wrong. She could feel it in the air, thick with tension that only she and a few others seemed to notice.

 Chapter 151

    Jason moved silently through the service corridor, his shlight beam sweeping across the walls and floor. Twenty years in private security had taught him to trust his instincts, and right now every nerve in his body screamed danger. When Alexander Pierce had ordered a full sweep of the building, Jason had chosen to check the basement himself.

    "East corridor clear," crackled a voice through his earpiece.

    "Copy that," Jason replied. "Moving to check the electrical room."

    The door to the electrical room was unlocked, the first red g. Hotel policy required all maintenance rooms to be secured at all times. Jason drew his weapon before pushing the door open with his shoulder.

    The room appeared empty at first nce. Rows of circuit breakers lined the walls.

    The constant hum of electricity filled the air. Jason moved his shlight methodically across the space, checking every corner, every shadow.

    Then he saw it.

    Attached to the main circuit panel was a ck device the size of a paperback book. A small screen disyed glowing red numbers: 15:42... 15:41... 15:40... Jason''s throat went dry. He''d seen simr devices during his military days.

    "Sir," he said into hism, voice tight. "I''ve found something in the electrical room. Southeast corner, basement level. It appears to be an explosive device. Timer shows fifteen minutes and counting."

    Alexander''s response was immediate. "Stay there. Bomb squad is on site. They''reing to you now."

    Jason didn''t touch the device but moved closer to examine it. The timer continued its relentless countdown. 15:22... 15:21... 15:20...

    He could hear footsteps approaching fast, the bomb squad, he hoped. But fifteen minutes wasn''t much time to disarm a device, especially if there were others hidden throughout the building.

    The Grand za Hotel housed over eight hundred guests tonight, not counting staff. Eight hundred lives now hanging in the bnce.

    Jason had never been a religious man, but in that moment, he found himself praying.

    *** **

    Alexander Pierce stood at the edge of the ballroom, his face carefully nk despite the chaos erupting in his earpiece. Reports flooded in from his security team:

    "Suspicious device found in the venttion room."

    "Another one near the main support column in the west wing."

    "Device located in the kitchen, attached to a gas line."

    Six devices discovered so far. Six bombs scattered throughout the building. All with the same countdown timer.

    Alexander checked his watch. Fourteen minutes until detonation.

    He caught Stefan Rodriguez''s eye across the room and gave a slight nod. Stefan had been right. The threat was real. Now they needed to move eight hundred people to safety without causing a deadly panic.

    Alexander pressed a button on his phone, sending a pre-arranged signal to the hotel manager. Within seconds, the man appeared at Alexander''s side.

    "We have a confirmed threat," Alexander said quietly. "Multiple explosive devices throughout the building. We need to begin emergency evacuation immediately."

    The manager''s face drained of color, but his voice remained steady. "Understood. We''ll use the fire rm protocol. Security will direct guests to the appropriate exits."

    "No rms," Alexander countered. "The sound might trigger the devices. We need a quiet evacuation."

    The manager nodded. "I''ll alert the staff. We''ll announce a power issue, ask guests to exit calmly."

    "Fourteen minutes," Alexander reminded him. "Not a second more."

    As the manager moved away, Alexander touched his earpiece again. "Status on the bomb squad?"

    "They''re examining the first device now, sir," came Jason''s voice. "But there''s a problem. They say it''s sophisticated, booby-trapped to detonate if tampered with. They''re not sure they can disarm all of them in time."

    Alexander''s stomach dropped. "Understood. Continue the search. Find every device."

    He scanned the ballroom, locating Victoria at the head table. Camille stood nearby, surrounded by admirers after her speech. Neither woman knew the danger they were in.

    Not yet.

    Alexander moved through the crowd with purpose, nodding politely at those who tried to engage him but never stopping. When he reached Camille, he ced a hand gently on her elbow.

    "Excuse us," he said to the group around her. "I need to borrow Ms. Kane for a moment."

    Camille''s smile remained fixed, but her eyes questioned him as he guided her toward Victoria''s table.

    "What''s wrong?" she whispered.

    "Not here," Alexander replied, his voice barely audible.

    Victoria looked up as they approached, instantly alert to the tension in Alexander''s posture.

    "We need to talk," he said. "Now."

    They moved to a quiet corner of the ballroom, Alexander positioning himself to block others'' view of their faces.

    "We''ve found explosive devices throughout the building," he said without preamble. "Six so far. Timers show less than fourteen minutes until detonation. Bomb squad is on site but doesn''t believe they can disarm them all in time." Victoria''s face remainedposed, though her eyes widened slightly. Camille gasped, instinctively moving closer to Victoria as if to protect her.

    "Rose," Camille whispered, her voice tight with anger and fear. Alexander nodded. "Most likely. We''re beginning evacuation procedures now. I need you both to leave immediately through the private exit. A car is waiting." Victoria straightened her spine, years of crisis management taking over. "How are you handling the evacuation?"

    "Hotel staff will announce a power issue requiring the building to be emptied. Security will guide guests to the nearest exits." Alexander checked his watch again. "We have thirteen minutes."

    "Eight hundred people in thirteen minutes," Victoria said, calcting the odds. "It will be close."

    "Too close," Camille murmured, scanning the crowded room. Peopleughing, drinking,pletely unaware of the danger ticking beneath their feet.

    The hotel manager had reached the stage now. He tapped the microphone, gaining everyone''s attention.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the interruption. We''ve been informed of an electrical issue that requires us to temporarily vacate the building. Please proceed calmly to the nearest exit, where our staff will direct you. This is only a precaution, but we do need to move quickly."

    Murmurs of confusion rippled through the crowd. Some guests stood immediately, while others lingered, finishing drinks or conversations.

    "They''re not moving fast enough," Camille said, tension building in her chest.

    "They will," Alexander assured her. "Now please, both of you, head to the private exit. I''ve already arranged for Victoria''s medical team to meet you at the safe house."

    Victoria nodded. "Come, Camille. There''s nothing more we can do here."

    But Camille didn''t move. Her eyes remained fixed on the ballroom, where elderly guests were struggling to rise from their seats, where waitstaff looked confused about whether to help or evacuate themselves, where mothers were calling for children who had wandered to the dessert table.

    "Camille," Alexander said more urgently. "We need to go. Now."

    She could feel the weight of Victoria''s hand on her arm, trying to pull her toward

    safety. But a deeper instinct held her in ce.

    "I can help," she said. "I can make them move faster."

    "That''s security''s job," Alexander insisted. "Your job is to stay alive." Through the growing chaos, Camille spotted her parents near the far exit, helping an elderly couple navigate the crowd. She saw donors who had contributed millions to her foundation, staff who had worked tirelessly to make this night possible, children who had no idea of the danger they were in.

    All these people hade tonight because of her. Because of the Phoenix Foundation. Because they believed in her vision of helping others.

    How could she run to safety while they remained at risk?

    The timer in her mind continued its countdown. Twelve minutes. Maybe less.

    "Alexander." Camille''s voice had changed, taking on the steel she had learned from Victoria. "Get Victoria out. Now. I''ll be right behind you."

    "We go together or not at all," Victoria said firmly.

    "No." Camille met Victoria''s gaze directly. "You''re ill. You need to leave immediately. I''ll help with the evacuation and follow."

    Alexander stepped between them. "Both of you need to leave. That''s non- negotiable."

    But Camille had already made her decision. She turned toward the stage, toward

    the microphone that could reach every corner of the ballroom.

    "I can make them move faster," she said over her shoulder. "I can save more

    people."

    Alexander grabbed her arm. "Camille, listen to me. Rose did this. She set these bombs. She''s targeting you specifically."

    "I know." Camille''s eyes shed with determination. "That''s exactly why I can''t run. She wants me to be afraid. To panic. I won''t give her that satisfaction." Victoria''s voice cut through the tension between them. "Alexander, get the car ready. We''ll be there in two minutes."

    Alexander hesitated, torn between his duty to protect both women and the knowledge that Victoria''s authority still outranked his in Camille''s mind.

    "Two minutes," he repeated, then moved toward the private exit to prepare their

    escape.

    Once he was gone, Victoria turned to Camille. "You have one minute to help, then we leave. Together. Understood?"

    Camille nodded, already moving toward the stage. The hotel manager looked relieved as she took the microphone from him.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," she began, her voice steady and clear. "This is Camille Kane. I need your attention."

    The crowd quieted, all eyes turning toward her.

    "We need to evacuate this building immediately. This is not a drill. Please move quickly to the nearest exit. Parents, carry your children. If you see someone struggling, help them. Leave all belongings behind."

    The urgency in her voice cut through the confusion. People began moving more purposefully toward the exits, staff stepped up to assist elderly guests, the crowd''s pace visibly elerated.

    Victoria appeared at the edge of the stage. "Time''s up," she said. "We need to

    go."

    Camille looked out across the ballroom, still half-full despite the increased pace of evacuation. The bitter knowledge that not everyone would make it out in time twisted in her stomach.

    "Camille," Victoria''s voice grew sharper. "Now."

    From somewhere in the building, a muffled boom sounded-the first device detonating early. Screams erupted as the lights flickered, panic threatening to overtake the ordered evacuation.

    Camille grabbed the microphone again. "Stay calm!" she ordered. "Continue moving toward the exits in an orderly fashion."

    Her voice seemed to steady the crowd, but now people were pushing, the evacuation bing more frantic.

    Victoria had reached the stage steps, her face pale but determined. "The car is waiting. Alexander says we have less than ten minutes."

    Camille looked at the frightened faces below her, then at Victoria, the woman who

    had saved her life, who had given her a second chance, who was now dying and still thinking of others first.

    "You go," Camille said. "I''ll be right behind you. I promise."

    Victoria''s expression hardened. "I won''t leave you here."

    "You have to." Camille held Victoria''s gaze steadily. "The foundation needs at least one of us to survive. And you need medical attention."

    Another small explosion sounded from somewhere deeper in the building. More screams. More panic.

    "Go," Camille urged. "Please. Let me do this. Let me help these people." Victoria stood frozen for a moment, torn between her instinct to protect Camille

    and the logic of her argument. Finally, she nodded.

    "Two minutes," she said. "Then you follow. Swear it."

    "I swear," Camille replied, though they both knew it might be a promise she

    couldn''t keep.

    Victoria moved toward the private exit, where Alexander waited. As she disappeared from view, Camille turned back to the crowd.

    Nine minutes left. Hundreds still inside. Including her.

    But she wouldn''t leave. Not yet. Not while she could still help.

    Rose had designed this attack to destroy everything Camille had built. To kill her,

    yes, but also to shatter the foundation that bore her name. To turn a night of triumph into one of tragedy.

    Camille wouldn''t let that happen. Even if it meant risking everything. "Keep moving!" she called into the microphone. "Security personnel, please assist

    with the elderly guests. Everyone else, please allow children and those needing

    assistance to exit first."

    From the corner of her eye, Camille saw Alexander reappear at the private exit, his face taut with frustration and fear. He gestured urgently for her toe. Camille shook her head. Not yet. Not until she had done everything possible to save these people who had trusted her enough toe tonight.

    Not until she had proven, once and for all, that Rose''s attempts to destroy her had

    failed.

    Eight minutes remained on the countdown. Eight minutes to define who she truly

    was.

    And Camille Kane would not run.

 Chapter 152

    The first explosion hit without warning.

    One moment, Camille was helping an elderly woman toward the exit, her arm supporting the frail body. The next, a thunderous boom shook the building. The floor beneath them trembled. Crystal chandeliers swayed dangerously overhead.

    The st came from the kitchen area, not the main ballroom. But the sound alone was enough to shatter the orderly evacuation into panic.

    People screamed. Pushed. Ran for the exits. The elderly woman in Camille''s arms stumbled and nearly fell.

    "I''ve got you," Camille promised, tightening her grip. "We''re almost there."

    Thick smoke began pouring from the service corridors, filling the ballroom with a choking gray cloud. Through it, Camille could make out security personnel directing guests toward exits, their shlights cutting through the haze.

    "This way!" she called to a group of confused guests who had frozen in ce. "Follow the security lights!"

    A second explosion rocked the building, stronger than the first. ster rained down from the ceiling. A woman nearby screamed as debris struck her shoulder.

    Camille handed the elderly woman to a security guard. "Get her out," she ordered, then turned back into the smoke-filled room.

    More people needed help. More lives she could save.

    ***

    Victoria Kane sat rigid in the back of her armored car, her eyes fixed on the hotel''s main entrance. Security personnel surrounded the vehicle, blocking her from exiting despite her repeated demands.

    "Let me out," she ordered for the third time. "Camille is still in there."

    The head of her security team, a former military man named Curtis stood firm. "Ms. Kane, I have direct orders from Mr. Pierce. You are to remain in the vehicle."

    "To hell with Pierce''s orders!" Victoria''s voice rose with fury and fear. "That''s my daughter in there!"

    The words silenced everyone in the car. Victoria had never publicly referred to Camille as her daughter before.

    Before Curtis could respond, a thunderous boom echoed across the za. Victoria watched in horror as windows along the hotel''s west side shattered, spraying ss onto screaming crowds below.

    "Get this car moving!" she shouted at the driver. "Now!"

    But Curtis ced a hand on the driver''s shoulder. "Hold position."

    Victoria''s fury turned icier. "You''re fired, Curtis. Effective immediately."

    "With respect, Ms. Kane," Curtis replied calmly, "you can fire me tomorrow. Tonight, I''m keeping you alive."

    A second explosion, louder than the first, rocked the hotel. The force of it sent panicked guests stumbling down the grand entrance stairs. Smoke poured from doorways and broken windows.

    Victoria pressed her hand against the window, her face a mask of anguish as she watched the destruction. Somewhere in that chaos was Camille.

    "Please," she whispered, the word unfamiliar on her lips. "Please be safe."

    ***

    Alexander Pierce had just reached Victoria''s car when the first explosion hit. The force of it nearly knocked him off his feet. He spun around, staring in horror at the hotel he had just exited.

    Camille was still inside.

    Without hesitation, he turned and ran back toward the burning building, his security team shouting after him. He ignored them, focused only on reaching the private entrance he had used moments before.

    Smoke billowed from the doorway as he approached. He pulled his jacket over his mouth and pushed inside.

    The corridor that had been clear minutes ago was now filled with smoke. Emergency lights cast an eerie red glow through the haze. Alexander moved quickly, staying low where the air was clearer.

    "Camille!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. "Camille, where are you?"

    No answer came.

    He pushed deeper into the building, toward the main ballroom. The smoke grew thicker, making his eyes burn and his lungs ache with each breath. Somewhere ahead, he could hear voices, people still trying to escape.

    The second explosion hit as he reached the ballroom entrance. The force of it threw him against the wall, pain shooting through his shoulder. Debris rained down from the ceiling. Fire rms screeched, adding to the chaos.

    When his vision cleared, Alexander saw the ballroom was now a scene from hell. Tables overturned. Decorations burning. Smoke so thick he could barely see ten feet ahead.

    But still he moved forward, ignoring the pain, ignoring his body''s demand for clean air.

    "Camille!" he shouted again, desperation making his voice crack. "Camille, answer me!"

    Through the smoke, he caught glimpses of movement. People crawling toward exits. Security personnel helping the injured. But no sign of Camille.

    Another section of ceiling copsed with a deafening crash. Alexander barely jumped clear as chunks of ster and metal struck the floor where he had stood. The heat was bing unbearable, mes spreading rapidly across what remained of the elegant decorations.

    And still he searched.

    Because somewhere in this inferno was the woman he loved. And he would not leave without her.

 Chapter 153

    Camille crouched beneath a table with three young women in evening gowns, all sobbing in terror. The second explosion had blocked their path to the main exit with burning debris.

    "Listen to me," Camille said firmly, her voice cutting through their panic. "There''s another way out. Through the service corridor. But we need to stay low and move fast."

    The women nodded, their faces streaked with tears and soot.

    "Follow me," Camille ordered. "Stay close. Cover your mouth with your dress if you can."

    They crawled from under the table into the thickening smoke. Camille led them along the perimeter of the room, away from the worst of the mes. Her eyes burned. Her lungs screamed for clean air. But she pushed forward, guiding the terrified women toward safety.

    The service door appeared through the smoke, its outline barely visible. Camille reached it first, pulling it open to reveal a rtively clear corridor beyond.

    "Go!" she urged the women. "Straight ahead. You''ll reach an exit in thirty seconds."

    As thest woman stumbled through, Camille turned back to the ballroom. Were there others still trapped? Anyone she had missed?

    A third explosion rocked the building, this one closer than the others. The force of

    it sent Camille flying backward into the wall. Pain exploded across her back and shoulder. Her vision blurred.

    When it cleared, she saw the ceiling directly above her beginning to crack. In seconds, it would copse.

    Camille tried to move, but her body refused to respond. The smoke was too thick now. Each breath brought more pain than air.

    So this was how it would end. Not in victory over Rose, but buried beneath the rubble of her triumph.

    As consciousness began to fade, Camille thought she heard someone calling her name. A familiar voice, desperate and determined.

    "Alexander?" she whispered, the word lost in the roar of the mes.

    Then strong arms were around her, lifting her from the floor. A voice close to her ear saying, "I''ve got you. Stay with me."

    Alexander had found her. Even through the smoke and mes and chaos, he had found her.

    As he carried her toward safety, Camille''sst thought before darkness imed her was that Rose had failed again. Failed to destroy what mattered most.

    Because even in this moment of destruction, she was not alone.

    ***

    Victoria watched from her car as mes engulfed the west wing of the Grand za Hotel. Emergency vehicles surrounded the building, their lights painting the night in shes of red and blue. Paramedics treated injured guests on the za. Police officers established a perimeter. Firefighters battled the ze with seemingly little effect.

    And still, no sign of Camille or Alexander.

    Victoria''s hand gripped her phone so tightly her knuckles had turned white. She had called Alexander seventeen times. No answer.

    "Curtis," she said, her voice dangerously calm. "If you don''t let me out of this car right now, I will ensure you never work in security again. Anywhere. Ever."

    Before Curtis could respond, Victoria''s driver pointed toward the hotel''s side entrance. "Look!"

    Through the smoke emerged a figure carrying what appeared to be a body. As they moved closer, Victoria recognized Alexander, his face ckened with soot, his clothing torn and burned. In his armsy Camille, motionless.

    Victoria''s heart stopped.

    "Move!" she ordered, pushing past Curtis to open the car door herself.

    She stumbled onto the za, her legs weaker than she would ever admit, and hurried toward Alexander. As she approached, she saw Camille''s eyes flutter open. Relief flooded through her with such force she nearly copsed.

    "She''s alive," Alexander gasped as Victoria reached them. "Smoke inhtion. Some burns. Maybe a concussion from debris."

    Victoria touched Camille''s face with trembling fingers. "Camille? Can you hear me?"

    Camille''s eyes focused on Victoria, recognition dawning. "You... should be... in the car," she whispered, her voice hoarse from smoke.

    Augh that was half sob escaped Victoria''s lips. "And you should have followed me out. We both disobeyed orders."

    Paramedics rushed forward with a stretcher. Alexander gently ced Camille on it, reluctant to let her go even for a moment.

    "Stay with her," Victoria told him. "I''ll follow in the car."

    Alexander nodded, his eyes never leaving Camille as the paramedics began treating her.

    Victoria turned back toward her vehicle, suddenly aware of the weight of her own exhaustion. The excitement, the fear, the relief, all of it came crashing down at once. Her vision swam. Her chest felt tight.

    She took one step, then another. The third step never came.

    Instead, Victoria felt her knees buckle. Darkness edged her vision. Thest thing she heard was Curtis shouting for a medic.

    Then nothing.

    Camille regained consciousness in the ambnce, oxygen mask covering her face, monitors beeping steadily around her. Alexander sat beside her, holding her hand, his face a mask of worry and relief.

    "Victoria?" Camille asked, pulling the mask aside.

    Alexander hesitated. "They''re taking her to the hospital."

    Camille tried to sit up, panic giving her strength. "What happened? Is she hurt?"

    "Easy," Alexander said, gently pushing her back down. "She copsed after seeing you were safe. Could be exhaustion, could be smoke inhtion, could be..." He didn''t finish the sentence. He didn''t need to.

    It could be the cancer. The disease that was already killing her, now elerated by tonight''s trauma.

    "I need to be with her," Camille insisted, trying again to rise.

    This time, Alexander didn''t stop her. "The ambnces are heading to the same hospital. We''ll find her as soon as we arrive."

    Camille nodded, settling back but keeping hold of Alexander''s hand. "How bad was it? The hotel?"

    "Bad," Alexander admitted. "At least three bombs detonated. Maybe more. The west wing is destroyed. The ballroom... there''s not much left." "Casualties?" Camille asked, dreading the answer.

    "Unknown yet. Many injured, but most guests got out before the first explosion."

    Camille closed her eyes, picturing the beautiful ballroom in mes, the charity g turned to ash, all her hard work destroyed in minutes. Rose had won this round.

    But Rose hadn''t taken what mattered most. Camille was alive. Alexander was alive. And Victoria...

    Victoria had to survive too. She had to.

    The ambnce swerved suddenly, throwing them sideways. Camille heard the driver curse, then the squeal of brakes. They had stopped.

    "What''s happening?" she asked.

    Alexander moved to the front, spoke briefly with the driver, then returned. His expression was grim.

    "There''s been a multi-car ident ahead. Allnes blocked. They''re finding an alternate route, but it''s going to dy us."

    "And Victoria?" Camille''s voice rose with panic. "Is she stuck too?"

    "Her ambnce went ahead of us. It should have reached the hospital by now."

    Camille felt cold fear wrap around her heart. Every minute mattered with Victoria''s condition. Any dy could be fatal.

    "We need to get there," she whispered. "Now."

    Alexander squeezed her hand. "We will. I promise."

    But promises weren''t enough. Not when Victoria''s life hung in the bnce. Not when the woman who had saved Camille, who had be a mother to her, who had shown her how to rise from the ashes of her old life, might be taking herst breaths alone in a hospital room.

    Camille closed her eyes, silently pleading with whatever power might be listening. Not yet. Please, not yet. Not like this. Not because of Rose.

    The ambnce finally began moving again, sirens wailing as it sought a path through the chaos of the city. But to Camille, it felt as though they were barely crawling.

    And with each passing second, the distance between her and Victoria seemed to grow, a gulf she feared might be permanent before she had the chance to cross it onest time.

    ***

    Victoria Kaney on a hospital gurney, oxygen mask covering her pale face, as doctors worked frantically around her. Her body, already weakened by cancer and treatment, struggled to process the smoke she had inhaled, the shock she had endured.

    "Blood pressure dropping," a nurse called out. "Oxygen levels at 84 percent."

    "Push another milligram of epinephrine," the doctor ordered. "And get me her full medical records. Now."

    Victoria heard their voices as though from a great distance. She tried to speak, to ask about Camille, but no sound emerged. Her body felt disconnected, floating, drifting away from the pain and noise of the emergency room. Somewhere deep in her mind, Victoria knew this might be the end. Not the dignified, prepared death she had nned, but a chaotic scramble in an emergency room, surrounded by strangers.

    She had told Camille there would be time. Time for proper goodbyes. Time for final instructions. Time for onest moment together.

    Now, that promise might be broken.

    As consciousness slipped further away, Victoria held onto one thought, one image: Camille''s face when she had opened her eyes in Alexander''s arms. Alive. Safe. Strong enough to continue without Victoria.

    That would have to be enough.

    The emergency room doors burst open as new trauma patients arrived from the hotel explosion. Doctors shouted orders. Machines beeped urgently. And Victoria Kane, one of the most powerful women in the world, was rushed deeper into the hospital, fighting for each breath, each heartbeat, each remaining moment of life.

 Chapter 154

    Rose stood on the rooftop of a building across from the Grand za Hotel, her face lit by the orange glow of mes. The night air carried smoke and screams to her ears, a symphony of destruction that made her heart race. Sheughed, the sound bursting from her throat in waves, wild and uncontrolled.

    "Look at it burn," she whispered, thenughed again, louder this time. "Look at it all burn!"

    From this height, she could see everything, fire trucks with lights shing, ambnces lined up along the street, police pushing crowds back from danger. The once-beautiful hotel was now a zing skeleton, its west wingpletely copsed, windows shattered across its face like broken teeth. The ballroom where Camille had stood so proudly just hours before was now a pit of mes and ck smoke.

    Rose''sughter died suddenly, reced by a strange, hollow silence. She stepped closer to the edge of the roof, her eyes fixed on the destruction below. All those months of nning. All those careful preparations. All leading to this moment of victory.

    So why didn''t it feel like enough?

    The wind shifted, bringing a stronger smell of smoke. Rose breathed it in deeply, as if trying to consume the disaster she had created. Her fingers gripped the rooftop railing, knuckles white with tension.

    "Are you dead, Camille?" she asked the burning building. "Are you finally, truly gone?"

    Not knowing the answer gnawed at her. Rose had wanted to see Camille''s face when the first bomb went off. Wanted to witness her sister''s realization that Rose had beaten her, had destroyed everything she built. Instead, she was forced to watch from a distance, guessing at the oue.

    A helicopter circled overhead, its spotlight sweeping across the chaos. Rose stepped back from the edge, moving into shadow. Getting caught now would ruin everything.

    She pulled out her phone, checking news sites for updates. The first reports were already appearing:

    "EXPLOSION AT CHARITY GALA"

    "MULTIPLE CASUALTIES REPORTED IN HOTEL BOMBING"

    "PHOENIX FOUNDATION EVENT TARGETED IN TERRORIST ATTACK"

    Rose scrolled rapidly, searching for one name, Camille Kane. No mention yet of whether she had escaped or perished. The uncertainty was maddening.

    The phone rang in her hand, startling her. Mikhail''s number appeared on the screen.

    "Yes?" she answered.

    "It is done," Mikhail said, his ent thicker than usual. "All devices detonated."

    "I can see that," Rose replied, irritation edging her voice. "What about the targets? Camille Kane? Victoria Kane?"

    A pause. "Unknown. Many ambnces. Many injured."

    "That''s not good enough!" Rose shouted, her calm fa?ade cracking. "I need to know if they''re dead!"

    Another helicopter passed overhead, its roar drowning out Mikhail''s response. When the noise faded, he was saying, "...must leave the city now. Police will be looking..."

    "I''m not leaving until I know they''re dead," Rose cut him off. "Not after everything I''ve done to make this happen."

    "Foolish," Mikhail said bluntly. "You stay, you get caught."

    Roseughed again, the sound sharp and brittle in the night air. "They need to know it was me. They need to know why their perfect world burned down around them."

    "They will know. But you won''t be there to see if you''re in prison." Mikhail''s voice hardened. "Payment was for job, not suicide mission."

    Rose barely heard him. Her attention had returned to the burning hotel, to the chaos spreading across the za below. Somewhere in that mess was the answer she needed.

    "I''m going closer," she decided suddenly. "I need to see."

    "No!" Mikhail''s voice rose with rm. "Too dangerous. Too many police."

    Rose ended the call without responding. She hade too far to hide in shadows now. She needed to see the destruction up close, to feel the heat of the mes on her face, to know with certainty that Camille had finally been erased from the world.

    She took the service stairs down from the roof, mind racing with possibilities. The ck wig and sses in her bag would provide some disguise. She could blend with the crowd of onlookers, perhaps even pose as a concerned witness. No one would be looking for Rose Lewis thereˇŞthey''d be searching for her far from the

    scene.

    The stairwell was dark, lit only by emergency lights that cast eerie shadows on the walls. As Rose descended, herughter echoed around her, bouncing off concrete, creating a chorus of madness that followed her down and down and down.

    By the time she reached the bottom floor, theughter had transformed into something else, a kind of wild delight that made her feel more alive than she had in years. Her entire body tingled with energy. Every sense seemed heightened. The smell of smoke from outside. The distant wail of sirens. The taste of sess on her tongue.

    She paused at the building''s exit, watching through ss doors as people ran past. Some were covered in soot, their fancy clothes torn and dirtied. Survivors of her masterpiece. Rose studied their faces, searching for signs of Camille or Victoria among them.

    Nothing.

    Rose pushed open the door and stepped outside, immediately engulfed by chaos. The street wasz jammed with emergency vehicles, their lights painting everything in pulses of red and blue. Police shouted orders. Paramedics rushed past with stretchers. Smoke hung in the air like fog, burning her eyes and throat.

    She moved through the crowd, invisible in the confusion. No one noticed another shocked face, another person staring at the burning building. Rose pulled the wig from her bag and slipped it on, then added the sses. The

    wheel

    transformation was simple but effective, no one looking for Rose

    Lewis would see her here.

    As she pushed closer to the police barriers, Rose caught snatches of

    conversation around her:

    "

    they''re saying at least three bombs...."

    "... someone targeted the Phoenix Foundation..."

    "....dozens injured, maybe worse...."

    ".... they got Victoria Kane out but...."

    Rose froze, focusing on a man speaking to a police officer.

    "I saw them take her out on a stretcher," the man was saying. "Victoria Kane. She

    copsed right after they rescued her adopted daughter from inside." Rescued. The word hit Rose like a physical blow. Camille had been rescued. She wasn''t dead.

    A scream built in Rose''s throat, threatening to escape. She swallowed it back, hands clenched so tightly her nails cut into her palms. The pain helped focus her thoughts.

    If Camille was alive, then Rose hadn''t won yet. The destruction around her, the burning building, the injured guests, the ruined g, none of it mattered if Camille still breathed.

    Rose pushed through the crowd until she reached the line of ambnces. Medical personnel rushed between them, carrying the injured, calling orders. She scanned each face, each stretcher, looking for any sign of her sister.

    There, a sh of blue fabric. The color of Camille''s gown. Rose moved closer, peering through the open doors of an ambnce.

    A womany inside, oxygen mask covering her face, paramedics working around her. But it wasn''t Camille. Just another guest in a blue dress, another victim of Rose''s n.

    Frustration boiled inside her. Rose turned in a circle, trying to see everything at once. Where was Camille? Where was Victoria? Had they already been taken to a

    hospital?

    A police officer approached, eyeing her suspiciously. "Ma''am, you need to step back behind the barricade."

    Rose nodded, forcing her face into an expression of shock and concern. "I''m

    sorry. I was looking for my friend. She was at the g."

    "All victims are being transported to Memorial Hospital or City General," the officer

    said, more gently now. "You should check there."

    "Thank you," Rose whispered, already backing away.

    Memorial Hospital. City General. New destinations. New opportunities to finish what she''d started.

    As Rose moved away from the police barricade, her gaze returned to the burning

    hotel. The mes had grown higher, consuming what remained of the ballroom where her sister had stood so proudly. Where Victoria Kane had watched her adopted daughter shine. Where the Phoenix Foundation had been celebrated.

    All of it now ash and rubble.

    Rose began tough again, softly at first, then louder. A few people nearby nced at her strangely, but in the chaos of the night, a womanughing seemed

    no stranger than people crying or shouting or staring in shocked silence.

    Herughter was wild, unrestrained. The sound of something breaking free after being caged too long. The sound of madness, perhaps, but also of purest joy. Because even if Camille had survived, Rose had still hurt her. Had still destroyed the foundation she''d built. Had still proved that nowhere was safe, no triumph secure.

    And she wasn''t finished yet.

    Rose turned away from the burning building, her mind already racing toward new ns, new attacks. The hospitals would be chaotic tonight. Security would be focused on caring for victims, not watching for threats. If Camille was there, she would be vulnerable. If Victoria was there...

    Rose''sughter cut off abruptly, reced by a cold smile. Perhaps the night''s work wasn''tplete after all.

    She disappeared into the crowd, just another face in the sea of onlookers. Just another shadow moving through the smoke-filled night. But unlike the shocked bystanders around her, Rose moved with purpose. With certainty.

    The destruction behind her was just the beginning. The ruins of the Grand za Hotel were merely the first act in her revenge.

    And as sirens wailed and people cried and the building continued to burn, Rose Lewisughed once more, the sound lost in the chaos she had created, but the feeling of it vibrating through her entire body, a savage pleasure that nothing and

    no one could take away.

    Not even Camille.

 Chapter 155

    Special Agent Diana Chen''s eyes hurt. They were red and dry from staring at screens all night. Cold coffee cups crowded her desk. She hadn''t slept. She couldn''t sleep. Not until she found what she needed in the videos from the bombed hotel.

    "y it again," she told the tech guy sitting next to her. Her voice was rough from too much coffee and not enough rest. "Slow it down when it hits 9:42."

    The screen flickered as the video went backward. It showed a hallway near the hotel''s electrical room. This camera had survived when most others got destroyed in the st. The time at the bottom showed 9:41 PM. Chen leaned in close. Her whole body tense with hope.

    A woman walked into view. She wore a hotel worker''s uniform with a cap pulled down to hide her face. She moved like she knew exactly what she was doing. She checked her watch, then looked around to make sure no one saw her. At the electrical panel, she stopped. She took something from her pocket and stuck it to the wall.

    "Stop it right there," Chen said, her heart pounding in her chest. "Zoom in on her face."

    The tech hit some keys, and the image got bigger. The woman had turned a little toward the camera as she left, giving them a glimpse of her face.

    "Make it brighter," Chen said, barely breathing. "And sharpen the contrast."

    As the image cleared up, Chen felt a jolt run through her body. Even with the cap and uniform, she knew that face. She''d spent weeks burning it into her memory, studying every line and curve.

    Rose Lewis.

    "It''s her," Chen whispered, then louder, "It''s her! We''ve got her on camera nting the bomb."

    The tech nodded. "We have her on other cameras too. Same woman, different bombs."

    Chen grabbed her phone and called her partner with shaking hands. "Morgan, it''s Chen. We''ve got her. Clear video of Rose Lewis nting at least four bombs. It''s definitely her."

    She listened for a moment, then hung up. "Print everything," she told the tech. "I need pictures from every angle. And send me all the video files right now."

    Within an hour, Chen stood in the FBI office''s meeting room. Pictures from the cameras covered the walls. Agents crowded around as she pointed to the clearest photo, Rose Lewis attaching a bomb to a column near the hotel kitchen.

    "This is who did it," Chen said, her voice hard with anger and relief. "Rose Lewis, 28 years old. The adopted sister of Camille Kane. She has a history of twisting the truth and hating both Camille and Victoria Kane."

    Agent Morgan stepped up beside her. "We also have Herod Preston''s statement linking her to nning the bombing. And we found bomb-making stuff in a storage unit she rented under a fake name."

    "So we have why she did it, how she did it, and now proof she did it," the field director summed up. "Where is she now?"

    "We don''t know," Chen admitted, frustration making her chest tight. "Last time anyone saw her was near the hotel right after the first explosion. We think she stayed to watch what she''d done."

    "People like this often do that," Morgan added. "They want to see the pain they caused."

    The field director looked at the photos, his face dark with worry. "This was an attack that killed six innocent people and hurt over forty more. We need to find her. Now."

    "We''ve already frozen her bank ounts," Chen said, counting off on her fingers. "gged her passport and ID. Put alerts at all airports, train stations, and borders."

    "Not enough," the director cut in. "We need to go public. Full media coverage. I want her face on every TV and phone screen in America by noon."

    The agents scattered to do their

    jobs. Chen stayed behind, staring at the wall of pictures, Rose Lewis sneaking through the hotel in

    different disguises, carefully cing bombs that would kill people who had done nothing wrong, alt because she couldn''t let go of her hate for her sister.

    Chen stepped closer to thergest photo, her fingers lightly touching the image of the woman''s face. "I''ming for you," she whispered, hot tears welling in her eyes. The faces of the victims shed in her mind, a father of three, a honeymooning couple, a retired teacher People who should be alive today.

    "No matter where you run," Chen promised, her voice breaking with exhaustion and fury, "no matter how deep you hide. I will find you. I will make you face what you''ve done."

    She pressed her forehead against the cold wall, letting the tears fall freely now. This case had burrowed under her skin in a way none other had before. Perhaps it was the senselessness of it all. Or maybe it was because she''d spent so many sleepless nights studying Rose''s face that she felt like she knew her, knew the twisted mind behind those eyes.

    "You wanted attention," Chen mumbled, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Well, now you''ve got it. The whole country will know your face by sundown."

    She straightened her shoulders, drawing a deep breath. The moment of weakness had passed. Now there was only the hunt. And Diana Chen was a hunter who never gave up.

    Behind her, the door opened. Morgan stood there, holding two fresh cups of coffee.

    "You okay?" he asked, concern etched on his tired face.

    Chen nodded, taking the offered coffee. "I will be. When we put her in cuffs."

    "We will," Morgan said. "She''s smart, but she''s not smarter than all of us."

    Chen looked back at the wall of evidence, the fruits of her sleepless nights and dogged determination.

    "No," she said softly. "She''s not. And her mistake was thinking she could get away with this."

    She sipped the hot coffee, the bitter taste matching her resolve. "Let''s bring her

    in."

 Chapter 156

    The hospital room was too quiet. Only the steady beep of monitors and the whisper of the oxygen machine broke the silence. Camille sat beside Victoria''s bed, her hand gently holding the older woman''s fragile fingers. Three days had passed since the bombing. Three days of watching Victoria struggle, hour by hour.

    The doctors had exined it in simple terms at first: Victoria''s body, already fighting cancer, couldn''t handle the additional strain of smoke inhtion and shock. Her lungs were struggling. Her heart was weakening. Each breath seemed to cost her more than thest.

    Camille leaned forward, studying Victoria''s pale face. The woman who had always seemed invincible now looked small against the white hospital sheets. The tubes and wires connected to her body only emphasized her fragility.

    "You need to eat something," Alexander said softly from the doorway. He carried a paper bag that smelled of soup and bread.

    Camille shook her head without looking up. "I''m not hungry."

    Alexander moved to her side, cing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You haven''t left this room in thirty-six hours. You need food. Rest."

    "I can''t leave her," Camille whispered, her voice catching. "What if she wakes up and I''m not here? What if she..."

    She couldn''t finish the sentence. Couldn''t speak the fear that had haunted her for three days.

    Alexander pulled a chair beside her and sat down. "The doctors are doing everything they can."

    "Is it enough?" Camille asked, her eyes never leaving Victoria''s face. "Thest update wasn''t promising."

    Alexander didn''t argue. There was no point pretending things weren''t serious.

    Camille looked down at Victoria''s hand in hers, the skin thin, blue veins visible beneath the surface. This hand had pulled her from darkness. Had shown her how to rebuild her life. Had taught her strength when she believed herself broken beyond repair.

    "I can''t lose her," Camille said, her voice barely audible. "Not like this. Not because of Rose."

    "This isn''t your fault," Alexander said firmly.

    "Isn''t it? Rose targeted the g because of me. She nted those bombs to destroy what I had built." Camille''s free hand curled into a fist. "If Victoria dies because of that..."

    "She would tell you not to think that way."

    Camille knew he was right. Victoria would never allow such self-pity. Would never permit Camille to shoulder me that wasn''t hers. But knowing that didn''t ease the crushing weight in her chest.

    The monitors beeped, slightly faster than before. Victoria''s eyelids fluttered but didn''t open.

    "Should I call the nurse?" Alexander asked, already half-rising from his chair. Camille shook her head. "It happens sometimes. They said it''s normal."

    Normal. What a strange word to describe any of this. Nothing had been normal since the night of the g. The bombing had made national news. The Phoenix Foundation''s triumphantunch had be a story of terrorism and tragedy. And Victoria, who had been slowly losing her battle with cancer, now faced a new fight because of the smoke damage to her lungs.

    A light knock on the door interrupted Camille''s thoughts. Dr. Patel entered, followed by another doctor Camille hadn''t seen before.

    "Ms. Kane," Dr. Patel said, addressing Camille. "This is Dr. Sharma, our oncology specialist. She''s been reviewing Victoria''stest test results."

    Camille tensed, preparing for bad news. Alexander''s hand found her shoulder, steadying her.

    Dr. Sharma stepped forward, her expression thoughtful rather than grim. "We''ve detected something unexpected in thetest scans."

    "What is it?" Camille asked, her throat tight with fear.

    "The cancer appears more contained than we initially believed," Dr. Sharma exined. "Previous scans suggested spread to multiple organs, but our more detailed imaging shows the disease is primarily still concentrated in the pancreas, with only minor involvement of surrounding tissues."

    Camille stared at her, trying to process what this meant. "So... it''s not as bad as you thought?"

    "The cancer is still serious," Dr. Sharma cautioned. "But this new finding changes our approach. With aggressive treatment, abination of targeted radiation therapy and new immunotherapy protocols, we could potentially extend Ms. Kane''s life expectancy significantly."

    "How significantly?" Alexander asked.

    "It''s difficult to say with certainty," Dr. Sharma replied. "But in cases simr to Ms. Kane''s, we''ve seen patients survive for years rather than months. The smoke inhtionplications are our immediate concern, but once those are managed, we could begin the new treatment protocol."

    Camille felt dizzy with hope, a feeling so unexpected she hardly recognized it. "Years? She could have years?"

    "With appropriate treatment and careful management, yes. It''s possible."

    The doctors continued exining the treatment n, but Camille barely heard them. Years. Not months. Not weeks. Years. Time for conversations. For memories. For goodbyes that weren''t rushed by the ticking clock of terminal illness.

    When the doctors left, promising to return with more details after Victoria woke, Camille turned to Alexander, tears filling her eyes.

    "Did you hear that?" she whispered. "She might not... she could have..." Alexander pulled her into a tight embrace. "I heard. It''s good news, Camille. The best we could hope for."

    Camille buried her face against his shoulder, letting the tears flow freely now, not tears of despair but of cautious hope. She had been preparing herself for imminent loss. To suddenly have the possibility of more time felt like a gift beyond

    measure.

    A soft sound from the bed made them both turn. Victoria''s eyes were open, watching them with a rity that had been absent for days.

    "Victoria?" Camille moved quickly to her side. "Can you hear me?"

    Victoria nodded slightly, her gaze steady despite the obvious effort it took to remain alert. "I heard... the doctors," she whispered, her voice raspy from the breathing tube that had been removed just yesterday.

    "You''re going to get better treatment," Camille said, taking Victoria''s hand

    between both of hers. "There''s a chance, a real chance..."

    "I heard," Victoria interrupted gently. The ghost of a smile touched her lips. "Years, not months."

    "Yes," Camille confirmed, a sob of relief escaping her. "Years."

    Victoria''s fingers tightened around Camille''s, a weak grip, but stronger than yesterday. "Good," she said simply. "There''s still... work to do."

    Typical Victoria, Camille thought. Already thinking about Kane Industries, about business, about the empire she had built.

    But Victoria continued, her eyes holding Camille''s with surprising intensity. "Work like... watching you rebuild. Seeing you... find happiness."

    Alexander stepped closer, cing a hand on Camille''s shoulder. "She will," he promised Victoria. "I''ll make sure of it."

    Victoria nodded slightly, acknowledging his vow. "The bombing," she said, her voice growing clearer with each word. "Rose?"

    "She hasn''t been caught yet," Alexander answered before Camille could. "But the FBI are viewing the footage from the hotel and are looking for Rose, It''s just a matter of time."

    Victoria''s eyes returned to Camille. "What will you do... when they find her?"

    Camille hadn''t allowed herself to think that far ahead. Her focus had been entirely on Victoria, on the moment-by-moment battle for recovery. But now, with the possibility of years rather than days stretched before them, the question of Rose loomedrger.

    "I don''t know," she admitted. "Part of me wants justice. Part of me wants..." "Revenge," Victoria finished for her. No judgment in the word, just understanding. "Yes," Camille acknowledged. "But I also want to move forward. To rebuild what she destroyed. To show her that she failed to break me." She squeezed Victoria''s hand gently. "Failed to take you from me."

    Victoria''s expression softened. "Choose life," she said, the words carrying weight beyond their simplicity. "Choose creation over destruction. Promise me."

    The request echoed what Victoria had been teaching Camille since rescuing her from that parking garage, that true poweres not from tearing down but from building up. Not from revenge but from rising above it.

    "I promise," Camille whispered, meaning it more now than she could have before the doctors'' news. With the gift of time came the possibility of healing. Of moving beyond the anger that had driven her for so long.

    Victoria''s eyes closed briefly, fatigue evident in every line of her face. When she opened them again, there was a vulnerability there Camille had rarely seen.

    "Stay with me," Victoria murmured. "Until I fall asleep."

    "I''m not going anywhere," Camille assured her, moving closer. "I''ll be right here,

    Mommy."

    The word slipped out naturally,

    unnned yet perfectly right.

    Camille had called Victoria that once

    before, had barely acknowledged to herself the maternal role Victoria

    had taken in her life. But in this moment of shared vulnerability and hope, the truth of their rtionship crystallized into that single word.

    Victoria''s eyes widened slightly, a sh of emotion crossing her face before her usualposure returned. But her fingers tightened around Camille''s, and there was no mistaking the tears that gathered at the corners of her eyes.

    "My girl," she whispered, the words filled with a tenderness few people had ever heard from Victoria Kane. "My beautiful, strong girl."

    Alexander moved quietly to the door, giving them privacy for this intimate moment. As he stepped into the hallway, he caught a glimpse of Camille leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to Victoria''s forehead, daughter to mother, a bond sealed in crisis and now given the precious gift of time to grow.

    Outside the hospital window, the sun broke through clouds that had hung over the city since the bombing. A Ac shaft of golden light fell across the bed, illuminating Victoria''s silver hair and Camille''s bent head, two women who had faced destruction and emerged with the possibility of years ahead rather than days.

    It wasn''t a guarantee. The doctors had been clear about the challenges Victoria

    still faced. But it was hope, fragile but real. And in that moment, as Victoria drifted

    back to sleep with Camille still holding her hand, hope seemed enough to build a future on.

    A future where creation trumped destruction. Where "Mommy" wasn''t a word said only in final goodbyes but in everyday moments for years toe. Where Rose''s bombs had failed to destroy what mattered most, the bond between two women who had chosen each other as family.

 Chapter 157

    Alexander Pierce stood in the hospital corridor outside Victoria''s room, cell phone pressed to his ear as he absorbed the news.

    "You''re certain it''s her?" he asked the FBI agent on the other end of the line.

    "One hundred percent," came the reply. "Clear facial match in multiple video segments. We''re preparing to release the footage to the media within the hour."

    "I want to see it first," Alexander insisted. "Send it to my secure email immediately."

    After ending the call, Alexander leaned against the wall, the weight of the news settling on his shoulders. They had suspected Rose from the beginning, of course. Known in their hearts who was responsible. But confirmation brought its own burden, the question of how to tell Camille.

    She had barely left Victoria''s bedside in the five days since the bombing. The unexpected hopeful news about Victoria''s treatment options had lifted some of the darkness from Camille''s spirits, but she remained fragile, caught between relief that Victoria might have years rather than months and fury at Rose for elerating her illness with the bombing.

    Now Alexander held proof of Rose''s guilt in his hands. Not conjecture or suspicion, but undeniable visual evidence.

    He checked his phone as the email arrived, opening the video files and watching them in grim silence. There was Rose, her movements calm and deliberate as she ced the bombs that would kill six people. No hesitation. No sign of conflict. Just cold, calcted destruction.

    Alexander closed the files, his decision made. Camille needed to know before she saw it on the news. She deserved that much.

    He knocked softly on Victoria''s door before entering. Camille sat beside the bed as always, but Victoria was awake today, her color somewhat improved from yesterday. They both looked up as he entered.

    "What is it?" Camille asked immediately, reading his expression. "Something''s wrong."

    Alexander moved to her side, cing a hand on her shoulder. "The FBI has identified the bomber from security footage," he said quietly. "It''s Rose. They have clear images of her cing the devices throughout the hotel."

    Camille''s face remained perfectly still, but Alexander felt the slight tremble that ran through her body at his words.

    "Show me," she said.

    "Camille..." Victoria began, concern in her voice.

    "I need to see it," Camille insisted. "Show me the footage."

    Alexander hesitated, then handed her his phone with the video cued up. Camille took it, her hand steady despite the storm he knew must be raging inside her. Victoria motioned for Alexander to help her sit up higher so she could see the screen as well.

    Together they watched as Rose moved through the hotel, nting the bombs that would devastate their lives. Camille''s expression hardened with each passing second, while Victoria''s remained carefully neutral, the perfect mask she had perfected over decades in business.

    When the video ended, Camille handed the phone back to Alexander, her movements controlled. Too controlled.

    "They''re issuing a nationwide manhunt," Alexander continued. "Her face will be on every news channel within the hour. The FBI wanted us to know first."

    Victoria reached for Camille''s hand. "Now everyone will know the truth."

    But Camille didn''t seem to hear her. "Six people dead," she said, her voice distant. "Six people who came to support my foundation. Who believed in what we were trying to build."

    "This isn''t your fault," Alexander said firmly.

    "I know whose fault it is," Camille replied, an edge of steel entering her voice. "I''ve always known."

    Victoria tightened her grip on Camille''s hand. "Remember your promise to me."

    The simple words seemed to prate Camille''s hardening shell. She looked at Victoria, conflict evident in her eyes, the promise to choose creation over destruction battling with the raw anger the footage had rekindled.

    "I remember," she said finally. "But that doesn''t mean I can''t want justice."

    "Justice, yes," Victoria agreed. "Revenge, no."

    Alexander''s phone rang again, the FBI with updated information. He stepped out into the hallway to take the call, leaving Camille and Victoria to their private struggle.

    When he returned minutester, his expression had changed.

    "What now?" Camille asked.

    "They''ve released her photo to the media," Alexander reported. "And they''ve found something else, a rental car registered to one of Rose''s aliases. It was abandoned near the bus station the night of the bombing."

    "She''s running," Victoria said.

    "Yes. But she left something behind." Alexander hesitated. "A notebook. It contained detailed ns of Kane Industries headquarters. Floor ns. Security protocols. Staff schedules."

    Camille went perfectly still. "She was nning to target thepany next."

    "It appears that way," Alexander confirmed. "The FBI believes the hotel bombing was just the first phase of arger n."

    Victoria''s monitoring machines beeped as her heart rate increased slightly. "Is there any indication of where she might have gone?"

    Alexander shook his head. "Not yet. But the FBI is following every lead. They''ve assigned their top agents to the case."

    Camille stood abruptly. "I need some air."

    "Camille..." Victoria began.

    "I''m not going far," Camille assured her. "Just to the garden downstairs. I need to... process this."

    Alexander moved to follow her, but Victoria caught his sleeve.

    "Let her go," she said quietly. "She needs space to find her own way through this."

    After Camille left, Victoria''sposed expression finally cracked, revealing the worry beneath.

    "She''s struggling with her promise to me," Victoria said. "The promise to choose life over revenge."

    "It''s a lot to ask," Alexander replied, taking the seat Camille had vacated. "Especially now, with proof of what Rose did. With the knowledge that Rose was nning even more attacks."

    "It''s precisely because of that proof that the promise matters," Victoria countered. "Rose wants Camille consumed by hatred. Wants her focused on destruction rather than creation. If Camille gives in to that, Rose wins, even if she''s caught and punished."

    Alexander couldn''t argue with Victoria''s logic, but he understood Camille''s conflict all too well. "What can I do to help her?"

    Victoria''s eyes, still sharp despite her illness, fixed on his. "Remind her who she is now. Not who she was when Rose first hurt her. The woman she''s be is stronger than her anger. She just needs to remember that."

    ** ** **

    In the hospital garden, Camille sat on a stone bench, face turned up to the afternoon sun. The images from the security footage yed on loop in her mind, Rose moving through the hotel, nting death with the same casual confidence she''d once used to steal Camille''s husband, her family, her sense of self.

    Always Rose, destroying what Camille built. Always Rose, turning triumph to ash.

    Camille''s phone buzzed in her pocket. A news alert. She opened it to see Rose''s face filling the screen, a still from the security footage, alongside the headline: "FBI LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR GRAND PLAZA HOTEL

    BOMBER."

    Beneath it, details of the attack. The death toll. The injured. A brief biography of Rose Lewis, adopted sister of Camille Kane, with mentions of her "apparent vendetta" against the Kane family.

    Now everyone would know. The story Camille had kept private for so long, her sister''s betrayal, her husband''s infidelity, her own transformation from victim to survivor, was now ying out in public headlines.

    She closed the news app and opened her photo gallery instead, scrolling to an image she had taken just weeks ago: the Phoenix Foundation''s logo, freshly painted on the wall of their new office. A symbol of rebirth. Of rising from destruction.

    Victoria''s words echoed in her mind: "Promise me you''ll live for creation, not destruction."

    el.r

    Camille had made that promise in a moment of emotional vulnerability, desperate to give Victoria peace. Now, faced with undeniable evidence of Rose''s crimes, tha promise felt harder to keep. The anger burning inside her demanded action, satisfaction, justi¨¦e.

    But perhaps that was exactly why the promise mattered.

    She looked up as a shadow fell across her. Alexander stood there, concern evident in his eyes.

    "They''ve found another piece of evidence," he said without preamble. "A list in Rose''s handwriting. Names and addresses. Your parents. My apartment. Victoria''s home. Your office. All ces she nned to target next." Camille absorbed this information, feeling oddly calm despite its implications. "She wanted to destroy everything connected to me."

    "Yes." Alexander sat beside her on the bench. "The FBI believes the hotel bombing was just the beginning."

    Camille nodded, still strangely detached. "That makes sense. Rose never does anything halfway."

    "Camille," Alexander said gently, "what are you thinking right now?"

    She considered the question, searching for honesty beneath the numbness that

    had settled over her. "I''m thinking that I''m tired. Tired of Rose dictating the course

    of my life. Tired of reacting to her hatred instead of creating something of my

    own."

    Alexander studied her face. "What does that mean for whates next?"

    "It means I''m going to keep my promise to Victoria," Camille said, the words feeling right as she spoke them. "I''m going to rebuild the foundation. Create something even stronger than before. And I''m going to let the FBI handle Rose."

    "Just like that?" Alexander asked, surprised by her certainty.

    "No, not just like that," Camille admitted. "I''m still angry. I still want her caught and punished for whate she did. But I won''t let that desire consume me. Won''t let it be

    what drives me." She looked up at the hospital building, knowing Victoria was inside, fighting her own battle. "I''ve seen where that path leads. I won''t follow Rose down it."

    Alexander took her hand, his eyes reflecting both pride and concern. "The FBI will

    find her, Camille. With the evidence they have now, it''s only a matter of time."

    "I know," Camille said. "And when they do, I''ll face her in court. I''ll tell my story.

    And then I''ll go back to building something Rose can never destroy, a life defined by creation, not destruction."

    As they sat together in the hospital garden, Camille''s phone buzzed again with another news alert. This one showed a different image, a blurry security camera photo of a woman at a bus station who resembled Rose, but with dyed hair and

    different clothes.

    The manhunt had begun in earnest. Across America, Rose''s face would soon be known to everyone. Her crimes exposed. Her hiding ces won.

 Chapter 158

    Rose sat in the dingy motel room, the glow of the television casting harsh shadows across her face. Her newly dyed ck hair hung in wet strands around her shoulders, dripping onto the worn carpet. The cheap hair dye had stained her fingernails dark, making them look dirty no matter how she scrubbed.

    "Breaking news in the Grand za Hotel bombing," the anchor announced. "The FBI has released security footage clearly identifying the main suspect."

    Rose leaned forward, breath caught in her throat.

    Her own face filled the screen, not her current disguise, but her real face, captured in perfect rity as she ced an explosive device near the hotel''s kitchen. The footage showed her checking her watch, attaching the bomb, and then looking up briefly, giving the camera a clean shot of her features.

    "The FBI has identified the suspect as Rose Lewis, 28, the adopted sister of Camille Kane, whose Phoenix Foundation was hosting the charity g targeted in the attack."

    Rose grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.

    "A nationwide manhunt is now underway for Lewis, who is considered armed and extremely dangerous. The bombing killed six people and injured more than forty others. Sources close to the investigation say Lewis had a long-standing grudge against her sister."

    Photos shed across the screen, Rose at social events, Rose with Stefan, and finally, a photo of Rose and Camille together years ago, before everything fell apart. The sight of thatst image made Rose''s stomach turn. She had been smiling at the camera, arm around Camille, looking for all the world like a loving sister while secretly plotting her destruction.

    "The FBI has released these images to airports, bus terminals, and border crossings nationwide," the anchor continued. "Citizens are warned not to approach Lewis if spotted, but to contact authorities immediately."

    Rose muted the television as they switched to an interview with a terrorism expert. She stood and moved to the grimy window, peering through a gap in the curtains at the nearly empty parking lot. No police cars yet. No shing lights. But it was only a matter of time.

    She''d been careless. Too focused on ensuring the bombs were ced perfectly to notice the security cameras. Too confident in her disguise. Too eager to watch Camille''s triumph turn to ash.

    And now her face was on every screen in America.

    Rose turned back to the television, which now showed footage of Camille leaving the hospital, Alexander Pierce at her side, both surrounded by security personnel. The caption below read: "Bombing victim Camille Kane visits her adopted mother, Victoria Kane, who remains hospitalized after the attack."

    So Victoria had survived. And Camille was still standing, still moving forward despite everything Rose had taken from her.

    Something hot and ugly twisted in Rose''s chest. No matter what she did, no matter how perfectly she nned, Camille always emerged from the ashes. Always found a way to rebuild.

    "Why won''t you just break?" Rose whispered at the screen, at Camille''sposed face and straight shoulders. "Why won''t you stay down?"

    The answer came as she watched Alexander guide Camille into a waiting car, his hand protective at the small of her back, his body angled to shield her from the cameras. And then the broadcast cut to footage of Victoria Kane, being wheeled into the hospital days earlier, Camille clutching her hand as if afraid to let go.

    Of course. While Rose had destroyed the Phoenix Foundation, the hotel, the physical things Camille had built, she hadn''t destroyed what truly mattered to her sister. She hadn''t taken away the people Camille loved.

    Victoria and Alexander. The new family Camille had built to rece the one Rose had stolen. The source of her strength, her resilience, her ability to rise again and again.

    Rose grabbed her notebook from the bedside table and began to write, ideas flowing faster than her pen could capture them. Not buildings this time. Not foundations or projects or material things. Those could be rebuilt. Those losses could be ovee.

    No, this time she would strike at the heart. At the two people who gave Camille the strength to withstand everything Rose had done so far.

    "The mother and the lover," Rose murmured, circling the words she had written. "Take them away, and what''s left of the mighty Camille Kane?"

    She knew the answer: nothing. Just a shell, empty and broken, like Rose herself had been after being forced from the Lewis family, after watching Camille take everything that should have been hers.

    The television changed to footage of the hospital where Victoria was being treated. Security guards stood at every entrance. Reporters clustered nearby, hoping for updates on the powerful woman''s condition.

    Rose studied the building''syout, noting the ambnce entrance, the service doors, the helicopter pad on the roof. So many ways in, if you were clever enough. So many vulnerabilities, if you looked with the right eyes.

    But first, she needed to change her appearance again. The ck hair wasn''t enough. She opened her bag and pulled out the items she''d purchased at a discount store that morning, scissors, colored contact lenses, makeup designed to alter facial structure, and clothes nothing like her usual style.

    As she began cutting her hair shorter, Rose''s mind raced with possibilities. Victoria Kane was already weakened by cancer, made more vulnerable by the bombing. One well-ced push might be enough to finish what the smoke inhtion had started.

    And Alexander Pierce, so devoted to Camille, so determined to protect her. His very devotion made him predictable. Made him a target.

    Take them both away, and Camille would shatterpletely. No foundation to rebuild. No strength to rise again. Just emptiness and grief and the knowledge that she had failed to protect the people she loved most.

    "Perfect," Rose whispered, examining her newly cropped hair in the bathroom mirror. With the right makeup, the colored contacts, and the change in hairstyle, she would be unrecognizable to anyone not looking very carefully.

    She returned to the main room, unmuting the television just as they switched to a press conference. FBI Agent Diana Chen stood at a podium, nked by other serious-faced agents.

    "We have reason to believe the suspect remains in the greater New York area," Agent Chen was saying. "We''re asking the public to remain vignt and report any sightings immediately. Ms. Lewis is considered extremely dangerous and should not be approached."

    Rose smiled at the screen. They thought they knew where she was. Thought they were closing in. Little did they understand that Rose Lewis had spent her entire life hiding in in sight, pretending to be someone she wasn''t. This manhunt was just another role to y, another mask to wear.

    Her phone vibrated

    with a news

    alert. She opened it to find a new

    story: "Bombing Suspect''s History of Deception." The article detailed. Rose'' past, including interviews with former associates who described her maniptive behavior. Stefan Rodriguez was quoted saying he "deeply regretted" his rtionship with Rose and called her "dangerously obsessed" with destroying her sister.

    Rose threw the phone across the room, satisfaction ring when it hit the wall with

    a crack. Stefan too had betrayed her. Added his voice to the chorus condemning

    her. Another name for her list. Another target forter, after she finished with Victoria and Alexander.

    Night fell as Rose continued nning, her notebook filling with details, contingencies, escape routes. The television droned on in the background, her face appearing regrly between other news stories. Once, they showed a photo. of her as a teenager, newly adopted into the Lewis family, standing awkwardly beside a smiling Camille.

    Rose paused her writing, staring at that old image. She remembered that day. Remembered the confusion of being ced with a wealthy family after years in foster care. Remembered Camille''s eager attempts at friendship, her willingness to share everything, her room, her parents, her life.

    What Camille had never understood was that Rose didn''t want to share. She wanted to take. To possesspletely. To be the only daughter, the only focus of attention, the only one who mattered.

    And now, all these yearster, nothing had changed. Rose still wanted everything Camille had. Still burned with the need to take it all away.

    "One final act," Rose whispered, turning away from her younger self on the screen. "Onest push, and you''ll have nothing left, sister dear."

    She returned to her nning, methodically listing what she would need for each phase. Disguises. Transportation. Weapons. Timing would be crucial. Security around both Victoria and Alexander would be tight following the bombing. She would need to be patient. Careful. Perfect in her execution.

    The news switched to footage of the ruined Grand za Hotel, still smoldering in ces despite days of firefighting efforts. They showed photographs of the six people killed in the bombing, an elderly couple who had donated millions to children''s charities, a hotel security guard who had helped evacuate guests, a waiter working his first shift, and two young women who had attended the g as part of their business school program.

    Rose watched their faces appear on screen without emotion. They were nothing

    to her. Meaningless pieces swept from the board during her game with Camille. Only two pieces mattered now: Victoria Kane and Alexander Pierce. Remove them, and Camille would be left defenseless. Broken beyond repair. Rose closed her notebook and moved to the window again, scanning the parking lot for any sign of police. Still clear. But she couldn''t stay here much longer. Too risky, with her face on every screen, with the FBI closing in.

    She packed her few belongings quickly, wiping down surfaces to remove fingerprints. The manhunt hadplicated things, but it hadn''t changed her goal. If anything, it made her more determined to finish what she had started.

    Let them hunt her. Let them ster her face on every television, every newspaper, every phone screen in America. By the time they found her, it would be toote. Camille would already have lost everything.

    Rose checked her disguise onest time in the mirror, short ck hair, brown contact lenses, face subtly altered with contouring makeup. She barely recognized herself. Perfect.

    As she slipped out the motel door into the darkness, Rose felt a calmness settle over her. The manhunt would force her to move faster than nned, but perhaps

    that was better. No time for doubt. No space for second thoughts.

    Just one final act of destruction aimed at the heart of Camille''s world.

    And this time, Rose would make sure her sister never rose from the ashes again.

 Chapter 159

    The phone buzzed on the hospital nightstand. Just once. A single text message.

    Camille nced at it, expecting another update from Alexander, who had stepped out to take a call from the security team. Victoria was asleep, her breathing finally even after a difficult morning of treatments. The room was quiet except for the steady beep of monitors and the soft hiss of the oxygen machine.

    Camille reached for the phone, grateful for the distraction from her worried thoughts. The screen lit up.

    Unknown number.

    She opened the message and froze.

    *You took everything from me twice. Now I''ll take everyone from you.*

    The words burned into her eyes. No signature. None needed. Camille knew exactly who had sent it.

    Rose.

    Her hand shook as she stared at the message. The phone suddenly felt hot, dangerous, as if it might explode in her palm. She wanted to throw it across the room, to smash it against the wall, to destroy the link between her and the sister who would not stop hunting her.

    Instead, she took a deep breath and pressed the screenshot button. Evidence. The FBI would need it.

    Victoria stirred in the hospital bed, her eyes opening slowly. "Camille? What''s wrong?"

    Camille tried to smooth her expression, to hide the fear that must be written across her face. But Victoria had always seen through her masks.

    "Show me," Victoria said, her voice stronger than her frail body suggested.

    Camille hesitated, then turned the phone screen toward Victoria. No point hiding it. Not from the woman who had taught her to face threats head-on.

    Victoria read the message, her face hardening. "She''s desperate," she said finally. "Cornered. The FBI is closing in, and she knows it."

    "That makes her more dangerous, not less," Camille replied, her voice tight with fear she couldn''t quite hide. "She''s threatening everyone I love."

    "Which is why we have security," Victoria reminded her. "And why the FBI is hunting her day and night."

    Camille stood, suddenly unable to sit still. She paced the small hospital room, the phone clutched in her hand like a grenade with the pin half-pulled. "She found a way to contact me despite everything. Who knows what else she can do?"

    The door opened, and Alexander stepped in. One look at Camille''s face told him something was wrong.

    "What happened?" he asked, closing the door firmly behind him.

    Wordlessly, Camille handed him the phone. His expression darkened as he read the message.

    "When did thise in?"

    "Just now," Camille said. "Can you trace it?"

    "I''ll have my team try, but if Rose is being careful, she''ll have used a burner phone." Alexander was already typing on his own phone, alerting his security personnel. "We need to move you both to a more secure location."

    "I''m not leaving the hospital," Victoria said firmly from her bed. "My treatment protocol requires specific equipment that can''t be moved."

    "Then we lock down this floor," Alexander decided. "No one in or out without triple verification."

    Camille nodded, but inside, a cold dread was spreading through her chest, creeping into her limbs, making her feel heavy and slow. Rose had found a way to reach her despite all their precautions. What else could she do?

    "My parents," Camille said suddenly. "She''ll target them too."

    "Already handled," Alexander assured her. "I doubled their security team this morning, before this message came in. Standard precaution with the manhunt ongoing."

    Camille should have felt relieved, but the fear only grew, taking root in her heart like a poisonous weed. "What about you?" she asked Alexander, her voice barely audible. "She''lle for you too."

    Alexander''s expression softened. He crossed the room and took her hands in his. "I can take care of myself, Camille. I''ve been doing it for a long time."

    "Not against Rose," Camille insisted. "You don''t understand how she thinks. What she''s capable of."

    "I think I have a pretty good idea after the bombing," Alexander said gently. "But I''m not going anywhere. We face this together."

    Victoria watched them, her eyes sharp despite her weakened state. "Call Agent Chen," she instructed. "She needs to know about this message immediately."

    Alexander nodded and stepped away to make the call. Camille resumed her pacing, unable to stand still with the energy of fear coursing through her veins.

    "Sit down, Camille," Victoria said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "You''re making me dizzy."

    Camille stopped moving but remained standing, her body tense as a drawn bowstring. "She won''t stop, will she?"

    "Not until she''s caught," Victoria agreed. "Or until she believes she''s won."

    The simple truth of those words hit Camille like a physical blow. Rose wouldn''t stop. Not ever. Not while she breathed. Not while she believed Camille had taken what was rightfully hers.

    "This is never going to end," Camille whispered, the realization settling over her like a shroud.

    "Everything ends," Victoria countered. "Even Rose''s obsession. Even her freedom to hurt you."

    But Camille barely heard her. She was staring at the phone still in Alexander''s hand, at the message glowing on the screen. *You took everything from me twice. Now I''ll take everyone from you.*

    What had she taken from Rose? A family that Rose had manipted? A husband Rose had seduced? A life Rose had tried repeatedly to destroy? In Rose''s twisted mind, these were thefts, not consequences of her own actions.

    And now Rose would take "everyone" from her. Not something. Everyone. The people she loved. The people who gave her strength.

    Victoria. Alexander. Her parents. Anyone who mattered to her.

    The room suddenly felt too small, the air too thin. Camille struggled to breathe, her chest tight with panic.

    "Camille." Victoria''s voice cut through the fog of fear. "Look at me."

    Camille turned, meeting Victoria''s steady gaze.

    "She wants you afraid," Victoria said firmly. "She wants you paralyzed. Reactive. Don''t give her that power."

    "I can''t lose you," Camille whispered, the words torn from somece deep and vulnerable. "I can''t lose any of you."

    "You won''t," Victoria promised. "We''re prepared now. We''re ready for her."

    Alexander finished his call and rejoined them. "Agent Chen is sending a team to trace the message. They''ll be here within the hour."

    "And until then?" Camille asked.

    "Until then, we tighten security even further." Alexander''s voice was calm, matter-of-fact, a counterpoint to the storm of emotion raging inside. Camille. "No one enters this floor without biometric verification and direct approval from me. All staff are being vetted again. Guards at every entrance, exit, and elevator."

    "What about my parents?" Camille pressed.

    "Agent Chen is sending FBI agents to supplement their security team. They''re

    being moved to a safe house as we speak."

    Camille nodded, trying to takefort in these concrete measures. But the knot of fear in her stomach remained, hard and cold.

    A knock on the door made them all tense. Alexander moved to answer it, his hand inside his jacket where Camille knew he carried a weapon. He checked the security monitor beside the door before opening it.

    Jason, Alexander''s head of security, stepped in. "Sir, we''vepleted the first sweep of the floor. All clear. Additional teams are arriving now to establish the expanded perimeter."

    "Good," Alexander said. "Any updates on the trace?"

    "Nothing yet. The tech team says the message was routed through multiple servers. They''re still working on it."

    Camille listened to this exchange, the professional calm of the two men both reassuring and somehow terrifying. They were preparing for war. A war Rose had brought to their doorstep.

    After Jason left, Camille moved to the window, looking out at the city below. Somewhere out there, Rose was watching. Waiting. nning her next move. The thought made Camille''s skin crawl.

    "She''ll make a mistake," Alexander said,ing to stand beside her. "They always do."

    "You don''t know Rose," Camille replied, her voice hollow. "She''s patient. Careful. She''s been nning this for years."

    "No n survives contact with reality," Alexander countered. "And the reality is that the entire country is looking for her. Everyw enforcement agency. Every airport. Every border crossing."

    "That won''t stop her," Camille insisted. "Not when she''s this close to what she wants."

    "And what does she want?" Alexander asked.

    Camille turned to him, her eyes haunted. "To see me suffer. To take away everyone I love and watch me break."

    "Then we don''t let her," Alexander said simply. "We protect each other. We stay together. We deny her the victory she wants."

    Victoria''s voice joined the conversation from her bed. "Alexander is right. Rose''s weakness has always been her obsession with you. It blinds her. Makes her take risks she shouldn''t."

    Camille wanted to believe them. Wanted to trust in security teams and FBI agents and locked doors. But she had underestimated Rose before. They all had.

    Her phone buzzed again. Another message.

    Her heart seemed to stop as she opened it, expecting more threats from Rose. Instead, it was from her father.

    *We''re at the safe house. Your mother is upset but safe. We love you, Camille.

    Stay strong.*

    A small relief in the midst of fear. Her parents were secure, at least for now.

    She showed the message to Alexander, who nodded in approval. "One less thing to worry about."

    But a hundred worries remained. A thousand ways Rose could strike at the people Camille loved.

    The day crawled by with agonizing

    slowness. FBI agents arrived to take Camille''s statement about the threatening message. Security personnel established checkpoints at every entrance to the hospital

    floor. Doctors and nurses were escorted by guards whenever they entered Victoria''s room.

    Through it all, Camille felt a growing sense of unreality, as if she were watching events unfold from behind ss. This was her life now, armed guards, security checkpoints, fear at every turn. All because her sister would not stop hunting her.

    Night fell. Victoria, exhausted from the day''s tension and her ongoing treatments, fell into a restless sleep. Alexander insisted on staying, setting up a makeshift bed on the small couch in the corner of the room.

    Camille sat in the chair beside Victoria''s bed, unable to sleep despite her own exhaustion. The threatening message yed on repeat in her mind. *You took everything from me twice. Now I''ll take everyone from you.*

    "You should rest," Alexander said softly from the couch. "I''ll keep watch."

    Camille shook her head. "I can''t sleep. Not with her message in my head."

    Alexander rose and moved to her side, crouching beside her chair. "Rose wants you exhausted. Afraid. Unable to think clearly. Don''t give her that advantage." Camille looked at him, at the steady concern in his eyes, and felt a wave of love so powerful it nearly overwhelmed her. This man, who had chosen to stand beside her despite the danger, who refused to leave her even when a murderer was targeting everyone she cared about.

    He was right. Rose wanted her weak. Wanted her broken before the final blow was even struck.

    "One hour," Camille agreed finally. "I''ll try to sleep for one hour." Alexander nodded, satisfied with this small victory. He returned to the couch,

    maintaining his vigil while Camille reclined in the chair, allowing her eyes to close.

    Just before sleep imed her, a final thought drifted through her mind: Rose had threatened to take

    everyone from her. But she

    seeded yet. Victoria still fought

    for health and life in the bed beside her. Alexander still guarded her sleep. Her parents waited safely in

    an FBI safe house.

    Rose had made her threat. Camille and those she loved had responded by

    drawing closer together, by reinforcing their protections, by refusing to be

    separated. Perhaps that was the answer. Perhaps the way to defeat Rose was not to run or hide, but to hold tighter to the connections she sought to sever.

    With this thought floating through her tired mind, Camille finally drifted into an uneasy sleep.

 Chapter 160

    Dr. Sharma knocked twice before entering Victoria''s hospital room, her face unreadable as she carried a folder of test results. Camille sat up straighter in her chair, her heart speeding up. Two weeks had passed since Rose''s threatening message. Two weeks of heightened security, constant fear, and waiting for Victoria''stest test results.

    "Good morning," Dr. Sharma said, her voice giving away nothing. "How are you feeling today, Ms. Kane?"

    Victoria, sitting up in bed for the first time in days, nodded slightly. "Better than yesterday. Less pain."

    Camille studied her mother''s face, hardly daring to believe the small

    improvements she''d noticed over the past few days. The color returning to Victoria''s cheeks. The rity in her eyes. The way she''d begun asking about Kane Industries again, as if nning for a future she might actually see.

    Dr. Sharma pulled up the bedside chair and sat down, opening the folder on herp. "I have yourtest scan results."

    Camille reached for Victoria''s hand, bracing for bad news. They''d been through this routine before, brief improvements followed by crushing setbacks. Hope was a luxury she could barely afford.

    "The treatment is working," Dr. Sharma said, her professional mask finally breaking into a genuine smile. "The tumors have shrunk by nearly thirty percent." The words hung in the air. Camille stared at the doctor, afraid she''d misheard. "Thirty percent?" Victoria repeated, her voice steadier than it had been in weeks. "Yes. Your body is responding remarkably well to thebined therapy approach." Dr. Sharma turned the folder, showing them the scan images. "Here''s the primary tumor from three weeks ago. And here it is now."

    Even to Camille''s untrained eye, the difference was clear. The dark mass that had been stealing Victoria''s life was noticeably smaller.

    "What does this mean?" Camille asked, afraid to voice the real question burning in her heart: *Is she going to live?*

    "It means the treatment is working better than we expected," Dr. Sharma exined. "Your mother''s body is fighting back with surprising strength."

    Victoria''s hand tightened around Camille''s. "Give us the full picture, Doctor. No sugar-coating."

    Dr. Sharma nodded, respecting Victoria''s directness. "The cancer is still serious. But this response changes your prognosis significantly. With continued treatment and your current response rate, we could be looking at years of good quality life rather than months."

    Years. The word echoed in Camille''s mind like a bell, clear and bright and almost too beautiful to believe.

    "And the smoke damage to her lungs?" Camille pressed, needing to understand theplete situation.

    "Also improving faster than expected. Your mother has remarkable resilience, Ms. Kane." Dr. Sharma closed the folder. "I believe we can start discussing discharge ns within the next week, with continued outpatient treatment, of course."

    After the doctor left, promising to return with more details that afternoon, silence filled the room. Camille stared at Victoria, tears building behind her eyes but not falling.

    "Don''t look so shocked," Victoria said finally, a hint of her old dryness returning. "I told you I wasn''t finished yet."

    The simple statement broke the dam. Camille''s tears flowed freely now, her body shaking with sobs that were halfughter, half pure relief.

    "Camille," Victoria said, her voice softening. "Come here."

    Camille moved from the chair to the edge of the bed. Victoria reached up, wiping tears from her daughter''s cheeks with a gentleness few people had ever seen from the formidable businesswoman.

    "I''m not going anywhere," Victoria promised. "Not for a long time."

    "I was so afraid," Camille admitted, the words barely audible. "Every day, watching you get weaker. I thought..."

    "I know what you thought." Victoria''s hand moved to cover Camille''s. "I thought it too, at first. But it seems we''re both too stubborn to give up so easily."

    Camilleughed through her tears. "Stubborn enough to beat cancer and survive a bombing in the same month."

    "Exactly." Victoria''s eyes, clearer now than they had been in weeks, held Camille''s. "Now, help me sit up properly. I need to make some calls."

    "Calls? You just got good news. You should rest."

    "I''ve been resting for weeks," Victoria countered. "It''s time to start living again."

    Something in those words reached deep inside Camille, touching a ce that had been frozen with fear since Rose''s threat. *Time to start living again.* Not just surviving. Not just waiting for the next attack. But living, despite the dangers still lurking.

    Camille adjusted Victoria''s pillows, helping her sit more upright. "Alexander will want to know about the test results. He''s been worried too."

    "Of course he has," Victoria said. "That young man loves you more than his own life. It makes him both valuable and extremely vulnerable."

    The blunt assessment brought Camille up short. Even recovering from cancer, even celebrating good news, Victoria''s mind remained sharp, tactical, always evaluating weaknesses and strengths.

    "Rose is still out there," Victoria continued, reading Camille''s thoughts with her usual uracy. "My recovery doesn''t change that. If anything, it makes me a more tempting target."

    "The FBI is closing in," Camille reminded her. "Every day they find new leads. It''s only a matter of time."

    "Perhaps. But Rose has always been patient when it suited her."

    Camille stood, moving to the window where armed guards were visible patrolling the hospital grounds. "I can''t live like this forever. None of us can. Looking over our shoulders. Jumping at shadows."

    "No," Victoria agreed. "Which is why we need to be proactive, not reactive."

    Camille turned back, studying Victoria''s face. "What are you thinking?"

    "I''m thinking that Rose expects us to hide. To cower. To wait for her to strike." Victoria straightened, looking more like herself than she had in? weeks. "What she doesn''t expect is for us to move forward with our lives. To rebuild what she destroyed. To grow stronger while she weakens."

    The idea settled over Camille slowly, like a warm nket on a cold night. Victoria was right. Rose wanted them paralyzed with fear. Wanted them isted, separated, vulnerable. Every day they spent simply waiting for her next attack was

    a small victory for Rose.

    "The Phoenix Foundation," Camille said, the wordsing unbidden to her lips. "We should restart it. Rebuild it."

    Victoria smiled, pride evident in her eyes. "Exactly. Not just the foundation. Everything. Kane Industries initiatives. Your wedding ns with Alexander. Your life, Camille. The one Rose tried to destroy."

    For the first time in weeks, something other than fear fluttered in Camille''s chest. Something that felt dangerously like hope.

    A knock at the door interrupted them. Alexander entered, his face lighting up when

    he saw Victoria sitting up, looking stronger than she had since the bombing.

    "You look better," he said, moving to Camille''s side.

    "I am better," Victoria confirmed. "Dr. Sharma just gave us the test results. The treatment is working better than expected."

    Alexander''s arm slipped around Camille''s waist, offering silent support. "That''s the best news I''ve heard in weeks."

    "We were just discussing next steps," Victoria said, her business tone returning. "Specifically, how to move forward instead of simply waiting for Rose''s next attack."

    Alexander nced at Camille, curiosity in his eyes. "And what did you decide?" "That we rebuild," Camille said, the words feeling right as they left her mouth. "Everything. The foundation. Our lives. All of it."

    "While maintaining security precautions," Victoria added pragmatically. Alexander''s expression grew thoughtful. "It''s risky. Rose is still out there, still dangerous."

    "Life is risky," Victoria countered. "Especially for people like us. That never stopped me before, and it won''t stop me now."

    Camille felt Alexander studying her face, reading her emotions as clearly as if she''d spoken them aloud. "What do you think?" he asked softly.

    "I think," Camille said slowly, "that Rose wants us afraid. Wants us hiding. Wants us to put our lives on hold while she plots and ns." She straightened her shoulders, feeling strength returning with each word. "I think it''s time we stopped giving her what she wants."

    Alexander smiled, a slow spreading of warmth across his face. "Then we rebuild. Together."

    Victoria watched them, satisfaction evident in her expression. "Good. Now, Camille, find my phone. I need to call the board members and let them know I''m

    not dead yet."

    met

    Camille couldn''t helpughing at Victoria''s typical directness. She retrieved the phone from the bedside drawer, marveling at how different she feltpared to just an hour ago. The fear wasn''t gone, Rose was still out there, still threatening everyone she loved. But now that fear shared space with something else. Something brighter and stronger.

    Hope. Not just for Victoria''s recovery, but for all of them. Hope that they could rebuild what Rose had destroyed. Hope that they could live their lives on their own terms, not dictated by Rose''s hatred.

    As Victoria made her calls, asserting her authority despite her hospital bed location, Camille moved to the window again. The sun was breaking through clouds that had hung over the city for days, bathing the hospital grounds in golden

    light.

    "You''re smiling," Alexander said, joining her. "I''ve missed that."

    "I didn''t realize how much I needed good news until we got it," Camille admitted.

    "It feels like... I don''t know. Like breathing after being underwater too long."

    Alexander nodded, understanding without needing more exnation. "Victoria recovering changes everything, doesn''t it?"

    "Not everything. Rose is still out there." Camille leaned slightly against him,

    drawing strength from his presence. "But yes, it changes the most important thing. It gives us back our future."

    Behind them, Victoria was speaking forcefully into her phone, already nning board meetings and project reviews from her hospital bed. The sound made Camille smile wider. This was the Victoria she knew, unstoppable, indomitable, refusing to be sidelined even by cancer.

    "We still need to be careful," Alexander warned, ever practical. "Rose won''t give up just because Victoria is recovering."

    "I know," Camille agreed. "But now we''re fighting for something, not just against someone. That makes us stronger, not weaker."

    Alexander''s arm tightened around her waist. "You sound like Victoria."

    "Good," Camille said, meaning itpletely. "Because Victoria is a survivor. A

    fighter. And that''s exactly what I need to be right now."

    ve

    As they stood watching the sunlight spread across the hospital grounds, Camille felt something she hadn''t experienced in weeks: certainty Not about Rose''s capture or what dangers stilly ahead, but about her own ability to face them. To survive

    them. To triumph over them.

    Victoria''s surprising resilience had given Camille more than hope for her mother''s

    recovery. It had reminded her of who she was. Who she had be under Victoria''s guidance. Who she could still be, despite everything Rose had tried to take from her.

    "We''re going to be okay," she whispered, half to Alexander, half to herself. "All of

    us."

    And for the first time since Rose''s threatening message, Camille truly believed it.

 Chapter 161

    Four weeks. Twenty-eight days without a sign of Rose. Not a text. Not a sighting. Not a whisper.

    Camille stood at the window of her office at Kane Industries, watching the city below. Security guards still apanied her everywhere. The FBI still checked in daily. Alexander''s team still swept for bugs and bombs each morning.

    But something had changed. The tight knot of fear in her stomach had loosened slightly. Not gone, she doubted it would ever truly disappear, but different now. More like an old injury that ached before rain than the sharp, consuming pain of a fresh wound.

    She checked her watch. Three hours until they would drive to Victoria''ske house. The doctors had finally allowed Victoria to leave the hospital two weeks ago, but insisted she recover somewhere quiet, away from the stress of the city. Theke house, with its private security and peaceful surroundings, had been the perfect solution.

    A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. Jason, Alexander''s head of security, entered with his daily report.

    "All clear, Ms. Kane," he said. "The route to theke house has been secured. We''ll have teams stationed at every checkpoint along the way."

    "Thank you, Jason," Camille replied. "Any updates from the FBI?"

    He shook his head. "Nothing new. They''ve followed leads in five states, but nothing concrete. Agent Chen believes Ms. Lewis may have left the country."

    Camille nodded, unsurprised. The FBI had been saying simr things for weeks now. Rose had vanished, like smoke dissipating into air.

    Part of Camille wanted to believe it-that Rose had run, given up, moved on. But the part that knew her sister best remained on guard. Rose never gave up. Never abandoned her ns. Never left a score unsettled.

    "We''ll maintain all security protocols," Jason continued, reading her thoughts. "Mr. Pierce has been very clear about that."

    "Of course," Camille agreed. "Thank you."

    After Jason left, Camille returned to her work. The Phoenix Foundation rebuilding efforts were moving ahead steadily. New offices had been secured. Staff rehired. Projects restarted. It felt good to create again, to build rather than merely survive.

    The afternoon passed quickly. When Alexander arrived to pick her up, Camille was surprised to see him dressed casually-jeans and a light sweater instead of his usual suit.

    "You look different," she said, smiling despite herself.

    "Victoria''s orders," he replied. "No business attire at theke house. Apparently we both need to ''remember how to rx'' before we ''turn into workaholics like her.""

    Camilleughed, the sound still unfamiliar to her ears after weeks of tension. "Did she actually say that?"

    "Word for word. Complete with dire threats if we disobey."

    Camille gathered her things, including a small overnight bag. Victoria had insisted they stay the night, watch the sunrise over theke, pretend for a few hours that their lives weren''t forever altered by Rose''s vendetta.

    The drive north took nearly two hours. Security vehicles preceded and followed their car, a precaution that had be so routine Camille hardly noticed anymore. The city gave way to suburbs, then to rolling countryside, until finally they turned onto the private road leading to Victoria''ske house.

    Nestled among pine trees, the house wasn''t as grand as Camille had expected. Victoria Kane, known for her luxury penthouses and corner offices, had chosen something almost modest for her retreat. The two-story structure of wood and ss faced a small privateke, its deck extending out over the water.

    Security personnel were visible but discreetˇŞa team at the gate, another patrolling the perimeter, yet another stationed near the dock. Alexander had insisted on the highest level of protection despite the remote location.

    Victoria waited for them on the deck, seated in afortable chair with a nket across herp despite the warm evening. She was thinner than before her illness, her cheekbones more prominent, but her eyes were clear and alert. More importantly, she was smiling, something Camille had seen too rarely in recent months.

    "Finally," Victoria called as they approached. "I was beginning to think you''d gotten lost."

    Camille climbed the steps to the deck and bent to kiss Victoria''s cheek. "Traffic was heavy leaving the city."

    "Excuses," Victoria dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Come, sit. Dinner will be ready soon."

    Alexander joined them, taking a seat across from Victoria. "The security teams reported all clear?"

    Victoria shot him a look. "We agreed, no business talk tonight. That includes security reports."

    Alexander raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry. Old habits."

    "Break them," Victoria instructed firmly. "For one night, we''re going to pretend we''re normal people enjoying a quiet evening at theke. Is that understood?"

    Camille exchanged a nce with Alexander, a smile tugging at her lips. This was the Victoria she remembered,manding, brooking no opposition, determined to bend the world to her will. Cancer had weakened her body but not her spirit. "Understood," Camille agreed, settling into a chair beside Victoria. "No business

    talk."

    The evening air was cool but pleasant. Theke stretched before them, its surface ssy in the fading light. Birds called from the surrounding trees. From somewhere inside the house came the sound of dinner being prepared.

    "It''s beautiful here," Camille said, breathing deeply. "I can see why you love it."

    Victoria nodded. "I bought this ce thirty years ago, after my first major business sess. Everyone expected me to purchase something ostentatious, a mansion, a penthouse. Instead, I found this."

    "It suits you," Alexander observed. "Understated but impressive."

    Victoria almost smiled at that. "The water helps me think. Always has."

    They sat infortable silence as the sun dipped lower, painting theke in shades of gold and orange. Camille felt something inside her slowly unwinding, a tension so constant she''d forgotten what it felt like to be without it.

    Dinner was served on the deck as darkness fell. Simple but delicious food, grilled fish, fresh vegetables, warm read. Battery-operatednterns created pools of golden light around their table. If security personnel remained vignt in the shadows, they were invisible enough to maintain the illusion of normalcy. Victoria ate slowly but steadily, another sign of her improving health. She asked questions about the Foundation, about Kane Industries, about ns for theing months. Despite her earlier rule about no business talk, she clearly wanted to stay informed.

    "The doctors say I can return to the office part-time next month," she mentioned between bites. "Three days a week, four hours a day."

    "That seems ambitious," Alexander said carefully.

    Victoria raised an eyebrow. "I didn''t ask for your opinion on my recovery schedule, Alexander."

    "He''s right, though," Camille added. "The doctors said to take it slow."

    "Four hours a day is slow," Victoria countered. "For me."

    Camille couldn''t argue with that. Before her illness, Victoria regrly worked fourteen-hour days. Four hours would indeed feel like barely working to her.

    After dinner, they moved to a fire pit near theke''s edge. Security had cleared the area earlier, ensuring it was safe. The mes cast dancing shadows across their faces as they sat infortable chairs arranged in a semicircle.

    "I''ve been thinking," Victoria said, breaking a long but pleasant silence. "About whates next."

    "I thought we weren''t talking business tonight," Camille reminded her gently.

    "This isn''t business. It''s life." Victoria''s eyes reflected the firelight. "Specifically, yours."

    Camille tensed slightly. "What about it?"

    "You''ve put your wedding ns on hold. Understandably, given recent events. But

    I''m wondering when you might reconsider."

    Alexander reached over to take Camille''s hand, a silent show of support. This topic hadn''t been discussed between them for weeks, not since the bombing, not since Rose''s threat, not since Victoria''s illness.

    "I don''t know," Camille answered honestly. "It doesn''t seem like the right time."

    "When is the right time?" Victoria pressed. "When Rose is caught? When my cancer is in full remission? When the world stops being dangerous?"

    Put that way, Camille had no good answer. There would always be another reason to wait, another fear to ovee, another crisis to weather.

    "I just want you to be safe," she said finally. "Both of you. A wedding would make us targets."

    "We''re already targets," Victoria pointed out. "Has been for months now. And yet, here we sit."

    Camille looked from Victoria to Alexander, seeing the same question in both their eyes: How long would she let Rose dictate the terms of her life?

    "Think about it," Victoria said, her voice softening. "That''s all I ask." Camille nodded, grateful when the conversation shifted to lighter topics. But the question remained, hovering at the edges of her mind like a persistent shadow. After Victoria retired for the night, Camille and Alexander remained by the fire. The security team had withdrawn to a respectful distance, giving them the illusion of privacy while maintaining vignce.

    "She''s right, you know," Alexander said quietly. "About not letting Rose control our lives."

    Camille poked at the fire with a stick, watching sparks rise into the darkness. "I know. But it''s not that simple."

    "It never is." He moved his chair closer to hers. "But at some point, we have to decide what matters more, the fear of what Rose might do, or the life we want to build together."

    Camille looked up at him, studying his face in the firelight. This man who had stood beside her through everything, Rose''s betrayal, the bombing, Victoria''s illness. Who had never wavered, never backed away from the danger her life entailed.

    "I am not saying we should ignore the threat," Alexander continued. "The security will remain. The precautions. The vignce. But within those parameters, we can still choose to live, Camille."

    The simple truth of his words sank deep into her heart. For months now, she had been existing rather than living. Surviving rather than thriving. Even as she rebuilt the Foundation, even as she supported Victoria''s recovery, a part of her had remained frozen, waiting for Rose''s next strike.

    "What would it look like?" she asked, her voice barely audible over the crackling fire. "Living, I mean. With all of this still hanging over us."

    Alexander considered her question seriously. "It would look like making ns more than a week ahead. Like celebrating milestones instead of just enduring days. Like this..."he gestured to the fire, theke, the night sky above them, "... moments of peace that we allow ourselves to fully experience, rather than waiting for them to be shattered."

    Camille closed her eyes, letting his words wash over her. How long had it been since she''d truly allowed herself to feel anything beyond fear and vignce? Since she''d looked forward rather than constantly ncing over her shoulder? When she opened her eyes, Alexander was watching her, patient as always. "We

    could start small," he suggested. "Dinner out. A weekend away. Small steps back toward normal."

    "Normal," Camille repeated, the word feeling foreign on her tongue. "I''m not sure I remember what that feels like."

    "Neither do I." Alexander smiled slightly. "Maybe we create a new normal. One that acknowledges the danger but doesn''t give it power over everything."

    A log shifted in the fire, sending up a shower of sparks that momentarily illuminated the trees around them. In that brief sh, Camille caught sight of a security guard moving between the shadows, a reminder that danger still lurked at the edges of this peaceful scene.

    Yet somehow, that knowledge didn''t destroy the moment. The guard was there to protect, not threaten. The danger was acknowledged but contained. For this one evening, they had carved out a space where fear didn''t rule.

    "I''d like to try," Camille said finally. "To find that new normal." Alexander squeezed her hand, understanding all she wasn''t saying. "One day at a

    time."

    They sat together as the fire burned lower, theke waterpping gently at the shore before them. Stars appeared overhead, countless points of light in the vast darkness. The night air cooled, carrying the scent of pine and wood smoke.

    For the first time in weeks, Camille felt something close to peace, not the absence of danger, but the presence of hope despite it. Victoria

    was recovering. The Foundatoria

    was rebuilding. And here, in this moment, she had allowed herself to simply be, without constant fear shadowing every thought.

    It wouldn''tst, of course. Tomorrow would bring a return to heightened vignce, to security protocols, to the knowledge that Rose was stiff out there somewhere, nning her next move. But for tonight, atleast, Camille had reimed a small piece of herself from the fear that had

    ruled her life for too long.

    As the fire died to embers and the night deepened around them, Camille rested

    her head on Alexander''s shoulder, allowing herself this moment of normal in a life that had been anything but.

 Chapter 162

    The morning sun sparkled on theke as Camille prepared to leave. The

    overnight stay had been a brief but needed escape from the constant pressure of the past months. Victoria stood on the deck, waving as Camille loaded her bag into the car.

    "Come back next weekend," she called. "Bring Alexander next time. I need civilizedpany out here."

    Camille smiled, knowing Victoria was far from lonely with her staff and security team in constant attendance. "I''ll call you tonight," she promised.

    Alexander had left early that morning, called back to the city for an urgent meeting with the FBI. He''d wanted to postpone his return until he could travel with Camille, but she had insisted she would be fine with her security detail.

    "Four weeks without a sign of Rose," she had reminded him. "And I''ll have two cars of security personnel. Go handle the FBI."

    Now, as her driver James held the door open for her, Camille felt a flicker of unease. The peaceful night at theke had lowered her guard slightly, a dangerous thing when Rose might still be out there, waiting.

    Their security detail followed the same protocol as always, one car ahead, one behind, maintaining constant radio contact. Camille sat in the back, watching the trees pass by her window. The ruralndscape was beautiful, so different from the city she''d grown ustomed to.

    "Ms. Kane," James said, breaking into her thoughts. "Security team ahead is reporting a traffic ident blocking the road. They''re checking alternate routes."

    Camille nodded, feeling a slight tightening in her chest. Coincidences made her nervous these days.

    They were about forty minutes from the city when James spoke again, his voice tense. "Ma''am, I''ve lost contact with the lead car."

    Camille sat up straighter, instantly alert. "What about the car behind us?"

    "Trying them now." James pressed a button on his radio, then shook his head. "No response."

    Fear crawled up Camille''s spine like a cold hand. "Call Alexander," she ordered, reaching for her own phone.

    No signal. The bars on her screen had disappearedpletely.

    "Signal jammer," James muttered, slowing the car as they approached a bend in the rural highway. Trees pressed close on both sides, their branches creating a tunnel of dappled light and shadow.

    "Turn around," Camille instructed. "Now."

    James began to maneuver the car, but before he couldplete the turn, a van swerved onto the road ahead of them, blocking their path. Another vehicle appeared behind, trapping them.

    "Get down!" James shouted, drawing his weapon.

    Camille ducked below the window line, her heart hammering against her ribs. This was no random attack. No ordinary carjacking. This was precise. nned. Professional.

    This was Rose.

    The back window shattered as bullets hit it. James returned fire through the broken ss, his face grim with determination.

    "Stay down, Ms. Kane," he ordered. "Backup wille."

    But Camille knew backup wouldn''t arrive in time. Rose had nned too carefully for that. Had waited four weeks, lulling them into a false sense of security before striking when Alexander was away.

    The shooting suddenly stopped. In the abrupt silence, Camille could hear birds singing in the trees, oblivious to the violence below.

    "They''re moving," James warned, peering through the cracked windshield.

    Figures in ck tactical gear approached the car from both directions, weapons raised. Camille counted six of them. Too many, even for James and his training.

    "On my signal, I want you to run for the trees," James said quietly. "I''ll cover you."

    Camille shook her head. "We stay together."

    "Ms. Kane, my job is to protect you. Please..."

    Before he could finish, the driver''s door was wrenched open. James fired, hitting one attacker, but others grabbed him, dragging him from the car. Camille heard the sickening sound of a blow, then silence.

    A small canister flew into the car, hitting the floor at her feet. White gas hissed out, filling the space with acrid fumes. Camille tried to hold her breath, covering her mouth and nose with her sleeve, but the gas was everywhere.

    Her vision blurred. Her limbs grew heavy. The car door beside her opened, and fresh air rushed in, momentarily clearing her head.

    Camilleshed out blindly, her fist connecting with something solid. A grunt of pain told her she''d hit her target. She scrambled toward the opposite door, desperate to escape.

    "Still fighting, sister dear? Some things never change."

    That voice. Camille would know it anywhere. She forced her eyes to focus through the lingering gas.

    Rose stood there, looking down at her with a small smile. Her hair was different, short, dyed ck, but her eyes were the same. Cold. Calcting. Triumphant.

    "You," Camille managed, the word slurring despite her best efforts.

    "Me," Rose agreed pleasantly. "Miss me?"

    Camille tried to lunge at her, but her body wouldn''t cooperate. Her movements were slow, uncoordinated. Rose easily stepped back, avoiding her grasp.

    "Now, now," Rose chided. "Is that any way to greet your sister after a month apart?"

    "You... killed him," Camille gasped, thinking of James lying motionless outside the

    car.

    "Not dead," Rose corrected. "Just sleeping. Unlike the Grand za Hotel, this

    isn''t about body count. This is personal."

    She gestured to one of the men in

    ck, who approached with a

    syringe. Camille tried to fight as hands pulled her from the car, but

    the gas had weakened her too much. She felt a sharp pinch in her neck. Almost immediately, a deeper heaviness invaded her limbs.

    "Why?" Camille asked, struggling to keep her eyes open as the drug took effect.

    Rose leaned close, her smile widening. "Because you took everything from me," she whispered. "Now I''m going to take everything from you."

    Camille''s vision blurred. She saw

    vision

    James, lying unconscious on the roadside. She saw the security team from the lead car, simrly incapacitated. She tried to call out, to fight, to do anything, but her body no longer responded to hermands.

    Thest thing she saw before darkness imed her was Rose''s face, watching with satisfaction as she was loaded into the van. Thest thing she felt was rumble of the engine as it putted away, carrying her into a nightmare she had feared for months.

    Then nothing.

    Just ckness.

    And the echo of Rose''s final words: "Now I''m going to take everything from you."

 Chapter 163

    Alexander was in the middle of his meeting with Agent Chen when the rm on his phone red, a sound he had never wanted to hear. His security team''s emergency signal.

    His blood turned to ice. He was already moving toward the door as he pulled up the tracking app, watching the red dot that represented Camille''s car blinking rapidly on a rural road.

    "I need to go," he said, his voice tight. "Something''s wrong."

    Agent Chen looked up from her files, instantly alert. "What happened?"

    "Distress signal from Camille''s security team." Alexander''s fingers flew across his phone screen, calling in his backup teams. "No response from any of them."

    "I''ll send FBI units," Chen said, already reaching for her radio.

    But Alexander barely heard her. He was already running for the elevator, his heart pounding against his ribs. He had left Camille at theke house with a security detail he had personally trained. They wouldn''t trigger the emergency protocol unless the situation was dire.

    The drive was a blur of speed and rising panic. Alexander pushed his car to its limits, weaving through traffic with a single-minded focus. The GPS showed him closing in on the signal, but the red dot had stopped moving. Stopped blinking. Gone dark.

    When he reached the coordinates, the scene hit him like a physical blow.

    Two ck SUVs, Camille''s security vehicles sat empty on the rural road. Bodiesy sprawled on the asphalt. Alexander mmed to a stop, his gun already drawn as he exited the car.

    "James!" he shouted, recognizing Camille''s driver slumped by the roadside.

    The man stirred weakly. Still alive. Alexander checked the others, all security personnel, all unconscious but breathing. But no Camille.

    James''s eyes fluttered open as Alexander knelt beside him. "They took her," he whispered, his voice rough. "Gas... couldn''t stop them..."

    "Who?" Alexander demanded, though he already knew the answer. "Was it Rose?"

    James nodded weakly. "ck van... six men... Rose was there... personally."

    Cold fury washed over Alexander, so intense it momentarily blinded him. Rose had waited for the perfect moment, when he was away, when they had begun to lower their guard after four weeks of silence.

    Sirens wailed in the distance as he searched the vehicles for any clue to where they might have taken Camille. The back window of her car was shattered. Inside, he found her phone on the floor, its screen cracked.

    And something else. A small envelope with his name on it, ced carefully on the driver''s seat.

    Alexander opened it with steady hands belying the storm inside him. A single sheet of paper contained a typed message:

    *She took everything from me. My family. My future. Now I take everything from her. Starting with her freedom. Then her hope. Then her life. If you want to say goodbye before she dies, you have 48 hours to find us. The clock is ticking, Alexander. Tick. Tock.*

    His vision blurred with rage and fear. He read the note twice more, searching for any hint of their location. Nothing.

    FBI vehicles screeched to a stop around him. Agent Chen approached, her face grim as she surveyed the scene.

    "Rose Lewis?" she asked quietly.

    Alexander nodded, handing her the note. "She''s had this nned for weeks. Waiting for the perfect moment."

    Chen read the message, her professional mask slipping slightly. "We''ll find her, Pierce. Every agent, every resource. We''ll find them both."

    "Forty-eight hours," Alexander said, his voice t. "That''s all the time Camille has."

    "Then we don''t waste a minute." Chen was already directing her agents, organizing search teams, calling in forensic units.

    Alexander stepped away, making the hardest call of his life. Victoria needed to know. Now.

    She answered on the second ring. "Alexander? Is Camille with you? She hasn''t called."

    The hope in her voice cut like a knife. Alexander swallowed hard before responding. "Victoria, something''s happened. Rose has taken Camille."

    The silence on the other endsted only seconds, but it felt like years.

    "Tell me everything," Victoria said finally, her voice shifting into themanding tone that had intimidated boardrooms for decades.

    He exined quickly, the distress signal, the scene he found, the note. Every detail he had.

    "I''ming back to the city," Victoria said when he finished.

    "No," Alexander countered. "Rose might be watching yourke house. Moving you could put you at risk too."

    "I don''t care about-"

    "Camille would," he interrupted. "She would want you safe. Stay there. We''ll set up amand center at theke house. Bring everything to you."

    Another silence, then: "Two hours. I want you and everyone working on this case at theke house in two hours. Not a minute more."

    Alexander agreed, already moving toward his car. He had one more call to make, one he never thought he''d initiate.

    Stefan Rodriguez answered immediately. "Alexander? What''s wrong?"

    "Rose has Camille," Alexander said without preamble. "I need everytking you know about her. Where she might go. What ces have meaning to her. Any property connections, friends, anything."

    Stefan''s sharp intake of breath was audible. "When?"

    "Less than an hour ago. She left a note giving us 48 hours before she kills Camille."

    "I''ll be at your office in twenty

    minutes, Stefan promised. "I know things about Rose that aren''t

    in any file. ces she mentioned when she thought I wasn''t listening."

    "Not the office. Victoria''ske house. And hurry."

    Alexander ended the call and climbed into his car. As he drove away from the scene, leaving the FBI to process evidence, a single thought burned in his mind: he would find Camille. He would bring her home. And then he would make Rose pay for every second of fear she had caused.

 Chapter 164

    The drive to theke house was a battle against time and his own racing

    thoughts. Alexander made calls continuously, to his security teams, to his tech specialists, to anyone who might help locate Camille. He ordered satellite imagery of the area where she was taken. Traffic camera footage. Cell tower data. Anything that might give them a lead.

    Victoria was waiting on the deck when he arrived, her face pale butposed. Despite her illness, despite her recent treatments, she stood straight-backed andmanding. The sight gave Alexander a flicker of hope. If anyone could match Rose''s determination, it was Victoria Kane.

    "The FBI will be here in thirty minutes," he reported. "Stefan Rodriguez shortly after. I''ve got my own teams setting up tracking operations."

    Victoria nodded, gesturing for him to follow her inside. The living room had been transformed in record time. Computer screens lined one wall. Maps covered another. Victoria''s assistant directed a constant flow of staff setting up equipment.

    "Tell me what you know about the note," Victoria said, moving to a chair at the head of the hastily arranged conference table.

    Alexander ced the evidence bag containing Rose''s message before her. "The FBI is analyzing it for fingerprints, DNA, any trace evidence. But Rose isn''t stupid. She wouldn''t leave anything that could lead us to her."

    Victoria read the note, her expression darkening. "Forty-eight hours."

    "We''ll find her before then," Alexander insisted, trying to believe his own words.

    "Yes, we will." Victoria looked up at him, steel in her gaze. "Because we know Rose better than she knows herself. She''s driven by emotions, hatred, jealousy, obsession. Those make her powerful, but they also make her predictable."

    Before Alexander could respond, the door opened. Stefan entered, his face drawn with worry. Behind him came Agent Chen and three other FBI agents, carrying equipment and files.

    "The team is setting up a perimeter around the property," Chen informed them. "No one gets within a mile without us knowing."

    Victoria acknowledged this with a nod, then turned her attention to Stefan. "You know Rose better than any of us. Where would she take Camille?"

    Stefan moved to the maps on the wall, studying them intently. "She''d want somewhere isted. Somewhere she controlspletely. And somewhere meaningful to her narrative."

    "What narrative?" Alexander asked.

    "That Camille stole her life," Stefan exined. "Rose believes everything Camille has should have been hers, the family, the status, me, everything. In her mind, Camille is the thief, not her."

    Victoria''s eyes narrowed. "So she''d take Camille somewhere connected to that belief. Somewhere that represents what was ''stolen'' from her."

    "Exactly." Stefan turned to face them. "And I think I know where."

    He pointed to a location on the map, a rural area north of the city. "The Lewis family had a hunting cabin here. Camille and Rose spent summers there as teenagers. Rose always said it was where she felt most like part of the family, before things changed between them."

    "Why would she take Camille there?" Agent Chen asked. "We''d check family properties immediately."

    "Because it''s not in the Lewis family anymore," Stefan exined. "They sold it years ago to a developer. Thend was cleared, the cabin torn down. There''s nothing there now ording to official records."

    A spark of understanding lit in Alexander''s eyes. "But?"

    "But Rose told me once that she bought it back through a shellpany. Said she couldn''t bear for strangers to destroy her ''only real home.'' She used a different name, different paperwork. There would be no way to connect it to her."

    Victoria was already on the phone, instructing her assistant to find records of all property transactions in that area for the past five years. Alexander studied the location on the map, calcting distances, approach routes, possible extraction ns.

    "We need satellite imagery of that area," he told Agent Chen. "Current images, not whatever is in the public databases."

    Chen nodded, already contacting her team. "If there''s a structure there, we''ll find

    it."

    As the room erupted into focused activity, Alexander stepped outside onto the deck, needing a moment to breathe. Theke stretched before him, peaceful and oblivious to the nightmare unfolding. Somewhere out there, Camille was in Rose''s hands. Afraid. Possibly hurt. Definitely in danger.

    The thought nearly brought him to his knees.

    Stefan joined him, his face reflecting simr torment. "We''ll find her," he said quietly. "Rose wants an audience for her revenge. She won''t rush this."

    "Forty-eight hours," Alexander reminded him, the deadline burning in his mind. "Rose is theatrical," Stefan insisted. "She wants to draw this out, make Camille suffer. The deadline is just to pressure us, make us desperate."

    Alexander turned to look at him. "And is it working? Are we desperate?"

    Stefan met his gaze steadily. "Yes. But that doesn''t mean we''re wrong about the cabin. Rose is obsessed with symbols, with proving points. Taking Camille back to where they were once family, before everything fettapart, that fits her twisted logic."

    Victoria''s voice called them back inside. Her assistant had found something.

    "Property records show the old Lewis cabinnd was purchased by apany called Phoenix Rises LLC Six months years ago," she reported. "Building permits were filed one monthster."

    The irony of thepany name, Phoenix, the symbol Camille had chosen for her foundation, was not lost on any of them.

    "That''s her," Stefan confirmed. "Rose would love the symbolism of using Camille''s own phoenix against her."

    Agent Chen approached with a tablet. "Satellite imagery from this morning shows a structure in those woods. Looks like a modern cabin, muchrger than the original would have been. And there''s something else." She swiped to another image. "This was taken thirty minutes ago. There''s a ck van parked at the cabin. Wasn''t there in the morning image."

    Alexander''s heart raced. "That''s them."

    "We need a tactical n," Chen said. "The property is isted, at least a mile

    from any other structures. Heavily wooded. Limited ess roads."

    "And Rose will have security," Stefan added. "People like the ones who took Camille. Professional. Dangerous."

    Victoria''s voice cut through the tension. "Alexander, what do you need?"

    He thought for a moment, tactical options flooding his mind. "Thermal imaging.

    We need to know how many people are in that cabin. Where they''re positioned. Where Camille is being held."

    "Done," Chen said, already making the call.

    "I want my own team on this," Alexander continued. "People I trust absolutely. Working alongside the FBI."

    Victoria nodded. "Whatever you need. Whatever it costs. Just bring her home."

    The room fell silent for a moment as the weight of what they faced settled over them. Forty-seven hours remained in Rose''s deadline. Forty-seven hours to n a rescue, to extract Camille from a fortress designed specifically to hold her. Stefan broke the silence. "There''s something else you should know about Rose. Something that might help."

    All eyes turned to him.

    "She''ll want to break Camillepletely before she kills her. Want to see the light

    go out in her eyes, the hope fade. That''s what this is really about for Rose, seeing Camille utterly defeated."

    "How does that help us?" Alexander asked, struggling to contain his rage at the thought.

    "Because it means she won''t rush," Stefan exined. "She''ll take her time, draw it out. And that gives us the one thing we need most right now."

    "Time," Victoria finished for him.

    "Yes." Stefan turned back to the map. "She''ll want to savor her victory. Want Camille to suffer. As terrible as that is, it works in our favor."

    Alexander felt sick at the thought of what Camille might be enduring, but Stefan was right. Rose''s sadism might be the one thing that would keep Camille alive long enough for them to find her.

    "We move at dawn," he decided. "Full tactical approach. We''ll need the cover of darkness, and we''ll need the next twelve hours to prepare properly."

    Victoria nodded her approval. "Make it happen."

    As the room transformed into a hive of strategic nning, Alexander stepped away once more. He removed a small velvet box from his pocket, the ne ring he had been carrying for months, waiting for the right moment to offer it to Camille. He had nned to give it her when this was all over, when Rose was caught, when they could finally live without looking over their shoulders.

    Now he wondered if that moment would evere.

    "I''ming for you," he whispered, clutching the ne tightly in his palm.

    "Hold on, Camille. Just hold on."

 Chapter 165

    Cold. That was the first thing Camille felt. Cold and a deep, throbbing pain in her head.

    She tried to move, but her arms wouldn''t respond. Slowly, her eyes opened to a dimly lit room with wooden walls. Her vision swam, the effects of whatever drug Rose had given her still lingering in her system.

    Looking down, Camille saw thick rope binding her to a heavy wooden chair. Each wrist tied separately to the armrests, ankles secured to the chair legs. Whoever had tied these knots knew what they were doing.

    A wave of fear washed over her, threatening to drown her reason. She forced it down, focusing instead on her surroundings. Wooden walls. A stone firece. Large windows showing dense forest outside. And something else, something familiar.

    Recognition dawned slowly. She knew this ce. Or rather, she knew what it had once been.

    The old Lewis family cabin. Where they had spent summers when they were younger. Where they had once been sisters before everything changed.

    But this wasn''t exactly the cabin she remembered. That had been smaller, older. This was a new structure built on the same spot, incorporating elements of the original, the stone firece, the position of the windows, butrger, more modern.

    "Finally awake, sleeping beauty?" Rose''s voice came from behind her.

    Camille tensed but kept her breathing steady, refusing to show fear as Rose walked around to face her. Her sister looked different than she had at the roadside. She''d washed out the ck hair dye, returning to her natural color. Dressed not in the tactical gear from the ambush but in casual clothes, jeans and a sweater that reminded Camille of what they used to wear during those summer vacations.

    "Do you like what I''ve done with the ce?" Rose asked, gesturing around them. "I rebuilt it exactly as I remembered, with a few modern touches. Dad sold it after everything fell apart. After they thought that you died."

    Camille worked moisture into her dry mouth. "Why am I here, Rose?"

    "So impatient," Rose chided, pulling up a chair to sit facing Camille. "No appreciation for symmetry. For perfect endings." She leaned forward, eyes glittering with excitement. "Don''t you see? This is where we were happiest together. Before you turned everyone against me."

    "I didn''t turn anyone against you," Camille said quietly. "You did that yourself when you tried to kill me."

    Rose''s face hardened. "Is that what you tell yourself? That I''m the viin in this story?" She stood abruptly. "They abandoned me. Our parents. Stefan. Everyone chose you and threw me away."

    She paced the room, agitation making her movements sharp and jerky. "But that doesn''t matter anymore. What matters is that we''vee full circle. Back to where we were once happy. Back to where everything changed."

    Camille tested the ropes binding her wrists. No give at all. Rose noticed and smiled.

    "Don''t bother. My men are professionals. Former military. They know how to keep someone secure."

    "Where are they now?" Camille asked, looking around the empty cabin main

    room.

    "Around," Rose said vaguely. "Keeping watch. Making sure your boyfriend and his security teams don''t interrupt our sister time." She sat down again, leaning ufortably close. "We have so much catching up to do."

    Despite the pounding in her head and the fear churning in her stomach, Camille met Rose''s gaze steadily. "They''ll find me, Rose. Alexander, Victoria, the FBI, they''re looking for me right now."

    Rose''s smile widened. "I''m counting on it. But they won''t find you in time." "In time for what?"

    "In time to save you?" Rose shrugged. "That depends on how you define ''save.'' Will they find you alive? Probably. Will they find you whole? Unbroken? Now that''s a different question entirely."

    A chill ran down Camille''s spine, but she kept her expression neutral. Victoria had taught her well, never show weakness to an opponent. And Rose was nothing if not an opponent now.

    "What do you want?" Camille asked again. "You''ve had months to n. Weeks to prepare. Now you have me. So what''s the point of all this?"

    Rose stood again, moving to a table where aptop sat open. "The point? Oh, sister dear, the point is to take everything from you. Just as you took everything from me." She tapped a few keys on theptop. "But not all at once. That would be too... merciful."

    The screen lit up, showing a split view of four different camera feeds. Camille recognized them immediately, Victoria''ske house. Alexander''s apartment. Her parents'' home. The Kane Industries building.

    "I''ve been watching all of them," Rose exined, her voice casual, as if discussing the weather. "nning my next move."

    Horror bloomed in Camille''s chest. "Rose, don''t. They''ve done nothing to you."

    "Nothing?" Rose''s voice rose sharply. "Victoria Kane took you in, made you her heir, gave you everything I should have had. Alexander Pierce loves you, protects you, stood by you. Our parents chose you over me, abandoned me when I needed them most. Again and again, they all chose you."

    She moved closer, her face inches from Camille''s. "And now they''ll pay for that choice. One by one. While you watch. Unable to warn them. Unable to save them."

    Camille fought to keep her breathing steady, to not show the terror gripping her heart. "Why not just kill me then? Why go after them?"

    "Because death is too quick, too clean," Rose exined, her tone frighteningly reasonable. "I want you to live, Camille. Live knowing everyone you love died because of you. Live with that pain eating away at you every day, just as I''ve lived with the knowledge that I was never enough. Never the daughter they wanted. Never the sister you valued."

    Despite her efforts to remain calm, tears burned in Camille''s eyes. "You''re wrong, Rose. So wrong about everything. They loved you. I loved you. But you tried to kill me, what did you expect them to do?"

    "I expected loyalty!" Rose shouted. "I expected them to understand that everything I did was because of how they treated me. Alwaysparing me to perfect Camille. Always making me feel like I didn''t belong."

    For a split second, Camille saw the hurt child Rose had once been, the adopted girl who never felt secure in her ce, who always thought she had to fight for love.

    Then the moment passed, and Rose''s expression hardened again. "It doesn''t matter now. What matters is whates next." She pointed to the screens. "Victoria first, I think. The woman who reced your mother. Who made you her heir while I was cast aside."

    "No," Camille whispered, the word torn from her throat. "Please, Rose. She''s ill. She''s recovering from cancer."

    "I know," Rose said coldly. "That

    makes her the perfect first target. So vulnerable in that istedke

    house. So trusting of her security team. She smiled over her shoulder at Camille. "I''ve been studying theyout, the routines, the weaknesses in her protection. When the timees, it will be so easy."

    Camille lunged forward, the chair scraping against the wooden floor as she fought against her bonds. "Stop it! Stop this now!"

    "Why should I?" Rose turned, watching Camille''s struggles with mild interest. "You took everything from me. My family. My ce. My future. Now I''m taking everything from you."

    "I never took anything from you!" Camille shouted, abandoning her attempt to stay calm. "You tried to kill me! They found out the truth about you!"

    "THE TRUTH?" Rose''s sudden scream echoed through the cabin. "The truth is that they never really wanted me. The truth is that I was never good enough. The truth is that from the moment they adopted me, I was just waiting to be thrown

    away."

    Her chest heaved with emotion,

    hands clenched at her sides. "Do you

    know what it''s like? To never feel

    secure? To always be afraid that one

    mistake will make them send you back? To watch them love their real daughter unconditionally while you have to earn every scrap of affection?"

    Despite everything, the fear, the danger, the threats to those she loved, Camille felt a flicker of pity for her sister. "Rose, that wasn''t real. It was all in your mind. They loved you. We all did."

    "STOP SAYING THAT!" Rose grabbed a vase from a nearby table and hurled it against the wall. It shattered, pieces scattering across the floor like her fractured words. "Stop lying to me! They threw me away. They abandoned me. They chose you."

    For the first time, Camille saw clearly the depth of Rose''s delusion, the sickness that had warped her mind over years of perceived rejection. This wasn''t just jealousy or resentment. This was something deeper, more broken. "Rose," she said softly, "you need help. This isn''t right. This isn''t you."

    "You don''t know me," Rose spat. "You never did." She turned back to theptop. "And now it''s toote."

    Camille watched helplessly as Rose studied the surveince feeds, her finger tracing Victoria''s image on the screen. "Tomorrow I start with Victoria. Such a shame her cancer treatment will take a sudden turn for the worse."

    "Please," Camille begged, all pride forgotten. "Don''t hurt her. Hurt me instead. I''m the one you want to punish."

    Rose looked up, something cold and calcting in her eyes. "Oh, I am hurting you," she said quietly. "More than if I used knives or fists. I''m taking away the people you love. One by one. Forcing you to watch. Unable to save them."

    She closed theptop. "It''s already in motion, sister dear. My n is set. Soon Victoria Kane will suffer a tragic setback. Such a shame, after she seemed to be improving so well."

    Tears streamed down Camille''s face now, unchecked. "Rose, please. It''s not toote to stop this."

    "It was toote months ago," Rose replied, standing up. "Toote when they chose you over me. Toote when they abandoned me for trying to make things fair. Toote when

    Victoria Kane saved you from that parking garage and made you her heir while I lost everything." She smiled, a terrible empty expression. "Now all I can do is make things even. Take from you what you took from me."

    "And then what?" Camille asked, desperately trying to reach whatever humanity

    might remain in her sister. "After you''ve killed everyone I love. After you''ve broken me. What then, Rose?"

    For a moment, Rose looked confused, as if she hadn''t thought beyond her revenge. "Then... then we''re even."

    "And will that make you happy?" Camille pressed. "Will that fill the emptiness

    inside you? The hurt? The pain?"

    Rose turned away. "Stop it."

    "Will killing Victoria bring back our family? Will hurting Alexander erase what happened? Will destroying me heal you?"

    "STOP IT!" Rose whirled back, her face contorted with rage and something else,

    uncertainty. "You don''t get to question me. You don''t get to judge me. Not after everything you''ve taken."

    Camille saw it then, the hairline crack in Rose''s certainty. The moment of doubt. She pushed harder. "I never took anything from you, Rose. You destroyed it yourself. And this revenge won''t give it back."

    For a heartbeat, Rose seemed to waver. Then her face hardened again. "Nice try,

    sister dear. But your psychological games won''t work on me. I''ve been nning this for too long. Waiting for this moment."

    She moved to the door. "I''m going to check with my men. When Ie back, we

    will continue." She smiled, cold and empty. "Won''t that be fun? A little sister''s reunion"

    The door closed behind her, leaving Camille alone with the knowledge that Victoria was in immediate danger, that Alexander would be next, that everyone she loved had a target on their back, and she was powerless to warn them.

    But Rose''s moment of uncertainty lingered in her mind. The crack in her sister''s armor. Small, almost invisible, but real.

    Camille looked around the cabin, searching for anything that might help her

    escape. The ropes were too tight, the knots too professional. But Rose had made one mistake.

    She had left theptop.

    Closed, but still there on the table. If Camille could somehow get to it, somehow open it, maybe she could send a warning. Alert Alexander. Save Victoria. Straining against her bonds, Camille worked to inch the heavy chair across the floor toward the table. Each movement was agony, the ropes digging into her wrists and ankles, but the thought of Victoria in danger drove her forward. Outside, she heard voices, Rose speaking to someone. She had minutes at most.

    Desperation gave her strength. The chair legs scraped across the wooden floor as she fought to reach the table, to somehow save the people she loved before Rose destroyed them one by one.

    And as she struggled, one thought burned in her mind: this ce, this cabin

    where they had once been sisters, would not be the site of Rose''s final victory. Whatever it took, whatever she had to endure, She would not let Rose win. Not this time. Not ever.

 Chapter 166

    Alexander stared at the map spread across Victoria''s dining table, his eyes burning fromck of sleep. Twenty hours since Camille''s abduction. Twenty hours of dead ends and false leads. He marked another X on the map, another empty location searched and cleared.

    "Nothing at the warehouse in Queens," he reported, his voice rough with exhaustion. "Just like the other three properties."

    Across the table, Stefan Rodriguez nodded grimly. The two men had barely spoken directly to each other in the past hours,municating only through updates and tactical discussions. Their shared history, Stefan as Camille''s ex- husband who had chosen Rose over her hung between them like an invisible wall.

    "She''s ying with us," Stefan said, studying the pattern of X marks across the map. "Leading us in circles while she keeps Camille somewhere we haven''t even considered."

    Alexander''s jaw tightened. The thought of working with Stefan still turned his stomach, but the man knew Rose better than anyone. Knew how she thought. How she nned.

    "Tell me again about the properties you knew about," Alexander demanded. "Every detail."

    Stefan ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "I''ve told you everything I know. The apartment in Manhattan. The storage unit in Queens. The house upstate. The beach property in Hampton. We''ve checked them all. The hunting cabin."

    "And found nothing." Alexander mmed his fist on the table, frustration finally breaking through his controlled exterior. "Nothing but tiny clues leading to more empty locations."

    Victoria entered the room, moving more slowly than usual but her eyes sharp as ever. "The FBI team just reported in. They found something at the storage unit."

    Both men turned to her instantly.

    "Receipts," Victoria continued. "For construction materials. Delivered to an address in the Catskills. They''re checking it now."

    Hope flickered in Alexander''s chest, but he tamped it down. They''d already followed three such leads, only to find empty buildings rigged with cameras, Rose watching them chase their tails.

    The door opened again, and Richard Lewis entered. Camille''s father looked haggard, aged years in the hours since learning of his daughter''s abduction. Margaret, too distraught to participate, remained at theke house under heavy security.

    "I''ve been going through our property records," Richard said, cing a folder on the table. "There might be something we''ve overlooked."

    Alexander nodded for him to continue, eyes fixed on the folder.

    "The cabin in the Adirondacks," Richard said, his voice heavy. "We sold it just after Camille''s supposed death in the car ident. When we all thought she was gone."

    "Rose knew about this cabin?" Alexander asked sharply.

    Richard nodded. "She loved that ce. Said it was where she felt most like part of the family."

    Stefan leaned forward. "You sold it after you thought Camille was dead? When Rose was still living with you?"

    "Yes," Richard admitted, shame evident in his face. "Rose was devastated when we decided to sell it. Said we were erasing Camille''s memory by getting rid of family properties. But we... we couldn''t bear to keep it. Too many memories."

    Alexander and Stefan exchanged nces, the first moment of real connection between them.

    "Rose only left the family five months ago," Stefan said, thinking aloud. "After Camille returned and the truth about Rose attempt on Camille''s life"

    "And she''s had time since then to n all this," Alexander continued the thought. "To track down properties with emotional significance to the family."

    Richard''s hands shook slightly as he opened the folder. "The sale records show the cabin went to a developmentpany. They were supposed to tear it down, build vacation homes."

    "But did they?" Alexander was already reaching for his phone. "Jason, I need everything on a property in the Adirondacks." He rattled off the address from Richard''s papers. "Previous and current ownership. Any construction permits. Satellite imagery. Everything."

    Victoria moved to Alexander''s side. "The FBI is still checking the Catskills location. Should we redirect them?"

    "No," Alexander decided. "We split our resources. FBI continues there, my team heads to the Adirondacks." He looked at Stefan. "Are youing?"

    It was the first direct question he''d asked Stefan since this began. A moment of truth between them.

    Stefan nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I know how Rose thinks. What she might have done to the ce."

    Alexander turned to Richard. "Stay here with Victoria. Keep looking through those records for anything else that might help."

    "Actually," Victoria interrupted, "I''ll be joining you."

    "Victoria..." Alexander began to protest.

    "This is not up for discussion," she cut him off, her voice leaving no room for argument despite her weakened state. "Camille is my daughter. I''ming."

    The fierce determination in her eyes silenced any further objections. Alexander simply nodded, then turned to make the necessary arrangements.

    Twenty minutester, Alexander''s phone chimed with an iing message. Jason had found something.

    "The cabin property was purchased by a shellpany called Phoenix Rising LLC just two months ago," Alexander reported, showing them the screen. "Just weeks after Rose left the family. The developmentpany never tore it down, they went bankrupt before starting construction."

    "Phoenix," Victoria noted. "Like Camille''s foundation."

    "Rose would love that irony," Stefan said grimly. "Using Camille''s own symbol against her."

    Alexander continued reading. "Satellite imagery shows the original structure still standing, with some recent modifications. And there''s a vehicle there now, a ck van that matches the description of the one used in Camille''s abduction."

    The room seemed to hold its collective breath.

    "That''s it," Stefan said with certainty. "That''s where she has Camille."

    Alexander was already moving, issuing orders through his phone. "Full tactical team. Helicopter transport. We move in one hour."

    "One hour?" Richard protested. "My daughter is in that monster''s hands right now!"

    "It''s a three-hour drive to the location," Alexander exined, his voice tight with controlled urgency. "The helicopter gets us there in under an hour. We need time to prep the team, coordinate with local authorities, and develop an approach strategy."

    Victoria ced a hand on Richard''s arm. "He''s right. We can''t rush in without a n. Rose will be expecting us."

    As the room erupted into coordinated activity, Alexander stepped away briefly, staring out the window at the darkening sky. Thirty-five hours since Rose had taken Camille. Thirty-five hours of her in Rose''s hands.

    He felt Stefan''s presence before the man spoke.

    "We''ll find her," Stefan said quietly. "Rose won''t kill her quickly. That''s not what she wants."

    "And what does she want?" Alexander asked, not turning around.

    "To make Camille suffer. To break

    her. To make her watch as Rose destroys everything she loves." Stefan''s voice was hollow with the weight of his knowledge. "She

    Camille to feel as alone and wants

    abandoned as she felt when the family turned against hef?"

    Alexander finally turned, studying the man who had once been married to Camille, who had betrayed her with Rose. "You knew what Rose was. What she''s capable of. And you still chose her over Camille."

    Stefan flinched as if struck. "I was blind. Manipted. I didn''t see who Rose really was until it was toote."

    "And now Camille is paying for your blindness." The words came out sharper than Alexander intended, driven by fear and exhaustion.

    Stefan didn''t defend himself. "Yes. That''s why I have to help find her. Why I have to make this right."

    A heavy silence fell between them, broken only when Victoria called them back to the tactical nning.

    The FBI team reported in again as they prepared to depart. The Catskills property had been another dead end, empty except for aptop ying a continuous video feed of the cabin in the Adirondacks Rose had been watching them chase false leads all along.

    "She''s ying a game," Agent Chen said through the speakerphone. "Leading us exactly where she wants us to go."

    "Then we change the rules," Alexander replied. "Radio silence from this point forward. We go dark."

    Victoria nodded approval. "If she''s monitoring ourmunications, she won''t know we''reing."

    As they moved toward the helipad on the roof, Richard Lewis pulled Alexander

    aside.

    "Bring my daughter home," he said, his voice breaking. "Please." Alexander sped the older man''s shoulder. "I will. Whatever it takes."

    The helicopter flight passed in tense silence. Alexander reviewed the tactical n on his tablet, while Stefan stared out the window at the darkeningndscape below. Victoria sat with her eyes closed, gathering her strength for what was to

    Theynded three miles from the cabin, in a clearing scouted by Alexander''s advance team. Vehicles waited to transport them the rest of the way. "Thermal imaging shows five heat signatures in the cabin," the team leader reported as they gathered around a portable disy. "Four moving, one stationary in what appears to be the main room."

    "Camille," Alexander murmured, staring at the glowing figure on the screen.

    "Rose and three others," Stefan added. "Hired muscle, most likely."

    Alexander turned to the assembled turned

    team, his own security personnel plus FBI tactical units who had

    arrived from the nearest field office. "We move in quiet. Two teams Alpha team creates a diversion at the rear of the property. Beta team enters through the front and extracts Camille. No one engages Rose unless absolutely necessary."

    The team leaders nodded, distributing night vision equipment and tactical gear.

    "What about me?" Victoria asked quietly.

    Alexander had expected this question. "You stay in themand vehicle with Agent Chen. We''ll be onms the entire time."

    Victoria looked ready to argue but then nodded, understanding the logic.

    Stefan checked the bulletproof vest Alexander had insisted he wear. "And me?"

    "You''re with me," Alexander said after a moment''s hesitation. "You know Rose. You''ll recognize any traps she might have set."

    As the teams moved into position, darkness finally fallingpletely over the forest, Alexander felt time slowing around him. Every second stretched into an eternity, knowing Camille was so close yet still in danger.

    Themand came through his earpiece. "Teams in position."

    Alexander gave the signal. "Execute."

    Ahead in the darkness, the cabin''s windows glowed with warm light, a deceptively

    peaceful scene in the middle of the forest. From this distance, no one would guess the nightmare unfolding inside.

    Alexander moved forward with his team, every sense hyper-alert, every muscle tense. So close now. So close to Camille.

    Then a sound cut through the night, an rm ring from the cabin. Lights suddenly flooded the surrounding forest, illuminating the approaching teams.

    "We''ve been made!" someone shouted through thems. "Motion sensors in the trees!"

    Alexander cursed, abandoning stealth for speed. "Move in! Now!" Gunfire erupted from the cabin windows. Alexander''s team took cover behind trees and rocks, returning fire with precise bursts.

    Through his earpiece, he heard Victoria''s voice from themand vehicle.

    "Alexander! The thermal signatures are changing. They''re moving Camille!"

    Stefan crouched beside him behind a fallen log. "Rose would have an escape route. A contingency n."

    Before Alexander could respond, an explosion rocked the night, mes erupting from the rear of the cabin where Alpha team had been positioned. "Alpha team report!" Alexander shouted into hism.

    Static answered him, then broken voices. "Trap... booby-trapped... two men

    down..."

    Alexander made a split-second decision. "Beta team, with me. Front entrance,

    now!"

    They rushed the cabin, bullets splintering wood around them. Alexander kicked in the front door, gun raised.

    The main room stood empty except for an overturned chair with cut ropes lying

    beside it.

    Empty.

    Camille was gone.

 Chapter 167

    The basement air hung heavy and cold around Camille as she fought to keep her breathing steady. Her wrists burned against the rope that bound her to the metal chair. Four hours had passed since Rose had taken her from their former location to this ce, four hours of her sister''s twisted games.

    Rose circled her now, bare feet silent on the concrete floor. The room was lit only by the harsh blue glow ofptop screens showing footage of the Grand za Hotel bombing on endless loop.

    "Watch it again," Rose whispered, her face inches from Camille''s ear. "Watch what I did to your precious foundation. To your guests. To everything you built."

    On thergest screen, mes erupted through the hotel''s ss facade. People screamed, stumbling through smoke. Emergency lights shed across terrified faces. Camille closed her eyes.

    "No!" Rose grabbed Camille''s jaw, forcing her head toward the screen. "You don''t get to look away. Not until you understand what it feels like to lose everything."

    Camille met her sister''s gaze. "I already know what that feels like. You taught me that lesson two years ago."

    Roseughed, the sound sharp and wrong. She looked different now, thinner, with dark circles under her eyes. Her once-perfect appearance had crumbled like everything else in her life.

    "You think you know loss?" Rose turned up the volume. The screams grew louder. "Alexander was barely scratchedst time. Victoria survived. Even your pathetic parents walked away." Her fingers dug into Camille''s shoulders. "That was just practice."

    "What do you want from me, Rose?" Camille''s voice remained steady despite the fear churning in her stomach. "To cry? To beg? Would that finally make you happy?"

    Rose moved to a smallerptop and tapped a key. The screen showed Alexander pacing in what looked like amand center, his face drawn with worry as he spoke urgently to agents.

    "He''s looking for you. So desperate." Rose smiled, running her finger across the screen as if touching his face. "I''ve left enough bread crumbs to keep them searching in all the wrong ces."

    "Leave him out of this," Camille said, fighting to keep her voice level. "This is between us."

    "Between us?" Rose''s voice rose. "No. You brought them all into it when you turned them against me. When you stole back everything that should have been mine."

    She crouched in front of Camille, her eyes bright with an emotion that went

    beyond hatred. "Do you know whates next? After you''ve had enough time to imagine all the horrible ways I could hurt him?"

    Camille didn''t answer.

    "I''m going to let you watch me kill him. Not quickly, that would be too kind." Rose''s words came faster now, her breathing uneven. "I''ll make itst. And I''ll make sure he knows you''re watching. That you can''t save him."

    The calm Camille had maintained began to crack. Her heart pounded against her ribs. Alexander. The thought of him suffering at Rose''s hands tore through her defenses.

    "You''re going to fail," Camille said, her voice low. "Just like you failed at the hotel. Just like you''ve failed at everything else."

    Rose''s hand struck Camille''s face, hard enough to snap her head to the side. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth.

    "I didn''t fail!" Rose screamed, losing the calcted control she''d maintained. "They lived because they were lucky! Not this time. Not with what I have nned."

    She grabbed anotherptop, turning it toward Camille. On the screen, Victoria sat in herke house, looking frail but determined as she spoke with someone off-

    camera.

    "Look her. So weak already. Cancer eating from the side." Rose''s words dripped with venom. "She doesn''t need much help dying, does she? Just a little push."

    Camille pulled against her restraints, feeling the rope cut deeper into her wrists. The pain helped her focus, helped her push down the terror threatening to overwhelm her.

    "Victoria is stronger than you''ll ever be," Camille said. "Even dying, she''s more alive than you are right now."

    Rose stared at her, momentarily speechless. Then sheughed, high and brittle. "Look at you. Still fighting. Still thinking there''s a way out of this." She walked around the room, touching each screen. "Alexander will die knowing he failed to save you. Victoria will die believing you''re already gone. Your parents?" She shrugged. "Coteral damage. They chose you, so they get your fate."

    "And then what?" Camille asked. "When everyone is gone, what do you have? Who will be left to care that you won?"

    Rose froze, her back to Camille. For a long moment, she stood absolutely still. When she turned, something had shifted in her expression.

    "I''ll have everything I deserved from the beginning. Everything you stole from me." But her voice wavered slightly.

    "You''ll have nothing," Camille said softly. "No one to witness your victory. No one to fear you. No one to love you."

    "Shut up!" Rose grabbed a ss of water from the table and threw it at the wall, where it shattered. "You don''t understand anything! You never did!"

    "I understand that you''re alone, Rose. That you''ve always been alone, even when you were surrounded by people. Even when you had Stefan. Even now, with all your ns."

    "I''m not alone! I have..." Rose stopped, as if realizing something for the first time.

    "You have what? Hired men? People you pay to help you? People you''ll dispose of when they''re no longer useful?" Camille leaned forward as far as her restraints would allow. "That''s not family. That''s not love."

    Rose''s face twisted. "Love? What did love ever get you? A husband who cheated? Parents who doubted you? Love is weakness. I learned that in foster care, long before your parents took me in."

    She moved suddenly to Camille''s side, pulling a knife from her pocket. The de gleamed in the blue light of the screens.

    "You think you''re so strong," Rose whispered, tracing the t of the de along Camille''s cheek. "Let''s see how strong you are when Alexander is bleeding out in front of you. When Victoria takes herst breath while you watch, helpless."

    Camille stared straight ahead, refusing to show fear even as the cold metal pressed against her skin. "Killing them won''t make you stronger, Rose. It won''t heal whatever''s broken inside you."

    Rose pressed the knife harder, just enough to break the skin. A thin line of blood ran down Camille''s cheek.

    "Nothing''s broken in me," Rose hissed. "I see the world exactly as it is. I take what I want. I don''t wait for it to be given."

    "Then why do you care so much what I think?" Camille asked. "Why make me watch? Why not just kill them and be done with it?"

    Rose stepped back, blinking rapidly. The knife trembled slightly in her hand.

    "Because... because you need to understand. You need to feel what I felt." "When? When did I ever make you feel like this?"

    "Every day!" Rose''s voice cracked. "Every single day when they looked at you with love in their eyes. When Stefan chose you instead of staying with me. When everyone believed you were some perfect, precious daughter while I had to fight for every scrap of attention!"

    Tears streamed down Rose''s face now, her careful maskpletely shattered.

    The knife hung loosely in her hand.

    "I wanted them to see me," she whispered. "Just once, I wanted to be the one they chose first."

    For the first time since her capture, Camille felt something beyond fear and anger, a flicker of pity for the broken woman before her. The girl who had never been enough, who had learned to take because she believed nothing would ever be freely given.

    Rose wiped her face roughly, angry at her own weakness. "Stop looking at me like that. Like you feel sorry for me."

    "I don''t feel sorry for you," Camille said quietly. "I understand you. That''s different."

    "You understand nothing!" Rose shouted, but her voicecked conviction.

    "I understand what it''s like to lose everything and have to build yourself again from nothing," Camille continued. "I understand what it''s like when the people who should love you most betray you instead."

    Rose gripped the knife tighter, her knuckles turning white. "Stop it."

    "The difference is what we built from our pain," Camille pressed on. "I chose to

    create. You chose to destroy."

    Rose paced the room like a caged animal, her breathin "You still don''t get it. You never will."

    in uneven gasps.

    She turned suddenly, mming her hands on the table beside Camille,

    1.n

    her face inches away. "I''m going to hurt him first. Your precious Alexander. And I''m going to make you watch. Then maybe yout understand what it feels like to lose the one person who sees you. The one person who chose you first."

    Camille met her gaze steadily. "And that will make you feel better? Watching me

    suffer will fill whatever emptiness drives you?"

    "Yes!" Rose shouted, then quieter, "Yes. It has to."

    "It won''t," Camille said simply. "Nothing will. Not as long as you keep believing that taking from others will somehow make you whole."

    Rose stared at her, something lost and desperate flickering in her eyes. For a moment, Camille glimpsed the small, frightened girl who hade to their home from foster care, the girl who had learned to hide her fear behind perfect smiles and careful lies.

    Then Rose''s expression hardened. She straightened up, wiping all emotion from her face with practiced skill.

    "Time''s up for today''s therapy session," she said coldly. "I have preparations to make. Tomorrow, we begin with Alexander."

    She gathered herptop, tucking it under her arm. At the door, she paused,

    looking back at Camille with a smile that didn''t reach her eyes.

    "Sleep well, sister. Tomorrow will be a day you''ll never forget."

    The door mmed shut behind her. The lock clicked into ce with a sound of

    finality.

    Alone in the half-darkness, Camille tested her restraints again, feeling the rope bite into her skin. Her mind raced through possibilities, through ns and contingencies. She thought of Alexander searching for her, of Victoria fighting her cancer

    ve

    and this new threat simultaneously.

    Rose wanted her to break, to copse under the weight of fear and helplessness.

    That was the one thing Camille would not give her.

    As the screens continued to rey the burning building, the chaos, the destruction, Camille closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Victoria had taught her

    that strength came not from never feeling fear, but from continuing to fight despite

    it.

    When Rose returned tomorrow, she would not find a broken woman waiting to be tortured. She would find Camille Kane, the phoenix who had already risen once from the ashes of a life destroyed.

    And phoenixes were not afraid of fire.

 Chapter 168

    Stefan paced the length of the makeshiftmand center, running his hands through his hair for the hundredth time. The room buzzed with activity, Alexander''s security team, FBI agents, police liaisons, all working frantically to find Camille. Twenty-six hours had passed since her abduction. Twenty-six hours of dead ends and false leads.

    "This isn''t working," Stefan muttered, stopping at the map where pins marked locations they''d already searched. "We''re missing something. Rose wouldn''t just take her anywhere."

    Alexander looked up from a table covered with files, dark circles under his eyes. "Every property connected to Rose or her aliases has been searched. Twice."

    "It''s not about property records," Stefan said, something nagging at the back of his mind. "It''s about meaning. Rose does everything with purpose. She''d want somewhere that... that connects to their past."

    He closed his eyes, trying to focus. Images shed through his mind: Camille showing him old family photos, telling stories of her childhood. Stories from before Rose came into their lives.

    "Wait," Stefan said suddenly, the memory sharpening. "The Lewis summer cabin. Cedar Lake."

    The room fell silent.

    "What cabin?" Alexander asked, standing up straight.

    Stefan grabbed his phone, dialing with shaking fingers. "Mr. and Mrs. Lewis might know. They had a vacation property when Camille was young."

    Within twenty minutes, Richard and Margaret Lewis rushed into themand center, their faces lined with worry. Margaret clutched a photo album to her chest like a shield.

    "Cedar Lake," Richard confirmed, his voice rough with emotion. "We had a cabin there for years. Sold it to the Hendersons when Rose turned sixteen. She never quite fit in there, it was Camille''s special ce first."

    Margaret opened the album with trembling hands, revealing photos of a young Camille standing proudly on a wooden dock, fishing rod in hand. "We taught her to swim in thatke. Richard would sit on the dock for hours with her, fishing."

    "And the cabin itself?" Alexander pressed, leaning forward intensely.

    "Two bedrooms, stone firece," Margaret said, flipping to another photo that showed the cabin''s rustic interior. "Camille carved her initials in the mantel when she was eight. I was so angry at the time." Her voice broke. "Now I''d give anything to see those marks again."

    Richard pointed to the firece in the photo. "That stone was brought from a local quarry. The builder told us it would st through anything.'' Oust us all, he said."

    "Rose was obsessed with the ce," Margaret added, her eyes distant with memory. "After we sold it, she kept asking to go back. Said it was the only ce she felt like a real part of the family."

    Alexander snapped his fingers at his head of security. "Check property records for Cedar Lake. Focus on recent transactions involving the Henderson family."

    "We checked all Lewis family properties," an FBI agent said, frowning.

    "Not if it changed hands recently," Stefan countered. "Rose ns for everything. She could have purchased it from whoever owns it now."

    Hands flew over keyboards. Minutes ticked by. Stefan resumed his pacing, while Margaret continued turning pages in the photo album, tears silently tracking down her face.

    "Were there any distinctive features?" Alexander asked. "Anything that would help us identify it if Rose has modified it?"

    Richard nodded slowly. "There was a boathouse, painted blue. And a cluster of three pine trees right at the water''s edge. Lightning struck one, split it right down the middle, but it kept growing. Camille called it the ''twin tree.""

    "Got something," called a woman at aputer terminal. "Cedar Lake property, previously owned by the Henderson family, sold one month ago to Phoenix Rising LLC." She looked up, her expression grim. "Registered agent is R. Thornton."

    "Thornton," Margaret gasped. "That was Rose''sst name in the foster system, before we adopted her."

    "One month ago," Alexander repeated, his voice tight. "She''s been nning this for weeks."

    The analyst continued, "Cash transaction. Sale price well above market value, suggesting urgency."

    Alexander leaned over the screen. "Send me those coordinates. What''s the satellite view show?"

    The image appeared on the main disy screen: a cabin nestled in dense woods, a narrow dirt road leading to it, a small dock extending into theke behind it. And at the water''s edge, the unmistakable silhouette of three tall pines, one with a distinctive split trunk.

    "That''s it," Richard said, his voice thick with emotion. "That''s our cabin." Victoria, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, conserving her strength during her cancer recovery, leaned forward. "What''s the satellite thermal imaging show?"

    Alexander''s security chief stepped forward. "Heat signatures show at least three people inside. One hasn''t moved from this room in hours."

    A cold weight settled in Stefan''s stomach. "Camille."

    "And this figure here moves between rooms. Likely Rose." The security chief pointed to another blip on the thermal imaging. "Third signature stays mostly by the entrance. Probably a guard."

    Alexander turned to his team, his face set in hard lines. "I want schematics, approach routes, extraction ns. We move tonight."

    The room erupted into focused activity.

    Stefan watched as Alexander pored over maps with his head of security, marking entry points and escape routes. He felt useless, an outsider in this operation of professionals.

    "I never truly saw her, you know," Stefan said quietly when Alexander paused near him. "Not until it was toote."

    Alexander''s eyes were cold. "Which one?"

    "Either of them. Camille was... good. Genuinely good. I didn''t value that." Stefan swallowed hard. "And Rose.... I never saw the darkness in her. The obsession."

    "Save your confession forter," Alexander said, turning back to the maps. "The only thing that matters now is getting Camille out alive."

    An hour passed as they refined the n. The property sat isted, three miles from the nearest neighbor. Satellite images showed minimal security, Rose had relied on secrecy rather than force for protection.

    "We have a problem," the security chief announced after a call. "Storm front moving in. Helicopter approach impossible in these conditions. We''ll need to go in by ground, and the only road is likely watched."

    "What about by water?" Stefan asked, studying the map. "Theke touches the property line here."

    "There''s a hidden inlet," Richard added, pointing to the satellite image. "Behind those trees. You can barely see it from the cabin. We used to keep a rowboat there."

    Alexander considered it. "Small boats. Silent approach. Two teams, one from the road as a distraction, one from the water for extraction."

    Victoria pushed herself to her feet, her face pale but determined. "I''ming with you."

    "Absolutely not," Alexander said firmly. "You''re still recovering."

    "I wasn''t asking permission." Victoria''s voice held the steel that had built her empire. "I''ll stay in the support vehicle. But I will be there when you bring her out." Alexander looked as if he might argue, then nodded once. "Stefan stays with you." "No," Stefan protested. "I need to help. I know the cabin. Camille described it to me in detail."

    A tense silence filled the room. Finally, Alexander spoke. "Fine. You go in with the water team. But you follow orders precisely, or I''ll have you removed. Understood?"

    Stefan nodded, relief and fear battling within him.

    Margaret approached Stefan, pressing something into his hand. It was a small wooden fishing lure, weathered with age. "Camille made this at the cabin when she was ten,"

    she whispered. "Give it to he Tell her we''re waiting for her toe home."

    The next two hours passed in a blur of preparation. Tactical gear was distributed. Communications tested. Weapons checked and loaded.

    "Remember," Alexander told the assembled team, "Rose is mentally unstable but extremely intelligent. She''ll have contingency ns. Our priority is Camille''s extraction. Rose''s capture is secondary."

    "And if she resists?" asked one of the tactical officers.

    Alexander''s expression darkened. "Then you do what''s necessary to protect Camille."

    As the teams prepared to move out, Stefan found himself standing next to Victoria. The formidable woman who had helped Camille transform from victim to phoenix looked unexpectedly fragile, but hereyes burned with fierce determination.

    "I failed her," Stefan said quietly.

    Victoria didn''t look at him. "Yes. You did."

    "I won''t fail her again."

    ede

    Now Victoria turned, studying his face. "Do you know why she chose you in the

    first ce, before Rose''s maniption?"

    Stefan shook his head.

    "Because she saw something in you worth loving. Something beyond the

    surface." Victoria''s voice was cold but not cruel. "Prove her right. For once."

    The loading bay doors opened. Outside, rain had begun to fall, the droplets catching in the harsh light of the security floodlights.

    Alexander stood at the threshold, checking his tactical vest onest time. His face

    no longer showed the polished businessman Camille hade to love, but a hunter focused only on his prey.

    "Vehicles move out in five minutes," he announced. "Water team, thirty minutes tounch point. Road team, we''ll position at the perimeter in forty-five minutes and wait for the signal."

    Victoria touched Alexander''s arm. "Bring her home."

    "I will." He nced at the storm clouds gathering overhead. "Whatever it takes."

    V

    As they moved toward the waiting vehicles, Stefan felt a strange calm settle over him. For the first time since his betrayal of Camille, he knew exactly what he had to do. Not for forgiveness, he''d long stopped hoping for that but for redemption.

 Chapter 169

    Rain pelted the ck waters of Cedar Lake as Alexander and Stefan crouched in the underbrush. The angry sky rumbled above them, lightning shing in the distance. Through night-vision goggles, Alexander scanned the cabin that held Camille.

    What had once been a rustic family retreat now resembled a fortress. Motion sensors dotted the tree line. Cameras swept the property in careful arcs. Two men with rifles patrolled the perimeter, their movements precise and military.

    "She''s turned it into a damnpound," Alexander whispered, his jaw tight with tension.

    Stefan wiped rain from his face. "Rose never does anything halfway."

    They''d left the boats hidden behind the split pine tree Margaret had called the "twin tree," the water team of six men now spread through the woods. The road team waited on the other side of the property, ready for Alexander''s signal.

    "Talk me through it again," Alexander said, his voice barely audible over the rain. "Every entrance. Every weak point."

    Stefan closed his eyes, picturing the cabin he''d never visited but had heard described so many times.

    "Front door faces the road. Back door opens to theke. There''s a cer entrance on the east side, hidden under a fake rock garden." His hands shook as he pointed. "Kitchen window has a broken lock, or it did when the Lewis family owned it. Margaret alwaysined about it letting in cold air."

    Alexander ryed the information through his earpiece to the teams. The rain grew heavier, a blessing that muffled their approach and blinded the cameras.

    A guard passed just fifteen feet from their position. Alexander tensed, hand moving to his weapon, but the man continued his patrol, unaware of their presence.

    "Six minutes until the road team creates their distraction," Alexander murmured. "Then we move."

    Stefan nodded, clutching the small fishing lure Margaret had given him. The wood felt rough against his palm, a connection to a time when Camille had been happy, before he and Rose had destroyed everything.

    Thunder crashed overhead as lightning lit the sky. In the brief sh, Stefan saw Alexander''s face, not the controlled businessman he knew, but something primal and dangerous.

    "If anything happens to her..." Alexander''s words trailed off.

    "It won''t," Stefan said, trying to believe it himself.

    Alexander checked his watch. "Two minutes. Jason, position report."

    "East side secure," came the whispered reply through their earpieces. "We''ve identified three motion sensors and a trip wire. All disabled."

    "West team?"

    "In position. Guard approaching. Hold."

    Tense seconds ticked by. Rain drummed against the leaves sheltering them.

    "Guard passed. West side ready."

    Alexander turned to Stefan. "You stay behind me at all times. If I say run, you run. If I say hide, you hide. No heroics."

    Stefan wanted to argue, but the steel in Alexander''s eyes stopped him. This was a side of Alexander Pierce that few ever saw-the man beneath the tailored suits and boardroom smiles.

    "Thirty seconds," Alexander said.

    Stefan tucked the lure safely in his pocket and checked his own equipment onest time. Unlike the others, he carried no weapon. Alexander had been clear about that.

    "Camille is being held in what appears to be a basement or lower level," Jason reported. "Thermal imaging shows one guard at the exterior cer entrance." "That''s our way in," Alexander said. "Road team, begin distraction on my mark." The seconds stretched like hours. Stefan''s heart hammered in his chest, a mixture of fear and determination driving his pulse skyward.

    "Mark."

    In the distance, an explosion rocked the night. A momentter, a plume of fire rose above the treeline near the main road. The guards outside snapped to attention, their movements suddenly urgent.

    "Now." Alexander signaled, and they were moving through the rain.

    They kept low to the ground, following a path Stefan had described from Camille''s stories, a narrow deer trail that led to the old stone garden. The fire burned bright in the distance, drawing the attention of the guards.

    "East side, report," Alexander whispered.

    "Both guards moving toward the road. Main house entrance clear."

    They reached the stone garden, now overgrown but still recognizable. Stefan pointed to arge t rock tucked against the foundation.

    "There."

    Alexander nodded to his security team. Two men stepped forward, shifting the heavy stone to reveal a set of concrete steps descending into darkness.

    "Single guard at the bottom of the stairs," reported Jason, checking a handheld thermal device. "Sitting position. Likely armed."

    Alexander drew his weapon. "I''ll take point. Stefan, you stay here until..."

    A crackle of static cut through their earpieces.

    "Road team under fire! Multiple armed tangos emerging from the woods!"

    Alexander''s face hardened. "Rose has backup." He turned to Jason. "We need to move. Now."

    Everything elerated. Alexander disappeared down the steps, followed by two of his men. Secondster, a muffled thud echoed from below.

    "Clear," came Alexander''s voice. "Stefan, get down here."

    Stefan scrambled down the steps into a dimly lit storage area. A guardy unconscious on the floor, efficiently restrained.

    Alexander pointed to a metal door across the room. "Thermal shows two heat signatures behind that door. One seated, one moving."

    The sound of gunfire echoed in the distance.

    "Road team falling back to secondary position," reported the team leader. "We''ve got at least six armed men in pursuit."

    Alexander cursed under his breath. "She was ready for us."

    "We still have surprise on this side," Jason reminded him. "They''re focused on the road team."

    Alexander nodded. "Stack up. Breach on three."

    The team moved into position around the door. Stefan pressed himself against the wall, heart in his throat.

    "Wait," Jason whispered suddenly, ear pressed to the door. "I hear movement. Someone''s talking."

    They froze, listening. A female voice, Rose''s voice came through faintly. "They''ve found us. I don''t know how, but they''re here." A pause. "No, I''m moving to n B. Get the boat ready."

    Alexander motioned for silence, pressing a small device against the door. A tiny screen lit up, showing a thermal image of the room beyond. Two figures, one seated, one pacing.

    "Camille''s still there," Alexander whispered. "Rose is on the move."

    Through the earpiece came a flurry of urgent reports. Their teams had discovered more than just guards the entire property had been rigged with motion-activated defenses. Hidden cameras. Pressure tes. Trip wires connected to unknown devices.

    "Sir, we''ve found what looks like explosives wired to the foundation," reported a team member from the west side. "This entire ce is booby-trapped."

    Stefan''s blood ran cold. Rose wasn''t just hiding, she''d prepared for war.

    "Alexander," he whispered urgently. "Rose always had escape routes. Always. Margaret said she used to panic if she didn''t know exactly how to get out of any room."

    Alexander''s eyes narrowed. "Check for hidden exits," he ordered his team.

    Inside the room, they could hear Rose''s voice growing more agitated. "I don''t care what it takes. I''ll be there in two minutes. Have the boat ready."

    A faint beep echoed through the door, followed by a mechanical sound, something sliding or opening.

    "Multiple heat signatures moving through the woods toward theke," reported the team watching the perimeter. "Looks like reinforcements heading for the boathouse."

    Alexander made a quick decision. "Change of ns. We breach now, before she can move Camille."

    Stefan''s heart jumped into his throat as the team readied for entry. Whatevery beyond that door would determine Camille''s fate.

    "Go!" Alexander ordered.

    The door burst open as the team rushed in, weapons raised.

    They found themselves in a room filled withputer monitors disying every angle of the property. In the center sat a chair with cut ropes hanging from its arms, empty.

    "Clear!" called one of Alexander''s men, sweeping the room. "No targets!" Alexander strode to the chair, touching the restraints. "Still warm. She was just here."

    Stefan noticed a hidden panel standing ajar in the back wall. "There! Secret passage!"

    Alexander rushed to the opening, peering into a narrow tunnel lit by emergency lights. "They''ve moved her."

    On the monitors, exterior cameras showed Rose''s men rushing toward theke, taking defensive positions around the boathouse.

    "They''re evacuating," Alexander said grimly. "Rose knows we''re here."

    A red light began blinking on the main console, apanied by a steady beeping sound. One of Alexander''s tech specialists rushed to examine it.

    "Sir, she''s activated some kind of countdown. The system''s locked."

    Alexander grabbed hism. "All teams, be advised. Possible explosive devices activated. Proceed with extreme caution."

    Stefan stared at the empty chair where Camille had been moments before. So

    close. They''d been so close.

    On one of the monitors, a camera

    caught a brief glimpse of Rose hurrying across the grounds toward theke, supporting someone who could only be Camille. The image was blurred by rain, but there was no mistaking the urgency in Rose''s movements.

    "She''s taking her to the water," Stefan said. "There''s a boat."

    Alexander was already moving toward the tunnel. "Jason, take half the team and

    circle around to cut them off. We''ll pursue through here." He nced at Stefan. "You stay with the rear team."

    Stefan shook his head. "No. I know this property. I know where she''s going."

    For a moment, Alexander looked ready to argue, then nodded tersely. "Stay close."

    They entered the narrow passage, moving swiftly through the damp corridor that smelled of earth and mildew. Stefan recognized the construction, old-fashioned, probably dating back to Prohibition.

    "Richard once told Camille this ce had tunnels," Stefan exined as they moved. "The original owner was a bootlegger."

    The passage began to slope upward. Ahead, they could see dim light. "Movement ahead," whispered one of the team members. "At least two figures."

    Alexander signaled for silence as they approached the exit. They could hear voices now, Rose''s high and strained, another male voice responding curtly. "Get her in the boat," Rose was saying. "She''sing with us."

    "We need to move now," the man replied. "Pierce''s team is all over the property."

    The beeping from the monitoring room had followed them somehow, growing more urgent. Whatever countdown Rose had activated was nearing its end.

    "Thirty seconds till we breach the exit," Alexander whispered into hism. "All teams converge on the boathouse."

    Stefan felt a strange calm settle over him. After everything he''d done wrong, after all his failures, he now

    had one chance to help save

    Camille. One chance to prove rol nz

    wasn''t the selfish coward who had betrayed her.

    "Ready?" Alexander asked, his eyes focused and deadly.

    Stefan nodded, clutching the wooden fishing lure in his pocket. "Ready."

    Outside, the rain continued to pound the earth as lightning split the sky. Against

    the shes, they could see silhouettes moving toward theke, Rose''s final escape n unfolding.

    The countdown in the monitoring room reached its climax.

    Inside the cabin, the first detonation charges began to blow.

 Chapter 170

    The first explosion rocked the cabin, sending dust raining from the tunnel ceiling. Alexander and Stefan pressed forward, fighting against the urge to retreat. Behind them, the passage began to copse.

    "Move!" Alexander shouted as they burst through the exit into the stormy night.

    Rain hit their faces like tiny needles. The boathouse stood twenty yards ahead, its weathered blue paint visible in the lightning shes. Two armed men guarded the entrance, their attention fixed on the main cabin as it began to burn.

    Alexander signaled to his team, spreading them into position around the clearing. Stefan crouched behind a fallen tree, his heart hammering against his ribs. From inside the boathouse came the sound of raised voices.

    "The boat won''t start!" a man yelled.

    "Fix it!" Rose''s voice, sharp with panic. "We need to leave now!"

    Alexander caught Stefan''s eye, mouthing the words: _Three. Two. One._

    The team surged forward. The guards spun, raising their weapons, but Alexander''s men fired first, non-lethal rounds that dropped both men to the wet ground.

    "Breach!" Alexander ordered.

    The boathouse door splintered inward. Inside, the scene unfolded in chaotic snapshots:

    Rose standing on a small dock.

    A speedboat bobbing in the water.

    Three more guards, weapons ready.

    And Camille, her wrists bound, her face bruised, but her eyes fierce with defiance.

    "Down!" Alexander shouted as gunfire erupted.

    Stefan dove behind a stack of old barrels, the smell of long-ago fish bait stinging his nostrils. Alexander and his team returned fire, the space filling with the deafening crack of weapons and shouts of pain.

    Through the chaos, Stefan saw Rose dragging Camille toward the boat. Camille fought back, making herself as difficult to move as possible, but she was weakened from captivity.

    Without thinking, Stefanunched himself from behind the barrels.

    He stayed low, using the firefight as cover. Neither Alexander nor Rose noticed him skirting the edge of the dock, moving closer to where Rose struggled with Camille.

    "Stop fighting me!" Rose hissed, yanking Camille''s arm. "This is your fault! It''s always your fault!"

    Camille twisted, trying to break free. "It''s over, Rose. It''s been over for a long time."

    Rose''s face contorted with rage. She raised her hand to strike Camille just as Stefan reached them.

    "Let her go!" Stefan grabbed Rose''s arm.

    Rose whirled, shock shing across her face before hardening into hate. "You!" She kicked at him, connecting with his stomach. "You chose her too!"

    Stefan stumbled backward but kept his grip on her arm. "Rose, stop. There''s nowhere to go."

    Behind them, the gunfire slowed, then stopped. Alexander''s team had subdued Rose''s men. Only the storm''s rage filled the sudden silence.

    Rose nced around wildly, seeing her escape route vanishing before her eyes. She reached into her pocket with her free hand, pulling out a small pistol.

    "Get back," she snarled, pointing it at Stefan, then swinging it toward Camille. "I''ll kill her! I swear I will!"

    "Rose...." Stefan began.

    "Shut up!" She was unraveling now, her voice climbing higher. "I should have killed her properly the first time. I should have watched my men kill her myself."

    Alexander appeared at the edge of the dock, weapon raised. "Put it down, Rose. It''s finished."

    Roseughed, the sound brittle and broken. "It''s not finished until I say it is." She pressed the gun harder against Camille''s temple. "Drop your weapons, or I paint this dock with her brains."

    For a moment, no one moved. Rain poured down, soaking them all. In the distance, the main cabin zed despite the downpour, mes reaching high into the stormy sky.

    Alexander slowly lowered his weapon.

    "Smart man," Rose smirked. "Now back up. All of you."

    Alexander took one step backward, never taking his eyes off Rose. His face showed nothing, but Stefan recognized the tension in his body, a predator preparing to strike.

    "You too, Stefan," Rose ordered. "Move away from us."

    Stefan stood his ground. "Let Camille go first."

    "Why?" Rose demanded. "So you can have her back? So you can y happy families again?" She shook her head. "I deserved everything she had. Everything."

    "I never took anything from you, Rose," Camille said quietly. "You always had a ce. A home. A family that loved you more than me."

    "Loved me?" Rose spat. "They needed me to be perfect! To be everything you couldn''t be!" Her grip on the gun trembled slightly. "Why can''t you be more like Rose, Camille? Rose gets better friends. Rose is more social. Rose doesn''t embarrass us."

    Stefan saw Alexander inching to the side, using the distraction to get a better angle.

    "I understand, Rose," Stefan said, keeping her attention. "I know what it''s like to want someone else''s life."

    Rose''s eyes narrowed. "You don''t understand anything."

    "I do." Stefan took a careful step forward. "I spent years pretending to be

    someone I wasn''t. The perfect husband. The perfect businessman. I know what it''s like to live a lie."

    Rose''s gun hand wavered slightly.

    Behind her, a security guard Rose thought was unconscious stirred, reaching for his fallen weapon.

    Everything happened at once.

    The guard fired wildly.

    Alexander lunged forward.

    Rose spun toward the new threat.

    And Stefan threw himself at Camille, pushing her down as bullets tore through the

    air where she had stood.

    Pain exploded in Stefan''s shoulder. Hot, searing pain that stole his breath and sent him crashing to his knees. He heard shouting, gunfire, the ssh of water. His vision blurred.

    Through the haze of pain, he saw

    Alexander grappling with Rose. They struggled at the edge of the dock, Rose scratching and biting like a cornered animal. The gun flew from her hand, skittering across the wet wood and into the water.

    "You ruined everything!" Rose screamed, mming her fist into Alexander''s jaw.

    Alexander barely flinched. He locked his arms around Rose, pinning her own to her sides. "It''s over," he said, his voice cold as stone.

    Rose went limp so suddenly that Alexander nearly lost his grip. Then, with a cry of pure rage, she twisted violently, breaking free. She stumbled backward, too far.

    For one suspended moment, Rose teetered at the edge of the dock, her eyes wide with surprise. Then she fell, hitting the water with a ssh that was swallowed by the storm.

    Alexander moved to dive after her, but his security team was faster. Two men jumped into the churningke as Rose surfaced, gasping and fighting.

    Stefan felt hands on his face, gentle but urgent. Camille knelt before him, her bound wrists extended awkwardly.

    "Stefan? Look at me," shemanded. Her voice seemed toe from far away. "Stay with me."

    Stefan tried to focus on her face, but darkness crept in at the edges of his vision. "You''re safe," he mumbled. "That''s what matters."

    "Don''t you dare," Camille said fiercely. "Don''t you dare check out now." Alexander appeared behind her, cutting through her restraints with a pocket knife. The moment her hands were free, Camille pressed them against Stefan''s wound. The pain red, shocking him back to full awareness. He groaned.

    "Good," Camille said. "Feel that. Stay angry. Stay here."

    Alexander knelt beside them, shrugging off his jacket and pressing it against the wound. "Medic''s on the way," he told Camille. "Two minutes out."

    Behind them, Rose''s shouts filled the boathouse as the security team dragged her from the water and restrained her. She thrashed and screamed, wild-eyed with fury and defeat.

    "Look at me," Camille said to Stefan, ignoring Rose''s cries. "Just at me."

    Stefan fixed his gaze on her face. Despite everything, the bruises, the exhaustion, the ordeal of her captivity, she looked stronger than

    he''d ever seen her. Not the woman

    he''d married and betrayed, but someone forged in fire, tempered by pain.

    "I''m sorry," he whispered. "For everything."

    A sad smile touched her lips. "I know."

    "I didn''t deserve you." Blood stained his lips now, making it harder to speak. "I

    never did."

    "Hush," Camille said, pressing harder on his wound. Pain sparked through him again, keeping him conscious. "Save your strength."

    Rose''s voice rose in pitch, her words bing incoherent. The sound of a helicopter approached, its rotors beating against the storm. "Stay with him," Alexander told Camille, standing. "I''ll handle her." Stefan watched through dimming vision as Alexander strode toward Rose. The two security men holding her stepped back, still keeping a firm grip on her arms. Alexander leaned in close, saying something to Rose that Stefan couldn''t hear. Whatever it was made Rose go still, the fight draining from her body. Her shoulders slumped. Her head bowed.

    "Stefan, focus," Camille said, drawing his attention back. "The medics are almost here. Just hold on."

    Stefan reached up with his good arm, his fingers brushing her cheek. "You found your strength," he murmured. "The strength I was too blind to see."

    Camille caught his hand, pressing it against her face. "Yes," she said simply. "I did."

    The boathouse filled with new activity as medical personnel rushed in. Someone gently moved Camille aside, recing her hands with professional pressure on Stefan''s wound.

    Through the crowd of people now surrounding him, Stefan caught ast glimpse

    of Rose being led away, her head still bowed, the fight gone out of her. The sister

    who had tried to destroy Camille, now destroyed herself.

    As darkness finally imed him, Stefan''sst thought was of the wooden fishing lure in his pocket, the symbol of a childhood Camille had once cherished. A childhood before Rose. Before him. Before all the pain they''d caused her

    ave

    He hoped she would find that innocence again someday.

    And he hoped, whatever came next for him, that he had begun to make amends.

 Chapter 171

    The hospital waiting room smelled of bleach and coffee gone cold. Camille sat rigid in an ufortable stic chair, staring at the double doors where they''d rushed Stefan an hour ago. Blood stained her clothes, his blood. She hadn''t changed, couldn''t bring herself to leave, even when a kind nurse had offered scrubs.

    "He''ll pull through," Alexander said, his fingersced with hers. "Stefan''s tough."

    Camille nodded without speaking. The image of Stefan leaping in front of her, taking the bullet meant for her chest, yed on endless loop in her mind. His body jerking backward. The surprised look in his eyes. The spreading red stain on his shirt.

    "Why did he do it?" she whispered. "After everything..."

    Alexander squeezed her hand. "He wanted to make things right. In the only way he could."

    Thunder rattled the windows. The storm that had masked their approach to the cabin now battered the hospital, as if nature itself shared their turmoil. Camille shivered, suddenly aware of her damp clothes and hair.

    "Here," Alexander said, draping his dry jacket over her shoulders. The warmth of it, the faint scent of his cologne, steadied her somehow.

    "What did you say to Rose?" she asked. "When they pulled her from the water?"

    Alexander''s jaw tightened. "I told her that no matter what happened with Stefan, she would spend the rest of her life paying for what she''d done. That no judge would show mercy once they saw what she did to you. To the people at the g. That her story was over."

    Camille had never heard such coldness in his voice, not even during their confrontation with Herod Preston months ago. It should have frightened her, but instead she felt oddlyforted by his ferocity.

    "Miss Kane?" A doctor appeared, still wearing his surgical cap. Camille and Alexander jumped to their feet. "You''re listed as Mr. Rodriguez''s emergency contact."

    "Yes," Alexander said. "This is Camille Kane, his..." He hesitated.

    "Former wife," Camille finished for him. "How is he?"

    The doctor looked between them. "The surgery is ongoing. The bullet missed his heart but damaged major blood vessels. He''s lost a lot of blood. We''re doing everything we can, but I need to be honest, it''s going to be touch and go."

    Camille swayed, the room tilting beneath her feet. Alexander''s arm went around her waist, holding her upright.

    "Is there anyone else we should contact?" the doctor asked. "Family?"

    "His parents are in Madrid," Alexander said. "I''ve tried reaching them, but..."

    Amotion at the waiting room entrance cut him off. Margaret and Richard Lewis burst through the doors, rain-soaked and worried.

    "Camille!" her mother cried, rushing forward. She stopped short, taking in her daughter''s bloody clothes and bruised face. "Oh my God, baby..."

    Richard stood behind his wife, his face pale with concern. "We came as soon as Alexander called. Is Stefan...?"

    "Still in surgery," Camille said, her voice cracking. "He took a bullet for me."

    Margaret''s eyes filled with tears. Without hesitation, she pulled Camille into an embrace. Unlike the awkward, tentative hugs of their recent meetings, this one felt real, a mother''s genuine concern for her child.

    The doctor cleared his throat. "I should get back. I''ll update you as soon as I can."

    He disappeared back through the double doors, leaving the family in tense silence.

    "How are you holding up?" Richard asked, his hand gentle on Camille''s shoulder. The simple question broke something inside her. Tears she''d held back for hours suddenly poured out, her body shaking with sobs.

    "I''m sorry," she gasped between breaths. "I can''t seem to stop."

    "Don''t apologize," her father said. "You''ve been through hell. Cry all you need to."

    Alexander brought her a paper cup of water, his presence steady and calm beside her. The storm continued its assault outside, rainshing against the windows. "Where''s Rose?" Margaret asked quietly.

    "In FBI custody," Alexander answered. "She''ll face charges for everything, the bombings, the kidnapping, attempted murder."

    Richard shook his head, his expression haunted. "I still can''t believe it came to this."

    The waiting room fell silent again, except for the drumming of rain against the windows. The nurse at the desk tapped at herputer. A television mounted in the corner yed muted news footage of the burning cabin.

    A scratchy voice broke the stillness. "I see I''m not toote."

    Victoria Kane stood in the doorway, leaning heavily on a cane. Her face was gray with exhaustion, her body frail from cancer treatments, but her eyes burned with the same fierce determination Camille hade to know and love.

    "Victoria," Camille breathed, rushing to her side. "You shouldn''t be here. Your doctors..."

    "My doctors don''t tell me what to do," Victoria snapped, though without real anger. She let Camille help her to a chair. "Alexander called. Said you needed me."

    Margaret immediately moved to make room. "Victoria, please sit here. It''s morefortable."

    The gesture wasn''t lost on Camille, her mother and Victoria hade a long way from their first icy meeting months ago. The tentative respect they''d established had clearly deepened during Camille''s abduction.

    "How is he?" Victoria asked, settling into the offered chair with barely disguised relief.

    "Fighting," Alexander said. "The bullet damaged major blood vessels, but they''re working to repair them."

    Victoria nodded, her gaze drifting to Camille''s bloodstained clothes. "And you, child? Are you hurt?"

    "No," Camille said. "Not physically, anyway."

    Victoria reached for her hand, her grip surprisingly strong despite her weakened state. "You''ve survived worse than this. We all have."

    Richard brought coffee for everyone, the small act of kindness filling the awkward silence. Camille noticed how her father treated Victoria with a mixture of respect and gratitude, a far cry from the tension that had marked their early interactions.

    "Thank you foring," Camille said to her parents. "I know it''s not easy, being here."

    "Of course we came," Margaret said, her voice gentle. "We''ve missed too many moments when you needed us. We won''t miss any more."

    Alexander took the seat on Camille''s other side,pleting their strange circle. "Stefan''s parents are trying to get a flight from Madrid. I''ve arranged for my jet to meet them."

    A nurse pushed through the doors, carrying a clipboard. "Family of Stefan Rodriguez?"

    "Yes," five voices answered at once.

    The nurse blinked, taken aback. "The doctor asked me to update you. He''s stable

    for now. They''ve repaired the main damage, but he''s critical. The next twenty-four hours will be decisive."

    Camille felt her knees weaken with relief. Alexander''s arm slipped around her waist again, supporting her weight.

    "Can we see him?" she asked.

    "Not yet," the nurse replied. "He''ll be in recovery for several hours, then intensive

    care. It might be morning before visitors are allowed."

    She left them with that mixed news, Stefan alive, but barely. The strange gathering fell silent once more. Outside, the storm began to ease, the thunder growing more distant.

    Victoria reached for Camille''s hand again. "Sit down, child. You look ready to copse."

    Camille obeyed, sinking into the chair beside Victoria. For the first time, she truly looked at the older woman, noting the new lines of pain around her mouth, the thinness of her wrists. Victoria''s cancer battle had taken a toll.

    "You shouldn''t havee," Camille said softly. "You need to rest." Victoria''s lip curled. "I''ll rest when I''m dead. Which, contrary to my doctors'' predictions, won''t be today."

    Richard cleared his throat. "Victoria, I hope you know how grateful we are. For everything you''ve done for Camille."

    Victoria waved her hand dismissively, but Camille caught the subtle softening around her eyes. The two families had formed an unlikely alliance during Camille''s abduction, their shared concern bridging years of misunderstanding. "We brought something for you," Margaret said, handing Camille a small paper bag. "We found it when we were looking through old photos."

    Camille opened the bag. Insidey a small silver frame holding a photograph of herself at eight years old, standing proudly on the dock at Cedar Lake, fishing rod in hand. Her father''s arm was around her shoulders. Her mother smiled from the background, setting appic on a checkered nket.

    "Our happy girl," Margaret whispered. "Before everything changed."

    Tears welled in Camille''s eyes again, but different this time, not the desperate sobs of earlier, but something gentler. Sorrow for what was lost, for the innocence she''d never reim.

    Victoria studied the photo over Camille''s shoulder. For once, her face softened.

    "So that''s where ites from," she murmured. "That spark I saw in you the night we met. It was there all along."

    Camille looked up, meeting Victoria''s gaze. "You saw me when I couldn''t see myself."

    "I recognized you," Victoria corrected. "Because I''d been you, in my own way. Broken but burning still."

    Alexander''s hand covered Camille''s. "And now here we are. All of us."

    An unlikely family, Camille thought, looking around the circle. The parents she

    was slowly rebuilding a rtionship with. The mentor who had given her a second chance. The man who had loved her through her darkest days.

    And somewhere beyond those double doors, fighting for his life, the man who had once betrayed her, then given everything to save her.

    "Do you remember what I told you when we first met?" Victoria asked suddenly. "About pain?"

    Camille nodded. "That pain can destroy you, or transform you. It''s your choice."

    "Stefan made his choice today," Victoria said. "Perhaps his first truly selfless one."

    "He loved you, in his way," Richard added quietly. "Even when he didn''t know how to show it."

    Camille didn''t answer. Her feelings for Stefan were tooplex to untangle now,

    the betrayal, the pain, but also the years of shared history, and now this final

    sacrifice.

    The morning woulde with its own challenges. Stefan''s uncertain fate. Rose''s prosecution. Victoria''s cancer battle. The continuing journey of reconciliation with her parents.

    But for now, in this strange moment of calm between storms, Camille felt something she hadn''t expected: peace. Not the absence of pain, but something deeper, the knowledge that whatever came next, she wouldn''t face it alone.

    The surgery doors swung open. The doctor appeared, his face solemn but no longer grim.

    "He''s asking for you," he said, looking directly at Camille. "Just a few minutes. He''s still very weak."

    Camille rose on shaky legs. Alexander squeezed her hand before letting go. "We''ll be right here," he promised.

    Victoria''s eyes met hers, conveying strength without words.

    Margaret touched her arm. "Take your time, honey."

    Richard simply nodded, his support silent but clear.

    Surrounded by this unlikely circle of love, Camille gathered her courage. Then,

    with a deep breath, she walked forward to face whatever came next.

 Chapter 172

    The ICU hallway stretched before Camille, sterile and bright. Her footsteps echoed against the tile floor as she followed the doctor. The smell of antiseptic filled her nose, making her eyes water, or perhaps it was the weight of what waited ahead.

    "Five minutes," the doctor reminded her, pausing outside a door. "He''s very weak."

    Camille nodded, her throat too tight for words.

    The doctor pushed the door open, revealing a small room filled with machines. Their steady beeping cut through the silence, marking each beat of Stefan''s heart. Hey still in the center of it all, nearly lost among tubes and wires. His skin looked gray against the white sheets, but his eyes were open, alert and watching for her.

    "I''ll be right outside," the doctor said, and then she was alone with the man who had once been her husband. The man who had betrayed her. The man who had taken a bullet meant for her.

    Camille approached the bed slowly. Stefan''s shoulder was heavily bandaged, the white gauze stark against his hospital gown. An IV dripped clear fluid into his arm. A monitor tracked his heartbeat in jagged green lines.

    "Hey," she said, her voice barely audible.

    Stefan''s lips curved into a weak smile. "Hey yourself." His words came out raspy, as if speaking required great effort.

    Camille moved closer, standing awkwardly beside the bed. She had imagined this moment during the long wait, rehearsed what to say, but now words failed her.

    "You look terrible," she said finally, then winced at her own bluntness.

    Stefan''s smile widened slightly. "You should see the other guy."

    The weak joke broke something inside her. Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them.

    "Don''t," Stefan whispered. "Please don''t cry, Camille."

    She wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I''m sorry. It''s just... you almost died. Because of me."

    "For you," he corrected. "Not because of you. There''s a difference."

    Camille sank into the chair beside his bed, suddenly unable to stand. "Thank you," she said, the words feeling terribly inadequate. "For saving my life."

    Stefan''s eyes held hers, more serious than she''d ever seen them. "It''s what I should have done all along. Protected you. Instead of hurting you."

    His gaze was too direct, too honest. Camille looked down at her hands. They still had blood beneath the fingernails, his blood, from when she''d pressed against his wound.

    "Why did you do it?" she asked. "You could have stayed behind cover."

    Stefan was quiet for so long that Camille looked up, worried he''d lost consciousness. But he was watching her, his eyes clear despite the pain medication.

    "I wanted to make something right," he said finally. "Just one thing."

    The monitor beeped steadily between them, counting heartbeats, counting seconds.

    "I never deserved you," he continued, each wording with visible effort. "Not when we were married. Not when you trusted me." He paused, drawing abored breath. "But in that moment, when I saw the gun... I finally understood what mattered."

    Camille felt fresh tears gathering. She fought them back, knowing he needed her strength now, not her sorrow.

    "You don''t owe me your life, Stefan."

    "I owe you the truth," he countered. "And the truth is, I was a coward. I let Rose manipte me because it was easier than being the man you needed."

    He reached for her hand. His fingers felt cold against hers, his grip weak but insistent.

    "Camille," he said, her name barely a breath. "I need to ask you something. And you can say no. You''ve earned that right a thousand times over."

    She waited, afraid of what woulde next.

    "Can you forgive me?" His voice broke on thest word. "Not for my sake. For yours. So you can be free of what I did."

    The question hung between them, heavy as stone. Camille looked at their joined hands, once they had worn matching rings, made promises they thought wouldst forever. Now there was only skin against skin, fragile and temporary.

    "I forgave you a long time ago," she said, surprising herself with the truth of it. "When I built my new life. When I stopped letting what happened define me."

    Stefan''s eyes widened slightly. "You did?"

    Camille nodded, the realization spreading through her like warmth. "I had to. Holding onto that pain was... like carrying a boulder uphill. I couldn''t climb with that weight."

    "I didn''t know," he said softly.

    "Neither did I," she admitted. "Not until just now. Saying it out loud."

    Stefan closed his eyes briefly, his face rxing as if a great tension had left him. When he looked at her again, there was something new there, not the desperate need for absolution, but something calmer. eptance, perhaps.

    "I''m sorry it took a bullet for me to be the man I should have been," he said.

    "Betterte than never," Camille replied, and was surprised to hear herselfugh, a small, fragile sound, but genuine.

    Stefan''s lips curved upward. "That''s the first time I''ve heard youugh in... I can''t remember how long."

    "Me neither."

    They sat in silence for a moment, the beeping monitors a gentle reminder of how close she''de to never having this conversation.

    "You''re happy now," Stefan said. It wasn''t a question. "With Alexander."

    "Yes," she answered honestly. "I am."

    "Good. He''s a better man than I was."

    "He''s different," Camille corrected. "And so am I. We''re different people than we were three years ago."

    Stefan squeezed her hand, his touch gentle but sure. "You''re stronger now. I saw it in the boathouse. Rose couldn''t break you."

    The mention of her sister sent a chill through Camille. "She almost did, once."

    "But she didn''t. You survived. You built something new."

    Camille nodded, unable to deny it. The woman she''d been when married to Stefan, trusting, naive, desperate for approval was gone. In her ce stood someone forged in fire, tested and true.

    "We both did," she said, looking at him with new eyes. The selfish, weak man who had betrayed her had be someone willing to die for her. People could change. She was living proof of that.

    Stefan''s eyelids drooped, his body finally surrendering to exhaustion and medication. "I''m d... we had this chance," he murmured, his words slurring slightly. "To say goodbye properly."

    Camille''s chest tightened. "This isn''t goodbye. You''re going to recover."

    "Sure," he agreed, too quickly, "but things will be different. As they should be." He forced his eyes open, fixing her with onest clear look. "Be happy, Camille. Build something wonderful. You deserve that."

    She felt the walls around her heart, walls she hadn''t even realized were still standing begin to crumble. Not in the devastating way of her first heartbreak, but gently, like snow melting in spring.

    "So do you, Stefan," she said, meaning it. "Find your own happiness."

    He smiled faintly, his eyes drifting closed. "Already did... doing the right thing...

    finally..."

    His breathing deepened as sleep imed him. Camille sat there a moment longer,

    still holding his hand, feeling the steady pulse beneath her fingers.

    The hate she e had nursed for so long was gone, dissolved in the truth of his sacrifice. The pain of betrayal had faded into something like wisdom. And the bitter taste of regret had been washed away by simple gratitude, for second

    chances, for growth, for the possibility of redemption.

    Gently, she ced his hand back on the bed. She stood, looking down at him onest time. The man she had once loved. The man who had hurt her beyond measure. The man who had finally, in one selfless moment, be someone worthy of respect. C¨®ntent

    "Goodbye, Stefan," she whispered.

    As she turned to leave, Camille felt something lift from her shoulders, a weight

    she had carried so long she''d forgotten it was there. She walked toward the door

    with lighter steps, toward the future waiting beyond.

    In the hallway, her unlikely family waited, Alexander with his steady strength,

    Victoria with her fierce wisdom, her parents with their humble hope for

    reconciliation.

    For the first time in years, Camille moved forward carrying only what she chose to

    bring, leaving the rest behind. Not forgotten, but transformed.

 Chapter 173

    The courthouse steps swarmed with reporters, their cameras shing like lightning bugs on a summer night. Camille gripped Alexander''s hand as they navigated the crowd, eyes forward, faces nk masks against the shouted questions.

    "Ms. Kane, how does it feel to face your sister today?"

    "Camille! Will you ask for the death penalty?"

    "Are you worried about Rose''s mental state?"

    Alexander''s arm formed a shield around her shoulders, guiding her through the press of bodies. Victoria and her parents followed behind, creating a protective circle.

    Inside, the marble halls echoed with footsteps and whispers. Journalists scribbled notes. Observers craned their necks for a glimpse of the woman who had survived her sister''s murderous ns.

    "You don''t have to do this," Alexander murmured, his lips close to her ear. "No one would me you for skipping the arraignment."

    Camille shook her head. "I need to see her face. I need her to see mine."

    The courtroom door loomed ahead, dark wood and brass handles. Camille paused, drawing a breath deep into her lungs. Two weeks had passed since the night at the cabin. Stefan had been released from the hospital yesterday, beginning his long recovery at his parents'' home in Madrid. The bruises on Camille''s wrists had faded to yellow smudges.

    But some wounds couldn''t be seen.

    "Ready?" Alexander asked.

    Camille nodded, and they stepped inside.

    The courtroom hushed as they entered. Rows of spectators turned to stare. Cameras clicked despite the judge''s restrictions. Alexander guided Camille to the front row, where the district attorney had reserved seats.

    "She''s not here yet," Victoria noted, settling beside Camille with a soft grunt of pain. Her cancer treatments had left her weaker, but her eyes remained sharp as

    ever.

    Camille checked her watch. Five minutes until the proceedings began. Her mouth felt dry, her pulse racing. She had practiced for this moment, rehearsed seeing Rose again. Nothing could have prepared her for the reality.

    A side door opened. Conversation died as Rose entered, nked by court officers.

    Camille''s breath caught in her throat.

    Gone was the polished beauty who had charmed New York society. Rose''s jumpsuit hung loose on her frame. Her hair, once expertly styled,y t against her skull. Without makeup, her face looked hollow, almost skeletal.

    Only her eyes remained unchanged, cold, calcting, watching everything.

    Those eyes found Camille immediately.

    The hatred that shed across Rose''s face hit Camille like a physical blow. After everything, the exposure of her plots, the failure of her ns, the certainty of her punishment, Rose''s rage burned undiminished.

    "All rise," the bailiff called. "The Honorable Judge Eleanor Hamilton presiding."

    The proceedings began with formal introductions. The district attorney, Graham Matthews, stood tall and confident, his voice carrying to every corner of the room.

    "Your Honor, the defendant faces twenty-seven separate charges, including attempted murder in the first degree, kidnapping, domestic terrorism, criminal conspiracy, and assault with deadly weapons."

    The list continued, each charge another stone in the mountain of evidence against Rose. Camille listened without expression, though her stomach twisted at the recitation of her sister''s crimes.

    "How does the defendant plead?" Judge Hamilton asked.

    Rose''s attorney, a sharp-featured woman with expensive shoes and a resigned expression, stood. "Not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, Your Honor."

    Murmurs rippled through the courtroom. The judge banged her gavel once.

    "Bail, Ms. Winters?"

    "The people request remand, Your Honor," Matthews answered. "Ms. Lewis is an extreme flight risk with ess to significant resources, despite our efforts to freeze her ounts. Furthermore, she represents a continued danger to multiple witnesses, particrly to her sister, Camille Kane."

    Rose didn''t move, didn''t blink, didn''t shift her gaze from Camille''s face.

    "Your Honor," Rose''s attorney began, "my client has no prior criminal record. She''s a respected..."

    "Save it for trial, counselor," Judge Hamilton cut in. "The defendant is remanded to custody for the duration of these proceedings."

    Only then did Rose react, her lips curling into a smile so slight most would have missed it. But Camille saw, and understood. Prison walls meant nothing to Rose. In her mind, this was merely a setback, not an ending.

    "The defendant will be transferred to Bellevue for psychiatric evaluation," the judge continued. "We''ll reconvene for a status hearing in thirty days."

    As Rose stood to leave, she finally spoke, her voice carrying clearly through the sudden silence.

    "Hello, sister dear. You''re looking well."

    The court officers moved to escort her out, but Rose resisted, her eyes never leaving Camille''s face. "Did you think this was over? It''s never over between us."

    "Ms. Lewis," the judge warned, "that''s enough."

    Rose ignored her. "Tell me, Camille, does it feel good sitting there, pretending you''ve won? Do you sleep better at night?"

    Alexander half-rose from his seat, but Camille ced a hand on his arm, stopping him. Around them, journalists scribbled frantically, cameras shed despite the prohibitions.

    "Ms. Lewis!" Judge Hamilton''s voice cracked like a whip. "One more word and I''ll hold you in contempt."

    Rose smiled fully then, a terrible expression that held no warmth, no humor, only malice. As the officers led her away, she kept her gaze locked on Camille until the veryst moment.

    When the door closed behind her, Camille released a breath she hadn''t realized she was holding.

    "She''s still fixated on you," Victoria murmured. "Even now."

    Outside, the media circus had multiplied. Television vans lined the street, their satellite dishes raised like metal flowers seeking the sun. Reporters positioned themselves for live broadcasts, their faces serious as they recounted Rose''s dramatic appearance.

    "The once-celebrated fashion designer now faces life in prison..."

    "...a shocking fall from grace for the adopted daughter of Richard and Margaret Lewis..."

    "...sources close to the investigation say the evidence against Rose Lewis is overwhelming..."

    The district attorney caught up with them at the courthouse steps.

    "Ms. Kane," he said, shaking Camille''s hand. "Thank you foring today. I know

    it wasn''t easy."

    "Will I need to testify?" Camille asked.

    Matthews nodded. "Eventually, yes. But not today." He nced at the waiting press. "They''ll want a statement from you. Nothingplicated. Just a few words about seeking justice, not revenge."

    Camille looked out at the sea of microphones and cameras. She thought of Rose''s face, of the hatred burning in her eyes. Of all the pain that had led them here.

    "I''ll speak now," she decided.

    Alexander squeezed her hand. "Are you sure?"

    "Yes," she said simply, and stepped forward into the re of cameras.

    The reporters surged toward her, shouting questions that blended into white noise. Camille raised a hand, and surprisingly, they fell silent.

    "I won''t be taking questions," she began, her voice steady. "I came today to see justice begin its course. The evidence against my sister will speak for itself."

    She paused, feeling the weight of dozens of lenses focused on her face, recording every flicker of emotion.

    "Many of you want to know how I feel, seeing Rose like this. The truth isplicated. I don''t hate her. I pity her. Something broke in Rose long ago, something I couldn''t fix, though I tried for many years."

    The crowd remained unusually quiet, captivated by her calm dignity.

    "What happened between us isn''t just about betrayal or jealousy. It''s about choices. We all face darkness in our lives. We all experience pain. The question is what we build from that pain." Camille drew a breath. "I chose to create. Rose chose to destroy. And now we both live with those choices."

    A reporter near the front called out, "Do you think she''s insane, like herwyers im?"

    Camille shook her head. "I''m not a doctor. I can''t speak to my sister''s mental state. I can only tell you what I know, Rose''s actions were deliberate, nned over years. Whether that reflects mental illness or simply evil is for others to decide."

    "Are you afraid of her?" another voice shouted.

    The question hung in the air. Camille considered it seriously.

    "No," she said finally. "Not anymore. Rose held power over me because I gave it

    to her. I allowed her hatred to shape my life. Today, I take that power back." With that, she stepped away from the microphones. Alexander''s arm encircled her

    waist, steadying her as they descended the courthouse steps toward the waiting

    cars.

    Behind them, the media exploded ¤É

    into activity reporters racing to file

    their stories, cameramen reviewing

    footage. Already the narrative was

    forming, the dignified victim facing her tormentor without hatred the contrast between Camille''sposure and Rose''s S barely-contained rage.

    In the car, Victoria took Camille''s hand. "Well done," she said simply.

    Camille leaned back against the leather seat, suddenly exhausted. The adrenaline that had carried her through the morning drained away, leaving her hollow.

    "Do you think she''ll ever understand what she did?" she asked quietly. "Not just to me, but to herself?"

    Victoria''s eyes softened with rarepassion. "Some people aren''t capable of

    that kind of reflection. They see only what was taken from them, never what they threw away."

    The car pulled into traffic, leaving the courthouse behind. On every corner, newspaper stands disyed Rose''s booking photo, her face twisted with rage beneath damning headlines:

    FASHION DESIGNER FACES LIFE FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER

    SISTER VS. SISTER: INSIDE ROSE LEWIS''S REIGN OF TERROR

    THE FALL OF ROSE LEWIS: HOW JEALOUSY DESTROYED A RISING STAR

    Camille turned away from the windows. "It doesn''t feel like victory."

    "It''s not supposed to," Alexander said gently. "There''s no winning in this, only surviving."

    Camille nodded, resting her head

    against his shoulder. The car moved through Manhattan traffic, carrying her toward the future she''d fought so hard to protect. Behind them, Rose faced a different future, one shaped by bars and guards and the slow grind of justice.

    Two sisters. Two paths. Two destinies now irrevocably separate.

    Camille closed her eyes, feeling neither triumph nor sorrow, but something between, the quiet certainty that some chapters must end before others can

    begin.

 Chapter 174

    Victoria stared at the scan results spread across her doctor''s desk. The images showed her body from the inside, revealing the battle waged within her tissues and bones. But unlike previous scans, these told a different story.

    "The tumors have shrunk by sixty-three percent," Dr. Winters said, her finger tracing the outlines on the images. "It''s the best response I''ve seen to this treatment protocol."

    Victoria kept her face nk, decades of boardroom battles making it second nature to hide her feelings. But inside, something unfamiliar bloomed, a fragile, tender hope she hardly dared acknowledge.

    "What does this mean, exactly?" she asked, her voice steady despite the storm in her chest.

    Dr. Winters removed her sses, meeting Victoria''s gaze directly. "It means the cancer is responding to treatment far better than we anticipated. Six months ago, I told you we were looking at buying time. Now, I''m talking about the possibility of remission."

    The word hung in the air between them. Remission. Not cure, never cure with this type of cancer... but something Victoria hadn''t allowed herself to consider.

    "How much time?" The question that had haunted her since diagnosis.

    "I can''t make promises," Dr. Winters said, "but patients with this response rate often gain years rather than months. Good quality years."

    Years. The enormity of it struck Victoria like a physical blow. She had been preparing to die, arranging her affairs, bracing Camille for the worst. She had epted her fate with the same grim determination she''d applied to everything in life.

    Now, suddenly, there was a tomorrow. Maybe many tomorrows.

    "I still rmend continuing treatment," Dr. Winters continued, putting her sses back on. "And regr monitoring, of course. But Victoria," she leaned forward, her professional distance softening, "this is the time to think about what you want to do with this gift."

    Victoria nodded, unable to speak past the unexpected tightness in her throat. She gathered her coat and bag, thanking the doctor with practiced courtesy.

    Outside, her driver waited by the car, his face carefully neutral as always. Victoria slid into the back seat, grateful for the privacy partition that allowed her a rare moment of unguarded emotion.

    Years. The word echoed in her mind all the way back to her office.

    *** **

    Kane Industries upied the top ten floors of a gleaming tower in Manhattan''s financial district. Victoria''s office on the highest floor offered views that stretched across the city, a daily reminder of the empire she had built from nothing.

    She stood by the windows now, watching the afternoon light glint off nearby buildings. Behind her, Frederick Winters arranged papers on her desk, his movements precise and familiar after fifteen years as herwyer.

    "Everything''s prepared as you requested," he said. "Though I still think we should

    wait for the quarterly board meeting to make the announcement."

    Victoria turned from the window. "I''ve waited long enough."

    Frederick sighed. "As you wish. But surely there''s no rush now, not with your health improving."

    "That''s exactly why there''s a rush."

    Her phone rang before she could exin. Camille''s name lit up the screen.

    "Are you on your way?" Victoria asked, answering without preamble.

    "Just arrived downstairs," Camille replied. "I''ll be up in five minutes."

    Victoria hung up without saying goodbye, a habit Camille had long stopped trying

    to change. She smoothed her jacket and moved to her desk, sitting in the chair that had be almost an extension of herself over the decades.

    Frederick gathered his notes. "Shall I stay for this?"

    Victoria considered, then shook her head. "No. This should be private."

    When he left, she pressed her palms t against the polished surface of her desk. For the first time in her memory, her hands trembled slightly.

    The corner of her desk held a small silver frame, the only personal item in the otherwise austere office. It contained a photograph of Sophia, her daughter, smiling on a beach Victoria couldn''t remember the name of. Had she even been there when the photo was taken, or had she sent Sophia with a nanny while she closed some essential deal?

    She couldn''t recall. The realization hit her with unexpected force.

    When the door opened and Camille entered, Victoria was still staring at the photograph. Camille approached cautiously, noting Victoria''s unusual stillness. "Is everything all right?" she asked.

    Victoria gestured to the chair across from her desk. "Sit down, Camille. I have news."

    Camille''s face tightened with worry. She had seen Victoria through months of treatment, watching her mentor grow thinner, her legendary energy dimming. Though Victoria had never admitted the severity of her condition, Camille had researched enough to understand what stage four pancreatic cancer typically meant.

    "Your doctors..." she began, preparing for the worst.

    "My doctors," Victoria interrupted, "are rather surprised." She pulled out the folder containing hertest scan results. "The treatment is working. The tumors have shrunk significantly."

    Camille''s eyes widened as she processed this unexpected turn. "That''s... that''s wonderful news."

    "Indeed." Victoria''s tone remained businesslike, though her eyes had softened. "Dr. Winters now speaks of years rather than months. Good quality years, she emphasized."

    The relief that spread across Camille''s face touched something deep inside Victoria. In all her life, how many people had genuinely cared whether she lived or died? The number was painfully small.

    "I can''t tell you how happy I am to hear that," Camille said, her voice thick with emotion.

    Victoria nodded, unused to navigating such personal waters. "It changes things," she said. "And yet, in some ways, it changes nothing."

    Camille looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

    Victoria stood and walked to the windows, needing the movement to order her thoughts.

    "When I thought I was dying imminently," she said, "I made certain decisions about my legacy. About Kane Industries. About you."

    Camille remained silent, waiting.

    "I''ve spent decades building thispany," Victoria continued. "Every waking hour dedicated to making it stronger,rger, more profitable. More mine." She turned to face Camille. "I thought I would die with my hand still on the controls."

    "And now?" Camille asked softly.

    "Now I find I don''t want that ending, even if it''s dyed." Victoria returned to her desk and opened a drawer. From it, she withdrew a thick document bound in leather. "This is my revised will and session n for Kane Industries."

    She pushed it across the desk toward Camille, who made no move to take it. "Open it," Victoria directed.

    Camille carefully lifted the cover, her eyes scanning the first page. Her breath caught as she read.

    "You''re stepping down?" she asked, looking up sharply. "Effective immediately?" Victoria nodded once. "I''m stepping back from daily operations. I''ll retain my ce on the board, but yes, I''m stepping down as CEO."

    "But why now? Especially with your health improving..."

    "That''s precisely why," Victoria cut in. "I''ve been given time I didn''t expect to have.

    I don''t intend to spend it in board meetings and conference calls."

    She reached across the desk and turned several pages in the document. "Keep reading."

    Camille''s eyes widened further as she scanned the text. "You''re naming me as your sessor. And your heir." She looked up again, momentarily speechless. "Everything? Thepany, your estate, all of it?"

    "Yes." Victoria''s tone allowed no pria''s argument. "You''ve proven yourself worthy of it, in every way that

    matters. The board will resist, o

    course They''ll say you''re too young, too inexperienced." A thin smile crossed her face. "They once said the same about me."

    "I don''t know what to say," Camille whispered.

    "Say you''ll ept." Victoria''s voice softened slightly. "Say you''ll take what I built

    and make it your own, as you were meant to."

    Camille stood and walked to the window, needing space to process the magnitude

    of what Victoria was offering. When she turned back, her face showed not just gratitude but understanding.

    "This isn''t just about me, is it?" she asked. "It''s about what you want for yourself."

    Victoria felt a flicker of surprise at being so transparently read. "Perhaps." Camille smiled. "What will you do? With these years you''ve been given?"

    For the first time in their conversation, Victoria smiled fully. "Whatever want. Travel, perhaps. See the ces I''ve only visited for business. Read books that aren''t financial reports." She looked again at Sophia''s photograph. "Make peace with old ghosts."

    "You''ve earned it," Camille said simply.

    Victoria studied the young woman before her, once broken, now rebuilt into something stronger than before. Her greatest project, in many ways. And her greatest gift to the world.

    "I built thispany to prove something," Victoria said, more to herself than to Camille. "To prove I was strong enough, smart enough, ruthless enough. I no longer need that proof."

    She pressed a button on her desk, and her assistant entered with a tray of tea. The ritual of pouring gave Victoria a moment to collect herself. When they each held a cup, she raised hers in a small toast.

    "To unexpected time," she said.

    "And making it count," Camille added.

    They drank inpanionable silence. Outside, the afternoon light began to shift toward evening, painting Manhattan''s skyline in shades of gold.

    "The press will specte wildly, of course," Victoria said finally. "About my health,

    about why I''m stepping down."

    "Let them," Camille replied. "We know the truth."

    Victoria nodded, satisfied with the answer. "The announcement goes out

    tomorrow. Frederick has prepared statements for both of us." She paused. "Are you ready for this?"

    Camille didn''t answer immediately. When she did, her voice held the quiet certainty Victoria hade to respect. "I''ve been preparing for it. Thanks to you."

    Victoria allowed herself another small smile. "Then it''s decided."

    She stood and walked once more to the windows, gazing out at the city that had demanded so much and given so much in return. Behind her, she heard Camille set down her teacup.

    "Will you tell me something honestly?" Camille asked.

    Victoria turned, curious. "If I can."

    "Are you afraid? Of letting go?"

    The question struck deeper than Victoria had expected. Was she afraid? This

    "Yes," she admitted, surprising herself with the truth. "But I''m more afraid of

    wasting this gift I''ve been given."

    Camille nodded, understanding. "You once asked me whates after revenge. After you''ve won all your battles and secured your position."

    "I remember," Victoria said. "I didn''t have an answer then."

    "And now?" Camille asked.

    Victoria looked out at the city one more time, then back to the woman who would

    inherit her legacy. "Now I intend to find out."

 Chapter 175

    Camille stood at the window of her office, Victoria''s office, until yesterday... watching raindrops race down the ss. Each drop chased another, sometimes merging, sometimes veering off on separate paths. Like lives, she thought. Sometimes joined, sometimes divided, all eventually reaching the same destination.

    The folder on her desk contained documents that had taken her legal team all night to prepare. Papers that would reshape lives, just as Victoria''s announcement yesterday had reshaped hers.

    A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Alexander entered, carrying two coffee cups and wearing the look of a man who hadn''t slept much.

    "The press is still camped in the lobby," he said, handing her a cup. "You''d think Victoria announced she was selling thepany to aliens."

    Camille smiled, grateful for his attempt to lighten the mood. "Are you ready for the meeting?"

    "I''m not the one they''ll be watching." Alexander nodded toward the folder. "Are you sure about this?"

    That question again. Since she''d made her decisionst night, everyone had asked it, her legal team, the board members she''d called, and now Alexander. Only Victoria hadn''t questioned her, simply nodding when Camille exined her n.

    "Yes," she answered, more firmly than she felt. "I''m sure."

    Alexander touched her arm. "Then I''m with you."

    "Even though you think it''s a mistake?"

    His fingers traced a gentle path from her elbow to her hand. "I think it''s generous. Too generous, maybe. But it''s your decision to make."

    Before she could respond, her assistant opened the door. "They''re ready for you in the conference room."

    Camille took a deep breath and picked up the folder. This would be her first official act as CEO. Not expanding the business or securing a new market, but giving something back.

    "Let''s go," she said.

    The conference room hushed as they entered. Eight people sat around the long table, her legal team on one side, the Rodriguez representatives on the other.

    At the far end, Stefan sat stiffly in his chair. His arm remained in a sling, his face paler than she remembered. Their eyes met briefly before he looked away.

    Camille took her seat at the head of the table, Alexander settling beside her. She ced the folder before her, letting the silence stretch a moment longer.

    "Thank you all foring on such short notice," she began. "As you know, Victoria Kane stepped down as CEO yesterday, naming me as her sessor. This is my first official meeting in that role."

    She opened the folder, revealing the stack of papers within.

    "These documents represent my first executive decision as CEO of Kane Industries. In essence, they reverse the acquisition of Rodriguez Shipping assets that urred three months ago."

    Murmurs rippled around the table. Stefan''s head snapped up, his eyes widening.

    "To be clear," Camille continued, "Kane Industries will return controlling interest in Rodriguez Shipping to the Rodriguez family, specifically to Stefan Rodriguez, effective immediately upon signing."

    The Rodriguez attorneys exchanged startled nces. One began hurriedly flipping through his notes, as if searching for the trap.

    Stefan simply stared at her, his face a battlefield of emotions, disbelief, confusion, suspicion.

    "Ms. Kane," he spoke finally, his voice rougher than she remembered. "May I ask why?"

    A fair question. Everyone in the room knew how Kane Industries had systematically dismantled Rodriguez Shipping during her revenge campaign. Even those who didn''t know the personal history could see this reversal made little business sense.

    "Because building is harder than destroying," she answered. "And I''m more interested in what can be built."

    She gestured to her lead attorney, who distributed copies of the agreement to everyone present. "However, there are conditions."

    Now the trap, Stefan''s face seemed to say. His body tensed visibly.

    "First, Rodriguez Shipping will adopt and maintain ethicalbor practices across

    all operations, subject to independent audit."

    Stefan frowned slightly, but nodded.

    "Second, twenty percent of annual profits will be dedicated to environmental remediation in areas where your ships operate."

    Another nod, more hesitant.

    "Third, thepany will create a schrship foundation for children of maritime workers, with particr emphasis on education for girls in developing regions."

    Stefan''s frown deepened, not in disagreement but in confusion. He clearly couldn''t understand why these conditions mattered to her.

    "And finally," Camille said, meeting his gaze directly, "your family estate, the property that has been in Rodriguez hands for four generations, will be returned to you, with the provision that the groundskeeper and household staff who lost their positions be offered their jobs back at increased wages."

    Stefan''s mask finally cracked. Something that might have been tears brightened his eyes before he blinked them away.

    "Why?" he asked again, softer this time. A question not for the CEO of Kane Industries, but for the woman he had once betrayed.

    The room fell silent. Everyone sensed the undercurrents flowing beneath the business discussion. Camille felt Alexander''s hand find hers beneath the table, a small gesture of support.

    "Because I choose to," she answered simply.

    Stefan held her gaze for a long moment, then nodded once. "I ept the conditions."

    "All of them?" she pressed.

    "Yes. All of them."

    Thewyers took over then, reviewing details, exining terms, pointing out ces requiring signatures. The formality of it created a wee buffer, allowing Camille to retreat behind professionalism again.

    When Stefan signed the final page an hourter, his hand trembled slightly. Was it weakness from his injury, Camille wondered, or emotion? Perhaps both.

    "The board will announce the arrangement tomorrow morning," she said, closing the meeting. "I suggest your PR team prepares a statement."

    The Rodriguez team gathered their papers, still looking stunned at their unexpected victory. Stefan lingered as others filed out, clearly wanting to speak privately, but Alexander stayed firmly at Camille''s side.

    "I don''t know how to thank you," Stefan said finally.

    "Don''t thank me," Camille replied. "Just honor the agreement."

    Stefan nodded, his eyes moving between her and Alexander. "I will. You have my word."

    An odd heaviness hung in the air as he left, not the bitterness of their past, but something different. The weight of a chapter truly ending, perhaps.

    When the door closed behind him, Alexander finally spoke. "That was quite a performance."

    "It wasn''t a performance."

    "No," he agreed, surprising her. "It was mercy. Something far more powerful."

    She gathered her papers, avoiding his gaze. "It was good business. His family knows shipping. We don''t. This way, Kane Industries gets a percentage of profits without the operational headaches."

    Alexander smiled faintly. "If you say so."

    They walked together back to her office, where Victoria waited, elegant as always

    in a white suit that emphasized her thinness, but also the determined set of her shoulders.

    "Well?" Victoria asked. "Is it done?"

    Camille nodded, setting the signed papers on her desk. "Yes. Rodriguez Shipping returns to Stefan, with conditions."

    Victoria''s expression gave nothing away. "And the conditions?"

    "Ethical practices. Environmental remediation. Educational funding. All the things we discussed."

    Victoria nodded slowly. "Not what I would have done."

    "I know," Camille said quietly.

    "But then," Victoria continued, a hint of something like pride in her voice, "that''s rather the point, isn''t it? You''re not me."

    Alexander poured three sses of water from the carafe on Camille''s desk. "To new beginnings," he offered, raising his ss in a small toast.

    They drank in silence, each lost in private thoughts. Outside, the rain had stopped. Sunlight broke through the clouds, casting golden light across the city.

    "He asked why," Camille said suddenly.

    "And what did you tell him?" Victoria asked.

    "That I choose to."

    Victoria smiled, a real smile, rare and transformative. "The most powerful words in

    anynguage. ''I choose."

    "He might betray that choice," Alexander said, the caution in his voice unmistakable. "The Rodriguez family has generations of business habits that won''t change overnight."

    "He might," Camille agreed. "But I''m betting he won''t."

    Victoria stood and walked to the window, gazing out at the city as she

    had done countless times from this very spot. "When I found you in that parking garage, you had lost everything. Your husband. Your sister. Your family name. Your sense

    of self."

    ve

    Camille and Alexander exchanged a nce, surprised at this unexpected

    reminiscence.

    "I taught you how to use that loss," Victoria continued. "How to transform it into power. How to take revenge on those who hurt you." She turned back to face them. "But? never taught you mercy, because I

    never had any to give."

    The admission hung in the air, startling in its vulnerability from a woman who had

    always seemed invulnerable.

    "Perhaps," Victoria said, "that''s what you''ll teach me, in the time I have left."

    The moment stretched between them, tender and raw. Then Victoria straightened,

    the brief softness reced by her usual steely determination.

    "Now," she said briskly, "I believe we have a press conference to prepare for. The announcement of my sessor has already created quite a stir. Thistest decision will send them into a frenzy."

    As they began reviewing the press statements, Camille felt something settle inside her, a certainty she''d

    been searching for since Victoria''s announcement yesterday. She had spent years learning to be Camille Kane, Victoria''s creation and heir. Now she would discover who Camille Kane could be when making her own choices.

    She nced at the signed documents on her desk. Not revenge, but restoration.

    Not destruction, but possibility.

    A path uniquely her own, atst.

 Chapter 176

    Themon room of Bellevue''s psychiatric ward smelled of disinfectant and despair. Rose Lewis sat alone in the corner, her back straight despite the shapeless hospital gown that hung from her once-elegant frame. The other inmates gave her space, something in her eyes warned them away, even here among the damaged and dangerous.

    "Television time," a guard announced, switching on the small set mounted high on the wall.

    Rose barely nced up until the words "Kane Industries" caught her attention. Her head snapped toward the screen, body suddenly rigid.

    "We''re live at Kane Industries headquarters," the reporter said, "where Victoria Kane is about to make what sources call a ''game-changing announcement'' regarding the future of herpany."

    Rose leaned forward, hands gripping the stic arms of her chair. For weeks, she''d been cut off from news of the outside world, part of her treatment, the doctors said. Part of her punishment, she knew.

    The camera panned across a packed press conference. Journalists clutched recorders and notebooks, their faces eager for the story about to break. Behind them, Kane Industries executives stood in a neat row, their expressions carefully neutral.

    And then Victoria Kane appeared at the podium.

    Rose''s breath caught. Even through the grainy television image, Victoria''s presencemanded attention. Her silver hair gleamed under the lights, her slim figure wrapped in an impable white suit that made her look more like an avenging angel than a cancer patient.

    "For thirty-five years," Victoria''s voice rang clear through the television speakers, "I have guided thispany from a small investment firm to a global power. Today, that chapter ends."

    An inmate shuffled past, blocking Rose''s view momentarily. She hissed, a sound so feral the woman hurried away withoutment.

    "My doctors inform me that my cancer has responded remarkably well to treatment," Victoria continued. "I have been given the gift of time I did not expect. And I intend to use it."

    Rose''s fingers dug into the chair arms. She had celebrated when news of Victoria''s cancer leaked to the press months ago. Had smiled at the thought of the formidable woman reduced to weakness, to dependency. To ending.

    Now that victory, like all her others, was being ripped away.

    "Effective immediately, I am stepping down as Chief Executive Officer of Kane Industries."

    Murmurs rippled through the hospitalmon room as other patients tuned in to the broadcast. Someone whispered about stock prices. Someone else bet on who would take over. Rose heard none of it, her focus absolute, her entire body tensed like a predator about to strike.

    On screen, Victoria raised her hand,manding silence from the press corps with that simple gesture.

    "The board has approved my sessor. Someone who understands not just the business of Kane Industries, but its soul. Someone who has faced destruction and chosen to build instead."

    Rose''s heartbeat quickened. A terrible suspicion formed in her mind.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the new CEO of Kane Industries... Camille Kane."

    The world stopped.

    Rose didn''t breathe, didn''t blink, didn''t move as the camera shifted and her sister, her victim, her obsession, her prey, walked into frame.

    Camille approached the podium with measured steps, her navy suit perfect against her skin, her hair pulled back in a simple knot. Confidence radiated from her, the assurance of a woman who knew exactly where she belonged.

    Nothing like the broken, devastated creature who had signed divorce papers from Stefan three years ago. Nothing like the sister Rose had tried to destroy.

    "No," Rose whispered, her voice a thread of sound in the suddenly too-loud room. "No, no, no."

    But the image didn''t change. Camille stood at the podium, her smileposed as she began to speak.

    "Thank you, Victoria. And thank you to the board for their confidence."

    Rose''s hands began to shake. The voiceing from the television belonged to Camille, but not the Camille she knew. This woman was poised, authoritative,manding. Her words measured and precise as she outlined her vision for Kane Industries.

    "Look at her," Rose hissed, too quietly for anyone to hear. "ying dress-up in Victoria''s clothes."

    But even as the words left her lips, Rose knew they were false. The woman on screen wasn''t ying at anything. This was real. While Rose had rotted in hospital rooms and court hearings, Camille had been rising. Building. Bing.

    "Ie to this position with full awareness of what Kane Industries represents," Camille was saying, her voice strong and clear. "Not just assets and revenues, but lives and livelihoods. The responsibility is enormous, and I do not take it lightly."

    An older woman shuffling by paused, looking at the screen then at Rose''s white- knuckled grip on her chair. "You okay there, honey?"

    Rose didn''t answer, her eyes never leaving the television.

    "She looks important," the woman persisted, nodding toward Camille. "Someone famous?"

    "She''s nobody," Rose snapped, the words burning her throat. "A fake. A ceholder. Victoria Kane''s pet project."

    The woman squinted at the screen, then at Rose, taking in her hollow cheeks and burning eyes. Recognition dawned slowly. "Wait, isn''t that...."

    "Leave me alone," Rose snarled, and something in her face made the woman step back quickly.

    On television, Camille continued fielding questions from the press. Someone asked about her background, about her seemingly sudden appearance in business circles.

    "Many of you are wondering who I am," Camille acknowledged. "Where I came from. That story is longer than we have time for today."

    "Liar!" Rose shouted at the screen, loud enough that heads turned throughout themon room. "Tell them who you really are! Tell them how you stole my life, my future!"

    A guard looked over, brow furrowed. Rose forced her face into nkness, years of practice making it second nature, but inside, acid burned through her veins.

    "Ms. Lewis," the guard called from across the room. "Everything all right over there?"

    "Fine," Rose answered, her voice honey-sweet. "Just caught up in the news."

    The guard studied her a moment longer, then returned to his conversation with another staff member. Rose''s attention snapped back to the screen where Camille was answering a question about her ns for thepany.

    "I can confirm that Kane Industries will be realigning certain holdings," Camille was saying. "Details will be released tomorrow."

    Rose sat forward, suddenly alert. The hospital gown gaped at her neck, revealing cor bones that had grown sharp during her weeks in custody. "Realigning holdings," she repeated, eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

    A terrible suspicion formed. The Rodriguez Shipping assets, the ones Kane Industries had acquired during Camille''s revenge campaign against Stefan. Was she giving them back to him? After everything he''d done?

    The thought made Rose''s stomach twist with fresh fury. Of course Camille would forgive Stefan. She had always been weak that way, always ready to excuse betrayal, to offer second chances.

    Not like Rose. Rose never forgave. Never forgot.

    Questions continued from journalists about thepany''s direction, about Victoria''s health, about Camille''s own background. With each smooth, articte answer, Rose''s rage grew hotter, brighter, consuming her from within.

    "Look at her," she said to no one. "So polished. So perfect. Fooling them all."

    But the woman on screen wasn''t fooling anyone. She radiated authentic authority, answering each question with thoughtful precision. Not a trace remained of the na?ve, trusting woman Rose had so easily manipted. This was someone else entirely. Someone stronger.

    Someone Rose had failed to destroy.

    The final question came from a reporter in the back row, his tone insinuating.

    "Ms. Kane, many observers have noted your meteoric rise. Just three years ago, you were unknown in business circles. How do you respond to allegations that your connection to Victoria Kane is... personal rather than professional?" Rose leaned forward, suddenly hungry for Camille''s difort. This was it, the question that would expose the fraud, that would make her stumble.

    Instead, Camille''s voice remained clear and direct.

    "Victoria Kane rescued me when I had nothing. She saw potential when others saw only brokenness. She taught me to transform pain into power. So yes, our connection is deeply personal."

    Rose''s hands curled into fists as Camille continued.

    "But make no mistake.... I stand here today not because of sentiment, but because of proven ability. My record at Kane Industries speaks for itself. The Phoenix Grid. The Green Harbor Initiative. The expansion into Asian markets that increased revenues by twenty-two percentst quarter."

    The numbers meant nothing to Rose. All she heard was victory in Camille''s voice.

    All she saw was the quiet confidence of a woman who had not just survived, but

    triumphed.

    "I didn''t inherit this position," Camille stated firmly. "I earned it. And I intend to prove that every day going forward."

    Victoria stepped forward then, cing a hand on Camille''s shoulder, a public gesture of support never before seen from the notoriously cold businesswoman.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, Camille Kane," Victoria announced, and the room erupted

    in apuse.

    In the prison ward, Rose stared at the screen as Camille and Victoria stood together, the older woman''s hand on the younger''s shoulder. The image burned

    into her mind, each pixel a separate agony.

    "That should be me," she whispered.

    For years, Rose had plotted and schemed. Had manipted everyone around

    her. Had dedicated her life to iming what she believed should have been hers, family, love, sess, recognition.

    And now here was Camille, her sister, her enemy, her obsession, receiving all of

    it. Not just surviving Rose''s attempts to destroy her, but thriving. Rising higher than Rose had even imagined possible.

    The television cut to amercial break. Rose remained motionless, seeing not the advertisement but Camille''s face. The confidence. The poise. The absolute certainty that she belonged exactly where she was.

    Something cracked inside Rose''s chest. A dam breaking, flooding her with rage so pure it felt almost like rity.

    "Camille," she breathed, fingers curling into ws against her thighs. "I should have killed you when I had the chance."

    A guard passing by paused, hearing the venom in her voice. "Everything okay

    here, Lewis?"

    Rose smoothed her expression, the mask slipping back into ce with practiced ease. "Just watching the news," she said, voice dripping sweetness. "Isn''t it interesting how some people just seem to have all the luck?"

    The guard nodded warily and moved on. Rose''s gaze returned to the television, waiting for Camille to reappear.

    In her mind, she was no longer in the hospital ward. She was back at the cabin,

    holding a gun to Camille''s head. Only this time, she didn''t hesitate. This time, she pulled the trigger.

    "Next time," she promised the empty air. "Next time, I won''t make the same mistake."

    The newscast returned, showing footage of Camille leaving the podium, Victoria

    at her side. The two women walked together, powerful, unified. Untouchable.

    For now.

    Rose''s lips curved in a smile that never reached her eyes. Her fingers found the thin scar at her wrist, tracing its outline. The doctors. thought her progress was remarkable. The medication was working. The therapy was helping. Soon, they''d rmend moving her

    to a less restrictive facility.

    She would be patient. Would y their game. Would say all the right things.

    And when the moment came, and it woulde, she would be ready.

    The camera zoomed in on Camille''s face onest time. Confident. Serene.

    Unaware that miles away, behind secure walls, her sister watched and waited and nned.

    Rose''s whisper was barely audible, lost in the ambient noise of the ward. But the

    promise in it was absolute.

    "This isn''t over, sister dear.."

 Chapter 177

    Camille''s car pulled up to the small restaurant in Greenwich Vige, far from the gleaming towers of Midtown where she now spent her days. The ce looked unchanged from when she''dst visited, before the divorce, before Victoria, before she became someone else entirely.

    "Are you sure you don''t want me toe in?" Alexander asked from the driver''s

    seat.

    Camille shook her head. "This is something I need to do alone."

    "Call if you need me," he said, squeezing her hand. "I''ll be twenty minutes away."

    She nodded, gathering her courage before stepping onto the sidewalk. Through the restaurant window, she could already see them-Margaret and Richard Lewis. Her parents. Waiting at a corner table, her mother nervously rearranging silverware, her father checking his watch.

    This marked the first time they would meet without Victoria''s watchful presence since their cautious reunion months ago. No buffers. No mediators. Just three people trying to rebuild what years of hurt and betrayal had shattered.

    The bell above the door jingled as Camille entered. Her mother looked up, face lighting with a smile that couldn''t hide the anxiety beneath. They stood as she approached, awkwardly hovering between formality and intimacy.

    "Camille," her father said, the first to recover. "You look well."

    She allowed a brief hug, still ufortable with physical contact from the people who had once doubted her most. "Thank you for suggesting this ce," she said. "It''s been a long time."

    "You used to love their chocte almond cake," Margaret said, her voice softer than Camille remembered. "You would beg toe here on your birthday."

    "Did I?" Camille asked, genuinely trying to recall. So many memories had been pushed down, buried beneath pain and reinvention.

    They settled into their seats, ordering drinks to bridge the awkward silence. Three people who shared blood but had be strangers, searching formon ground.

    "We saw the press conference," Richard said finally. "You were quite impressive." Camille smiled faintly. "Victoria trained me well."

    "It wasn''t just training," Margaret interjected. "That poise was always in you. Even as a child."

    The waiter brought their drinks. Camille wrapped her fingers around her water ss, needing something solid to hold.

    "I''ve been thinking about your childhoodtely," Margaret continued, her eyes showing a new vulnerability. "Looking through old albums. Remembering."

    "What have you remembered?" Camille asked, unable to keep the edge from her voice. What their memories contained and what hers held might be very different. Margaret reached into her bag and pulled out a small envelope. She slid it across the table. "I found thesest week. I thought you might want them."

    Camille hesitated before opening it. Inside were three photographs she''d never seen before. The first showed a girl of about six sitting on a dock, fishing rod in hand, gap-toothed grin wide beneath a sun hat toorge for her small head.

    "Cedar Lake," Camille murmured.

    "Your first fish," Richard said, smiling at the memory. "A tiny sunfish. You insisted we release it because it ''had a family waiting.""

    The second photo showed the same girl a few years older, standing beside a science fair project. WATER ECOSYSTEMS proimed the header in careful block letters.

    "You won first ce," Margaret said. "The judge said he''d never seen such advanced work from a fourth grader."

    The third photo stopped Camille''s breath. In it, she sat at a piano, her small fingers positioned carefully on the keys, her face a study in concentration.

    "My piano lessons," she whispered. "I''d forgotten."

    "You were so determined," Margaret said, her eyes misty. "You practiced that Chopin piece until your fingers hurt. Said you wanted it to be perfect."

    "What happened to the piano?" Camille asked, the memory taking shape as she spoke. "It was a baby grand. Mahogany."

    Richard and Margaret exchanged nces.

    "We gave it away," Richard admitted. "After you stopped ying."

    "After Rose came," Camille said, the pieces connecting. "She hated my ying. Said it gave her headaches."

    An ufortable silence fell. Rose''s name still carried the weight of all they''d lost, all they''d failed to see.

    "We didn''t understand then," Margaret said finally. "We thought we were helping two sisters bond. We didn''t see what she was doing."

    Camille studied her mother''s face, searching for the truth. "Why didn''t you believe me? When I told you about her and Stefan?"

    Margaret flinched, but didn''t look away. "Because believing you meant facing our failure. Admitting we''d been blind for years."

    "It was easier to think you were mistaken," Richard added, his voice rough with emotion. "Than to ept that we had let Rose manipte all of us for so long."

    The waiter returned for their food orders. Camille hadn''t even looked at the menu, but found herself requesting the mushroom risotto, her old favorite from years ago.

    When they were alone again, Margaret reached across the table, stopping just short of touching Camille''s hand. "We can''t undo what happened. But we''re trying to understand it better. To understand you better."

    "Victoria helped me see things clearly," Camille said, the name a shield she still instinctively raised.

    "Victoria gave you what we couldn''t," Richard acknowledged. "Strength when you needed it most."

    "But before Victoria," Margaret said

    gently, "there was just Camille. A little girl who loved fishing and piano and science projects. Who collected butterflies and pressed theme between wax paper. Who cried when she found a bird with a broken wing and kept it in a shoebox until it healed."

    Camille''s throat tightened. Those memories felt like they belonged to someone else, a girl who existed before pain and betrayal had reshaped her.

    "You remember all that?" she asked.

    "We remember everything," Margaret answered. "Even if we forgot what mattered for a while."

    Their food arrived, giving Camille a moment to collect herself. The risotto tasted exactly as she remembered, creamy, rich with herbs and wine. A vor from her past that still existed in the present.

    "May I show you something else?" Margaret asked after they''d eaten in silence for a few minutes. When Camille nodded, she pulled a worn journal from her bag. "This was yours. From when you were Eleven."

    Camille recognized it instantly, the flowered cover, the small lock that had made her feel her thoughts were safe. She hesitated before taking it, unsure if she wanted to reconnect with the girl who had written in those pages.

    "I found it when we were cleaning out the attic," Margaret exined. "After we thought that you were dead."

    Camille opened the journal, her

    breath catching at the sight of her own childish handwriting. She skimmed entries about school achievements, friend troubles, dreams of bing a famous scientist or musician or writer, the limitless ambitions of a child not yet touched by doubt.

    One entry caught her eye, dated just weeks before Rose arrived:

    *Mom and I nted the garden today. She says the roses will bloom by summer. Dad built me a bench so I can sit and read next to them. It''s going to be MY special ce. Mom says everyone needs a ce that''s just theirs, where they can think their own thoughts.*

    A forgotten memory surfaced... of sitting on that bench with a book, sun warming her face, her mother gardening nearby. Of feeling utterly safe, utterly known.

    "You remember the garden?" she asked, looking up at Margaret.

    Margaret nodded, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "You helped me choose the nts. You wanted yellow roses because they looked like sunshine."

    "What happened to it?" But Camille already knew the answer.

    "Rose happened," Richard said quietly. "She was allergic. Or said she was."

    Another silence fell, heavier than before.

    "We failed you," Margaret said finally. "There''s no excuse for that. But the love was real, Camille. It always was."

    Camille closed the journal, running her fingers over its worn cover. She thought of Victoria, who had saved her but never truly nurtured her. Who had rebuilt her but never reminisced about who she''d been before.

    "I don''t know if we can go back," Camille said honestly. "Too much has happened."

    "We don''t want to go back," Richard said. "We want to go forward. To know who you are now, not just who you were then."

    "And we want you to know us," Margaret added. "Not as the parents who failed you, but as people trying to do better."

    Camille looked at these two wed, hopeful people across the table. They had hurt her deeply. Had believed Rose over her. Had enabled years of subtle undermining that had eroded her sense of self.

    But they had also given her piano lessons and fishing trips. Had built her garden benches and celebrated science fair victories. Had loved her before it all went wrong.

    "I think," she said carefully, "we might try for chocte almond cake."

    It wasn''t forgiveness, notpletely. But it was an opening, a small space where something new might grow.

    Their faces lit with cautious joy. As Richard signaled for the waiter, Margaret reached across the table again. This time, Camille met her halfway, their fingers touching briefly.

    "Tell me more," Camille said. "About the girl I was. The parts I''ve forgotten."

    As Margaret began to speak of birthday parties and school ys and summer afternoons, Camille felt something shift inside her, not a tearing down of the walls she''d built, but a small window opening Just enough to let in the light of memory, of connection, while keeping her boundaries intact.

    Just enough to begin again.

 Chapter 178

    The courtroom sat hushed as Judge Hamilton entered. The wooden benches creaked with the movement of those rising to their feet. Camille felt Alexander''s hand tighten around hers as they stood. The past eight weeks of trial had led to this moment.

    "Be seated," the judgemanded, her voice filling the high-ceilinged room.

    Camille lowered herself to the bench, her back straight, her face carefully nk. She had chosen to sit in the second row today, not wanting to be directly in Rose''s line of sight.

    Rose sat at the defense table in a simple navy dress, her hair pulled back in a modest style that made her look younger, more vulnerable. A calcted choice, Camille knew. Everything about Rose was calcted.

    "The jury has reached a verdict," Judge Hamilton announced. "Bring in the defendant."

    Rose stood as the bailiff approached. Even with her wrists shackled, she moved

    with grace, her chin lifted. Not once during the proceedings had she shown fear or remorse. Not even when the evidence mounted day after day, witness after witness. Not even when her own words, recorded during her kidnapping of Camille, were yed back to the stunned courtroom.

    The jury filed in, twelve ordinary people who had listened to the extraordinary tale

    of jealousy and hatred that had consumed Rose Lewis''s life. None of them looked

    at Rose as they took their seats. A bad sign for the defense, Camille thought distantly.

    "Has the jury reached a verdict?" the judge asked.

    The foreman stood, a middle-aged man with tired eyes. "We have, Your Honor."

    "On the first count, attempted murder in the first degree, how do you find?"

    "We find the defendant guilty."

    A soft murmur rippled through the courtroom. Camille didn''t move, didn''t blink. Rose''s back stiffened, the only sign she had heard.

    "On the second count, kidnapping, how do you find?"

    "Guilty."

    "On the third count, conspiracy tomit domestic terrorism..."

    The list continued. Twenty-seven charges in all. Twenty-seven times the word "guilty" echoed through the courtroom. With each pronouncement, Camille expected to feel something, relief, satisfaction, closure. Instead, a strange emptiness spread through her chest, as if she were watching a scene from someone else''s life.

    Rose never turned around, never nced back at the half-sister whose life she had tried to destroy. She stood perfectly still, like a statue carved from ice, as the verdict sealed her fate.

    Judge Hamilton scheduled the sentencing for the following morning, and the bailiffs led Rose away. Only then, at the doorway, did Rose pause and look back. Her eyes found Camille''s with unerring precision. No words were exchanged, but the message in Rose''s gaze was clear: This changes nothing.

    The courtroom emptied slowly. Reporters rushed out to file their stories. Lawyers gathered their papers. Alexander guided Camille through the crowd, shielding her from questions shouted by journalists.

    In the car, she finally spoke. "I should feel something, shouldn''t I?"

    Alexander studied her face. "What do you think you should feel?"

    "I don''t know. Relief? Joy? Something other than..." She gestured helplessly at her chest. "This emptiness."

    "What Rose did to you can''t be undone by a verdict," Alexander said quietly. "No matter how many times the word ''guilty'' is spoken."

    Camille turned to look out the window as the car pulled away from the courthouse. Cameras shed outside, capturing the moment for tomorrow''s headlines. Another chapter in the story the public couldn''t get enough of the sister who rose from the ashes, the sister who burned in her own hatred.

    "I spent so long waiting for this," Camille said. "First with Victoria, nning our revenge. Then with the prosecutors, building the case. Now it''s done, and I feel...nothing."

    Alexander reached for her hand. "Maybe that''s progress."

    "How is feeling nothing progress?"

    "Because revenge consumes. Justice just is."

    The words stayed with Camille through the evening, through dinner at Alexander''s penthouse where they spoke of other things, through the quiet hours before sleep. Justice just is.

    *** **

    Morning came too quickly. Another dark suit, another car ride to the courthouse, another walk through the gauntlet of cameras and shouted questions.

    This time, Camille sat in the front row. She wanted Rose to see her, to know she wasn''t hiding.

    Rose entered looking different than the day before. Gone was the modest navy dress, reced by a red designer outfit that somehow didn''t look out of ce despite her circumstances. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders, and she had managed to apply makeup that made her look both innocent and striking. Always performing, Camille thought. Always wearing the mask she thinks will serve her best.

    Judge Hamilton wasted no time. After reviewing the jury''s findings, she addressed Rose directly.

    "Ms. Lewis, before I pronounce sentence, you have the right to make a statement to the court. Do you wish to do so?"

    Rose stood smoothly, turning slightly so her profile was visible to the gallery, and the cameras. "Yes, Your Honor."

    The courtroom fell silent.

    "I stand before you today," Rose began, her voice clear and steady, "convicted of crimes that were motivated by a desire to correct a great injustice."

    Murmurs rippled through the audience. Herwyer closed his eyes briefly, as if pained. This was clearly not the statement he had advised.

    "My sister," Rose continued, her gaze never moving toward Camille, "has always had advantages I was denied. Born to privilege while I was rescued from foster care. Treated as the golden child while I was the charity case."

    Judge Hamilton leaned forward. "Ms. Lewis, if this is an attempt to justify your actions..."

    "It is an exnation, Your Honor, not a justification. I ept the jury''s verdict, but I reject the narrative that has been presented. I am not a monster. I am simply a woman who tried to im what should have been hers."

    Camille felt Alexander''s hand on her knee, steadying her. The audacity of Rose''s statement, thepleteck of remorse, should have angered her. Instead, she felt a wave of something like pity. Rose truly believed her own lies. All these years, all these crimes, and she still saw herself as the victim.

    "Are you finished, Ms. Lewis?" the judge asked, her tone making it clear she was not impressed.

    "Just one more thing." For the first time, Rose turned to face Camille directly. "I regret nothing."

    The judge''s gavel struck sharply. "Ms. Lewis, you have shown no remorse for actions that have cost multiple lives. Your statement only confirms what the evidence has shown, that you represent a continued danger to society and particrly to your sister."

    Rose turned back to face the bench, her expression unchanged.

    "It is the sentence of this court that you be confined to the maximum security women''s facility at Bedford Hills for a term of not less than fifty years without the possibility of parole."

    The gavel struck again. "Court is adjourned."

    As the bailiffs approached to lead Rose away, she turned once more toward Camille. The hatred in her eyes burned as bright as ever, undimmed by the verdict or the else Turked

    sentence. But something

    there too, a flicker of confusion, as if R¨®se couldn''t understand why Camille wasn''t gloating, wasn''t celebrating her downfall.

    Then Rose was gone, led through the side door to begin her half-century of confinement. The spectators rose, the buzz of conversation filling the suddenly smaller-seeming room. Reporters rushed to file their updates.

    "Are you okay?" Alexander asked softly.

    Camille nodded, surprised to find it was true. "I am."

    Outside, they faced the inevitable press line. Questions flew at them from all

    directions.

    "Camille! How do you feel about the sentence?"

    "Ms. Kane! Will you be pursuing civil damages?"

    "Mr. Pierce! Anyment on Rose Lewis''s statement?"

    Alexander held up a hand, bringing a moment of quiet. "Ms. Kane has a brief statement."

    Camille stepped forward, feeling the weight of dozens of cameras on her. She had prepared remarks, carefully written and memorized, about justice and closure and moving forward.

    Instead, she spoke from the emptiness she had felt yesterday, which today

    seemed less like emptiness and more like space, room for something new to

    grow.

    "Justice was served today," she said simply. "Not revenge, but justice. That''s the difference that matters."

    With that, she stepped back, allowing Alexander to guide her through the crowd to their waiting car.

    "That wasn''t what we practiced," he said once they were inside.

    "No," Camille agreed. "It was better."

    As the car pulled away from the courthouse, Camille looked back at the imposing building onest time. Inside those walls, her past had beenid bare, examined, judged. Rose would spend the rest of her life paying for what she had done.

    But Camille wouldn''t spend the rest of her life defining herself by it.

    "You were right," she said to Alexander.

    "About what?"

    "About feeling nothing being progress." She turned from the window to face him.

    "When Victoria first took me in, all I could feel was pain and rage. She taught me

    to channel that into revenge. But revenge would have kept me tied to Rose forever."

    Alexander nodded, waiting for her to continue.

    "Today, watching her, I realized something. Rose is still consumed by hatred. It''s all she has left. But I''m free of it. Camille looked down at her hands, surprised to find them steady. "I don''t need to hate her anymore. I don''t need to fear her. I

    don''t need to think about her at all."

    Alexander reached across the seat, taking her hand in his. "That''s not emptiness,

    Camille. That''s peace."

    The word settled over her like a warm nket. Peace. Not the fiery triumph

    Victoria had promised her revenge would bring. Not the bitter satisfaction of seeing her enemy fall. Something quieter, deeper, moresting. Camille leaned her head against Alexander''s shoulder as the car carried them away from the courthouse, away from Rose, away from the past. Justice had been served. And it was enough.

 Chapter 179

    The silver wedding binder sat open on Camille''s desk, pages filled with fabric samples and venue photos. After months of courtrooms and business takeovers, the sight of something so normal, so hopeful, felt almost strange. Camille ran her fingers over a scrap of ivory silk, allowing herself a small smile.

    "Penny for your thoughts," Alexander said, entering her office with two coffee cups in hand.

    "Just thinking how different this feels now." She epted the coffee, breathing in its rich aroma. "Before Rose''s trial, nning felt... impossible. Like tempting fate."

    Alexander settled into the chair across from her desk. "And now?"

    "Now it feels real." She turned a page in the binder to reveal akeside estate. "What do you think of this one?"

    "Beautiful," he said, studying the photograph. "But what really matters is if you like

    it."

    Camille considered the image, gardens sloping down to a privateke, mountains in the background, a grand house with wraparound porches. Nothing like the ultra-modern Manhattan venues she''d initially considered.

    "I do," she admitted. "It reminds me of Cedar Lake. The good memories, before Rose."

    The phone on her desk buzzed. Her assistant''s voice came through the speaker. "Ms. Kane, your mother Victoria is on line one."

    Camille nced at Alexander, who raised an eyebrow. Victoria rarely called during business hours, adhering strictly to the boundaries she''d established since stepping down.

    "Put her through," Camille said, pressing the speaker button.

    "Camille," Victoria''s voice filled the room, its usual crispness softened by the hint

    of a smile. "I''ve made a decision that isn''t up for debate."

    Alexander smothered augh. Some things never changed.

    "Hello to you too, Victoria," Camille replied. "What non-debatable decision have you made now?"

    "I''m hosting your engagement party. Two weeks from Saturday at my home." Camille and Alexander exchanged nces. Though Victoria''s cancer treatment was going well, she tired easily. Hosting a major social event would tax her strength.

    "Victoria, that''s not necessary...."

    "It absolutely is," Victoria cut in. "You two have been engaged for months while dealing with Rose''s trial and my treatment. It''s time to celebrate properly."

    Camille twisted her engagement ring, the diamond catching the morning light. The phoenix design Alexander hadmissioned glinted gold and tinum around her finger ¨C a symbol of her transformation, her rise from ashes.

    "Are you sure you''re up to it?" she asked gently.

    Victoria''s sigh crackled through the speaker. "Camille, I may have cancer, but I''m not an invalid. My doctors say I''m responding exceptionally well to treatment. Besides," her voice softened further, "I want to do this for you. For both of you." The unexpected tenderness in Victoria''s voice made Camille''s throat tighten. This was the woman who had rebuilt her from broken pieces, who had taught her strength but never softness. Now, in her illness, Victoria was changing too.

    "Alright," Camille conceded. "But a small gathering."

    "Fifty people at most," Victoria agreed too quickly, making it clear she''d already nned for this number.

    "And my parents will be there, of course?" Camille asked.

    "I already spoke with Margaretst week," Victoria confirmed. "She''s offered to handle the floral arrangements. Your father and I discussed the wine selection yesterday."

    Alexander raised his eyebrows, impressed by how Victoria had already set things in motion, including coordinating with the Lewises.

    "Good," Camille said, pleasantly surprised at how smoothly Victoria and her parents continued to work together. Their cordial rtionship had been one of the unexpected benefits of the reconciliation process.

    "Then that''s settled," Victoria dered. "My assistant will coordinate with yours for the remaining details. And Alexander?"

    "Yes, Victoria?" he answered.

    "Make sure she actually takes time to enjoy this. She works too hard." The line clicked dead before either could respond.

    Alexander grinned. "Physician, heal thyself."

    Camille closed the binder and leaned back in her chair. "She''s really throwing herself into this."

    "It''s good to see her and your parents cooperating," Alexander remarked. "Their rtionship may not be close, but it''s nice they can work together on something important to you."

    "It''s still strange sometimes," Camille admitted. "The Lewis name carries weight in its own circles, but..."

    "But Victoria operates in a different sphere of influence," Alexander finished. "Old money versus new power."

    Camille nodded. Though her parents movedfortably among Boston''s elite and maintained their ce in the Social Register, Victoria''s self-made empire represented a different kind of authority altogether. Bothmanded respect, but in vastly different ways. That they could maintain a cordial rtionship despite these differences spoke volumes about their shared priority: Camille''s happiness. "Speaking of social positioning," Alexander said, pulling a newspaper from his briefcase, "have you seen this?"

    Heid the society pages before her. The headline read: "Phoenix Rising: America''s New Power Couple Emerges from Ashes of Tragedy." Below it stretched a photo of Camille and Alexander atst week''s charity g, her phoenix pendant gleaming at her throat.

    "They''re really leaning into the metaphor, aren''t they?" Camille said dryly.

    Alexander pointed to a paragraph midway through the article. "This part actually surprised me."

    Camille read aloud:

    "Sources close

    to the couple reveal that Lewis has reconnected with her parents, Richard and Margaret Lewis of the New York Lewises, bringing ful circle the remarkable story of family restoration. The couple was spotted dining with Victoria Kanest month at Le Cirque, suggesting a surprising alliance between old New York aristocracy and New York''s corporate royalty. The phoenix, a symbol of rebirth embraced by both Kane Industries and Pierce

    Enterprises in their joint ventures, seems an apt metaphor for this union, a rtionship forged in fire, emerging stronger and more brilliant than before."

    She set the paper down. "Well, at least they noticed the effort everyone''s making."

    "The press loves a good dynasty story," Alexander said. "Thebination of your family''s old money heritage and our corporate empires makes for irresistible coverage."

    "I''m just d they didn''t exaggerate the tension between Victoria and my parents," Camille said. "Their rtionship may be strictly cordial, but they''ve been remarkably civil since the reconciliation began."

    "They all want what''s best for you," Alexander pointed out. "That''smon ground no matter their differences."

    Camille considered this. The press

    had indeed shifted how they

    portrayed her rtionship with Alexander. What had begun as spection about a business. merger or Victoria''s session n had evolved into something the public found irresistible, a love story emerging from tragedy, two powerful individuals joining forces both personally and professionally, with the added dimension of family healing across different social worlds.

    The phoenix motif that had started with Camille''s pendant, then appeared in their engagement ring design andter in their joint business ventures, had captured the public''s imagination. Where Victoria had once taught Camille to use symbols to intimidate, now those same symbols served a different purpose, inspiring hope and possibility.

    "Do you think the media attention will ever die down?" she asked.

    Alexander shook his head. "Notpletely. We''re too visible now. But we can control the narrative better than most."

    "And what is our narrative?" Camille asked, genuinely curious about how he saw their story.

    Alexander considered before answering. "That real strength isn''t about revenge or power for its own sake. It''s about building something meaningful from pain. It''s about choosing creation over destruction."

    His words hit her with unexpected force. Wasn''t that exactly what she''d been trying to do since Rose''s conviction? What she hoped to continue with their marriage and whatever came after?

    "I can live with that story," she said softly.

    Returning to the wedding binder, Camille flipped through venue options with new purpose. "Let''s visit thekeside property this weekend. Before Victoria persuades us to host at some ultra-modern venue that wouldn''t suit us at all."

    "Agreed," Alexander said, checking his calendar. "And perhaps we should call your parents. See if they want to join us for the site visit."

    Camille nodded, reaching for her phone. The invitation would be another small step in strengthening the bonds between all parts of her life.

    "Mom? It''s me," she said when Margaret answered. "Alexander and I are going to look at a potential wedding venue this weekend. Would you and Dad like to join

    us?"

    Her mother''s voice came through, polished and warm. "We''d love to, darling. Actually, Victoria called this morning about the engagement party. She mentioned you might be considering a venue outside the city."

    "She did?" Camille wasn''t surprised that Victoria had already touched base with

    her mother. Their cordial rtionship had evolved to include regrmunication about matters concerning Camille, though she knew they weren''t exactly friends.

    "Yes, she asked for my opinion on having live music versus a DJ for the engagement party. I suggested the string quartet that yed at the Whitfields'' anniversary. I hope that''s alright?"

    "That''s perfect, Mom. I''m d you two are coordinating."

    "Well, your father and Victoria have been discussing business opportunitiestely, so we''ve been in more regr contact," Margaret exined. "Nothing serious, just exploring some potential phnthropic partnerships. It''s been... enlightening." Camille raised an eyebrow, surprised but pleased. Her mother''s diplomatic phrasing told her everything she needed to know: Victoria and her parents maintained their cordial rtionship without forcing artificial closeness, finding

    appropriate ways to interact that respected their different backgrounds and perspectives.

    "We''ll be at Victoria''s by ten on Saturday to discuss final arrangements for the engagement party," Margaret continued. "Should we meet you at the venue after

    that?"

    "That would be perfect," Camille replied, jotting down the details. "I''ll text you the address."

    After she hung up, Camille sat quietly, absorbing the weight of that exchange. Alexander watched her, giving her the space to process.

    "It sounds like they''re all working together better than I realized," she said finally.

    "Your parents and Victoria have found their bnce," he pointed out. "They each

    bring something valuable to the table, and they all care about you."

    Camille nodded, turning back to the wedding binder. As she flipped through options for flowers and music, she felt a lightness she hadn''t expected. Rose was in pri

    Victoria''s cancer was responding to treatment. Her parents and Victoria

    maintained their cordial rtionship without strain or pretense. And here sat Alexander, steady and sure

    beside her.

    For the first time in years, perhaps ever, Camille allowed herself to imagine a

    future built not around survival or revenge, but around joy. A future where the past informed but did not dictate her choices. Where damaged rtionships could heal, though the scars would always remain.

    "What are you thinking about?" Alexander asked, noting her pause.

    "That it might actually be possible to be happy," Camille said. "Really happy, not

    just safe or sessful."

    Alexander''s smile warmed his entire face. "That''s the whole point of all this, isn''t

    it?"

    The wedding binder, the engagement party ns, the news articles celebrating their union, all of it suddenly felt like more than mere details or publicity. They

    were pieces of a life being built deliberately, thoughtfully, with love as its foundation rather than fear or obligation.

    The true test woulde at Victoria''s party, where the various spheres of Camille''s life would intersect more visibly than before. Victoria''s corporate power. Alexander''s innovative brilliance. Her parents'' old-money pedigree. All circling around the woman who had been broken and reborn through fire. Camille looked down at her phoenix ring, sunlight catching its facets and sending

    tiny rainbows across her desk. "You know what? I think it is."

    The future remained unwritten, with challenges ahead they couldn''t predict. Victoria''s health. The continued attention of the press. The evolving dynamic between Victoria and her parents. But for now, in this moment, nning a celebration of love felt like exactly the right thing to do.

    A phoenix didn''t rise from the ashes to live in fear of the next fire. It rose to soar.

 Chapter 180

    Rain tapped against the windows of Camille''s office as she reviewed quarterly reports. The sky had darkened early, turning afternoon to evening without her noticing. She rubbed her tired eyes, realizing she''d been staring at the same page for ten minutes.

    Her assistant''s voice came through the inte. "Ms. Kane? There''s someone here to see you. She doesn''t have an appointment."

    Camille frowned. "Who is it?"

    "A Mrs. Pierce. She says it''s personal."

    Camille''s hand froze. Pierce. Alexander''s family name. But he rarely spoke of his parents, and when he did, his voice turned cold in a way that reminded her of Victoria at her most distant.

    "Send her in," Camille said, smoothing her skirt as she stood.

    The woman who entered moved with quiet grace, her shoulders pulled back despite the obvious tension in her face. She was tall and slim, with silver-streaked dark hair pulled into a neat bun. Her clothes were expensive but understated. But it was her eyes that caught Camille''s attention. They were Alexander''s eyes exactly, the same deep blue that could shift from warmth to ice in seconds.

    "Ms. Kane," the woman said, her voice soft but steady. "Thank you for seeing me without notice. I''m Eleanor Pierce."

    Camille gestured to the chair across from her desk. "Please, sit down."

    Eleanor perched on the edge of the seat, clutching her handbag like a shield. "I imagine this is quite surprising. Alexander doesn''t know I''m here."

    "He''s never mentioned you would visit," Camille agreed, studying the woman''s face. The resemnce was unmistakable now.

    "He wouldn''t," Eleanor said, pain shing across her features. "My son hasn''t spoken to me or his father in almost seven years. Not even when we begged him to after James died."

    The rawness in Eleanor''s voice made Camille pause. Alexander had told her fragments of his history, about the car ident, his brother walking away unscathed while Alexander spent months in the hospital. About his family choosing sides. About his brother''s death four years ago and his parents'' desperate attempts to reconnect that he''d ruthlessly rebuffed.

    "Mrs. Pierce, why have youe to me now? After all this time?"

    Eleanor''s fingers whitened around her bag. "Because I''m running out of hope." Her voice cracked. "Four years of silence. Four years of trying to reach him with no response."

    The admission hung in the air between them.

    "I''m sorry," Camille said quietly.

    Eleanor shook her head, a tear escaping. "Don''t be. I''ve had four years of letters returned unopened. Four years of calls ignored. Four years standing outside his building just hoping to catch a glimpse of him." Herposure fractured. "Do you know what it''s like to see your child on magazine covers and realize you don''t know him anymore? To watch him receive awards, buildpanies, fall in love, all from a distance?"

    "We failed him," Eleanor continued, voice barely above a whisper. "When he needed us most, we failed him. His father and I... we made a choice so terrible I wake up choking on it every night."

    Camille remained silent, letting the woman speak.

    "His brother James was always the golden child. When the ident happened, we couldn''t believe James would have been driving recklessly. We couldn''t face that he''d been drinking." A sob escaped her. "It was easier to believe Alexander''s version was confused by his injuries."

    "You took James''s side," Camille said quietly.

    "While Alexander was still in the hospital," Eleanor said, eyes overflowing. "While he was fighting to walk again, fighting through surgeries and pain no young man should endure. We chose to believe James''s lies, and Alexander has never forgiven us." Her voice broke. "He shouldn''t."

    Camille felt her own eyes burning. The raw anguish in Eleanor''s voice was impossible to dismiss.

    "We tried to reach him," Eleanor continued afterposing herself. "We went to his apartment the day after the funeral. He wouldn''t even open the door."

    She pulled a small stack of envelopes from her bag, held together with a ribbon. "I''ve written him every month for four years. Birthdays. Christmas. Just ordinary days when I remembered something about him." Her voice trembled. "They all came back marked ''Return to Sender.'' Unopened."

    "Whye to me?" Camille asked. "After all these attempts, why now?"

    "Because you made him smile again," Eleanor said simply. She extracted a magazine clipping, a photo of Alexander and Camille at a charity event, his head thrown back in genuineughter. "I haven''t seen himugh like this since before the ident. You''ve given him something I thought was lost forever."

    "What is it you want from me?" Camille asked, gentler now.

    "I need him to know the truth directly from me. Not from a letter he won''t read." Her eyes burned with intensity. "I need to tell my son, to his face, that he was right. That we were wrong. That we''ve paid for our betrayal every day with the loss of him."

    "What about his father?" Camille asked.

    "Edward is a broken man. James''s death shattered him. Alexander''s refusal to acknowledge us destroyed what was left." Her voice hardened. "Four years ago, Edward drove to Alexander''s building every day for three weeks. Just sat in his car, hoping for a glimpse."

    She took a deep breath. "Last month, when Edward saw your engagement announcement, he copsed. Had a minor stroke. The doctor said it was stress, but I know it was grief. The realization that Alexander had built a new life we''d never be part of."

    "Please," Eleanor whispered, the word raw with desperation. "I know we don''t deserve another chance. But Alexander deserves the truth. He deserves to hear us say he was right all along."

    Camille walked to the window, giving Eleanor a moment. The rain was letting up, patches of evening sky visible between clouds.

    "After James died," she asked, "did Alexander know he''d confessed? Did you tell him?"

    "We tried," Eleanor said, her voice hollow. "We went to his apartment the day after the funeral. Edward was in shock. I remember standing there, James''s letter in my hand, knocking until my knuckles bruised."

    She closed her eyes. "We sent James''s letter by courier the next day. It came back unopened. We tried hispany, we tried through mutual friends, Alexander had made it clear he wanted nothing to do with us."

    Eleanor looked down at her hands. "Thest time we actually spoke to him was at the hospital, during his final surgery. He looked at us with such emptiness. He said, ''You''ve chosen. So have I.'' He hasn''t spoken to us since. Seven years of silence."

    "And what would you say to him now? If I somehow convinced him to see you?"

    "That I''m sorry. That I was wrong. That I''ve lived with that wrong choice every day." Eleanor''s voice strengthened with conviction. "That a mother is supposed to protect her child, and I failed at the most fundamental duty. That I''ve missed him with a pain so physical I sometimes can''t breathe with it."

    Her eyes met Camille''s, red-rimmed but steady. "That I''m proud of the man he''s be, despite us, not because of us. That I understand if he can never forgive us, but I needed him to know that we finally faced the truth. That we know James lied. That Alexander was right."

    "And his father?"

    "Edward can barely speak about Alexander without breaking down," Eleanor said quietly. "He keeps a file of every news article. He follows all of Alexander''spanies, buys stock in each one." She gave a brokenugh. "He has this absurd idea that somehow, if Alexander ever checked his shareholder records, he''d see his father''s name and know we still care."

    "Your engagement," Eleanor continued, "it gave us hope. That perhaps Alexander could forgive, could rebuild after betrayal. The way you did with your parents."

    Camille stiffened. "You''ve been researching me."

    "Obsessively," Eleanor admitted without shame. "You''re the woman our son loves. Of course we''ve learned everything about you we could." Her face softened. "And what we learned gave us hope. You''ve ovee betrayal. You''ve reconciled with those who hurt you. You understand the possibility of redemption." Camille thought of her own journey, of Victoria who had taught her the power of strategic thinking but was only now learning the strength in vulnerability. Of her own parents, who had asked for a second chance.

    "I''ll help you," she said finally. "Not because you deserve it, but because Alexander deserves the choice. To hear you out or to send you away again, that should be his decision, made with all the facts."

    Relief flooded Eleanor''s face. "Thank you," she whispered.

    "But understand this," Camille continued, her voice firm. "If he doesn''t want to see

    you, that''s the end of it. I won''t push him. And if you hurt him again in any way...."

    "I understand," Eleanor said. "You''re protecting him as I failed to do. As you should."

    She removed a small, worn photograph from her bag, cing it on the desk.

    "This is Alexander at eight," she said. "The sailingpetition he won that summer."

    Camille looked down at the image of a grinning boy with windswept hair, holding a small trophy. His smile was uninhibited in a way she''d rarely seen on the adult Alexander.

    "He used tough all the time," Eleanor said, her voice thick with memory. "The sound would fill the whole house. After the ident, after what we did..." Her voice caught. "I''ve never heard thatugh again. Except in that photo with you."

    Eleanor rose to leave, her movements weighted with grief. "Leave your contact details with my assistant," Camille said. "I''ll speak with Alexander tonight."

    Eleanor paused at the door. "We named him after Alexander the Great," she said softly. "Edward wanted a conqueror''s name. But all I ever wanted was for him to be bee happy." Her eyes, so like her son''s,

    met Camille''s onest time. "Thank you for giving him that, atleast. For helping him find joy again, even if it''s a joy we''ll never share."

    After she left, Camille remained at the window, watching the city lights blink on as

    darkness fellpletely. She thought of the conversation ahead with Alexander,

    of the rage it might unleash. Of wounds reopened and possibly, just possibly,

    finally beginning to heal.

    She had promised to help Eleanor

    Pierce. Now she had to find the wisdom to help Alexander too, whatever path he chose to take, Her finger traced the edge of the childhood photograph, this evidence of happiness before pain. She wondered if such uplicated joy could ever truly be reimed, or if

    the best any of them could hope for was to build something new from the broken pieces.

 Chapter 181

    The penthouse was quiet when Camille arrived home. Only the kitchen light glowed, spilling onto the polished floor. She found Alexander at the ind counter, papers spread before him, a ss of whiskey at his elbow. The amber liquid caught the light as he raised it, not looking up when she entered.

    "Long day?" he asked, still scanning the document in front of him.

    Camille set her bag down, her heart beating faster. The weight of Eleanor Pierce''s visit pressed on her shoulders. "You could say that."

    She moved to the refrigerator, buying time as she pulled out a bottle of water. Her mind raced, searching for the right words. How do you tell someone their estranged mother showed up after seven years of silence?

    "Someone came to see me today," she said, her voice quieter than she intended.

    Alexander made a nomittal sound, still absorbed in his work.

    "At the office." Camille twisted the cap off her water. "Your mother."

    The stillness that followed was absolute. Alexander''s hand froze mid-turn of a page. His shoulders stiffened under his dress shirt. When he finally looked up, his eyes had turned to ice.

    "My mother," he repeated, his voice t. "Eleanor Pierce came to your office."

    "Yes. This afternoon."

    Alexander set his ss down with careful precision. "And what did my mother want after seven years of silence?"

    The coldness in his voice sent a chill through Camille. This was a side of Alexander she rarely saw, the hard edge beneath his usual warmth.

    "She wants to see you. To talk." Camille moved closer, resting her hands on the counter. "She says she and your father need to apologize."

    Alexanderughed, a sharp sound with no humor in it. "Apologize. That''s rich." He stood abruptly, the stool scraping against the floor. "Did she tell you why they might need to apologize? Did she share that particr story?"

    "Some of it," Camille said carefully. "About the ident. About James."

    "About how they chose to believe my brother instead of me?" Alexander''s voice rose slightly. "About how they visited him daily while I was learning to walk again? About how they helped him avoid charges while I went through three surgeries alone?"

    He turned away, moving to the window. Outside, the city sparkled in the darkness, a thousand lights against the night sky.

    "Alexander..."

    "No." His voice cut through the room. "Whatever else she told you, whatever she asked, the answer is no. I''m not interested."

    Camille took a slow breath. "She mentioned James''s death. Your father''s stroke."

    Alexander''s reflection in the window showed no reaction, but his knuckles whitened where he gripped the sill.

    "She said they tried to reach you. That they came to your apartment after James''s funeral."

    "They did," Alexander said coldly. "With his confession letter in hand. Four years toote."

    "You knew about the letter?" Camille asked, surprised.

    "Of course I knew," Alexander said, turning to face her. "They sent it by courier after I refused to see them. I sent it back unopened."

    Camille moved toward him, stopping when he took a step back. "She brought a photo. Of you as a child. Winning a sailingpetition."

    Something flickered across his face, pain, quickly masked by anger. "She kept my baby pictures. How touching."

    "Alexander, please..."

    "Please what, Camille?" His voice was dangerously calm now. "Please meet with the people who abandoned me when I needed them most? Please give them absolution so they can sleep better at night? I already refused when my father had his strokest month. What makes you think I''ve changed my mind?"

    "You knew about your father''s stroke?" Camille asked.

    "Theirwyer contacted me. Said my father had copsed after seeing our engagement announcement. That he was asking for me." Alexander''s expression hardened. "I told him my father made his choice seven years ago. I was simply honoring it."

    "No." Camille held his gaze steadily. "Please listen. Just listen to what I have to say."

    For a moment, she thought he would refuse. Then he gave a curt nod, moving back to the counter and his abandoned whiskey.

    "Your mother came alone. She didn''t know if I''d see her. She didn''t demand anything." Camille chose her words with care. "She said they failed you. Those were her words, that they failed you when you needed them most."

    Alexander stared into his ss, saying nothing.

    "She said forgiveness would be too much to ask. She just wants a chance to apologize in person. To acknowledge the truth."

    "Why now?" The question came quietly, some of the ice melting from his voice. "Why keep trying after all these years? After I''ve made it abundantly clear I want nothing to do with them?"

    "She said they were afraid. Ashamed." Camille took a step closer, relieved when he didn''t pull away. "Your father struggled to ept what they''d done, that they''d chosen to believe lies."

    Alexander drained his ss, setting it down with a sharp click. "My father, struggling with his precious pride. That sounds about right."

    "But they''re here now," Camille said. "Still trying to make amends."

    "No." Alexander shook his head. "They''re here now because they''re getting older. Because James is gone and they''re facing their own mortality. They want absolution before it''s toote."

    "Maybe," Camille conceded. "Does that make their regret less real?"

    Alexander pushed away from the counter, pacing the length of the kitchen. His movements reminded Camille of a caged animal, powerful and restless.

    "You don''t understand what it was like," he said finally. "James was always their golden child. The star athlete, the popr one, the son who could do no wrong. When the ident happened..." His voice caught. "I kept telling them he''d been drinking. That he''d insisted on driving even though I offered to call a cab. That he''dughed when I asked him to slow down."

    Camille stayed silent, letting him speak.

    "They looked

    ame

    in the eye.... their son, in a hospital bed with pins in my leg.... and told me I must be confused. That James said I had wanted to drive but he stopped me

    because I''d had too much to drink."

    Alexander''sugh was bitter. "James, the responsible one. James, who would never lie."

    He stopped at the refrigerator, pulling out the whiskey bottle and refilling his ss. "Did she tell you that part? How they chose to believe I was lying rather than face the truth about their precious firstborn?"

    "No," Camille said softly. "She just said they made a terrible mistake."

    "A mistake." Alexander''s voice dripped with disdain. "Is that what we''re calling it?" "What would you call it?" Camille asked.

    The question hung in the air between them. Alexander stared into his ss as if it held answers.

    "Betrayal," he said finally. "The kind you don''te back from."

    Camille moved slowly toward him, closing the distance until she stood just a step away. "I thought the same thing once. About my parents."

    Alexander looked up sharply. "That''s different. Your parents were manipted by Rose. They didn''t choose to believe her over you out of preference." "Didn''t they?" Camille held his gaze. "They wanted to believe her version because it was easier. Because facing what she''d done, what they''d allowed, was too painful."

    She reached for his hand, relieved when he didn''t pull away. "I''m not saying you should forgive them. I''m not saying what they did wasn''t horrible. I''m just asking you to listen to them. Once. Then decide."

    Alexander''s fingers tightened around hers. "Why are you pushing this? After I''ve already refused them multiple times?"

    "Because I know what it''s like to think a door is closed forever," Camille said quietly. "To believe some wounds can never heal. And to discover I was wrong."

    She thought of her parents, of the slow rebuilding of trust between them. Of the unexpected joy that hade with letting go of old pain.

    "If you meet with them and decide nothing has changed, that they haven''t earned a second chance.... I''ll support that." She squeezed his hand. "But don''t make that decision without hearing them out."

    Alexander pulled away, moving back to the window. For a long moment, he stared out at the city, his body rigid with tension.

    "She asked if you still have nightmares," Camille said softly. "Before important

    events."

    Alexander''s head snapped around, surprise breaking through his anger. "She remembered that?"

    "Yes." Camille watched as something shifted in his expression. "It was thest thing she asked. If you were sleeping well."

    Alexander turned back to the window, but not before Camille caught the sh of vulnerability in his eyes.

    "I told her you have me now," she continued. "That you don''t face things alone anymore."

    The minutes stretched between them, filled only with the distant sounds of the city below. Finally, Alexander''s shoulders sagged slightly.

    "One meeting," he said, his voice low. "In a public ce. And I make no promises

    about what happens afterward."

    Relief washed through Camille. "That''s all I''m asking."

    "No, it isn''t." Alexander turned to face her, his expression softened but serious. "You''re asking me to reopen wounds that took years to heal. To face people who chose someone else over me when I needed them most. People I''ve already turned away multiple times."

    He crossed the room to her, taking her hands in his. "But you''re right about one

    thing. I don''t face things alone anymore."

    "I''ll be with you," Camille promised. "Whatever you decide."

    Alexander nodded, pressing his forehead against hers. "Set it up, then.

    Somece neutral. Somece I can leave easily if I need to."

    "Thank you," Camille whispered.

    "Don''t thank me yet," Alexander said, pulling back to look at her. "This could go very badly."

    "Or it could be the start of healing something you thought was broken forever." Camille touched his face gently. "Either way, you''ll know you tried."

    Later, as theyy in bed, Alexander spoke into the darkness. "I saw James, you know. Before he died."

    Camille turned to face him, though she could barely make out his features in the dark room. "You never told me that."

    "He came to my office. Looked terrible, drinking too much, his life falling apart."

    Alexander''s voice was distant with memory. "Said he had to tell me something important. That he couldn''t live with the lie anymore."

    "What did you do?"

    "I told him it was toote. That nothing he could say would change what

    happened." Alexander''s fingers found hers beneath the covers. "Two weekster,

    I heard he was dead. Drunk driving, they said."

    The pain in his voice wrapped around Camille''s heart. "You couldn''t have known."

    "No," he agreed. "But I''ve wondered since then... if I''d listened, if I''d let him

    confess, would he still be alive? Or did the guilt kill him as surely as the drunk driving?"

    Camille had no answer for that. She simply held him closer, feeling the steady

    beat of his heart against her palm.

    "When they came after the funeral, I

    het

    couldn''t bear to see them," Alexander continued quietly. "Couldn''t bear to watch them grieve for James when they''d abandoned me. And when my father had his

    strokest year..." He trailed off. "I told myself they''d made their bed. That they didn''t deserve my sympathy."

    "And now?" Camille asked gently.

    "Now I don''t know." His voice was barely audible. "Part of me still wants to refuse.

    To make them feel a fraction of what I felt. But another part..."

    "Is tired of carrying the weight," Camille finished for him when he didn''t continue.

    "Yes," he admitted. "Tired of wondering what they might say. If they truly regret what they did, or if they''re just lonely now that James is gone."

    "I''ll meet them," Alexander said after a long silence. "But I''m doing it for me, not

    for them. I need to know if there''s anything worth saving. Or if it''s truly toote." As his breathing deepened into sleep, Camille remained awake, thinking of Eleanor Pierce and her sad eyes. Of second chances and roads not taken. Of the

    healing power of truth, even when ites years toote.

    She had persuaded Alexander to meet his parents. Now she could only hope she hadn''t made a terrible mistake.

 Chapter 182

    The car rolled up the long driveway, gravel crunching beneath the tires. Alexander sat motionless in the passenger seat, his face a mask as he stared at the mansion ahead. Camille drove, giving him the freedom to absorb the sight of his childhood home after seven years away.

    "We can still turn around," she said softly.

    Alexander shook his head. "No. I need to do this."

    The Pierce estate stood proud against the autumn sky, all gray stone and tall windows. A ce built to show wealth, not to give warmth. Two figures waited on the wide front steps, Eleanor and Edward Pierce, standing close yet somehow apart.

    "They look nervous," Camille observed.

    "Good." Alexander straightened his tie, a gesture Camille recognized as his way of gathering strength. "They should be."

    She parked near the entrance, turning off the engine. The sudden silence felt heavy.

    "Remember," she said, taking his hand. "Whatever happens in there, I''m with you."

    Alexander''s fingers tightened around hers. "Thest time I walked out these doors, I was neen and they told me not toe back until I ''saw reason.'' Until I stopped ''ndering'' my brother."

    The bitterness in his voice made Camille ache for the young man he''d been, wounded, betrayed, alone.

    "Let''s go," he said, opening his door before she could respond.

    The air smelled of cut grass and autumn leaves as they walked toward the house. Eleanor took a half-step forward, then stopped, her hands sped so tightly her knuckles shone white. Edward stood rigid, his face unreadable beneath his silver hair.

    "Alexander," Eleanor said, her voice trembling slightly. "Thank you foring."

    Alexander gave a curt nod, offering nothing more.

    "Please,e inside," Edward said, his deep voice less steady than Camille had expected.

    Alexander took her hand as they followed his parents into the house. The entrance hall loomed vast and cold, marble floors and high ceilings creating an echo chamber. Family portraits lined the walls, generations of Pierces staring down with identical blue eyes. Camille noticed the most recent portrait, a younger Alexander standing behind his seated parents, James at their side. Alexander''s eyes lingered on it as they passed.

    "We can sit in the library," Eleanor suggested, leading them down a hallway.

    The library felt warmer than the rest of the house, lined with books from floor to ceiling. A fire burned in the massive stone firece, casting dancing shadows on leather chairs and heavy wooden tables. It looked like a room where people might actually live, not just exist for show.

    "You''ve kept it the same," Alexander said, the first words he''d spoken since entering.

    Eleanor nodded. "It was always your favorite room."

    Alexander moved to the window, looking out at the manicured gardens. His shoulders were tense under his tailored suit.

    "Would you like something to drink?" Edward asked, moving to a sideboard where crystal decanters gleamed in the firelight.

    "No." Alexander turned to face his parents. "I didn''te here to pretend this is a social visit."

    Edward''s hand paused above a decanter. Eleanor sank into a chair, her eyes never leaving her son''s face.

    "No," she agreed. "You came because we have things that need saying. Things that are years overdue."

    Camille stood quietly by the door, giving Alexander space while remaining close enough for support. This was his battle, his pain to navigate.

    Edward moved away from the drinks, standing behind his wife''s chair. "Son, we know words aren''t enough. What we did was unforgivable."

    "Yet here you are, asking for forgiveness," Alexander said coldly.

    "Not asking," Eleanor corrected. "Not expecting. Just... hoping. Someday."

    Alexanderughed, a harsh sound that filled the quiet room. "Seven years of silence, then four years of letters and calls I never answered. And now you hope?"

    "We were wrong," Edward said, his voice cracking slightly. "We chose to believe what was easier, not what was true. We failed you as parents."

    "Yes," Alexander agreed. "You did."

    He moved away from the window, walking the perimeter of the room. He stopped

    at a shelf, touching a small bronze sailing trophy tucked between books.

    "You still have this," he said, surprise softening his voice momentarily.

    "I''ve kept everything," Eleanor said. "Your trophies, your school reports, newspaper clippings about yourpany..."

    "Does that make you feel better?" Alexander''s hardness returned. "Collecting mementos of the son you threw away?"

    Edward flinched. "We deserve that. And worse."

    "Yes," Alexander agreed again. "You do."

    He picked up the trophy, studying it as if it belonged to someone else. "Do you know what I''ve aplished since I walked out of this house? Since you chose James over me?"

    Neither parent answered.

    "I built Pierce Enterprises from nothing. No family connections, no Pierce money, just my own intelligence and determination." Alexander''s voice grew stronger. "I became a trillionaire without a single call or message of support from either of you."

    Eleanor''s eyes filled with tears. "We tried to reach out after James died. All those calls, those letters...."

    "Toote," Alexander cut in. "Four years toote. After James wrapped his car around a tree, drunk again, just like the night of our ident. After he died." He set the trophy down harder than necessary. "After he was gone and I was all you had left."

    Edward moved from behind Eleanor''s chair. "We were wrong to shut you out, Alexander. When James died, the truth hit us like a tidal wave. Everything you''d said was true. All those years lost because we couldn''t face it."

    "And I couldn''t face you," Alexander said, his voice tight. "Not after all that time. Not when your reaching out felt like second ce. Always second to James, even in death."

    Eleanor wiped tears from her cheeks. "We don''t me you for shutting us out. We earned that."

    Alexander moved to the firece, watching the mes. "Did he tell you before the crash? That he was driving that night years ago? That he was drunk then, too?"

    Eleanor nodded. "Yes. The week before his ident. He''d been carrying that guilt for years. He said he''d tried to tell you too, but you wouldn''t see him."

    "He came to my office," Alexander confirmed, his back still to them. "I sent him away. Told him it was toote for apologies."

    "And then he died," Edward said quietly. "And we finally understood the weight you''d been carrying alone all those years."

    Alexander turned to face them. "How did that feel? To know you''d chosen the wrong son? To know your golden boy had been lying all along?"

    Edward''s steps were unsteady as he approached his son. "Like dying every day. Like knowing we''d done something that could never be repaired."

    Alexander watched his father approach, his face giving away nothing.

    "I''m not asking you to forgive us," Edward said, stopping a few feet away. "I''m just asking you to know that we''ve lived with our mista every day since James died. That we would give anything, anything, to go back and change what we did." C¨®ntent

    "You can''t," Alexander said simply.

    "No." Edward''s shoulders slumped. "We can''t."

    Silence filled the room, broken only by the crackling fire. Camille watched the three of them, Alexander rigid with years of pain, his parents bent under the weight of their guilt.

    "I built my life without you," Alexander said finally. "I learned to stand alone. To trust my own judgment when everyone told me I was wrong. In some ways, what you did made me stronger."

    He nced at Camille, something softening in his expression. "And I found people who believe in me. Who stand by me no matter what."

    "We''re grateful for that," Eleanor said, looking at Camille with genuine warmth. "That you found happiness despite us."

    Alexander moved to a leather chair,

    sitting down slowly. It was the first time he''d rxed his stance since entering the house. "I didn''te here topunish you. I''ve realized that carrying this anger hurts me more than it hurts you."

    His parents remained still, barely breathing, as if afraid any movement might shatter this moment.

    "I can''t forgive you. Not yet." Alexander''s voice grew quiet. "But I think..... I think I can learn to. Someday."

    The hope that bloomed on Eleanor''s face was painful to witness. "That''s more than we deserve."

    "Yes," Alexander agreed. "It is."

    Edward took another step toward his son. "Can we... would it be possible to know you again? To hear about your life, your work? Your wedding ns?" Alexander looked at his father for a long moment. "Small steps. A dinner, perhaps. In a month or so."

    Eleanor pressed her hands to her mouth, trying to contain her emotion. Edward nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

    Alexander stood, straightening his suit. "I won''t pretend we can go back to being a family. Too much has happened. But we can try to build something new. Something based on truth this time."

    "That''s all we ask," Edward said, his voice rough.

    Alexander moved to Camille, taking her hand. "I''m ready to go now."

    As they walked toward the door, Eleanor called after them. "Alexander? The engagement party Victoria Kane is hosting. Would it be... would we be wee?"

    Alexander paused, looking back at his mother. "I''ll think about it."

    Outside, the

    autumn air felt cleaner somehow, easier to breathe. They walked to the car in silence, leaves crunching beneath their feet. Behind them, the mansion seemed less imposing now, just an old house filled with painful memories.

    "Are you okay?" Camille asked as they reached the car.

    Alexander looked back at the home he''d grown up in, at the window where his parents stood watching.

    "No," he said honestly. "But I think I will be."

    He opened Camille''s door, then walked around to the passenger side. As they

    drove away, he didn''t look back again.

    "I told them I couldn''t forgive them yet," he said after they''d turned onto the main

    road. "The truth is, I''m not sure I ever canpletely." "Forgiveness isn''t a single moment," Camille said. "It''s a process. I''m still working on it with my parents."

    Alexander reached for her hand across the console. "Does it get easier?" "Yes," she said. "When you stop expecting it to erase what happened and start seeing it as a way to free yourself."

    They drove in silence for a while, leaving the wealthy neighborhood behind.

    "I told them we might have dinner. In a month." Alexander sounded surprised at

    his own words. "I''m not sure where that came from."

    "From hope," Camille suggested. "The part of you that''s always wanted them to see the truth. To choose you."

    Alexander looked out the window, watching the world pass by. "I was so angry for

    so long. It became part of who I am."

    "And now?"

    "Now..." He considered the question carefully. "Now I''m just tired. Tired of carrying

    it all. They were wrong. Terribly wrong. But holding onto that anger hasn''t hurt

    them, it''s only hurt me."

    As the distance between them and the Pierce estate grew, Camille felt Alexander''s tension gradually ease. He wasn''t ready to forgive, not fully. But he''d

    taken the first step on a path he''d thought forever closed to him.

    And sometimes, that first step was the only one that truly mattered.

 Chapter 183

    The evening glow bathed Victoria Kane''s sprawling estate in golden light asnterns illuminated the gardens for the rehearsal dinner. Three months had passed since the trial, and life had settled into a new rhythm for Camille. Tomorrow, she would marry Alexander Pierce and truly begin the next chapter of

    her story.

    From the edge of the stone terrace, Camille watched the unlikely gathering with quiet wonder, her birth parents chatting with Victoria, Kane Industries executives mingling with Pierce Enterprises innovators. The worlds that had once been separate now blended because of the love between her and Alexander.

    "Penny for your thoughts?" Alexander''s voice was warm against her ear as his arms encircled her waist.

    Camille leaned back against his chest, savoring his strength. "Just taking it all in. Two years ago, I was plotting revenge in Victoria''s study. Now..."

    "Now you''re running Kane Industries and about to be Mrs. Pierce." He kissed her temple, his lips lingering against her skin. "How quickly life changes."

    She turned to face him, searching his eyes. "Any second thoughts about tomorrow?"

    "About marrying you? Never." His smile reached his eyes, though something flickered behind them, a shadow so brief Camille didn''t register its meaning.

    Victoria approached them, moving with more strength than she''d shown in weeks. The experimental cancer treatment was working, hertest scans showed another reduction in tumor size. "There you two are. The photographer wants pictures by the fountain before we lose the light."

    Camille squeezed Alexander''s hand. "We''ll be right there."

    As Victoria walked away, Alexander''s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, ncing at the screen. A muscle in his jaw tightened, almost imperceptibly.

    "Everything okay?" Camille asked casually.

    Alexander slid the phone back into his pocket, his smile returning naturally. "Just a supplier issue at Pierce Enterprises. Nothing that can''t wait until after the honeymoon." He kissed her hand. "Come on, let''s not keep the photographer waiting."

    Throughout dinner, Alexander was the perfect fianc¨¦... attentive, charming, raising his ss during toasts with genuine emotion. Yet twice, Camille noticed him check his phone discreetly. Each time, a shadow passed across his face before he returned to the celebration, his smile never wavering.

    During Victoria''s speech, he squeezed Camille''s hand, his eyes never leaving her face as Victoria''s voice carried across the garden. "When I found Camille, I thought I was saving her. In truth, she saved me." Victoria raised her ss. "To Camille and Alexander, two phoenixes who found each other in the mes."

    Later, as guests danced under the stars, Alexander excused himself. "I need to make a quick call, that supplier issue. I''ll be right back."

    Camille nodded, distracted by conversation with a board member. When Alexander returned twenty minutester, she noticed nothing unusual beyond a certain tension in his shoulders that she attributed to wedding nerves.

    "Everything handled?" she asked as he rejoined her.

    "All taken care of." He kissed her cheek. "Nothing for you to worry about."

    The evening continued with dessert and dancing. If Alexander seemed asionally distracted, no one noticed but him.

    *** ****

    Long after the guests departed, Camille and Alexander walked through the moonlit gardens. Victoria had insisted they spend the night before their wedding in separate wings of the estate, following tradition.

    "I can''t believe we''re actually here," Camille said softly. "After everything." Alexander stopped beneath an ancient oak tree, taking both her hands in his. "I need you to know something, Camille." His voice had a serious edge that made her look up. "No matter what happens, no matter what we learn about each other or our families, my love for you is constant."

    She tilted her head, puzzled by his intensity. "Where is thising from?"

    "Just pre-wedding reflection." He smiled, but his eyes held something deeper. "The past year has taught me that family, whether born or chosenes withplications. Histories we don''t control. But what we build together is our choice."

    "Alexander..."

    He pressed a finger to her lips. "Tomorrow we begin our life together. That''s all that matters."

    ** ****

    Later that night, long after he''d kissed Camille goodnight and retired to the guest wing, Alexander slipped out of the house. The drive to Red Hook took forty minutes, giving him time to wrestle with the anonymous message that had arrived during dinner: *The woman who will be your mother-inw tomorrow destroyed your true family before you even met her. Ask Victoria about Richard Pierce. Storage unit 237 has everything you need to know.*

    The storage facility loomed against the night sky, a massive block of concrete and steel. Unit 237. The key had been attached to the message, left in his jacket pocket somehow, a calcted attempt to derail his happiness on the eve of his wedding.

    Inside the unit, boxes of evidence surrounded him. Financial statements. Photographs. News clippings. All bearing two names: Kane Industries and Mediterian Enterprises.

    A yellowed newspaper headline screamed: MEDITERIAN ENTERPRISES DECLARES BANKRUPTCY, FOUNDER COMMITS SUICIDE.

    Alexander sat heavily on a wooden chair, his uncle Richard''s silver pocket watch cold in his palm. The truth unfolded before him in merciless detail, how Victoria Kane had systematically destroyed MEDITERIAN Enterprises because of her ruthless business practices. How his uncle, who had taken him in when his parents disowned him, had lost everything because of his silent partnership with James Preston.

    The connection was undeniable, written in ck and white across countless documents. The woman who had be Camille''s mother, his future mother-in-w, had set the events in motion that ultimately destroyed his family.

    This revtion was elegant in its cruelty: unveiling a truth that could tear them apart on the eve of their happiness. Someone clearly wanted to destroy what he and Camille had built, using the past as a weapon.

    Alexander opened the watch, staring at the inscription inside: *Some bridges, once burned, illuminate the path forward.* Words his uncle had spoken to him often during their time together.

    He sat alone in the cold storage unit for hours, facing an impossible choice between the past he couldn''t change and the future he desperately wanted. The woman he loved had no part in Victoria''s actions, yet their lives were now inextricably linked to that history.

    By dawn, Alexander had made his decision. He pocketed the watch, locked the storage unit, and drove back to the estate where Camille slept, unaware of the knife thrust between them by an unknown hand.

    Whoever had orchestrated this had calcted that this revtion would destroy their rtionship. That Alexander would be unable to marry into the family of the woman who had caused his uncle''s suicide. That once again, Camille would lose someone she loved on her wedding day.

    But they had underestimated one crucial thing: Alexander Pierce was not a man who would let the ghosts of the past determine his future. And the lesson he had learned from his uncle''s death wasn''t about revenge, but about survival.

    As he drove through the early morning mist, Alexander made a promise to himself. He would marry Camille today as nned. He would build the life they dreamed of together. And someday, when the time was right, he would address this truth about Victoria and his uncle.

    But not today. Today was about beginnings, not endings. No shadowy messenger from the past would im another victim.

    The wedding flowers glistened with morning dew as Alexander returned to the estate, slipping quietly into his room before anyone noticed his absence. In a few hours, he would stand before their assembled guests and take Camille as his wife, carrying the secret of his midnight discovery like a stone in his heart.

    Some truths could wait. Some bridges, once identified, could be crossed together

    when they were both ready for the journey.

    The pocket watch rested heavy in his jacket, a reminder that the past would

    always be with them. But as his uncle had taught him, sometimes survival meant looking forward, not back.

    This mysterious message and its revtions would remain his burden alone - at least for now.

 Chapter 185

    The reception stretched into the early hours, a blur of champagne toasts, dance floorughter, and hundreds of congrattions. By three in the morning, only the hardiest guests remained, clustered in small groups on Victoria''s moonlitwn. Camille sat with her parents and a few Kane Industries board members, her wedding dress pooled around her in a cloud of ivory silk, her eyes bright despite thete hour.

    Alexander touched her shoulder gently. "I need to check something in my room before we leave," he murmured. "Back in twenty minutes."

    She reached up to squeeze his hand, not interrupting her conversation. The trust in her touch, the easy way she let him go, twisted in his gut. Such faith deserved matching honesty. Yet here he was, slipping away with a different purpose entirely.

    The main house stood quiet, most staff having retired after serving the midnight buffet. Alexander moved through familiar hallways, loosening his bow tie with one hand, the other clutching something wrapped in tissue paper. His footsteps echoed on the marble floors as he climbed the grand staircase to the guest wing.

    In his temporary room, he locked the door and dragged a chair to the antique writing desk by the window. Moonlight spilled across the polished surface as he unwrapped his package, revealing a single white lily, its petals gleaming like pearl in the silver light.

    From his wallet, he withdrew a worn photograph. The image showed a middle- aged man with Alexander''s jawline and eyes, gray touching his temples, standing on a sailboat deck. Richard Pierce''s smile radiated from the paper ¨C so alive, so unaware of what awaited him.

    Alexander propped the photo against the deskmp andid the lily before it. "Hello, Uncle," he whispered, his voice thick. "I got married today."

    The silence pressed around him. Outside, faint music andughter drifted up from the remaining wedding guests.

    "Her name is Camille. You would like her." Alexander loosened his cor, feeling suddenly trapped in his wedding finery. "She''s strong. Determined. Kind in ways the world never deserved."

    He closed his eyes, remembering his uncle''s study - the smell of leather books and pipe tobo, the sailing trophies lining cherry-wood shelves, the big desk where Richard would help him with homework after taking him in.

    "She doesn''t know yet. About you. About her..." He paused, unable to say "mother" in this context. "About Victoria."

    The photograph stared back, Richard''s eyes crinkling at the corners, forever captured in a moment of happiness before everything crumbled.

    "I found the storage unit. Someone wanted me to see what happened." Alexander''s fingers curled into fists on the desk. "The proof was all there - how Kane Industries targeted you. How she systematically cut you off from every lifeline. How she knew exactly what she was doing."

    His voice dropped lower, barely audible even in the silent room.

    "I haven''t forgotten my promise to destroy whoever made you take your life."

    The words hung in the air, heavy with eleven years of grief. Alexander had made that vow at twenty one, standing beside a fresh grave, rain sliding down his face and mixing with tears no one else noticed. Back then, he hadn''t known who was responsible. Now he did.

    "But I married her daughter today." Hisugh held no humor. "You always said life had strange currents. You never lied."

    Alexander straightened the lily, its white petals stark against the dark wood. Richard had loved lilies - had grown them in the garden behind his brownstone. Said they reminded him of his sister, Alexander''s mother, before bitterness had twisted her.

    "I don''t know what to do," he admitted to the empty room. "Camille isn''t responsible for Victoria''s sins. But Victoria lives in our life, in our home, in our future." He pressed his palms against his eyes. "And Camille loves her. She saved Camille when no one else would."

    The music from the garden faded, suggesting thest guests were finally departing. Soon, he and Camille would leave for their honeymoon - two weeks in the Greek inds, far from New York, from Victoria, from the truth swimming beneath their marriage like a shark in dark water.

    "What would you tell me to do?" Alexander whispered, touching the edge of the photograph. "You always knew the right path."

    The silence offered no answers, just as it hadn''t for eleven years.

    A soft knock on the door startled him. "Alexander?" Camille''s voice called. "Almost ready? The car''s waiting."

    "One minute," he answered, quickly gathering himself.

    Alexander looked onest time at his uncle''s face, at the smile that had once been his only safe harbor. "I''ll figure this out," he promised softly. "For both of us."

    He carefully rewrapped the lily in its tissue. Unlike cut roses, which he could easily buy anywhere, white lilies in June required nning. He''d ordered this one specially, keeping it hidden among his things. Now it would travel with them, pressed between the pages of a book in his luggage, a secret reminder.

    When he opened the door, Camille stood in the hallway, changed from her wedding gown into a cream-colored traveling suit. Her eyes, lined with fatigue but still bright with happiness, swept over him.

    "Everything okay?" she asked.

    Alexander nodded, pulling her close. "Just making sure I had everything."

    She didn''t see the photograph he''d slipped back into his wallet, didn''t notice the slight bulge in his jacket where the wrapped lily now rested.

    "Victoria wants to say goodbye before we leave," Camille said, linking her arm through his. "She''s waiting downstairs."

    The mention of Victoria''s name tightened something in Alexander''s chest. For the past twenty-four hours, he''d managed to smile at her, toast with her, thank her for thevish wedding. Each moment had been an act of will, knowing what she''d done.

    "Let''s not keep her waiting," he said.

    Victoria stood in the grand foyer, a silk robe wrapped around her thin frame. Despite thete hour, she looked alert, her silver hair neatlybed. Cancer treatment had taken its toll, but today''s happiness seemed to have renewed her strength.

    "There you are," she said, opening her arms to Camille. "My beautiful girl." Alexander watched them embrace, his emotions tangling into an impossible knot. This woman had saved Camille, given her a home and purpose when she had nothing. She had also coldly destroyed his uncle''s life, seeing him as nothing but coteral damage in her ambition.

    "Alexander." Victoria turned to him, arms outstretched. "My son, now."

    He stepped into her embrace, feeling

    her fragile frame against his chest.

    The lily in his pocket pressed

    between them, a silent usation. Victoria smelled of expensive perfume and the subtle medicinal scent of someone undergoing

    treatment. Her hands patted his back affectionately.

    "Take care of each other," she said, releasing him. "And don''t worry about

    anything here. The doctors are pleased with my progress."

    "We''ll call every day," Camille promised.

    "Nonsense. Enjoy yourselves." Victoria waved dismissively. "I''ve waited too long

    to see you this happy. Nothing could please me more than knowing you''re both off celebrating properly."

    Alexander''s throat tightened. The genuine love in Victoria''s voice for Camille - and seemingly for him ¨C made his anger more confusing, not less. How could the same woman who had shown such calcted cruelty to his uncle look at them with such warmth?

    "Thank you," he managed, "for everything."

    Victoria smiled, misreading his tension as emotion. "No need for thanks between family."

    Family. The word echoed in his head as they said final goodbyes, as they walked outside to where the chauffeur waited with their car, as Camille waved onest time to Victoria standing in the doorway.

    The car pulled away, tires crunching on gravel. Camille nestled against his side, her head on his shoulder.

    "Can you believe it?" she murmured sleepily. "We''re actually married." Alexander slid his arm around her, drawing her closer. "It still feels like a dream."

    "A good one, I hope." Her voice was already fading as exhaustion imed her.

    "The best," he whispered, kissing her forehead.

    As Camille drifted to sleep against him, Alexander stared out the window at the passing city lights. In his pocket, the lily pressed against his ribs, its presence a constant reminder. In his mind, the image of his uncle''s face floated alongside Victoria''s smile as she''d blessed their union.

    Two diverging paths stretched before him - one of forgiveness and new beginnings, the other of justice long denied. He couldn''t see where either led,

    couldn''t tell which one his uncle would want him to take.

    The car turned onto the highway toward the airport. Beside him, Camille made a small sound in her sleep, her hand finding his even in unconsciousness. Alexanderced his fingers through hers, feeling the new weight of her wedding band, wondering if she would still want to wear it if she knew the truth.

    Dawn broke on the horizon as they approached the airport, painting the sky in streaks of gold and rose. A new day. A new life. A new name for Camille.

    Yet some things remained unchanged in the growing light - the lily in his pocket,

    the photograph in his wallet, and the promise he''d whispered to a ghost in a moonlit room.

    Sleep wouldn''te for Alexander. Not yet. Perhaps not for a long while.

 Chapter 186

    The Italian sun beat down like judgment from above, turning their clifftop vi into a white-hot crucible. Sweat beaded on flesh, sheets soaked through, salt crystallizing on skin as bodies moved together in urgent rhythm. Camille''s nails raked down Alexander''s back, drawing blood he barely felt. Her legs locked around his waist like a vise as he drove into her with punishing force.

    This wasn''t lovemaking. It was exorcism.

    Camille''s cry echoed off stone walls as she arched beneath him. Her eyes flew open, pupils blown wide, meeting his gaze with naked vulnerability that yed him alive. For one blinding moment, there was only this, her body taking his, her trustplete, her surrender absolute.

    Then the moment shattered, and the demons rushed back in.

    Alexander copsed beside her, chest heaving. Five days in Amalfi had burned away pretense. Here, they devoured each other hourly, moved together like animals, slept tangled in sweat-soaked sheets. The physical intensity should have purged his mind. Instead, it only heightened his torment.

    "Jesus," Camille whispered, voice raw. "You''re trying to kill me."

    Her casual words stabbed through him. Kill. Death. Uncle Richard swinging from a beam, face purple, because Victoria Kane had systematically destroyed everything he built.

    Alexander rolled away, sitting up with his back to her. Scratches stung across his shoulders, physical pain that couldn''t begin to touch the war raging inside him.

    "Where are you going?" Camille''s hand reached for him.

    "Water," he managed, voice strangled.

    In the bathroom, he braced himself against cold marble, staring at a stranger''s reflection. Wild-eyed, hollow-cheeked, skin marked with evidence of Camille''s passion. Not the face of a newlywed in paradise. The face of a man possessed. His phone vibrated on the counter. Another message from Victoria: *Latest scans show tumors shrinking faster than expected. Doctors calling it remarkable progress. Miracle recovery possible. Miss you both. Call when you can.*

    Alexander''s fist mmed into the mirror, shattering his reflection into jagged pieces. Blood welled from split knuckles as he staggered back, vision blurring. The fucking injustice of it burned like acid. Victoria fighting her way back from certain death, while his uncle had been given no chance, no reprieve, no mercy.

    "Alex!" Camille appeared in the doorway, naked and rmed. "Jesus, what happened?"

    He clutched a towel to his bleeding hand. "Slipped. It''s nothing."

    She pushed past him, grabbing his wrist, unwrapping the already blood-soaked towel. "This isn''t nothing. You need stitches."

    "I said it''s fine." He jerked away, immediately regretting his harshness when hurt shed across her face.

    "Talk to me," she pleaded, reaching for him again. "Something''s been eating you alive since we got here. Whatever it is..."

    "Drop it, Camille." His voice cut like the ss scattered across the tiles. "I mean it."

    The silence between them stretched taut as a noose. Camille''s expression hardened into something he recognized from her Kane training, assessment, calction, strategy. Victoria''s prot¨¦g¨¦e surfacing from beneath the passionate woman he''d been fucking moments earlier.

    "Get dressed," she said finally, voice cool. "I''ll call the front desk about a doctor."

    *** **

    The local doctor spoke limited English, grimacing as he picked ss from Alexander''s knuckles. Twelve stitchester, they sat in strained silence on the terrace, lunch untouched between them. The view mocked them, turquoise water sparkling beneath a perfect sky, lemon groves cascading down terraced hills, postcard beauty surrounding private hell.

    "I found something in your suitcase yesterday," Camille said suddenly, eyes fixed on the horizon. "While looking for bandages."

    Alexander''s stomach plummeted. The lily. The photograph.

    "A pressed white lily. And a photo of a man who looks remarkably like you." She turned to face him, expression unreadable. "Who is he, Alexander?"

    The sound of his full name from her lips, not Alex, not the intimate shortening she used in their most private moments, told him everything about her mental state.

    He stared at his bandaged hand, searching for words that revealed nothing while satisfying her curiosity. The war inside him intensified. Tell her. Tell no one. Avenge. Protect. Past. Future.

    "Nobody important," he said finally, tone t with finality. "Just things I didn''t realize were packed."

    Camille''s jaw tightened. She knew he was lying. "So you''ve been carrying meaningless items that just happen to be carefully preserved? That just happen to make you smash mirrors when you look at them?"

    "Leave it alone, Camille." Each word emerged like broken ss. "Please."

    For a moment, he thought she would push further. The strategist Victoria had trained assessed him, seeking weaknesses, calcting angles of attack. Then something in her expression shifted, and she was simply his wife again, hurt but yielding.

    "Fine," she said quietly. "Keep your secrets. But remember you promised to share your life with me, not just your bed."

    The words struck with devastating precision. Guilt flooded him, thick and suffocating. Before he could respond, her phone chimed. Camille nced at the screen, her expression shifting instantly.

    "It''s Victoria," she said, already answering. "Victoria? Is everything okay?"

    Alexander''s muscles locked as he watched Camille''s face transform, worry to relief to joy. Whatever news Victoria shared lifted the shadows from her eyes, brought color rushing back to her cheeks. Sheughed, tears spilling suddenly down her face.

    "That''s amazing!" she eximed. "The tumors are shrinking that fast? Oh my god, Victoria, I''m so happy."

    Alexander stood abruptly, chair scraping stone. He couldn''t bear to hear more, couldn''t stomach witnessing Camille''s relief at the recovery of the woman who had crushed his family beneath her designer heels.

    "Alex, wait," Camille called, covering the phone. "Victoria wants to talk to you too."

    The rage that surged through him felt apocalyptic. He wanted to grab the phone, to scream the truth at Victoria, to tell her he knew exactly what she''d done to Richard Pierce. Instead, he gripped the terrace railing until his split knuckles began bleeding through their bandage.

    "I need to change this," he managed, lifting his damaged hand. "Tell her I''ll callter."

    He fled inside, making it to the bathroom just in time to vomit violently into the toilet. His body heaved until nothing remained but bitter bile, as empty as his promises of forever made with a divided heart.

    *** **

    Night found them in a restaurant carved into the cliffside, tables suspended over the void, the sea

    crashing hundreds of feet belo

    Camille wore a ck dress that left her shoulders bare, hair swept up to reveal the elegant line of her neck. The diamond phoenix ne Victoria had given her glittered at her throat, catching candlelight with each breath.

    "Victoria''s doctors are calling it unprecedented," she said, breaking the strained silence between them. "Three months ago they gave her months to live. Now they''re talking about possible remission."

    Alexander stared into his winess, searching for answers in the blood-red liquid. "That''s... good news."

    "You could sound a little more convincing." Camille''s voice held an edge. "She''s my mother in every way that matters, Alex. Her survival means everything to me."

    Mother. The word scraped across his nerves. Victoria Kane was no mother, she was a destroyer dressed in savior''s clothing, a wolf in grandmother''s nightgown, lips still red from herst meal.

    "I know," he said, forcing softness into his voice. "I''m happy for you. For her. It''s just been a long day."

    Camille reached across the table, fingers brushing his bandaged hand. "Talk to me. Please. Whatever''s happening with you, let me help."

    For one wild moment, Alexander imagined telling her everything. The storage unit. The evidence against Victoria. His uncle''s suicide after Victoria systematically shredded hispany, his reputation, his will to live. The eight years Alexander had carried the weight of that unpaid debt.

    The moment passed. Such a confession would tear apart their marriage days after it began. Destroy the happiness finally blooming in Camille after years of pain. Force her to choose between her husband and the woman who had saved her when she had nothing left.

    "It''s nothing you can fix," he said finally. "Just work stress I''d rather not discuss on our honeymoon."

    The lie rang hollow between them. Camille''s fingers withdrew from his. "I don''t believe you."

    "Believe what you want." The words came out harsher than intended.

    Silence settled over them, heavy as a shroud. The waiter arrived with their main course, murmuring in Italian as he arranged dishes neither of them now had any appetite for. Camille picked at her food, while Alexander drained his winess and signaled for another.

    "I thought marriage meant sharing burdens," Camille said finally, voice barely audible. "I''ve told you everything about me. My pain. My fears. My nightmares. And somehow, you can''t give me even a glimpse of whatever''s tearing you apart."

    Guilt twisted in Alexander''s gut, but he remained silent. What could he possibly say? That he''d married her while plotting against the only mother figure she''d ever known? That each time Victoria texted, he imagined her world crumbling as revenge for his uncle''s death?

    Camille watched him, waiting for a response that never came. Finally, she ced her napkin on the table. "I''d like to go back to the vi."

    The bill settled, they walked back in silence, the night air thick with unspoken words. Stars wheeled overhead, indifferent to human suffering. The cliffside path stretched before them, beauty and danger side by side, one misstep could send them plummeting into darkness.

    Much like his current situation, Alexander thought bitterly.

    *** **

    At the vi, Camille disappeared into the bathroom. Alexander heard the shower running, giving him a moment alone with his torment, He removed his jacket, wincing as the movement pulled at his stitches. From his suitcase, he retrieved the

    book containing his uncle''s lily, staring at the dried petals now

    brown at the edges.

    "I don''t know what to do," he whispered to the flower, to the ghost it represented.

    "Help me."

    Only silence answered him. His uncle had been dead seven years, bones in a grave, unable to guide him through this impossible choice. Honor his vow for

    revenge, or protect the woman he loved. Destroy Victoria, or preserve his marriage.

    The bathroom door opened. Camille emerged wrapped in a hotel robe, hair damp,

    face scrubbed clean of makeup. Even in her obvious hurt and confusion, she took his breath away.

    "I packed something," she said, her voice carefully neutral. "For ourst night

    here. But I think we need it now."

    She withdrew a small box from her suitcase, offering it to him. Insidey two ss vials on silver chains, each containing what appeared to be sand.

    "From our secret cove," she exined. "One for each of us. In the darkest times,

    to remember this ce. To remember us. What we can be when nothing stands between us."

    Alexander stared at the simple gift, its symbolism crushing him. Camille had felt their perfect connection those first days, before his inner conflict had begun poisoning everything between them. She was fighting to recapture it, to bridge whatever chasm had opened in their marriage.

    Without warning, tears spilled down his cheeks. Real, unexpected, uncontroble. Years of suppressed grief and rage finally finding outlet. Not for Camille''s benefit, not calcted for sympathy, but genuine emotional copse. "Alex," she whispered, arms encircling him. "Oh God, Alex."

    She led him to the bed, holding him as his body shook with silent sobs. She murmuredfort against his hair, rocking him gently, asking no questions, demanding no exnations. Simply being there, solid and real, as he broke apart.

    When the storm passed, leaving him hollow and spent, she kissed his forehead. "Whatever it is, we''ll face it together. When you''re ready to talk."

    "I can''t," he whispered, voice raw. "I just can''t."

    "Then don''t." She stroked his face, wiping away thest traces of tears. "Just be here with me. Fully here. That''s all I need right now."

    Alexander pulled her close, burying his face in her neck, breathing in her clean, familiar scent. For this moment, he allowed himself to simply be a man with his wife, not an avenger or a betrayer. Just Alexander. Just Camille.

    Later, they made love with an aching tenderness that felt like apology, like promise, like farewell. Alexander mapped her body with reverent hands, memorizing every curve and ne. For these hours, he forced all

    thoughts of Victoria, of vengeance, of impossible choices from his mind. He gave himself entirely to sensation, to connection, to the woman who had imed his heart.

    Afterward, Camille fell asleep curled against him, her face peaceful atst. Alexander remained awake, watching moonlight trace patterns across her skin. His tears had changed nothing. The choice still loomed before him, inescapable

    as dawn.

    His phone glowed on the nightstand, Victoria''s message still unanswered. Beside

    ity the ss vial Camille had given him, Italian sand glittering like tiny stars.

    Two objects. Two paths. Two irreconcble futures.

    One heart, fatally divided against itself.

 Chapter 187

    Morning light poured through the windows of their Positano vi, painting golden stripes across rumpled sheets. Camille''s sleeping form barely stirred as Alexander slipped from bed. His bandaged hand throbbed with each heartbeat, twelve stitches pulling tight against swollen skin. A fitting reminder of the ugliness beneath his carefully maintained surface.

    He moved silently across the tiled floor, retrieving his phone from the nightstand. Seven days into their honeymoon, the pattern had been established: rise before Camille, check messages, delete evidence, return to bed as the loving husband she deserved.

    In the bathroom, door shut and water running to mask any sound, Alexander opened the encrypted messaging app. The contact listed simply as "Guardian" had left three new texts during the night.

    *Located additional documents from 2013. Kane Industries'' targeted takeover n for Pierce Enterprises mentions Richard by name. Victoria Kane personally signed off on all moves.*

    *Found former board member willing to testify Kane knew Richard was "emotionally fragile" and pushed anyway. Specifically referenced causing plete personal destruction."*

    *Call me. Secure line only. We''re getting close.*

    Alexander''s chest tightened, heart hammering against his ribs. Actual proof-not just circumstantial evidence, but Victoria''s signature on documents specifically targeting his uncle. Her handwritten approval of a strategy designed to break a man already struggling with depression.

    He typed a quick reply with his good hand: *Can''t call today. She''s never alone. Send document scans through secure server. Will check tonight.*

    Alexander stared at his reflection in the recement mirror, installed yesterday after his outburst. The man looking back, it him appeared normal on the surface, perhaps tired, the bandaged hand noticeable but not rming. No visible sign of the rot spreading inside him, the decay of his wedding vows even as he spoke them.

    "Alex?" Camille''s sleepy voice called from the bedroom. "Where are you?"

    He quickly deleted the conversation thread, closed the app, and sshed cold water on his face. "Just washing up," he called back, forcing warmth into his voice. "Coffee on the terrace in ten minutes?"

    "Perfect." Her voice already sounded more awake, eager for another day in paradise.

    Alexander leaned against the sink, gathering himself. Time to be the perfect husband again. Time to bury "Guardian" and his messages beneath smiles and touches and all the outward signs of honeymoon bliss.

    *** ****

    Breakfast overlooked the blue sweep of the Mediterranean, their private terrace fragrant with potted herbs and fresh bread from the local bakery. Alexander poured coffee into Camille''s cup, carefully maintaining the role he had perfected.

    "I thought we could visit that little cove again today," he suggested, passing her a te of sliced fruit. "Just us, a nket, some wine."

    Camille''s smile lit her entire face. In these moments, Alexander could almost forget the parallel life he lived through coded messages and secret ns. Almost.

    "Perfect," she said, reaching across the table to touch his unbandaged hand. "Though I''m not sure how much swimming you should do with those stitches."

    "I''ll manage." He lifted her fingers to his lips, watching her eyes soften. This much, at least, was real, his desire for her, his body''s response to her presence, the physical connection that remained undiminished by his secretmunications.

    His phone buzzed in his pocket. Both their gazes dropped to the sound.

    "Work again?" Camille asked lightly, though something in her eyes suggested the question wasn''t entirely casual.

    "Probably nothing important," he answered, ignoring the device. "They know we''re on our honeymoon."

    Camille nodded, but her smile dimmed slightly. Had she noticed his morning absences? The moments when his thoughts drifted during conversation? The way he sometimes checked his phone when he thought she was sleeping?

    The buzz came again, insistent. Alexander gritted his teeth. "Guardian" knew

    better than to message twice in session unless it was critical.

    "You should check it," Camille said, sipping her coffee. "Might be something about Pierce Enterprises."

    He hesitated, then nodded. "Just a quick look."

    The message wasn''t from "Guardian" but from Victoria: *Morning MRI results even better than expected! Doctor calling it "unprecedented recovery." Thinking of you both. When are you back?*

    Alexander''s jaw tightened involuntarily before he caught himself. Unprecedented recovery. Of course Victoria Kane would w her way back from certain death while his uncle had been given no mercy, no chance, no reprieve. The universe''s joke at his expense continued.

    "Everything okay?" Camille asked, watching his face with that piercing gaze that missed nothing.

    "Fine," he said, pocketing the phone. "Just Pierce Enterprises needing approval on some contractnguage. It can wait."

    The lie came easily now, practiced. Not technically about "Guardian," but a lie nheless. Another brick in the wall between them, another betrayal to add to his growing collection.

    "Are you sure?" Camille pressed. "You looked upset for a moment."

    "Just annoyed at the interruption." He forced a smile, reaching for the casual tone that had be his armor. "Nothing should intrude on our time here."

    Seemingly satisfied, Camille returned to her breakfast. Alexander wondered if she truly believed him or simply chose not to push further. Either possibility twisted in his gut, another reminder of his unworthiness of her trust.

    His phone vibrated again. Guardian. He could feel it like an itch beneath his skin.

    ** ** **

    Later, as Camille showered before their beach excursion, Alexander finally checked the message, standing on the terrace where he could hear approaching footsteps.

    *Found something big. Richard''s suicide note mentioned Victoria Kane BY NAME. Police report redacted this detail at family''s request. Original copy located in cold case files. Call immediately.*

    The world tilted beneath Alexander''s feet. His uncle''s suicide note had named Victoria? All these years, he''d never known the note''s contents. His parents had insisted on privacy, had restricted ess to all police records. He''d been twenty one, powerless to fight their decisions in the midst of grief.

    Now, seven yearster, "Guardian"... James Whitfield, his uncle''s former business partner and the only one who had stood by Richard Pierce until the end, had found what

    Alexander had been what he

    since

    that rainy day at the cemetery: direct

    proof linking Victoria Kane to his uncle''s death.

    His fingers hovered over the phone. A call now was impossible with Camille

    meters away. Yet the need to know burned through him like fire.

    He typed quickly: *Can''t call now. Send image of note if possible. Confirm authenticity.*

    The response came almost immediately: *Image too sensitive for digital transmission. Verified authentic through original investigating officer. Note states: "Victoria Kane has taken everything. There''s nothing left. Tell Alexander I''m

    sorry."*

    Alexander''s knees buckened. He gripped the terrace railing, vision blurring with unexpected tears. His uncle''s final thoughts had been of him. His final words an apology.

    "Tell Alexander I''m sorry."

    Sorry for what? For leaving him? For not being strong enough to fight Victoria Kane''s systematic destruction? For failing to protect the business that should have eventually passed to his nephew?

    Another message appeared: *Enough for civil suit at minimum. Criminal charges possible for deliberate targeting causing death. But we need to move quickly before statute limitations. Meeting when you return?*

    Alexander wiped his eyes, fingers trembling as he typed: *Yes. First day back.*

    He heard the e water shut off in the bathroom. Camille would emerge any moment, wrapped in a towel, hair slicked back, skin flushed from

    heat. His wife. The woman who called Victoria Kane "mother The woman whose happiness depended on the very person who had driven his uncle to tie that noose.

    Alexander deleted the messages, restored his expression to honeymoon

    contentment, and waited for Camille to appear. The perfect husband on the surface. The perfect betrayer underneath.

 Chapter 188

    The hidden cove embraced them in afternoon warmth, waves whispering against smooth rocks worn by centuries of salt and water. Camille spread their nket on a patch of sand while Alexander uncorked wine with his good hand. The scene should have been idyllic, two newlyweds in paradise, skin golden in Mediterranean sun, the world reduced to blue water and each other''s touch.

    Instead, Alexander''s mind yed his uncle''s final words on endless repeat: "Victoria Kane has taken everything. There''s nothing left. Tell Alexander I''m sorry."

    "You''re doing it again," Camille said, settling beside him on the nket. "Going somewhere else while your body stays here."

    Alexander poured wine into stic cups, buying time. "Sorry. Just enjoying the view."

    "You weren''t looking at the view. You were looking through it." She epted her cup, studying him over its rim. "I''m starting to think I''m honeymooning with a ghost."

    He forced augh, though panic fluttered in his chest. Camille saw too much, noticed too much. Victoria had trained her well. "Just tired. These stitches make it hard to sleepfortably."

    Camille''s gaze lingered on his face before she nodded, seemingly epting the exnation. She stretched out on the nket, adjusting her bikini strap to avoid tan lines. Alexander used the distraction to check his watch. Four hours until he needed to ess the secure server, view whatever documents "Guardian" had uploaded, move the pieces forward in his revenge n.

    Four hours to be the husband Camille thought she had married.

    "Come here," she said, reaching for him. "I''m feeling neglected."

    Alexander set aside his wine and moved toward her, drawn by forces he couldn''t resist even when divided. Her body weed him, skin warm from sun, lips tasting of wine. For precious moments, as they moved together on the sun- warmed nket, hidden from the world in their private cove, he managed to silence his uncle''s final words.

    "Victoria Kane has taken everything."

    Not everything. Not yet. Not Camille.

    But his uncle''s ghost whispered: That too wille. When she learns the truth. When she has to choose. You''ll lose her too.

    ** **

    Night fell over Positano, lights from hillside homes and restaurants reflecting in the dark water below their vi. Alexander sat on the terrace,ptop open, secure connection established. Camille had gone to bed early, exhausted from their day at the cove and the bottle of wine they''d shared with dinner.

    Perfect timing. The first real opportunity to view the evidence in seven days.

    The secure server contained exactly what "Guardian" had promised: scanned documents bearing Victoria Kane''s signature, approving strategies specifically targeting Pierce Enterprises and Richard Pierce personally. Highlighted sections detailed the "emotional vulnerability" of the target and ways to exploit it for maximum effect.

    Cold, calcted destruction. ck and white proof of Victoria''s deliberate campaign against his uncle.

    Alexander''s hand curled into a fist, pulling painfully at his stitches. Here was everything he needed, the ammunition, the justification, the path forward. He could destroy Victoria Kane now, strip away her carefully constructed image as Camille''s savior and reveal the

    predator beneath.

    A second folder contained police reports, witness statements, forensic findings from his uncle''s suicide. Details Alexander had never been allowed to see as a teenager, protected from the truth by well-meaning adults.

    He opened the final document, breath catching in his throat. A scanned image of a handwritten note on his uncle''s personal stationery. The familiar strong handwriting was shaky, evidence of his deteriorating state:

    *Victoria Kane has taken everything. There''s nothing left. Tell Alexander I''m sorry. I never meant for it to end this way. The business was supposed to be his future. Now there''s nothing to leave him but debt and shame. He deserves better. I''m sorry I couldn''t fight anymore.*

    *Richard*

    Tears blurred Alexander''s vision, eleven years of controlled grief breaking free without warning. Hisz uncle had been thinking of him. the end, not just with a passing thought, but with deep concern for Alexander''s future. The business had been meant for him. A legacy stolen by Victoria Kane.

    An iing message alert shed on screen. "Guardian" checking in: *Received

    files? Thoughts on next steps?*

    Alexander stared at the message,

    mind racing. The evidence was

    stronger than he''d dared hope. Civil charges, perhaps even criminal liability for Victoria''s deliberate targeting of a vulnerable man leading directly to his suicide. A case that would destroy Victoria Kane''s reputation, herpany, her legacy.

    And, by extension, destroy Camille''s world. Again.

    "Alex?" Camille''s voice came softly from behind him. "Can''t sleep?"

    Alexander closed theptop with one swift movement, heart hammering in his chest. "Just checking some emails," he said, turning to find her in the doorway, wrapped in a sheet, hair tousled from sleep.

    "In the middle of the night? On our honeymoon?" She stepped onto the terrace, moonlight revealing the concern in her eyes. "What''s really going on, Alex?"

    For one wild moment, he considered telling her everything. Showing her the documents, the suicide note, the proof of Victoria''s true nature. Laying his divided heart bare and begging for understanding.

    The moment passed. He could not destroy her happiness, not here in Italy, not when she had already suffered so much loss and betrayal. Not when Victoria''s recovery meant everything to her.

    "Nothing important," he said, the lie bitter on his tongue. "Just trouble sleeping."

    Camille studied his face, seeing more than he wanted to show. "Come back to bed," she said finally, holding out her hand. "Whatever it is, it can wait until morning."

    Alexander took her hand, following her inside, leaving theptop and its damning evidence on the terrace table. His phone buzzed in his pocket, another message from "Guardian," no doubt demanding answers, nning next steps, urging action.

    He ignored it, focusing instead on Camille''s hand in his, the warmth of her body as they slipped between cool sheets, the trust in her eyes that he had done nothing to deserve.

    Tomorrow they would return to New York. Tomorrow the real decisions would begin. Tomorrow he would have to choose between honoring his uncle''s memory and preserving his marriage.

    Tonight, he could only hold his wife close, knowing each tender touch might be among theirst once truth shattered the beautiful lie of their perfect honeymoon.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 189

    Victoria Kane stood at her office window, watching rain stream down the ss in crooked rivers. The sky hung heavy and dark over Manhattan, matching her mood. While Camille and Alexander continued their extended honeymoon in Italy, basking in Mediterranean sun and newlywed joy, Victoria faced a concerning situation alone.

    Behind her, Jason Chen, head of Kane Industries security, waited silently. His reflection in the window looked as grim as she felt. On her desky an open folder, the reason for this unscheduled meeting, the reason for the sudden tightness in her chest.

    "When did this start?" Victoria asked, not turning from the window.

    "First breach was detected nine days ago," Jason replied. "Initially appeared random. Pattern only became clear yesterday when we ran a full system audit."

    Victoria traced a raindrop''s path down the ss with her finger. "And you''re certain about the focus?"

    "Yes. The searches were methodical. Starting with general corporate records from fifteen years ago, then narrowing to specific archived files, then to particr board members and executive decisions from that period."

    Victoria closed her eyes briefly. Fifteen years. Ancient history in the business world. But someone was digging through old corporate records with deliberate precision.

    "Any indication who''s behind it?" she asked, voice sharp with concern.

    "Not yet. The ess came through multiple points using legitimate employee credentials. Whoever it is knows our security protocols extremely well."

    Victoria turned from the window, crossing to her desk with measured steps that betrayed none of her inner turmoil. Cancer had weakened her body but not her mind. Never her mind.

    "Increase monitoring on all archived records," she instructed, closing the folder with a decisive snap. "Set alerts for any ess to materials from that period. Andpile a list of anyone who might have interest in those old files."

    "That could be a long list," Jason pointed out. "Competitors, business historians, financial analysts, former employees..."

    "Start with the most obvious. We need to understand the intent behind these searches."

    Jason nodded, gathering the folder. "And if we identify the source of the breach?"

    Victoria met his gaze directly. "Then we approach them respectfully to understand their interest."

    After Jason left, Victoria sank into her chair, allowing herself a rare moment of reflection. Her hand trembled slightly as she opened her desk drawer and removed a small silver pill case. The medication inside wasn''t for cancer-it was for moments like this, when stress threatened to overwhelm her carefully maintainedposure.

    Fifteen years was a long time in business. Kane Industries had grown exponentially since then, expanding into new markets, acquiringpanies, establishing itself as a major yer. What could someone possibly want with records from that era?

    Her phone buzzed. Camille''s name shed on the screen, the timing almost uncanny.

    "Victoria? Just checking in! The Amalfi Coast is incredible. Alexander found this tiny restaurant in Ravello that sits right on the cliff edge. You''d love it."

    Victoria''s throat tightened at the sound of her adopted daughter''s voice, so filled with casual happiness, so unaware of the matters requiring attention back home.

    "It sounds wonderful, dear. You''re still extending the trip another week?"

    "Yes, if that''s okay? Alexander surprised me with reservations in Capri. I''ve never seen him so rxed."

    Victoria closed her eyes, picturing Camille''s face glowing with honeymoon joy. Far away from New York. Far away from corporate concerns.

    "Of course it''s okay. Thepany is running smoothly. Nothing here requires your attention."

    Nothing except someone suddenly bing interested in fifteen-year-old corporate records for reasons she couldn''t fathom.

    "How are the treatments going?" Camille asked, concern evident despite the poor connection.

    "Remarkably well. The doctors are very pleased." This, at least, wasn''t a lie. "Don''t worry about me. Enjoy your time with Alexander."

    After ending the call, Victoria moved to the window again. The rain had intensified,

    beating against the ss like an usation she couldn''t identify.

    What had happened fifteen years ago that someone would find worth investigating now? Kane Industries had always operated above board, maintained proper documentation, followed all regtions. But the targeted nature of this breach suggested someone was looking for something specific.

    Victoria pressed her forehead against the cool ss. The uncertainty was almost worse than knowing what they wanted. At least then she could prepare an appropriate response.

    ** ***

    Two floors below Victoria''s office, Jason Chen sat at hisputer, fingers flying across the keyboard. The security breach had been sophisticated but not untraceable. Each digital footprint led to another, forming a path if you knew how to read the signs.

    On his screen, employee ess logs scrolled past. Timestamps. IP addresses. Duration of system connection. Seemingly random until patterns emerged like constetions in the night sky.

    A knock at his door broke his concentration.

    "Progress report?" Martin Greene, Victoria''s personal assistant, stood in the doorway, his usually impable appearance slightly rumpled. The mysterious breach had clearly unsettled him.

    "Nothing concrete yet," Jason replied, gesturing at his screen. "The ess came through multiple points, bouncing through different servers. Professional-level digital obfuscation."

    Martin frowned. "Any theories about who''s behind it?"

    "Nothing we can narrow down. Could be a researcher, apetitor, a financial analyst looking for historical patterns... The searches themselves were precise but don''t reveal the motivation."

    Martin stepped fully into the office, closing the door behind him. His voice dropped. "Victoria seems... concerned."

    "It''s understandable," Jason replied. "No one likes having old business matters suddenly scrutinized without context or exnation."

    "Especially when we don''t know what they''re looking for," Martin added.

    Jason''s fingers paused on the keyboard. "That''s what makes this concerning. The searches were too targeted to be random, but we can''t identify the objective."

    "How much longer until you can identify the source?"

    "Hard to say. The digital trail keeps going cold. Whoever is behind this knows what they''re doing."

    After Martin left, Jason returned to his digital hunting. Victoria had handpicked him for his technical skills as much as his loyalty to thepany. He understood the importance of protecting Kane Industries from unknown threats, especially when the nature of the threat remained unclear.

    **** **

    In Victoria''s office, Martin Greene had returned with an update on the security investigation.

    "Nothing conclusive yet," he reported, standing before Victoria''s desk. "Jason says the digital trail is sophisticated, designed to mask the source."

    Victoria nodded, expression thoughtful. "And the list of people with possible interest in our archived records?"

    "It''s extensive. Former employees,petitors, business historians, financial analysts who track corporate patterns, regtory agencies..." Martin paused. "We have no way to narrow it down without more information about what they''re specifically seeking."

    Victoria rose from her chair, moving back to the window. The rain had finally stopped, leaving the city gleaming under watery sunlight.

    "What concerns me isn''t the ess itself," she said quietly. "It''s the unknown motivation. Without understanding what they want, we can''t assess the potential implications."

    Martin had been with Victoria long enough to recognize her analytical approach to problems. She rarely worried about threats she could identify and address directly.

    It was the unknowns that kept her awake at night.

    "What do you want me to do?" he asked.

    Victoria turned to face him, her

    expressionposed but alert. "Prepare aprehensive review of our operations from fifteen years. ago. All major decisions,

    partnerships, expansions, personnel changes. If someone is digging

    through that period, I want to understand what they might find."

    "That''s a considerable amount of information topile."

    "Then prioritize anything that might be considered sensitive or controversial, even if it was handled properly at the time."

    Martin nodded. Victoria''s thoroughness was one of her strengths as a leader. She preferred to anticipate potential issues rather than react to them after they emerged.

    "I''ll have it ready by tomorrow," he promised.

    "Thank you, Martin." Victoria returned to her desk. "And ask Jason to continue his investigation. I''d like to know who''s suddenly interested in fifteen-year-old corporate history, and more importantly, why."

    After Martin left, Victoria opened a drawer and removed a stress ball, squeezing it rhythmically as she thought. The unknown nature of this breach was more unsettling than any specific threat would have been. At least with a known adversary, she could prepare appropriate defenses.

    Her phone buzzed with another text from Camille, sharing a photo of a spectacr Italian sunset. She smiled at the image, grateful that her adopted daughter was far from New York, enjoying pure happiness with Alexander. Whatever corporate mystery was unfolding could wait until their return.

    For now, Victoria would quietly investigate the security breach, prepareprehensive files from that era, and try to anticipate what unknown party might want with Kane Industries'' past. The uncertainty was frustrating, but she had built her career on turning challenges into opportunities.

    She just needed to understand what the challenge actually was.

 Chapter 190

    Alexander stood on their vi''s balcony, watching the Italian sunset paint the sky

    in shades of orange and purple. Behind him, Camille slept deeply, exhausted from their day exploring Capri''s winding streets and hidden coves. Her soft breathing carried through the open door, a steady rhythm that should have brought him

    peace.

    Instead, his mind wandered back to New York, to a day that had changed everything. Two days before his engagement party. Two days before he''dmitted to building a life with Camille.

    The memory hit him with physical force, as vivid now as it had been then.

    *** ***

    Rain had pounded the windows of his Manhattan penthouse. Alexander had been reviewing contracts when his doorman called up.

    "Package for you, Mr. Pierce. No delivery service, just left at the desk."

    The in man envelope sat on his kitchen counter for an hour before he opened it. No markings, no return address. Just his name typed on a whitebel.

    When he finally slit it open, several documents slid out onto the marble surface. The top sheet, a typed note, said only: *The truth about your uncle''s death and the woman who caused it.*

    His first instinct had been to trash it. Crackpot conspiracy theories about his family weren''t umon when you had Pierce''s money and profile. But something made him look at the second page.

    An internal Kane Industries memo with Victoria''s signature. Subject line: *Meridian Technologies - Pierce Vulnerability Assessment.*

    Alexander''s coffee had gone cold beside him as he read through each page. Internal psychological profiles of his uncle. Strategy documents outlining how to exploit Richard Pierce''s financial weaknesses and "known emotional instability." A systematic n to iste him from business allies and financial lifelines.

    Meeting minutes with Victoria''s handwritten notes in the margins: *"R.P. showing signs of extreme stress. Push harder."*

    The final document had been a photocopy of his uncle''s suicide note, with a section highlighted: *"Victoria Kane has taken everything. There''s nothing left."* Alexander remembered dropping into a chair, room spinning around him. Each breath had felt like drowning. The coffee cup had slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor, the sound barely registering.

    Victoria Kane. The woman who had saved Camille from death. The woman who had rebuilt her. The woman whosepany he was meant to celebrate with in two days at his engagement party.

    Alexander had gathered the papers with shaking hands, cing them back in the envelope. He''d walked to his office safe and locked them away. Then he''d called the only person who might know if they were real.

    James Whitfield, his uncle''s former business partner.

    "Where did you get these?" James had asked, voice tight with emotion when Alexander described the contents.

    "Anonymous delivery. Are they legitimate?"

    The long pause had told him everything before James even spoke. "Yes. I''ve been trying to prove what she did for years. After Richard''s death, she buried everything. Paid people off. Threatened others. I had pieces, but never theplete picture."

    Alexander had gripped the phone so hard his fingers ached. "Why send them to me? Why now?"

    "Someone wants you to know who you''re really dealing with before you marry into her family."

    The engagement party had been in forty-eight hours. Months of nning. Hundreds of guests. And Camille, beautiful, trusting Camille, who loved Victoria like a mother.

    "What did you do when you found out?" Alexander had asked.

    Another painful silence. "I tried to fight her legally. Spent every penny I had. She buried me, just like she buried Richard. Made sure I couldn''t work in tech again."

    Alexander had looked out his window at the rain-soaked city. "I need to confirm these myself."

    "Be careful," James had warned. "Victoria Kane destroys anyone who threatens what she values. And she values her rtionship with Camille above everything."

    The next day, Alexander had used resources only a Pierce could ess, calling in favors from investigators who could breach Kane Industries'' security without leaving traces. By midnight, he''d had confirmation, the documents were genuine. Victoria Kane had deliberately targeted his uncle, knowing his vulnerabilities, pushing until he broke.

    Until he tied a noose and stepped off a chair in his home office, where Twenty- one-year-old Alexander would find him hourster.

    *** ****

    Now, standing on an Italian balcony, Alexander stared at his reflection in the ss door. Behind him, Camille stirred in their bed, murmuring something in her sleep.

    The morning after confirming the documents authenticity, he had stood in front of his bathroom mirror making a vow. He would see Victoria done

    Kane destroyed for what sho

    to his uncle. He would dismantle everything she had built, piece by piece. He would make her feel the same helplessness his uncle had felt before he died.

    But first, he needed to get close enough. Close enough that she would never see himing.

    That evening, he''d attended his engagement party. He''d smiled. He''d thanked Victoria for her heartfelt toast. He''d kissed Camille under glittering chandeliers while photographers captured the perfect moment.

    Not one person had noticed the cold hatred burning inside him as Victoria embraced him, weing him to the family.

    Something had changed, though, in the months since. Something unexpected and dangerous. He had fallen truly, deeply in love with Camille. Not part of his n. Not part of his vow.

    Now, each step toward destroying Victoria meant risking the woman he loved more than his own life. Each new piece of evidence his team uncovered from Kane Industries'' archives twisted the knife of his impossible choice.

    Behind him, the sliding door opened. Camille stepped onto the balcony, hair tousled from sleep, wearing only his shirt.

    "You''re thinking too loudly," she said, wrapping her arms around him from behind. "I could hear your brain working from the bed."

    Alexander forced a smile, turning to face her. "Just nning our day tomorrow." She studied his face with those perceptive eyes that missed nothing. Victoria had trained her well. "You looked sad when I first saw you. Is everything okay?"

    For one wild moment, he considered telling her everything. Showing her the digital copies of the documents he kept in his encrypted phone. Exining why he sometimes woke drenched in sweat, the image of his uncle''s hanging body still vivid in his mind.

    The moment passed.

    "Everything''s perfect," he lied, kissing her forehead. "Just missing home a little." "We can go back early if you want."

    "No," he said quickly. Too quickly. "These weeks with you have been the happiest of my life."

    This, at least, wasn''t a lie. Despite the weight of his secret mission, despite the dailymunications with his team digging through Kane Industries'' past, despite the constant fear of discovery-these moments with Camille had shown him a joy he''d forgotten could exist.

    She smiled up at him, thest rays of sunset catching in her eyes. "Mine too."

    Later, as she stept against his chest, Alexander stared at the ceiling, the familiar war raging inside him. The envelope that had arrived that rainy day had set him on a path of revenge that felt righteous and clear. James Whitfield had helped him assemble a team of investigators and hackers who could ess the records Victoria thought were buried forever.

    Each day brought new evidence of her ruthlessness, new proof that his uncle''s death hadn''t been an unfortunate side effect but a calcted oue. Each night brought Camille''s warmth and trust.

    His phone buzzed softly on the nightstand. Another message from his team,beled only "Guardian" in his contacts.

    *New documents recovered from archives. Victoria personally directed forensic ountants to fabricate evidence of Pierce Enterprises'' insolvency. Created false impression with creditors thatpany was failing. Triggered loan recalls that drove final crisis.*

    Alexander read the message twice, fresh fury building in his chest. They had faked financial reports to trick his uncle''s lenders into pulling support. That went beyond aggressive business tactics into outright fraud.

    He started typing a response, but stopped when Camille shifted against him. His fingers hovered over the screen, torn between the promise he''d made to his uncle''s memory and the promise he''d made to Camille at the altar. "Victoria Kane has taken everything," his uncle''s note had said. But that wasn''t quite true, was it? She hadn''t taken Camille. Not yet. But she would lose her when the truth came out. And Alexander would be the one responsible.

    He set the phone down without responding, drawing Camille closer. Tomorrow he would answer. Tomorrow he would continue the hunt through Victoria''s sins. Tomorrow he would move one step closer to fulfilling his vow.

    Tonight, in the darkness of their Italian vi, he allowed himself to imagine a different oue. One where his love for Camille somehow coexisted with justice for his uncle. One where the envelope had never arrived at his door two days before their engagement party.

    But such dreams evaporated with theing dawn, burned away by the harsh light of memory, his twenty one years self cutting down his uncle''s body, the sound of the 911 operator asking him to describe exactly what he was seeing, the cold certainty that someone was responsible for pushing Richard Pierce past his breaking point.

    Now he knew exactly who that someone was. The woman Camille called mother.

    The woman who had given his wife a second chance at life.

    The woman he had sworn to destroy.

    Alexander closed his eyes, the familiar ache settling in his chest. Even here, in paradise with the woman he loved, the envelope''s contents haunted him, driving him toward a reckoning that could cost him everything.

    The path forward remained unclear. Only one thing was certain, the moment Victoria Kane discovered what he knew, what he was doing, what he had vowed

    in front of his bathroom mirror that rain-soaked morning, their carefully

    constructed world would shatter beyond repair.

    And Camille, innocent of all this, would be caught in the explosion.

 Chapter 191

    New York''s skyline weed Camille and Alexander home after six weeks of Italian sun. Their penthouse apartment filled with gifts and flowers as news of their return spread through social circles. Among the bouquets sat an arrangement of white lilies. The card read simply: "Wee home. -V."

    Alexander stared at those lilies longer than the others, something cold settling in his stomach as he touched a single white petal with his fingertip.

    "She called twice while we were unpacking," Camille said,ing up behind him and slipping her arms around his waist. "Victoria can barely wait to see us. She''s arranged dinner tomorrow night."

    Alexander turned in her embrace, burying his face in her hair to hide his

    expression. "I''ve missed her too," he lied, his voice steady despite the acid taste of the words.

    ** **

    Their first week back passed in a whirlwind of meetings and business dinners. Camille threw herself into work at Kane Industries with the same passion she brought to everything. Alexander watched her transformation from rxed honeymoon wife to fierce CEO with a mixture of pride and sadness. Each morning she left their bed earlier, returned each nightter, her mind increasingly consumed by Victoria''s empire.

    Ten days after their return, Alexander sat in their dining room, reading documents on his tablet while eating breakfast alone. Camille had left before dawn for an emergency board meeting. His phone chimed with a news alert:

    KANE INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES PHOENIX GRID EXPANSION TO THREE NEW CITIES

    He clicked through to the press release. There was Camille, standing at a podium, Victoria slightly behind her right shoulder. Both women radiated confidence, power, triumph. The photo caption read: "Camille Kane Pierce announces ambitious Phoenix Grid expansion with mentor Victoria Kane."

    Alexander erged the image, studying Victoria''s face. To the world, she was a cancer survivor, a brilliant businesswoman, a mentor to her adopted daughter. No one saw what he saw: the calcting eyes, the hands stained with his uncle''s blood, the architect of Richard Pierce''s destruction.

    His phone buzzed with a text from Camille:

    *Sorry about the early meeting. Big announcement went well! Will exin everything tonight. Love you.*

    Alexander typed back a congrattory response filled with pride and support. The perfect husband apuding his wife''s sess.

    A secondter, his secure phone, the one Camille knew nothing about, vibrated in his pocket. A message from "Guardian":

    *Press release opened new avenues. Three Kane employees from Meridian era reaching out with information. Meeting one tonight. Expect breakthrough.*

    Alexander deleted the message immediately, his heart quickening. The expansion announcement had rattled people, former employees who remembered what Victoria had done topetitors fifteen years ago. People willing to talk now.

    He stood abruptly from the table, appetite gone. The walls of their perfect penthouse suddenly felt like a prison of lies.

    ** **

    "I''m thinking we should throw a dinner party," Camille said that evening as they dressed for an event. "Celebrate the expansion announcement properly."

    Alexander adjusted his tie, watching her in the mirror as she fastened diamond earrings, Victoria''s wedding gift to her. She looked breathtaking in deep blue silk, her skin still golden from Italian sun.

    "Whatever you want," he replied. "Just tell me when."

    "That''s it? No questions about cost or guest list?" Camilleughed, moving behind him to straighten his cor. "Marriage has made you agreeable."

    "I trust your judgment." He turned to face her, his hands settling on her waist. "Besides, you''ve earned a celebration. The Phoenix Grid expansion is incredible."

    Pride shone in her eyes. "It''s going to change everything, Alex. Sustainable power for millions. Victoria says it might be the most important project Kane Industries has ever undertaken."

    Victoria says. Always Victoria''s opinion, Victoria''s approval, Victoria''s wisdom. The woman had shaped everything about Camille, molded her in her own image. The thought sickened him even as he smiled.

    "I''ve never been more proud," he said, kissing her forehead. "But I need to cancel tonight''s event. My parents called. They want to see me."

    Concern immediately reced Camille''s joy. "Your parents? Are you ready for that?"

    "I think so." Alexander moved away, suddenly unable to maintain the closeness. "After ourst meeting, this feels like the right time to move forward."

    Camille''s face softened. "Do you want me toe with you?"

    "No." The answer came too quickly. Alexander gentled his voice. "No, it''s better if I do this alone first. Family matters, you know?"

    She nodded, understanding without truly understanding. "I''ll go to the charity event alone, then catch up with Hannah about the technical specs for Chicago''s grid implementation."

    "Perfect." Alexander kissed her again, relieved by how easily she epted his excuse. "I might bete. Don''t wait up."

    ** **

    His parents'' Upper East Side apartment looked exactly as he remembered, tasteful, expensive, cold. Like them. His mother opened the door herself, something she would never have done when he was younger. Cancer had changed Victoria Kane; age had changed Eleanor Pierce.

    "Alexander." His mother''s voice wavered. "Thank you foring."

    "You invited me." He stepped inside, allowing a brief, awkward embrace.

    His father waited in the living room, rising stiffly when Alexander entered. Edward Pierce had more gray at his temples, more lines around his eyes, but the same rigid posture that had intimidated Alexander throughout childhood.

    "Son." A single word, loaded with years of absence.

    Alexander nodded in acknowledgment, taking the offered drink but not sitting. "I can''t stay long."

    "We understand," his mother said, perching on the sofa edge. "We''re just grateful you came at all."

    An ufortable silence stretched between them. Alexander sipped his scotch, feeling the weight of

    unspoken words filling the elegant room His parents had chosen his brother James over him. Had refused to believe Alexander when it mattered most. Had stood silently by when he packed his bags and left their home.

    "Your marriage seems to agree with you," his fathermented, breaking the silence. "Pierce Enterprises stock is up fifteen points since the wedding."

    Of course he would focus on business, on appearances. Edward Pierce had always valued sess above all else, including his sons'' wellbeing. "Camille is extraordinary," Alexander replied neutrally. "And yes, the partnership between ourpanies has been beneficial."

    "We''ve followed your press," his mother added, too eagerly. "The merger with Kane Industries tech division for the clean energy initiative is brilliant." Alexander watched them grasp for safe topics, for ways to connect without addressing the past. Part of him wanted to force the conversation into ufortable territory, to demand acknowledgment of their failures. But that wasn''t why he hade.

    "I didn''te to discuss business," he said, setting down his ss. "I came because it''s time to move forward."

    His mother''s eyes widened slightly. His father''s posture stiffened further.

    "Not to forget," Alexander rified. "Never that. But to acknowledge that we all made mistakes. That what happened belongs to the past."

    "Alexander..." His mother''s voice broke on his name.

    "I''m not offering forgiveness," he continued, the words measured, controlled. "I''m offering peace. A chance to build something new, if you''re willing."

    His father cleared his throat, clearly struggling with emotion he''d rarely disyed. "We would like that very much."

    They talked for another hour, careful conversation that skirted dangerous topics. No mention of his uncle. No discussion of James''s death. Just tentative bridges built across the chasm of estrangement.

    When Alexander left, his mother hugged him again. This time, he returned the embrace briefly. His father offered a handshake that turned awkwardly into a half- hug, both men unpracticed in disying affection.

    "We''d like to have you and Camille for dinner," his mother said at the door. "When you''re ready."

    Alexander nodded. "I''ll talk to her. Small steps."

    As he drove away, Alexander felt a weight lift from his shoulders, not removed entirely, but redistributed. Making peace with his parents didn''t change his ns

    for Victoria Kane. If anything, it freed him to focus morepletely on his ultimate

    goal.

    They had carefully avoided any mention of Richard Pierce throughout the evening. His uncle remained the ghost at the feast, the name no one dared speak. All the more reason to bring the truth to light, to force acknowledgment of the man who had been more father to Alexander than Edward Pierce had ever been.

    ** ***

    The cemetery gates should have been locked at this hour, but money opened many doors in New York. The security guard merely nodded as Alexander drove through, following the familiar path to the family plot.

    Richard Pierce''s grave stood slightly apart from the other Pierce headstones. Even in death, the family had distanced themselves from the "failed" brother, the one who had taken his own life rather than face defeat.

    Alexander knelt on the damp grass, cing his wedding boutonniere-preserved from his suit pocket-atop the cold marble.

    "I married her, Uncle Richard," he said quietly to the stone. "Victoria Kane''s daughter. The ultimate insider position."

    Night birds called in the distance. The city hummed beyond the cemetery walls.

    "I made peace with them tonight," Alexander continued, arranging the boutonniere carefully against the headstone. "Mom and Dad. Not for their sake, but for mine. To close that chapter so I can focus on what matters."

    His throat tightened with anger, with grief long suppressed. "I''m close, Uncle. So

    close to exposing what Victoria did to you. The documents, the testimonies, it''s alling together."

    The white gardenia of his boutonniere looked stark against the dark stone. A symbol of his wedding day, now repurposed as an offering to the dead.

    "I will make her admit what she did.

    Make her face every person she hurt with her ruthless games. Make the world see her for what she truly is." His voice hardened with each word. "I promise you, Uncle Richard I will

    expose the truth about what Victoria did to you. She will lose everything, just as you did."

    Alexander stood, his knees damp from the grass, his heart heavy with purpose. The path ahead was clear, if difficult. Evidence gathering. Witness testimonies. A case built methodically, irrefutably, against the woman who had caused his uncle''s

    death.

    The woman whose daughter now shared Alexander''s bed, his name, his life.

    As he walked back to his car, phone vibrating with messages from both "Guardian" and Camille, Alexander felt the weight of his double life pressing down. Each day brought him closer to his goal, and closer to the inevitable moment when he would have to choose between revenge and love.

    For now, he walked the razor''s edge between them, blood seeping from wounds

    he could share with no one.

    Alexander started his car, checking both messages before driving away.

    "Guardian" had secured a meeting with a former Kane Industries executive. Camille was heading home early, missing him.

    Two lives. Two pulls on his heart. Two impossible choices.

    He put the car in drive, leaving his uncle''s grave behind as he headed toward the

    next step in his quest for justice, a quest that would either destroy Victoria Kane or

    destroy his marriage.

    Perhaps both.

 Chapter 192

    The morning rain pounded against the windows of Pierce Enterprises as Alexander reviewed thetest energy forecasts. His fingers trembled slightly as he reached for his coffee, the weight ofst night''s discoveries still pressing down on his chest like a stone. Across the city, Victoria Kane was discovering that someone had been probing herpany''s deepest secrets.

    His phone buzzed against the mahogany desk. Victoria''s name shed on the screen, sending ice through his veins. He let it ring twice before answering, his voice carefully controlled.

    "Victoria. Good morning."

    "Alexander." Her tone was sharp, cutting through the phone like a de. "I need to see you. My office. One hour."

    The line went dead. Alexander stared at the phone, his heart hammering against his ribs. Had they traced the cyberattacks back to him? Had someone discovered his connection to "Guardian"?

    He stood and walked to his office window, watching the city blur through streams of rain. Twenty stories below, people hurried along sidewalks, unaware that the foundations of two major corporations were about to shift beneath their feet.

    *** ***

    Kane Industries'' headquarters rose like a steel and ss monument to Victoria''s empire. Alexander had been here countless times since marrying Camille, but today the building felt different. Hostile. Like walking into enemy territory.

    Victoria''s assistant led him through familiar halls that now seemed to stretch endlessly. His footsteps echoed on polished marble, each sound marking time toward a confrontation he''d been dreading since he first opened that envelope months ago.

    Victoria sat behind her massive desk, her silver hair gleaming under the office lights. Cancer had made her thinner, but her eyes burned with the same intensity that had built her empire. On the desk before hery several printed reports, their contents hidden from his view.

    "Sit," shemanded, not looking up from the documents.

    Alexander took the chair across from her, his hands resting calmly on his knees despite the storm raging inside him. Years of business negotiations had taught him to hide his emotions behind a mask of professionalposure.

    "Someone has been trying to ess our financial records," Victoria said, finally raising her eyes to meet his. "Sophisticated attempts. Professional level. The kind that requires inside knowledge of our security protocols."

    Alexander''s throat felt dry as sand. "I''m sorry to hear that. Has your team identified the source?"

    "Not yet." Victoria leaned back in her chair, studying his face with the intensity of a predator examining prey. "But the attempts have been focused on very specific files. Records rted to acquisitions from fifteen years ago."

    The air in the room seemed to thicken. Alexander forced himself to breathe normally, to maintain eye contact, to show nothing but appropriate concern for his wife''s family business.

    "That''s troubling," he said. "Do you think it could be connected to the Phoenix Grid expansion? Competitors trying to find weaknesses in your past deals?"

    Victoria''s expression didn''t change, but something flickered behind her eyes. Relief? Suspicion? Alexander couldn''t tell.

    "Perhaps," she said slowly. "Speaking of the expansion, I understand you''ve been researching our historical energy projects for the joint venture with Pierce Enterprises?"

    Here it was. The moment that would determine whether his cover held or everything came crashing down.

    "Yes," Alexander replied without hesitation. "My team needs to understand Kane Industries'' approach to major infrastructure projects. Learning from your past sesses, and any challenges you faced, helps us avoid simr pitfalls."

    Victoria nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on his face. "And you''ve been looking specifically at the Meridian acquisition?"

    Alexander''s blood turned to ice, but his voice remained steady. "Among others. Meridian was one of your first major tech acquisitions, wasn''t it? The foundation for what became your clean energy division."

    "Indeed." Victoria gathered the reports on her desk, aligning their edges with precise movements. "I trust you''ve found the information useful?"

    "Very much so. Your team''s approach to due diligence was thorough. Almost aggressive, one might say."

    The words hung in the air between them. Victoria''s hands stilled on the papers, and for a moment, Alexander saw something raw cross her face-surprise, perhaps, or recognition that he knew more than he was letting on.

    "Business was different fifteen years ago," she said finally. "Morepetitive. Less... regted."

    "Of course. I understandpletely."

    Victoria stood, moving to the window that overlooked Manhattan. "I''m d we cleared that up. I was concerned that someone might be trying to dig up old business matters for malicious purposes."

    "I can''t imagine why anyone would do such a thing," Alexander lied smoothly. "Kane Industries has always conducted business with the highest ethical standards."

    When Victoria turned back to face him, her smile was sharp as a knife''s edge. "Exactly. Which is why I''m confident this cybersecurity issue will resolve itself quickly."

    Alexander rose from his chair, recognizing the dismissal. "I''m sure it will. If there''s anything Pierce Enterprises can do to help..."

    "Thank you, but no. This is an internal matter."

    As Alexander walked toward the door, Victoria''s voice stopped him.

    "Alexander."

    He turned, his hand on the doorknob.

    "Give my love to Camille. She''s been working so hard on the expansion. I worry she''s pushing herself too much."

    "I''ll make sure she gets some rest," Alexander promised, the words tasting like ash in his mouth.

    ** **

    Back in his own office, Alexander locked the door and pulled the blinds shut. His hands shook as he opened hisptop and essed the encrypted files "Guardian" had sent him the night before. The documents that had kept him awake until dawn, staring at evidence of Victoria''s true nature.

    The first file was a copy of an internal Kane Industries memo, dated three weeks before his uncle''s suicide. Victoria''s signature was clear at the bottom, authorizing an investigation into Richard Pierce''s "potential ethical vitions" regarding the Whitmore Factory incident.

    Alexander scrolled down to read the details, his stomach churning with each word. A factory explosion at one of Meridian''s facilities had killed three workers and injured dozens more. The official investigation had cleared Meridian of wrongdoing, ruling the explosion an ident caused by faulty equipment from a third-party supplier.

    But Victoria had discovered something else. Richard Pierce had found evidence that the equipment failure was due to cost-cutting measures approved by Meridian''s board, measures that vited safety protocols. Richard had been preparing to go public with this information, to ept responsibility for the deaths and implement industry-wide safety reforms.

    Victoria had somehow learned of

    ver

    Richard''s ns. The memo showed her authorizing a campaign to destroy Richard''s credibility before he could reveal Meridian''s culpability. False usations of financial misconduct. nted stories about his mental health. A systematic character assassination designed to make Richard appear unreliable, unstable, untrustworthy.

    The second file contained Richard''s personal notes, apparently recovered from his homeputer after his death. Page after page of anguished writing, describing the pressure from Kane Industries, the threats to his family, the choice between revealing the truth about the factory ident and protecting his nephew from retaliation.

    *They''ve made it clear that Alexander will pay the price if I proceed,* one entry read. *Victoria Kane has the power to destroy his future, his career, his life. I cannot be responsible for that. But how can I live with the blood of those workers on my hands?*

    The final entry, dated the day before his suicide, was barely coherent:

    *No way out. Truth buried forever. Three families destroyed for corporate profits, and I am too weak to fight. Alexander must never know. He must never carry this burden. Better that I die a coward than live knowing I chose his future over justice for the dead.*

    Alexander stared at the screen until the words blurred. His uncle hadn''t died because of business failure or financial ruin. He had died because Victoria Kane had threatened Alexander''s life to keep him silent about a cover-up that had cost three workers their lives.

    All these years, Alexander had been the unwitting weapon used to destroy the only man who had ever truly loved him.

    His phone buzzed with a text from Camille: *Dinner at home tonight? I have news about the Chicago implementation.*

    Alexander typed back automatically: *Looking forward to it. Love you.*

    But love wasn''t enough anymore. Not when it was built on a foundation of lies and blood. Victoria Kane had murdered his uncle as surely as if she had tied the noose herself. She had manipted Alexander''s love for Richard to ensure her secrets stayed buried.

    Now it was time for those secrets to see daylight.

    Alexander opened a new browser window and logged into his private trading ount. Kane Industries stock was currently trading at $247 per share, riding high on news of the Phoenix Grid expansion. A strong, stable stock backed by investor confidence in Victoria Kane''s leadership.

    That was about to change.

    Over the next hour, Alexander executed a series of carefully nned trades. Shellpanies he had established months ago began short-selling Kane Industries stock in coordinated waves. Anonymous tips went out to financial bloggers about "concerns regarding Kane Industries'' historical acquisition practices." Carefully worded questions were nted on investor forums about the sustainability of

    the Phoenix Grid''s ambitious timeline.

    Nothing illegal. Nothing that couldn''t be exined as normal market fluctuations. But enough to create doubt, to make investors nervous, to start the slow erosion of confidence that would eventually bring Victoria''s empire crashing down.

    By closing bell, Kane Industries had dropped eight points, a minor dip that would barely register in the financial press, but significant enough to make Victoria nervous. The first crack in the foundation she had built on Richard Pierce''s grave.

    Alexander closed hisptop and leaned back in his chair, exhaustion washing over him. This was only the beginning. The campaign to destroy Victoria Kane would take months, perhaps years. Each step would have to be perfectly calcted, precisely timed,pletely untraceable back to him.

    And each step would bring him closer to the moment when Camille discovered

    that her husband had married her not for love, but for revenge against the woman

    who had be her mother.

    Alexander looked at his wedding

    ring, gold band catching the afternoon light streaming through his office windows. Soon he would go home to his wife, kiss her hello, listen to her excited ns fortheir future. He would make love to her

    while his mind nned Victoria''s destruction. He would whisper words of devotion while orchestrating the downfall of

    everything she held dear.

    The weight of his double life pressed down like a burial shroud. But Alexander had made his choice the day he opened that envelope. Justice for Richard Pierce.

    Truth about the Whitmore Factory workers. An end to Victoria Kane''s reign of maniption and murder.

    Even if it cost him everything else he loved.

    Outside his window, the rain had stopped, leaving the city gleaming under weak

    sunlight. But the storm was just beginning. And when it was over, only one of them would be left standing.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 193

    The morning sun cast sharp shadows across the Kane Industries boardroom as Camille paced behind her chair, her phone pressed against her ear. Alexander watched from the doorway, studying the tension in her shoulders, the way her free hand clenched and unclenched at her side. Three percent. Such a small number to cause such devastation.

    "No, that''s not eptable," Camille snapped into the phone. "We need that press release out within the hour, not by end of day."

    Victoria sat at the head of the massive conference table, her face pale butposed. Charts and graphs covered the polished surface before her, all showing the same ugly truth, Kane Industries stock had plummeted overnight, wiping out millions in market value.

    Alexander stepped into the room, his expression carefully crafted to show concern and support. Inside, satisfaction burned like a me he couldn''t extinguish.

    "How bad is it?" he asked, knowing the answer already.

    "Bad." Camille ended her call and turned to face him, dark circles under her eyes telling the story of a sleepless night. "Three percent drop in twelve hours. The trading floor is calling it a bloodbath."

    Victoria''s voice cut through the morning air like ice. "Someone is spreading lies about our acquisition history. Targeting our credibility at the worst possible time."

    Alexander moved to Camille''s side, cing aforting hand on her shoulder. Her body was rigid with stress, muscles tight beneath his palm. "What kind of lies?"

    "Anonymous sources iming we used ''questionable tactics'' during hostile takeovers fifteen years ago," Camille said, her voice shaking with anger. "Investors are spooked. They''re questioning whether the Phoenix Grid expansion is built on the same foundation."

    The irony cut through Alexander like a knife. If only she knew how right those anonymous sources were. If only she understood that her husband was the architect of herpany''s destruction.

    "That''s ridiculous," Alexander said, his tone perfectly pitched between outrage and support. "Your acquisition record is spotless. Anyone can see that."

    Victoria''s eyes met his across the table. For a moment, Alexander saw something flicker in her gaze, suspicion, calction, fear. Did she suspect him? Or was she simply a woman watching her life''s work crumble and grasping for exnations? "The timing is too convenient," Victoria said slowly. "Right after the Phoenix Grid announcement. Right when we''re most vulnerable to market maniption."

    "You think this is intentional?" Alexander asked, keeping his voice neutral even as his pulse quickened.

    "I know it is," Victoria replied, her fingers drumming against the table. "The question is who benefits from our stock dropping."

    Camille sank into her chair, running both hands through her hair. "Does it matter? The damage is done. Investors are pulling out, questioning our leadership, demanding answers we can''t give."

    Alexander sat beside his wife, reaching for her hand. Her fingers were cold,

    trembling slightly. The sight of her distress should have brought him joy, Victoria''s empire falling meant justice for his uncle. But watching Camille suffer sent unexpected pain through his chest.

    "We''ll fix this," he said, squeezing her hand. "Both of us. Pierce Enterprises stands behind Kane Industriespletely."

    "You''d risk your ownpany''s reputation?" Victoria asked, her voice sharp with surprise.

    Alexander met her gaze steadily. "Camille is my wife. Her sess is my sess. Pierce Enterprises hasplete confidence in Kane Industries'' integrity."

    The lie flowed from his lips as smooth as honey. Every word was calcted to deepen their trust in him, to position himself as their closest ally even as he orchestrated their downfall.

    Camille''s eyes filled with tears she refused to let fall. "Thank you," she whispered. "I don''t know what I''d do without you."

    The words hit Alexander like physical blows. Camille trusted himpletely, loved him without reservation, believed in their partnership both personal and professional. And he was betraying that trust with every breath.

    Victoria''s assistant knocked on the boardroom door, entering with a tablet clutched in her hands. "The financialworks are picking up the story," she announced, her voice tight with worry. "CNBC is running a segment on ''Kane Industries: Built on Questionable Foundations?""

    "Christ," Camille breathed, burying her face in her hands.

    Alexander stood quickly, his mind already working. "What if we get ahead of this? Call a press conference, address the rumors directly?"

    "And say what?" Victoria''s voice was bitter. "That anonymous usations are false? That looks defensive."

    "Then we go on offense," Alexander continued, his tone growing more confident. "We don''t just deny the rumors, we provideplete transparency. Open your books. Invite independent auditors to review every acquisition from the past twenty years. Show the world that Kane Industries has nothing to hide."

    Camille looked up at him with something approaching awe. "That''s brilliant. Complete transparency would eliminate any credibility these rumors have."

    Victoria''s expression remained skeptical. "Opening our books to that level of scrutiny is dangerous. Even legitimate business decisions can be misinterpreted by outsiders."

    "Only if you have something to hide," Alexander said, his voice carefully neutral. "But since Kane Industries'' record is clean, transparency can only help."

    The trap was elegant in its

    simplicity. Victoria couldn''t refuse without appearing guilty. But agreeing would expose fifteen years

    of ruthless business tactics to public scrutiny, including the systematic destruction of Meridian

    Technologies and the cover-up that had driven his uncle to suicide.

    "He''s right," Camille said, her voice growing stronger. "We call their bluff. Complete financial transparency, independent audits, everything. Let the world see exactly how Kane Industries operates."

    Victoria was quiet for a long moment, her fingers still drumming against the table. Alexander could almost see her mind working, weighing risks, calcting odds.

    "Very well," she said finally. "We''ll prepare for full disclosure. But this had better work, because if it backfires, we''ll lose everything."

    Camille reached across the table and grasped Victoria''s hand. "It won''t backfire. The truth is on our side."

    Alexander nodded solemnly, even as satisfaction spread through his veins like poison. The truth was indeed on their side, his side. And when that truth finally came to light, Victoria Kane''s empire would burn.

    "I''ll have my team prepare aprehensivemunications strategy," Alexander offered. "Pierce Enterprises'' PR department has experience managing corporate crises."

    "That would be incredibly helpful," Camille said, squeezing his arm. "I knew marrying you was the smartest thing I ever did."

    The words twisted in Alexander''s gut like a de. He forced a smile, leaning over

    to kiss her forehead. "We''re partners in everything, remember?"

    For the next two hours, they worked together to craft their response. Alexander offered suggestions, provided resources, made calls to influential contacts in the financial media. To everyone watching, he was the perfect supportive husband and business partner.

    Only he knew that every suggestion was designed to dig Kane Industries deeper into the hole he had created. Every resource he provided would ultimately serve his purpose. Every contact he reached out to would eventually help spread the truth about Victoria''s crimes.

    As the morning wore on, Camille''s stress gradually gave way to determined focus. She threw herself into damage control with the same intensity she brought to everything, and Alexander found himself genuinely impressed by her resilience.

    "The preliminary press release is ready," Victoria announced, looking up from herptop. "Alexander, would you review it before we send it out?"

    He epted theptop, scanning the carefully worded statement that proimed Kane Industries''mitment to transparency and ethical business practices. Thenguage was strong, confident, defiant.

    "This is perfect," Alexander said, handing theptop back. "It strikes exactly the right tone."

    Victoria''s eyes searched his face. "You''re certain? Once we release this, there''s no going back. We''remitted to full transparency." Alexander met her gaze without flinching. "I''m certain. The truth will set you free."

    The words hung in the air between them, loaded with meaning Victoria couldn''t possibly understand. But Alexander saw her shiver slightly, as if some part of her recognized the threat hidden in his supportive words.

    Camille stood and stretched, exhaustion finally showing in her movements. "I need coffee before we move to the next phase. Anyone else?"

    "I''lle with you," Alexander said, rising from his chair.

    As they walked toward the executive kitchen, Camille leaned against him, seekingfort in his presence. "I''m scared, Alex," she admitted quietly. "What if we can''t stop this? What if everything Victoria built just... falls apart?" Alexander wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. The scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils, familiar andforting even as guilt ate at his insides like acid.

    "It won''t fall apart," he promised, and for once, he wasn''t entirely lying. Kane Industries wouldn''t simply copse, it would be systematically dismantled, piece by piece, until nothing remained but the truth about Victoria''s crimes.

    "How can you be so sure?" Camille asked, looking up at him with eyes full of trust and vulnerability.

    Alexander cupped her face in his hands, studying the features he had memorized over months of marriage. Beautiful, intelligent, innocent Camille, who had no idea that her husband was her greatest enemy.

    "Because," he said softly, leaning down to kiss her lips, "I would never let anything

    happen to you."

    It was the most honest thing he had

    said all morning, and the biggest lie of all. Because when the truth finally came out, when Victoria''s crimes were exposed and Kane Industries crumbled, Alexander knew that Camille would be destroyed along with everything else.

    But his uncle''s ghost demanded justice, and Alexander had chosen his path long

    ago. Even if it meant losing the only woman he had ever truly loved.

 Chapter 194

    Alexander stood at the window of his office, watching the morning traffic crawl through Manhattan streets. His phone buzzed constantly on the desk behind him, but he ignored it. Three days had passed since Kane Industries'' stock plummeted, and his carefullyid ns were supposed to be bearing fruit by now.

    Instead, the numbers on hisputer screen told a different story. Kane Industries stock had not only stopped falling, it was climbing back up.

    The door to his office opened without a knock. Camille entered, her face glowing with relief and excitement. She practically bounced across the room to reach him, throwing her arms around his neck before he could react.

    "We did it, Alex," she breathed against his ear. "We actually did it."

    Alexander forced his arms to circle her waist, forced his voice to sound pleased. "Did what?"

    "The stock recovered. More than recovered, we''re up two points from where we started." Camille pulled back to look at his face, her eyes bright with joy. "Mom and Dad stepped in. Can you believe it?"

    Something cold settled in Alexander''s stomach. "Your parents?"

    "Dad called this morning. He''d been watching the news, saw what was happening to us." Camille''s words tumbled over each other in her excitement. "He made some calls to his old friends at Goldman Sachs, arranged emergency funding to stabilize the stock. Then Mom contacted everyone she knows, board members at major corporations, influential investors, people who''ve known our family for generations."

    Alexander''s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "That was... generous of them."

    "Generous?" Camilleughed, the sound bright as breaking ss. "It was incredible. Within hours, we had billionaire investors publicly backing Kane Industries. The Rothschild family trust bought five million in shares. The Vanderbilt Foundationmitted to long-term investment. Dad even got Warren Buffett''s people to release a statement of confidence."

    The rage building in Alexander''s chest felt like a physical thing, hot and expanding, threatening to burst through his carefully maintained mask. Months of nning. Weeks of careful stock maniption targeting a billion-dor empire. All undone by Margaret and Richard Lewis and their elite social circle.

    "I''m so happy for you," he managed, his voice strained with the effort of appearing supportive.

    Camille studied his face, concern recing her earlier joy. "You don''t look happy. Are you feeling okay?"

    Alexander cleared his throat, forced his expression to soften. "Just tired. It''s been a stressful few days watching Kane Industries under attack."

    "I know." Camille reached up to touch his cheek, her fingers warm against his skin. "But it''s over now. Kane Industries is stronger than ever. Victoria said we''ve never had this level of institutional backing before. Billion-dorpanies dream of the kind of investor confidence we have now."

    "How exactly did your parents mobilize so quickly?" Alexander asked, keeping his tone casual despite the fury burning in his veins.

    "Connections built over decades," Camille said, moving to his desk to show him the financial reports on her tablet. "Dad serves on three Fortune 500 boards. Mom chairs the charitymittees for half the wealthy families in America. When they exined what was happening, everyone rallied around us immediately."

    She scrolled through the numbers, each figure more devastating to Alexander''s ns than thest. "Look at this.... two billion in new investmentmitments. The markets are treating us like we''re untouchable now."

    Alexander stared at the charts and graphs, each green arrow pointing upward like a dagger in his heart. Everything he had worked for, destroyed by two people he had never considered a threat. Camille''s parents, who had reconciled with their daughter and now wielded their vast influence on her behalf.

    "There''s more," Camille continued, her voice growing softer. "Mom and Dad want to have dinner with us tonight. To celebrate, but also to discuss some exciting opportunities. Dad thinks Kane Industries should consider expanding into European markets, and he has contacts who could fast-track the regtory approvals."

    The room felt like it was closing in around Alexander. He loosened his tie, struggling to breathe normally. "Tonight?"

    "I know it''s short notice, but Alex..." Camille moved closer to him, her eyes shining with happiness. "Having my parents back in my life, working together like this-it feels like everything is finally falling into ce."

    Family. The word echoed in Alexander''s mind, mocking him. While Camille was building bridges with her parents, his uncle remained dead and unavenged. While the Lewis family celebrated their triumph over financial adversity, Richard Pierce''s killer walked free, now stronger than ever.

    "Of course," Alexander heard himself say. "Whatever makes you happy."

    Camille''s smile could have lit up the entire city. She kissed him quickly before heading toward the door. "Seven o''clock at Le Bernardin. Dad''s flying to Washington tomorrow morning-some congressionalmittee wants his input on financial regtions-so this might be our only chance this month."

    After she left, Alexander stood motionless in his office for several minutes. The silence felt oppressive, broken only by the distant sound of traffic and the steady tick of the antique clock on his bookshelf.

    He walked to his desk and pulled out his secure phone, the one Camille knew nothing about. His fingers shook slightly as he typed a message to "Guardian."

    *Phase one failedpletely. Lewis family intervention too powerful. Kane Industries now has unprecedented institutional backing. Need new strategy immediately.*

    The response came within minutes: *Expected this might happen. Old money protects its own. Moving to phase two ahead of schedule. Much more dangerous, but necessary. Are you ready?*

    Alexander stared at the message, knowing that phase two would require him to take enormous risks, to move far closer to the fire. But what choice did he have? Kane Industries was now backed by some of the most powerful families in America.

    *Ready,* he typed back. *What do you need from me?*

    *ess to Kane Industries internal servers. Physical ess, not remote. Need original documents that prove Victoria''s cover-up of the factory deaths. Can you manage that?*

    Alexander''s blood ran cold. Getting physical ess to Kane''s secure servers would mean betraying Camille''s trustpletely. No more usible exnations, no more innocent research requests. This would be pure corporate espionage, the kind of betrayal that could never be exined away if he was caught.

    His phone buzzed with a new message from Camille: *Love you so much. Thank you for being so supportive through all this craziness. Mom and Dad can''t wait to see you tonight. You''re the best husband in the world.*

    The irony was suffocating. While she praised his support, he was nning to rob her billion-dorpany of its deepest secrets. While she called him the best husband, he was orchestrating her professional destruction despite her family''s overwhelming show of power and influence.

    Alexander typed a response to "Guardian": *I can get ess Friday night. Security shift change at midnight a window. But they''ll have upgraded

    security after the stock attack.*

    *We''ll handle security. Just get us inside. Remember.... this is for Richard. This is for the three workers who died in that factory. Victoria Kane thinks her billion- dor empire makes her untouchable. Time to prove her wrong.*

    Justice. The word felt hollow now, corrupted by months of lies and deception. Was this still about justice for his uncle, or had it be something darker? Something driven by pride and the need to prove that even the most powerful people could fall?

    His office door opened again, and Victoria Kane entered without invitation. Her face wasposed, but Alexander could see the tension in her shoulders, the slight tremor in her hands that betrayed lingering stress.

    "We need to talk," she said, closing the door behind her.

    Alexander''s pulse quickened, but his voice remained steady. "Of course.

    Congrattions on the incredible recovery."

    Victoria moved to stand directly in front of his desk, her pale blue eyes fixed on his face. "The Lewis family''s intervention was... remarkable."

    "Butpletely understandable," Alexander pointed out. "They''re protecting their daughter''s interests. Any parent would do the same."

    "Yes." Victoria''s voice was soft, thoughtful. "Though the speed and scale of their response was impressive. Moving billions of dors in investmentmitments within hours. The kind of coordinated effort that typically takes weeks to organize."

    The usation hung in the air between them like smoke. Alexander met her gaze directly, allowing confusion to show on his face. "Are you suggesting something suspicious about their help?"

    "Not suspicious," Victoria said slowly. "But perhaps... they were more prepared for this kind of crisis than most parents would be. As if they had contingency ns already in ce."

    Alexander leaned back in his chair, projecting calm confidence despite the rm bells ringing in his head. "Victoria, the Lewis family has been managing vast wealth for generations. Of course they have contingency ns. That''s how old money stays old money."

    Victoria studied his face for another long moment, then nodded slowly. "Perhaps you''re right. Perhaps I''m overthinking this."

    She turned to leave, then paused at the door. "Alexander?"

    "Yes?"

    "Camille is fortunate to have someone so devoted. Someone who would do anything to protect her interests."

    The words seemed innocent enough, but Alexander heard the warning underneath. Victoria Kane hadn''t built her billion-dor empire by being naive or

    trusting. She suspected something, even if she couldn''t prove it yet.

    "She''s my wife," Alexander said simply. "Her sess is my sess."

    After Victoria Jeft, Alexander slumped in his chair, exhaustion washing over him like a tide. The game was bing more

    dangerous by the day. Victoria wet

    growing suspicious, Camille trusted himpletely, and his nsy in ru¨Şns thanks to intervention by some of the most powerful families in America.

    But failure wasn''t an option. His uncle''s death demanded justice, regardless of the

    cost. Regardless of how many billions stood in his way.

    Alexander looked at his phone, at

    they

    Camille''s loving message still glowing on the screen. Tonight he would sit across from her at dinner, smile at her parents, y the role of the perfect son-inw while discussed their daughter''s billion-dor empire. Tomorrow he would begin nning the theft that would expose Kane Industries'' darkest secrets.

    And someday soon, Camille would learn that the man she loved had been her enemy from the very beginning.

    The thought should have brought him satisfaction. Instead, it felt like dying by inches, one betrayal at a time.

 Chapter 195

    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.

 Chapter 196

    The morning of September 15th arrived gray and cold, matching the heaviness in Alexander''s chest as he stood at his office window. Fifteen years. Fifteen years since Meridian Technologies copsed. Fifteen years since his uncle Richard Pierce had tied a rope around his neck rather than face another day of Victoria Kane''s systematic destruction.

    Alexander''s phone buzzed on his desk, but he ignored it. Today wasn''t a day for business calls or meetings. Today was a day for remembering. For honoring the dead. For making good on promises whispered in graveyards.

    The secure phone in his jacket pocket vibrated against his ribs. A message from "Guardian": *System breachplete. Phoenix Grid serverspromised. Anniversary gift delivered.*

    Alexander closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the moment. Somewhere across the city, Kane Industries was about to discover that their precious Phoenix Grid had been sabotaged. On the exact anniversary of Richard Pierce''s death, Victoria''s crown jewel would suffer the kind of unexined failure that would send shock waves through thepany.

    Justice, served cold after fifteen years.

    ** **

    At Kane Industries headquarters, chaos erupted across multiple floors simultaneously. Computer screens flickered and died. Emergency lights shed red warnings. In the Phoenix Grid control room, Hannah Zhao stared in horror as system after system showed critical failures.

    "What''s happening?" Camille burst through the control room doors, her face pale with panic.

    "Complete server outage," Hannah reported, her fingers flying across backup keyboards. "Primary systems, secondary backups, even the tertiary safeguards. Everything''s down."

    Camille''s phone rang. She nced at the caller ID- powerpany officials from Chicago, Detroit, and Phdelphia. The three cities where Phoenix Grid expansion was scheduled to begin next month.

    "Ma''am," came a voice from across the control room. "We''re getting reports of power fluctuations in all three expansion cities. Grid coordination is failing without our central systems."

    Camille''s hand shook as she answered the phone. "This is Camille Pierce. Yes, we''re aware of the situation. No, I can''t give you a timeline for restoration yet."

    The calls kepting. Angry municipal officials. Worried investors. News reporters who had somehow already learned about the outage. Each conversation was a nail in Kane Industries'' coffin, each question a reminder of how much was at stake.

    Victoria Kane arrived forty-five minutes after the crisis began, her silver hair perfectly styled despite the early hour. She moved through the control room like a general surveying a battlefield, her pale eyes taking in every detail.

    "Status report," shemanded.

    "Complete system failure starting at 6:47 AM," Hannah replied. "No obvious cause. No malware detected. The servers just... died."

    "All of them? Simultaneously?"

    "Yes, ma''am. It''s unprecedented."

    Victoria''s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "And the backup systems?"

    "Failed at exactly the same time. Someone would need incredibly sophisticated knowledge of our infrastructure to coordinate this kind of attack."

    "How long until full restoration?"

    Hannah hesitated. "At least twelve hours. Maybe eighteen. We''re essentially rebuilding everything from scratch."

    Victoria nodded once, absorbing the information with the calm of someone who had weathered countless storms. But Camille saw the tension in her shoulders, the slight tremor in her hands that betrayed inner turmoil.

    "I want aplete investigation," Victoria announced. "Every ess log. Every employee with sufficient clearance. Every contractor who''s worked on these systems."

    She turned to Camille. "Call an emergency board meeting for this afternoon. And prepare a press statement. We need to control the narrative before it controls us."

    As Victoria moved toward the door, she paused. "And find out what today''s date significance might be. Someone chose September 15th for a reason."

    ** ***

    In her private office, Victoria sat alone with herptop, diving deep into Kane Industries'' corporate history. September 15th. The date nagged at her, familiar but not immediately identifiable.

    She pulled up archived files from thepany''s earlier years, scanning through acquisition records, press releases, financial reports. There, a folder marked "Meridian Technologies Final Closure - September 15th."

    Victoria''s blood ran cold as the implications hit her. Today was the fifteenth anniversary of Meridian''s copse. The exact date when Richard Pierce''s suicide had closed the final chapter on one of her most ruthless business campaigns.

    Someone knew. Someone remembered. Someone was sending her a very specific message.

    Victoria''s fingers trembled slightly as she opened another search window, typing in "Richard Pierce family survivors." The results made her stomach lurch.

    Richard Pierce, survived by nephew Alexander Pierce, age 16, currently residing with deceased following parents'' estrangement...

    Alexander Pierce. Her son-inw. The man who had married her adopted daughter. The man who had been living in her home, attending her board meetings, sharing her family''s most intimate moments.

    Richard Pierce''s nephew.

    Victoria closed theptop with shaking hands, her mind racing through months of interactions with Alexander. Had she seen resemnce? Had there been signs? How had she missed something so fundamental about the man who was now part of her family?

    She reached for her secure phone, dialing Jason Chen''s direct line.

    "I need aplete background investigation on Alexander Pierce," she said without preamble. "Everything. Birth records, school transcripts, business dealings, personal rtionships. I want to know every detail of his life going back to childhood."

    "Ma''am, he''s been thoroughly vetted. When he married Camille, we ranprehensive..."

    "Run it again. Deeper this time. And Jason? Priority one. I need results today."

    Victoria ended the call and sat back in her chair, staring at the city skyline beyond her windows. If Alexander Pierce was behind this attacks, if Richard''s nephew had spent months infiltrating herpany, her family, her daughter''s life - then the game had changedpletely.

    This wasn''t just corporate espionage anymore. This was personal. This was family. This was blood calling for blood.

    *** **

    Alexander stood in the cemetery as evening shadows lengthened across the headstones. The same cemetery where he had made his promises. The same grave where he had sworn vengeance.

    "The Phoenix Grid went down today, Uncle Richard," he said quietly to the marble marker. "On the anniversary. Victoria Kane felt her empire shake, just like you felt yours crumble fifteen years ago."

    He ced a fresh white lily on the

    grave, recing the withered

    §Ö§ä

    remains of hisst visit. "I know you''d want me to stop. To let go of the anger. But I can''t. Not when she''s still out there, still powerful, stiff pretending she''s innocent."

    His phone buzzed. A text from Camille: *Long day dealing with the server crisis. Will be homete. Love you.*

    Alexander stared at the message, guilt crushing down on him like a physical weight. While his wife worked desperately to fix the damage he had caused, he stood here talking to the dead.

    "I love her," he whispered to the headstone. "I never expected that. I married her

    for revenge, but I love her now. And I''m destroying everything she''s built."

    The cemetery was quiet except for distant traffic and the rustle of wind through old trees. Alexander knelt and ced his hand t against the cold marble.

    "I don''t know how this ends," he admitted. "I don''t know if I can stop. I don''t know

    if

    I want to stop."

    His phone rang. Victoria Kane''s name shed on the screen.

    Alexander''s blood turned to ice. He let it ring once, twice, before answering with

    carefully controlledposure.

    "Victoria. Is everything alright?"

    "I need to see you." Her voice was sharp, cutting. "My office. Now."

    "Of course. Is this about the server outage?"

    "Among other things. How quickly can you get here?"

    Alexander stood, brushing dirt from his knees. "Twenty minutes."

    "I''ll be waiting."

    The line went dead. Alexander stared at his phone, knowing that his world was about to change forever. Victoria had discovered something. The careful fa?ade he had maintained for months was about to crumble.

    He looked down at his uncle''s grave onest time. "I think she knows, Uncle

    Richard. I think the game is almost over."

    ** ***

    Victoria Kane''s office felt like a trap when Alexander entered. She sat behind her massive desk, a thin

    folder open before her. Thete

    afternoon sun cast long shado

    across the room, making her pale eyes appear almost colorless.

    "Sit," shemanded, not looking up from the folder.

    Alexander took the chair across from her, his heart hammering against his ribs.

    Years of business negotiations had taught him to project calm, but this felt different. More dangerous.

    "I''ve been doing some research," Victoria said, still not meeting his eyes. "About dates. About anniversaries. About family connections."

    She looked up suddenly, pinning him with her stare. "Tell me about Richard

    Pierce."

    The question hit Alexander like a physical blow. He forced his expression to remain neutral, forced his voice to stay steady. "I''m not sure what you mean." "Richard Pierce. Founder of Meridian Technologies. Committed suicide fifteen years ago today." Victoria''s voice was soft, deadly. "Tell me about him."

    Alexander''s mind raced through possible responses, calcting risks, weighing options. Denial would only work if she had no proof. Partial truth might satisfy her curiosity. Or she might already know everything.

    "He was my uncle," Alexander said quietly. "My Father''s brother."

    Victoria''s hands stilled on the folder. "Your uncle."

    "Yes. He took me in after my parents... after I left home as a teenager."

    "And you never thought to mention this when you married my daughter? When

    you started working closely with Kane Industries?"

    Alexander met her gaze directly. "It was painful. Personal. I saw no reason to bring up ancient history."

    "Ancient history." Victoria''sugh was bitter. "Your uncle''s suicide on the day Meridian Technologies copsed. Mypany''s server failure on the fifteenth anniversary of that same date. You call that coincidence?"

    "I call it tragic timing," Alexander replied. "Uncle Richard''s death was devastating

    for our family. But it has nothing to do with today''s technical problems."

    Victoria leaned back in her chair, studying his face with the intensity of a predator.

    "You know, I almost believe you. You''re very good at this. Very convincing."

    "I''m telling the truth."

    "Are you?" Victoria''s smile was sharp as a de. "Because I''ve been reviewing our security logs. Guess

    whose ess card was used to enter the building at 6:15 this morning? Thirty-two minutes before

    the system failure began?"

    Alexander''s stomach dropped, but he kept his expression steady. "I came in early

    to prepare for the Pierce Enterprises board meeting. I do that every Tuesday."

    "But today isn''t Tuesday. Today is Thursday."

    The lie hung in the air between them like smoke. Alexander scrambled for an exnation, but Victoria continued before he could speak.

    "I don''t have proof yet," she said. "But I will. And when I do, you''ll discover exactly

    what happens to people who threaten my family."

    She stood, moving to the window that overlooked Manhattan. "In the meantime,

    I''m implementing new security protocols. Your ess to Kane Industries systems will be... limited."

    Alexander rose from his chair, knowing the meeting was over. "I understand your concerns. But you''re wrong about me."

    "We''ll see." Victoria didn''t turn from the window. "Give my love to Camille. Tell her

    the cancer treatments are going well, the doctors are very optimistic about my

    prognosis."

    The casual mention of her improving health hit Alexander like another blow.

    Victoria Kane wasn''t dying anymore. She was getting stronger, more dangerous. And now she suspected him.

    "I''m d you''re recovering," he managed.

    "So am I. It means I''ll have plenty of time to find out who tried to destroy mypany. And to make them pay."

    Alexander left the office knowing that war had been dered. Victoria suspected

    him but couldn''t prove anything yet. She would be watching him now, investigating

    him, preparing for battle.

    The game of cat and mouse had begun in earnest. And Alexander wasn''t sure which of them was the predator anymore.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 197

    Camille''s hands shook as she scrolled through her tablet, reading the headlines that had appeared overnight like a nightmare made real. The morning coffee in her cup had gone cold an hour ago, forgotten as crisis after crisis demanded her attention.

    "SAFETY CONCERNS PLAGUE KANE INDUSTRIES'' PHOENIX GRID PROJECT"

    "ANONYMOUS SOURCES REVEAL CORNER-CUTTING IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE"

    "IS KANE INDUSTRIES HIDING DANGEROUS FLAWS IN THEIR EXPANSION PLANS?"

    Each headline was a dagger to the heart, each article more damaging than thest. Someone was feeding the financial press a steady stream of poison, and Kane Industries was dying from a thousand cuts.

    Alexander entered their bedroom carrying fresh coffee, his face carefully arranged in an expression of concern and support. "Any updates from the crisis management team?"

    Camille looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes. She hadn''t slept in thirty-six hours, and exhaustion was written across every line of her face. "It''s getting worse. Three more articles went live in the past hour."

    She handed him the tablet, watching as he read thetest attack. The Financial Times had published a piece titled "Kane Industries: Built on Questionable Foundations?" that cited unnamed internal sources iming safety protocols had been ignored during Phoenix Grid construction.

    "Anonymous sources," Alexander said, shaking his head with what appeared to be disgust. "Cowards hiding behind reporters while they destroy your reputation."

    "The stock opened down another four points," Camille said, her voice barely above a whisper. "At this rate, we''ll lose twenty percent of our value by the end of the week."

    Alexander sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for her hand. Her fingers were ice cold, trembling with stress and caffeine and fear. "We''ll get through this. Kane Industries is stronger than these attacks."

    "Is it?" Camille''s voice cracked. "Alex, what if they''re right? What if there really are safety issues we missed?"

    The doubt in her voice was like acid eating away at Alexander''s chest. He had started this campaign to destroy Victoria Kane, but watching it tear apart the woman he loved was agony beyond anything he had imagined.

    "You know better than that," he said softly. "You''ve personally overseen every aspect of the Phoenix Grid. Your safety standards exceed federal requirements."

    "Then why won''t these stories stop?" Camille pulled her hand away, standing abruptly to pace across their bedroom. "Someone is feeding reporters information about our internal processes. Details that only employees would know."

    Alexander''s pulse quickened. "Have you considered the possibility of corporate espionage? Competitors trying to steal market share?"

    "Victoria thinks it''s more personal than that." Camille stopped pacing, turning to face him. "She thinks someone with intimate knowledge of Kane Industries is orchestrating these attacks."

    The words hit Alexander like physical blows. Victoria''s suspicions were growing stronger, more focused. How long before her investigation led her to the truth?

    "What does Victoria n to do?" he asked, keeping his voice neutral.

    "Increase internal security. Review all employee ess logs. Investigate anyone who might have motive to damage thepany." Camille''s eyes were haunted. "She''s turning Kane Industries into a fortress."

    Alexander nodded sympathetically while his mind raced through the implications. Victoria''s investigation would eventually uncover his digital footprints, his connections to "Guardian," histe-night visits to Kane Industries buildings. The was closing around him.

    "I should get to the office," Camille said, moving toward their walk-in closet. "The board meeting starts in an hour, and I need to prepare damage control strategies."

    Alexander watched her disappear into the closet, listening to the sounds of hangers sliding across rods as she selected another armor of corporate confidence. When she emerged wearing a sharp navy suit, she looked every inch the powerful CEO. But he could see the fear lurking behind her professional mask.

    "I''ll make some calls," Alexander offered. "Pierce Enterprises has rtionships with several financial journalists. Maybe I can provide counter-narratives to bnce the negative coverage."

    Camille''s face lit up with gratitude. "Would you? That would be incredible."

    Alexander kissed her forehead, tasting the salt of perspiration from her restless night. "Anything for you. We''re partners in everything, remember?"

    The lie burned his throat as he spoke it. Partners didn''t destroy each other''spanies. Partners didn''t orchestrate campaigns of character assassination against their spouse''s family. Partners didn''t wake up each morning nning new ways to inflict maximum damage on the person they imed to love.

    After Camille left for Kane Industries, Alexander retreated to his home office and opened his secureptop. Three new messages from "Guardian" waited in his encrypted folder, each containing more ammunition for their war against Victoria Kane.

    The first message included transcripts of internal Kane Industries meetings from fifteen years ago, discussing strategies for "neutralizingpetitive threats" in the clean energy sector. The second contained financial records showing unusual payments to private investigators shortly before Richard Pierce''s suicide. The third was the most damaging - a recording of Victoria''s voice from a board meeting, describing the need to "destroy Richard Pierce''s credibility

    before he destroys us."

    Alexander stared at the evidence, his uncle''s death suddenly feeling immediate and raw again. Victoria Kane had ordered his uncle''s destruction with the casual brutality of a generalmanding an execution. These weren''t business decisions - they were acts of deliberate cruelty designed to break a man''s spirit.

    He typed a response to "Guardian": *Received all files. Preparing next phase of media releases. How soon can we move on the safety records?*

    The reply came within minutes: *Safety documentation ready for release tomorrow. This will be the killing blow. Kane Industries won''t survive allegations of covering up structural ws in the Phoenix Grid.*

    Alexander closed theptop,

    satisfaction and guilt warring in his chest. Tomorrow''s revtions would destroy Kane Industries''. reputationpletely. The Phoenix Grid expansion would be canceled. Bittions in investor confidence would evaporate. Victoria Kane''s empire would crumble exactly as she had crumbled his uncle''spany fifteen years ago.

    But Camille would be destroyed in the process. Her life''s work, her dreams, her

    identity as a sessful CEO - all of it would burn in the fire Alexander had

    started.

    He walked to his office window,

    looking out at the Manhattan skyline. Somewhere in that forest of steel and ss, Camille was fighting desperately to save herpany. She was fielding angry calls from investors, crafting press releases to counter negative coverage, holding emergency meetings to address safety concerns that existed only in Alexander''s imagination.

    His phone buzzed with a text from her: *Board meeting was brutal. Lost two major investors. Stock down six percent and falling. Thank you for being my rock through this nightmare.*

    Alexander stared at the message, her trust and gratitude cutting through him like knives. She believed he was supporting her. She had no idea he was the architect of her destruction.

    He typed back: *I''m here for you always. We''ll get through this together.* Another lie to add to the pile. Another betrayal disguised as love. Alexander''s secure phone rang. "Guardian" calling on the encrypted line.

    "The next batch of stories goes live at midnight," came the familiar voice. "Financial blogs, industry publications, even mainstream news outlets. By tomorrow morning, Kane Industries will be facing questions about fundamental safety ws in the Phoenix Grid."

    "And the evidence?" Alexander asked.

    "Doctored, but convincing. Anonymous whistleblower ims, fabricated inspection reports, manufactured safety vitions. Nothing that can be definitively traced back to us, but damaging enough to destroy investor confidencepletely."

    Alexander closed his eyes, seeing Camille''s exhausted face in his mind. "What about coteral damage? Innocent employees who will lose their jobs?" "Casualties of war," Guardian replied coldly. "Your uncle was innocent too. The three workers who died in that factory explosion were innocent. Victoria Kane doesn''t concern herself with coteral damage - why should we?"

    The logic was sound, but it felt hollow in Alexander''s chest. Richard Pierce had been one man. Theing destruction of Kane Industries would affect thousands of employees, millions of customers, entire cities depending on the Phoenix Grid for clean energy.

    "Second thoughts?" Guardian asked, reading the silence.

    "No," Alexander said, though the word tasted like ashes. "Victoria Kane has to pay for what she did."

    "Good. Tomorrow we finish what she started fifteen years ago. Justice for Richard Pierce."

    After ending the call, Alexander sat in his office as evening shadows lengthened across the floor. In a few hours, Camille woulde home exhausted and defeated, seekingfort in his arms. He would hold her while she cried about thepany''s declining stock price. He would whisper reassurances while her world copsed around her.

    And tomorrow, when the final wave of attacks hit Kane Industries, she would turn

    to him for strength and support, never knowing that her husband was the enemy who had orchestrated her downfall.

    Alexander opened his desk drawer and pulled out a framed photo from their wedding day. Camille looked radiant in her white dress, her face glowing with joy and hope for their future together. Victoria stood beside her, proud and protective, the mother she had chosen over the parents who had failed her.

    Two women who trusted himpletely. Two women whose lives he was systematically destroying.

    Alexander traced Camille''s face in the photograph with his finger, wondering if she

    would ever forgive him when the truth finally came out. Wondering if he would be able to forgive himself.

    Tomorrow would bring the final assault. Tomorrow would see Kane Industries''

    reputation destroyed beyond repair. Tomorrow would deliver justice for Richard Pierce.

    But tonight, Alexander Pierce sat alone in his office, mourning the death of the man he used to be and the marriage he was about to destroy with his own hands.

    The photograph stared back at him, capturing a moment of perfect happiness that would soon be nothing but a memory. A reminder of what love looked like before it was poisoned by the need for revenge.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 198

    Victoria''s hands shook as she stared at the financial reports spread across her desk. Not from the cancer treatments, those were going better than expected. No, these tremors came from something far worse: the growing certainty that the man sleeping beside her daughter every night might be her greatest enemy.

    The attacks on Kane Industries had started three weeks after Camille''s wedding. Subtle at first, a few negative stories in financial blogs, some anonymous tips to reporters about safety concerns. Then the stock maniption, the server outages, the leaked internal documents. Someone with intimate knowledge of their systems was bleeding them slowly, methodically.

    Someone close enough to know their vulnerabilities.

    Victoria picked up her phone with unsteady fingers.

    "Stefan Rodriguez."

    "Stefan, it''s Victoria Kane. I need to see you. Today."

    A pause. "Is Camille.."

    "Camille is fine. But I need your help with something that could destroy her if I''m right."

    Two hourster, Stefan sat across from Victoria in her private conference room. The guilt he''d carried since betraying Camille had changed him, made him quieter, more thoughtful. More willing to do whatever it took to protect the woman he''d failed sopletely.

    "You suspect Alexander," Stefan said. It wasn''t a question.

    Victoria''sposure cracked slightly. "The timing of these attacks... they started right after the wedding. Someone is using inside information, intimate knowledge of our systems. And there''s something else."

    She slid a folder across the table. "Meridian Technologies. It copsed fifteen years ago after a series of financial attacks that look remarkably simr to what''s happening to us now."

    Stefan opened the folder, scanning the documents. "Richard Pierce. The founder who died by suicide after losing everything." His head snapped up. "Pierce. As in Alexander Pierce?"

    "His uncle." Victoria''s voice was barely a whisper. "If Alexander mes me for Richard''s death..."

    "Then Camille married a man who''s using her to get revenge on you." Stefan''s face went pale. "Jesus, Victoria. The engagement, the wedding, everything, it could all be an borate setup."

    The words hung in the air like poison. Victoria thought of Camille''s radiant smile on her wedding day, the way she''d looked at Alexander like he''d hung the stars. The idea that it might all be built on lies made her feel physically sick.

    "I need you to investigate him," Victoria said. "Quietly. Thoroughly. Use your

    shipping connections, your business contacts. Find out everything about Alexander Pierce''s background. Any connection to Meridian Technologies, any evidence he''s targeting mypany."

    "Why me? You have resources...."

    "Because this has to staypletely off the books. No paper trail that could tip him off. And because..." Victoria met his eyes. "Because you understand betrayal from the inside. If Alexander is using Camille''s love against her, I need someone who knows how that kind of maniption works."

    Stefan flinched at the direct hit. He thought of the night Camille found those divorce papers, the way her face had crumbled when she realized the scope of his betrayal. The possibility that she might be living through something even worse, might be sharing her bed with someone who was systematically destroying everything she loved...

    "What about Camille? She has a right to know."

    "She can''t know. Not yet." Victoria''s voice was firm despite the pain in her eyes. "If

    I''m wrong, this suspicion alone could destroy her marriage. If I''m right, we need irrefutable proof before we shatter her world again."

    Stefan stared at the folder in his hands. "How long do you need?"

    "Two weeks. Maybe less. If there''s a connection, if there''s any evidence Alexander is behind these attacks..." Stefan looked up, his expression grim. "I''ll find it. Not for you. For her. To protect her from going through what I put her through."

    After Stefan left, Victoria remained alone in the conference room. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she could see the city Camille was learning to love, the life she was building with the man who might be her greatest enemy.

    Victoria''s phone buzzed with a text from Camille: *Having lunch with Alexander. He''s being so supportive about thepany troubles. I''m so lucky to have him.*

    Victoria stared at the message, her heart breaking. Somewhere in the city below, her daughter was probablyughing at something Alexander said, nning their future together,pletely unaware that the man holding her hand might be the one slowly destroying everything she''d worked for.

    The irony was devastating. After everything with Rose, all the lies, maniption, and betrayal the real threat to Camille might be the person she trusted most. The man who''d helped save her from Rose might be using that heroism as cover for his own revenge.

    Victoria set the phone down without responding. If she was wrong, she was about to investigate an innocent man based on paranoia and suspicion. If she was right...

    If she was right, then Camille''s heart was about to be broken by the one person she believed would never hurt her. And this time, Victoria wasn''t sure either of them would survive it.

    She closed her eyes and made a silent vow. Whatever the truth was, whatever it cost her, she would protect Camille from another betrayal. Even if it meant destroying the happiness her daughter had finally found.

    Even if it meant bing the viin in Camille''s story to save her from a greater

    evil.

    The investigation would begin tomorrow. Tonight, Camille would go home to her husband, still believing in love, still trusting in the future they were building together.

    Victoria prayed she was wrong about Alexander Pierce. But if she wasn''t, she would make sure he learned that using Camille''s love as a weapon was thest mistake he would ever make.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 199

    Camille stood in Alexander''s home office, holding the quarterly reports she''de to collect. The afternoon sun streamed through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the mahogany desk where her husband spent most of his evenings. She''d offered to grab the Pierce Enterprises files while he attended his board meeting, wanting to help prepare for their joint presentation tomorrow.

    The office felt different when Alexander wasn''t here. Quieter. Almost cold. She noticed details she''d never seen before, the way his books were arranged by height rather than subject, the single family photo turned face-down on the shelf, the small silver key that had fallen behind hisptop.

    Curious, she picked up the key. It was old, ornate, nothing like the modern electronic locks throughout their penthouse. She turned it over in her palm, wondering what it might open.

    Her eyes swept the room and stopped at the antique wooden cab in the corner. She''d always assumed it held old business files or legal documents. But now she noticed the small keyhole just below the brass handle.

    She shouldn''t. She knew she shouldn''t. But something deep in her chest pulled her forward, some instinct she couldn''t name.

    The key slid in perfectly.

    Inside the cab, behind stacks of legitimate files, her fingers found something unexpected. A metal safe, small enough to hide butrge enough to hold secrets.

    The safe door stood slightly open, as if Alexander had been in a hurry during hisst visit. Camille''s heart began beating faster as she pulled it openpletely.

    The first thing she saw made her breath catch. Photographs. Dozens of them. All of Victoria.

    Victoria leaving Kane Industries. Victoria at restaurants. Victoria at the hospital during her cancer treatments. Victoria at their wedding, smiling as she watched her daughter dance. Victoria at family dinners, at business meetings, at quiet moments when she thought no one was watching.

    The photos were professional quality, taken with a long lens from hidden positions. All were date-stamped from their wedding day and after. Recent photos. Photos taken while Alexander was building their life together.

    Camille''s hands shook as she flipped through them. Each photo felt like a punch to her stomach. Why did Alexander have surveince photos of Victoria? Why had he been watching her during their marriage?

    Beneath the photosy a thick folder marked "Kane Industries - Security Protocols." Her fingers felt numb as she opened it. Inside were detailed blueprints of Kane Industries'' building, including restricted areas she''d never seen. Emergency exit ns. Security camera locations. Server roomyouts.

    Information only someone with high-level ess could obtain. Information that could be used to destroy thepany from within.

    At the bottom of the safey a leather journal, its pages yellow with age. The name embossed on the cover made her blood turn to ice: Richard Pierce.

    With trembling hands, she opened to a random page and began reading:

    *Victoria Kane is destroying everything I built. She nted those safety vitions. She bribed the inspectors. She''s turning my own board against me with lies about financial misconduct. Mypany is finished, and she''s the one holding the knife.*

    Camille flipped to another entry:

    *The banks are calling in our loans. Victoria''s influence reaches everywhere. She wants Meridian Technologies dead, and she''s willing to destroy innocent lives to get it. My employees, their families - none of it matters to her. She''s a monster wearing a business suit.*

    The final entry was dated the day before Richard Pierce''s death:

    *I won''t let her win. I won''t let her destroy what my father built. If I can''t save thepany, I''ll make sure the world knows what Victoria Kane really is. Someone has to stop her. Someone has to make her pay.*

    Camille''s vision blurred as the words sank in. Richard Pierce. Alexander''s uncle. The man who''d died by suicide after losing hispany.

    Alexander believed Victoria had destroyed his uncle. Alexander thought Victoria was a killer.

    Alexander had married her for revenge.

    The safe contained one more item. A single sheet of paper with handwriting she recognized as Alexander''s:

    *Phase 1: Gain Camille''s trust*

    *Phase 2: ess Kane Industries from within*

    *Phase 3: Systematic destruction ofpany assets*

    *Phase 4: Public exposure of Victoria''s crimes*

    *Phase 5: Complete financial ruin*

    At the bottom, in red ink: *For Uncle Richard. Justice will be served. Started two days before engagement party.*

    Camille''s legs gave out. She copsed into Alexander''s leather chair, the journal still clutched in her hands. The engagement party. That was when everything changed. When Alexander learned the truth about his uncle''s death.

    He''d loved her before that night. She was sure of it. The way he''d looked at her, touched her, held her during those early months - that had been real. But after their engagement party, after someone told him about Victoria''s role in his uncle''s death, everything became a lie.

    Their wedding. Their honeymoon. Every "I love you" since that night. All of it had been him using her love to get revenge on Victoria.

    The man she''d married, the man she''d fallen in love with, the man who''d held her while she cried about Rose''s betrayal - he was using her. Just like Stefan had. Just like Rose had.

    But this was worse. So much worse.

    Alexander had loved her first. She''d felt it, seen it in his eyes, known it in her bones. But then someone had poisoned that love with lies about Victoria. Someone had turned the man who truly cared for her into a weapon aimed at her heart.

    ver

    The beginning had been real. Their courtship, their early days together, the way he''d made her feel safe after Rose''s betrayal - all of that had been genuine love. But their engagement, their wedding, their marriage - it had all been built on a foundation of revenge.

    Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Alexander was home early.

    Panic shot through her as she realized what she''d done. The safe door was open, papers scattered across the desk, evidence of her discovery everywhere. If Alexander found her like this...

    She moved faster than she''d ever moved in her life. Photos back in order, folder closed, journal reced exactly as she''d found it. She mmed the safe shut and locked the cab, shoving the key back behind hisptop where she''d found it.

    By the time Alexander appeared in the doorway, she was standing by the window with the quarterly reports in her hands, looking out at the city as if she''d been waiting patiently for his return.

    "Hey, beautiful." His voice was warm, loving, exactly the same as always. "Sorry I''m early. The meeting ended sooner than expected."

    Camille turned to face him, fighting

    to keep her expression normal. Looking at him now felt like staring at a stranger. How had she never seen it? The calction behind his smites? The way his eyes

    sometimes went cold

    he

    thought she wasn''t watching?

    "No problem," she managed. "I just grabbed the reports. Ready for tomorrow?"

    He crossed the oom and kissed her forehead, the same gen

    a thousand times before. It felt like poison against her skin.

    gesture he''d done

    "You''re the best," he murmured. "I don''t know what I''d do without you."

    The words that once would have made her heart flutter now made her want to vomit. She knew exactly what he''d do without her. He''d find another way to get to Victoria. Another tool to use for his revenge.

    That evening, they had dinner like always. Alexander told her about his meeting, asked about her day, refilled her wine ss when it emptied. The perfect husband performing the perfect role.

    Camille yed her part too. She smiled at his jokes, asked questions about his projects, let him hold her hand across the table. Inside, she felt like she was

    drowning.

    When they went to bed, Alexander pulled her close like he always did. His arms around her waist, his breath warm against her neck. Shey perfectly still, letting him think she was asleep, while her mind raced through everything she''d discovered.

    Every kiss had been a lie. Every "I love you" had been strategy. Every moment of intimacy had been him gathering intelligence, gaining her trust, positioning himself

    to destroy everything she cared about.

    Around midnight, Alexander''s phone buzzed. He slipped out of bed carefully, thinking she was asleep, and walked to the bathroom.

    "Everything proceeding as nned," she heard him whisper. "She suspects

    nothing."

    Camille bit her pillow to keep from making a sound. Tears streamed down her face

    as the final piece of her heart broke apart.

    "The next phase starts tomorrow. Kane Industries won''t know what hit them."

    There was a pause as the person on the other end spoke.

    "No, Camille still trusts mepletely. She''d never believe Victoria could be capable of what we know she did. She''s too loyal, too naive. It makes her perfect for our purposes."

    Naive. The word cut deeper than any knife.

    "Yes, I understand the timeline. Richard''s death will be avenged. Victoria Kane will lose everything, just like Uncle Richard did. And when it''s over, Camille will finally see what kind of monster raised her."

    Alexander''s voice carried a cold satisfaction that made Camille''s skin crawl. This wasn''t just about business or justice. This was about destroying her entire world, piece by piece, using her own love as the weapon.

    When Alexander returned to bed, Camille forced her breathing to stay even and slow. He settled beside her, one arm draping over her waist like always. "Sleep well, beautiful," he whispered against her hair. "Tomorrow''s going to be a big day."

    Camille stared into the darkness, her mind spinning. Everyone she''d ever trusted had betrayed her. Stefan, Rose, and now Alexander. The three people who were supposed to love her most had all used that love to destroy her.

    But this time felt different. This time, she wasn''t the naive woman who''d signed divorce papers in shock or the broken victim who''d nearly died in a parking garage.

    This time, she was Camille Kane. Victoria''s daughter. The woman who''d built an empire and survived her sister''s attempts to murder her.

    And if Alexander Pierce thought he could use her love to destroy her family, he

    was about to learn exactly how wrong he could be.

    The game wasn''t over. It was just beginning.

 Chapter 200

    Camille sat at their kitchen table, watching Alexander pour coffee into two mugs. His movements were the same as always - careful, precise, loving. He added cream to hers without asking, remembering exactly how she liked it. The small gesture that used to make her heart warm now felt like another piece of evidence in his performance.

    She''d barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw those photographs of Victoria. The security ns. Richard Pierce''s journal entries filled with pain and anger. Alexander''s handwritten revenge list with dates that proved he''d nned their wedding knowing the truth about his uncle.

    "You''re quiet this morning," Alexander said, setting her mug down and kissing the top of her head. Another normal gesture that now felt poisoned.

    Camille wrapped her fingers around the warm ceramic, needing something solid to hold onto. "We need to talk."

    Something in her tone made Alexander pause. He sat down across from her, his dark eyes searching her face. "What''s wrong?"

    For a moment, she almost lost her nerve. This was Alexander. The man who''d held her when she cried about Rose. Who''d stood beside her when Victoria was in the hospital. Who''d promised to love her forever in front of everyone they cared about.

    But then she remembered his voice in the darknessst night: *She suspects nothing.*

    "I found the safe," she said quietly.

    Alexander wentpletely still. The coffee mug stopped halfway to his lips. His face didn''t change, but something shifted behind his eyes. The warmth

    disappeared, reced by something cold and calcting.

    "Which safe?" he asked, but they both knew he was buying time.

    "The one in your office. Behind the cab. With the surveince photos of Victoria."

    Alexander set down his mug with careful control. He stared at the table for a long moment, and Camille could almost see him deciding what to say. How much to admit. How to handle thisplication in his n.

    "I can exin," he said finally.

    "Can you?" Camille''s voice cracked despite her efforts to stay calm. "Can you exin why you have dozens of photos of Victoria taken during our wedding? Can you exin the security ns for Kane Industries? Can you exin Richard Pierce''s journal?"

    Alexander looked up at her then, and she saw something she''d never seen before. Not the loving husband, not the supportive partner. This was someone else entirely. Someone who''d been hiding behind Alexander''s face all along.

    "Yes," he said simply. "I can exin all of it."

    Camille had expected him to deny everything. To lie, to make excuses, to try to convince her she''d misunderstood what she''d seen. His calm admission hit her like a physical blow.

    "Victoria Kane destroyed my uncle," Alexander said, his voice steady and cold. "She deliberately covered up a factory ident that killed seventeen people. When my uncle Richard threatened to expose her, she systematically destroyed hispany and his life."

    Camille felt the room spinning around her. "That''s not true. Victoria would never.."

    "Seventeen people died because of faulty equipment that Victoria knew was dangerous," Alexander continued, ignoring her protest. "Workers with families. People with children. Victoria chose profits over human lives, and when my uncle tried to do the right thing, she crushed him like an insect."

    "You''re lying." But even as she said it, doubt crept into her voice. She''d seen Richard Pierce''s journal entries. The pain in those pages had felt real.

    Alexander leaned forward, his eyes burning with intensity. "My uncle lost everything. Hispany, his reputation, his will to live. Victoria made sure no one would hire him, no bank would lend to him, no business partner would trust him. She isted himpletely."

    "Even if that''s true," Camille said, her voice shaking, "what does that have to do with us? With our marriage?"

    "I found out the night before our engagement party," Alexander said. "Someone sent me documents. Proof of what Victoria had done. Evidence that the woman who saved you was the same woman who murdered my uncle."

    Camille''s chest felt tight. She remembered their engagement party. How Alexander had seemed different after talking to someone she didn''t recognize. How he''d been quieter, more distant in the days that followed.

    "So you decided to use me," she whispered.

    "I decided to get justice for my uncle." Alexander''s jaw tightened. "Victoria Kane has never faced consequences for what she did. She''s built an empire on the graves of innocent people, and everyone treats her like some kind of savior." "By marrying me? By pretending to love me?"

    For the first time, Alexander''s controlled mask slipped. Pain shed across his features. "It wasn''t pretending. Not all of it."

    "How much?" The words came out as a sob. "How much of our rtionship was real, Alexander? How much of what I felt, what I believed, was actually true?"

    He was quiet for a long moment, staring at his hands. "I loved you before I knew who Victoria really was. Those first months, everything you felt - I felt it too. When I realized you were connected to the woman who destroyed my family..."

    "You decided to destroy me instead."

    "I decided to ess information that would prove Victoria''s guilt. I married you to get close to her operations, to gather evidence of her crimes." Alexander looked up at her, and she saw genuine anguish in his eyes. "But somewhere along the way, my feelings became real again. The love I felt for you before I learned the truth it came back."

    Camilleughed, but it sounded more like a scream. "Real? You call surveince photos and security ns real love?"

    "I call staying awake at night worried about you real love. I call choosing to protect you from Rose real love. I call nning a future with you that goes beyond revenge real love."

    "But you never stopped the revenge," Camille said, her voice breaking. "You never told me the truth. You let me believe our marriage was built on something honest while you were photographing my mother and nning to destroy her."

    "She''s not your mother," Alexander said sharply. "She''s the woman who adopted you for her own purposes, just like I married you for mine. The difference is that my purposes changed. My love for you became real."

    Theparison felt like a p. "Don''t you darepare yourself to Victoria. She saved me. She gave me a family, a future, a reason to live when I had nothing left."

    "She gave you a life built on the deaths of seventeen innocent people." Alexander''s voice rose for the first time. "Everything Victoria Kane has, every dor in her ount, every floor of Kane Industries - it''s all paid for with blood."

    Camille stood up so fast her chair fell backward. "Stop. Just stop talking." "You need to hear this. You need to understand what kind of person you looked up to."

    "What kind of person who i looked up to?" Camille''s voice was getting louder, more desperate. "The kind who found me bleeding in a parking garage and gave me a reason to live? The kind who taught me to be strong, to fight back, to never let anyone destroy me again?"

    "The kind who destroys families for profit. The kind who covers up mass murder to protect her bottom line."

    "You destroyed our family!" Camille screamed. "You took everything real between us and poisoned it with your need for revenge. You made our wedding day a lie. You made every ''I love you'' a calction. You made our entire marriage part of your n to hurt the one person who ever truly protected me."

    Alexander stood too, reaching for her. "Camille, please. Let me exin..."

    "Don''t touch me." She backed away from him, her whole body shaking. "Don''t ever touch me again."

    "My love for you is real now. Everything I feel, everything I want for our future - it''s genuine."

    "Based on a foundation of lies." Tears streamed down her face. "You photographed Victoria at our wedding, Alexander. Our wedding day. While I was dancing with you, while I was promising to love you forever, you were already nning to betray everyone I care about."

    "I was gathering evidence to expose a killer."

    "You were using our marriage to get revenge. There''s a difference."

    Alexander''s face crumpled. "I know I handled this wrong. I know I should have told

    you the truth. But if you''d known what Victoria did, would you have believed me? Would you have chosen justice over loyalty to her?"

    "I would have chosen honesty over deception." Camille''s voice was raw with pain.

    "I would have chosen trust over maniption. I would have chosen the man I fell

    in love with over the stranger standing in front of me."

    "I am the man you fell in love with."

    "No." Camille shook her head. "The man I fell in love with wouldn''t have married

    me under false pretenses. He wouldn''t have used our honeymoon to n attacks

    on my family. He wouldn''t have let me call him my husband while he was working to destroy everything I care about."

    She walked toward the bedroom, her legs unsteady. Alexander followed her. "Where are you going?"

    "Away from you." Camille pulled a suitcase from their closet and began throwing clothes into it. "I can''t be here. I can''t look at you. I can''t pretend this conversation didn''t happen."

    "Camille, please. We can work through this. We can find a way to..."

    "To what?" She turned on him, her eyes zing through her tears. "To trust each other? To build something real? You spent our entire marriage lying to me, Alexander. You spent our entire marriage nning to destroy the woman who saved my life."

    "She destroyed my uncle''s life."

    "Then you should havee to me honestly. You should have told me your concerns, shown me your evidence, trusted me to help you find the truth." Camille zipped her suitcase with violent force. "Instead, you chose deception. You chose maniption. You chose revenge over love."

    "I chose both. I chose love and justice."

    "You can''t have both when one requires betraying the other." Camille lifted her

    suitcase and headed for the door. "You chose revenge the moment you decided to

    use our marriage as a weapon. Everything else is just you trying to feel better about what you''ve done."

    Alexander blocked her path. "Don''t leave. Please. We can figure this out

    together."

    "Together?" Camilleughed bitterly. "We haven''t been together since the night before our engagement party. Since then, it''s been you and your revenge n, with me as an unwitting aplice."

    "That''s not fair."

    "Fair?" The word came out as a roar.

    "You want to talk about fair? Is it fair that I found surveince photos of Victoria in my husband''s safe? Is it fair that every intimate moment we''ve shared has been part of your n to destroy my family? Is it fair that the man I trusted with my heart was using it to break everyone else''s?"

    Alexander stepped aside, his face white with pain. "I love you, Camille. Whatever

    else you believe, know that I love you."

    "I know," she whispered, and for a moment her anger cracked to reveal the

    devastating hurt underneath. "That''s what makes this so much worse. You love me, and you still chose revenge over protecting what we had."

    She walked past him toward the front door, each step feeling like walking through

    broken ss.

    "Where will you go?" he called after her.

    Camille turned back onest time, memorizing his face. The face she''d kissed

    goodnight every evening. The face she''d seen first thing every morning. The face that had hidden so many secrets.

    "To Victoria," she said. "To the woman you''ve spent our marriage trying to destroy.

    To the woman whose only family i am."

    The door closed behind her with a soft click that sounded like the end of

    everything.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 201

    Victoria Kane stood at the head of the Kane Industries boardroom, her hands gripping the mahogany table harder than she wanted to admit. Thest three days had been hell. Stock prices dropping. Investors pulling out. Emergency meetings that stretched into the early morning hours.

    And now Camille wasn''t answering her calls.

    "Ma''am, the Henderson Group is demanding answers about the security breach," said Marcus Webb, her chief financial officer. Dark circles ringed his eyes. "They''re threatening to withdraw their investment entirely."

    Victoria nodded, but the movement made her head spin. The cancer treatments had been going well, but the stress of the corporate crisis was undoing months of progress. Her body felt like it was fighting two wars at once.

    "Schedule a call with Henderson''s board," she said, her voice hoarser than usual. "Tomorrow morning. I''ll speak to them personally."

    "Actually, ma''am," Webb continued, his face grim, "they want to meet today. In two hours."

    Victoria closed her eyes for a moment. The fatigue was bone-deep, making every thought feel like wading through mud. She hadn''t felt this weak since the early days of her diagnosis.

    "Fine. Set it up."

    The next hour blurred together. Phone calls with angry investors. Damage control meetings with the PR team. Emergency conferences with department heads trying to trace the source of the leaks that were bleeding theirpany dry.

    Through it all, Victoria kept thinking about Camille. Three days ago, her daughter had called in tears, saying she needed to stay at the estate for a while. Something about needing space to think. Victoria had offered toe home immediately, but Camille had insisted she stay in the city to handle the crisis.

    Now Victoria wondered if something had happened between Camille and Alexander. The timing felt wrong. The crisis at Kane Industries, Camille''s sudden distance, Alexander''s increased involvement in their business affairs - it all connected in ways that made Victoria''s chest tight with worry.

    "The Henderson call is ready," Webb announced.

    Victoria stood up from her chair and immediately regretted it. The room tilted sideways, ck spots dancing at the edges of her vision. She grabbed the table to steady herself.

    "Ma''am? Are you all right?"

    "I''m fine," Victoria lied. She wasn''t fine. Her heart was racing, her hands were shaking, and every breath felt like work.

    The conference callsted forty-five minutes. Forty-five minutes of polite usations and barely concealed threats. Victoria used every ounce of her remaining strength to project confidence, to reassure Henderson''s board that Kane Industries was stable and secure.

    By the time she hung up, she was soaked in sweat.

    "We saved the Henderson ount," Webb said with relief. "But there are six more calls scheduled for this afternoon."

    Victoria tried to respond, but the words wouldn''te. The boardroom was spinning now, and the tight pain in her chest was spreading down her left arm.

    "Ma''am?"

    Victoria reached for her water ss, but her hand wouldn''t cooperate. The ss fell, shattering against the floor in a spray of crystal and water.

    "Call an ambnce," Webb shouted to someone.

    Victoria felt herself falling, the expensive Persian rug rushing up to meet her. Thest thing she remembered was the sound of her phone ringing and someone saying Camille''s name.

    *** ** **

    Camille burst through the hospital doors like a hurricane, her face white with panic. She''d been in Victoria''s garden when Webb called, trying to make sense of her marriage falling apart, when the news hit her like a truck.

    Victoria had copsed. Victoria was in the ICU. Victoria might be dying.

    "Where is she?" Camille demanded at the nurses'' station.

    "Room 314, but visiting hours..."

    Camille was already running down the hall, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She pushed through the ICU doors without slowing down.

    Victoriay in the hospital bed looking smaller than Camille had ever seen her. Tubes and wires connected her to machines that beeped and hummed with mechanical life. Her skin was pale gray, her breathing shallow and assisted by a venttor.

    "Victoria?" Camille whispered, taking her hand. The skin felt paper-thin and cold.

    Victoria didn''t respond. Her eyes remained closed, her face peaceful but frighteningly still.

    "She''s been sedated," said Dr. Martinez, appearing beside the bed. "The stress caused severeplications with her cancer recovery. Her blood pressure spiked dangerously high, and we had to put her into a medically induced state to allow her body to stabilize."

    Camille felt tears burning her eyes. "Is she going to be okay?"

    "We''re doing everything we can. But the next twenty-four hours are critical. Her body has been through tremendous strain, and the cancer markers are elevated again."

    "Can she hear me?"

    "It''s possible. Many patients in medicated states retain some awareness. You can talk to her, but keep it calm and positive. No stressful information."

    After Dr. Martinez left, Camille sat beside Victoria''s bed, holding her hand and watching the monitors. This was her fault. Victoria was fighting for her life because Camille had abandoned her during the crisis. Because she''d been so consumed with her own problems that she''d left Victoria to face the attacks alone.

    "I''m sorry," she whispered to Victoria''s still form. "I should have been here. I should have helped you instead of running away to deal with my own mess." The door opened quietly, and Camille looked up expecting to see a nurse. Instead, Alexander walked in, his face etched with genuine concern.

    "What are you doing here?" Camille''s voice was ice.

    "I heard about Victoria. I wanted to see if she''s okay."

    "You''re not wee here."

    Alexander moved closer to the bed, his eyes taking in Victoria''s unconscious form

    and the machines keeping her stable. "How is she?"

    "Why do you care? Isn''t this what you wanted? Victoria Kane brought down by the stress of defending herself against your attacks?"

    "I never wanted her to get sick. I never wanted her to suffer like this."

    "Just financially. Just professionally. Just emotionally." Camille stood up, cing herself between Alexander and Victoria''s bed. "You''ve been systematically destroying herpany while I was naive enough to think you loved me."

    "I do love you. That part was never fake."

    "Don''t." Camille''s voice cracked with pain. "Don''t stand in this hospital room and talk about love while the woman who saved my life is fighting for hers because of what you''ve done."

    Alexander''s face crumpled. "Camille, if I could take it back..."

    "But you can''t. You can''t undo the surveince photos or the stolen security ns

    or the months of lies. You can''t undo using our marriage as a weapon against my family."

    "She destroyed my uncle. She covered up deaths and ruined his life."

    "ording to who?" Camille''s voice rose, then immediately dropped as she remembered Victoria needed quiet. "Who told you that, Alexander? Who gave you this information that made you decide revenge was more

    important than the woman you imed to love?"

    Alexander was quiet, his jaw set in stubborn lines.

    "Tell me who convinced you to destroy our marriage for a dead man''s vendetta."

    "It doesn''t matter who..."

    "It matters to me!" Camille''s whisper was fierce. "It matters because whoever it was manipted you into breaking my heart. It matters because someone used your grief to turn you into a weapon against Victoria."

    "The evidence speaks for itself."

    "What evidence? Anonymous documents? Convenient timing right before our engagement? Someone wanted you to believe Victoria was guilty, Alexander. Someone who benefited from you attacking Kane Industries."

    Alexander stared at Victoria''s unconscious form, doubt flickering in his eyes for the first time. "The facts..."

    "The facts are that you chose to believe the worst about Victoria without ever talking to her directly The facts are that you married me under false pretenses and spent our entire rtionship nning to destroy my family." Camille''s voice broke. "The facts are that the man I loved doesn''t exist."

    "That''s not true."

    "Isn''t it? The Alexander I fell in love with would havee to me with his

    concerns. He would have trusted me enough to tell me the truth. He would have

    chosen our future over his past."

    Alexander reached for her, but Camille stepped back.

    "Don''t touch me. Don''t ever touch me again."

    "Camille, please. We can work through this. We can..."

    "We can''t work through anything built on lies and revenge." Camille''s tears fell freely now. "You used me, Alexander. You used our love, our marriage, our life together as a cover for your war against Victoria."

    "It wasn''t supposed to happen like this. My feelings for you became real."

    "When? When exactly did you decide you actually loved me instead of just using me? Before or after you installed surveince equipment to photograph Victoria at our wedding? Before or after you stole Kane Industries'' security ns from my

    briefcase?"

    Alexander had no answer.

    "Get out," Camille said quietly.

    "Camille...."

    "GET OUT!" Her voice carried all the pain and betrayal of thest few days. "Get

    out of this room. Get out of this hospital. Get out of my life."

    Alexander stood frozen, his face white with anguish.

    "If you ever loved me, even a little bit, you''ll leave right now and nevere back.

    Victoria is dying because of the stress you caused. I am broken because of the

    lies you told. You''ve destroyed everything you imed to care about."

    "I can make this right."

    "You can''t. There is no right anymore. There''s just the wreckage of what we used

    to have and the reality of who you really are."

    Alexander took onest look at Victoria''s still form, then at Camille''s tear-stained

    face. Something in her expression must have finally convinced him, because he turned and walked toward the door.

    "For what it''s worth," he said quietly, "I am sorry."

    "Your sorrow doesn''t fix anything. It doesn''t bring back Victoria''s health or my trust

    or the marriage I thought we had." Camille''s voice was hollow. "Your sorrow is just another thing you''ll have to live with."

    The door closed behind him with a soft click.

    Camille sank back into the chair beside Victoria''s bed, taking her hand again. The

    machines continued their mechanical rhythm, keeping Victoria stable while her body fought to recover from the damage stress had done.

    "I''m here now," Camille whispered. "I''m not going anywhere. We''ll get through this together, just like we always do."

    But as she watched Victoria''s still face, Camille wondered if some damage could

    never be undone. If some betrayals cut too deep to heal. If some fights were too big to win. Outside the hospital room, the corporate war continued. The attacks on Kane Industries hadn''t stopped just because Victoria was unconscious. If anything,

    whoever was behind them would probably see her hospitalization as an opportunity to

    strike harder. Camille squeezed Victoria''s hand tighter. She''d failed Victoria once by running

    away when the crisis started. She wouldn''t fail her again.

    Whatever came next, whoever was really behind the attacks on theirpany,

    Camille would face it head-on. For Victoria. For their family. For everything they''d

    built together.

    But first, Victoria had to survive the night.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 202

    Camille sat in the hospital cafeteria, staring at a cup of coffee that had gone cold hours ago. She hadn''t left the hospital since Victoria''s copse two days earlier. The doctors said Victoria''s condition was stable but critical. The sedation would continue for at least another day while her body fought to recover from the stress- inducedplications.

    The cafeteria smelled like disinfectant and overcooked vegetables. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting everything in harsh white light that made everyone look sick. Camille felt sick too, but not from the lighting. She felt sick from the weight of everything falling apart around her.

    Kane Industries was bleeding money. Stock prices had dropped another fifteen percent since Victoria''s hospitalization. Major investors were pulling out, citing concerns about leadership stability. The board was demanding emergency meetings that Camille wasn''t prepared to handle alone.

    And Alexander kept calling.

    She''d blocked his number after the fifth call, but he found ways around it. Messages through his assistant. Emails to her work ount. Even a handwritten letter delivered to the hospital. All saying the same thing: he was sorry, he wanted to exin, he needed her to understand.

    Camille didn''t want to understand. Understanding would mean acknowledging that part of her still loved him. That part of her wanted to believe his feelings had been real, even if everything else was a lie.

    "Camille?"

    She looked up to see Stefan Rodriguez standing beside her table. He looked tired, older than his years, wearing a simple ck sweater instead of his usual expensive suits. His left shoulder was still stiff from the bullet he''d taken saving her from Rose.

    "Stefan? What are you doing here?"

    "I came to see how Victoria is doing. And to see how you''re holding up."

    Camilleughed, but it sounded more like a sob. "I''m not holding up. I''m drowning."

    Stefan sat down across from her without being invited. "I know the feeling." They sat in ufortable silence for a moment. Stefan was thest person Camille had expected to see. Their rtionship had beenplicated since he''d saved her life. She''d forgiven him for the affair with Rose, but forgiveness didn''t erase history. It didn''t make their conversations easy.

    "I heard about you and Alexander," Stefan said quietly.

    "Did you?" Camille''s voice was bitter. "What exactly did you hear?"

    "That he''s been investigating Victoria. That he believes she''s responsible for his uncle''s death." Stefan paused. "That your marriage is over."

    Camille''s throat tightened. Hearing the words out loud made them more real. "It was never a real marriage to begin with."

    "That''s not true."

    "How would you know?"

    Stefan met her eyes. "Because I know what it looks like when someone loves you genuinely, and I know what it looks like when someone is using you. I did both to you."

    The honesty in his voice caught Camille off guard. "StefanˇŞ"

    "Alexander loved you first. Before he knew about Victoria, before anyone told him about his uncle. I saw it at your engagement party. The way he looked at you wasn''t calcted. It was real."

    "It doesn''t matter now."

    "Doesn''t it? If someone manipted him into believing Victoria was guilty, if someone used his grief to turn him against you, doesn''t that change things?"

    Camille stared at her cold coffee. "He still chose revenge over our marriage. He still lied to me for months. He still used our wedding as cover for surveince."

    "Yes, he did. And that was wrong. But the question is whether he was acting on real evidence or manufactured lies."

    "Why do you care?"

    Stefan was quiet for a long moment. "Because I know what it''s like to lose you because of my own mistakes. And because I owe you something."

    "You don''t owe me anything. You saved my life. We''re even."

    "No, we''re not." Stefan leaned forward. "You gave me a second chance when you had every right to hate me forever. You let me help with the Phoenix Foundation. You let me prove I could be better than the man who betrayed you."

    Camille looked at him, seeing the genuine regret in his eyes. The same regret that had driven him to take a bullet meant for her.

    "What are you saying?"

    "I''m saying let me help you investigate Alexander''s ims about Victoria. Let me help you find out if someone has been manipting all of you."

    "Why would you want to do that?"

    "Because if Victoria is innocent, she deserves to have her name cleared. And if Alexander was manipted, you deserve to know the truth about what destroyed your marriage."

    Camille felt tears starting again. "I can''t handle any more betrayals, Stefan. I can''t discover that someone else I trusted was lying to me."

    "Then let''s find out if Victoria was telling the truth or if Alexander was. Let''s get real answers instead of living with suspicion and pain."

    "I don''t know how to investigate something like this. I don''t know where to start."

    "I do." Stefan pulled out his phone and showed her a folder of documents. "I''ve been looking into Alexander''s uncle already. Victoria asked me to investigate Alexander''s background before all this happened."

    Camille stared at the phone. "Victoria suspected Alexander?"

    "She suspected someone was feeding Kane Industries information to outside attackers. She wanted to know if Alexander might be involved." Stefan''s expression was grim. "She was right to be suspicious."

    "Show me."

    Stefan opened the folder on his phone. "These are the official court records from the Meridian Technologies case. The real ones, not edited versions."

    Camille read through the documents, her heart sinking with each page. The safety vitions were clear. The workerints that Richard Pierce had ignored. The shortcuts hispany had taken to underbidpetitors.

    "This doesn''t match what Alexander showed me," she whispered.

    "What did Alexander show you?"

    "Richard Pierce''s journal. It painted Victoria as the viin. Said she nted evidence and bribed inspectors."

    Stefan nodded grimly. "I''d like to see that journal. And any other evidence Alexander has."

    "He won''t talk to me. And even if he would, I don''t want to see him."

    "Then we''ll have to find another way."

    The cafeteria door opened, and Hannah Zhao walked in. Kane Industries'' chief engineer looked exhausted, her usually perfect appearance rumpled from days of crisis management.

    "Camille? I''ve been looking for you." Hannah sat down beside them. "How''s Victoria?"

    "The same. Sedated. Fighting." Camille gestured to Stefan. "Hannah, this is Stefan Rodriguez. Stefan, Hannah Zhao."

    Hannah''s eyes widened slightly. "The Stefan Rodriguez? From the Rodriguez Shipping crisis?"

    Stefan winced. "That''s me. Though I''d prefer to be known for something else these days."

    "Stefan wants to help investigate the allegations against Victoria," Camille exined. "He thinks someone might have manipted the evidence Alexander was given."

    Hannah leaned forward, interested. "What kind of evidence?"

    "Documents suggesting Victoria covered up safety vitions and destroyed Richard Pierce''spany to hide her crimes," Stefan said.

    "That''s impossible," Hannah said immediately. "I''ve worked with Victoria for five years. She''s obsessive about safety protocols. She''d rather lose money than risk lives."

    "That''s what I thought too," Camille said. "But the documents Alexander has seem real. His uncle''s journal entries, official-looking reports..."

    Hannah''s expression sharpened. "Can I see them?"

    "Alexander won''t share them with me."

    "Then we''ll have to get them another way." Hannah pulled out herptop. "I can analyze digital documents for signs of maniption. Altered timestamps, inconsistent formatting, metadata that doesn''t match the supposed creation dates."

    Stefan and Camille exchanged nces. "You can do that?"

    "I can do more than that. If someone created fake evidence to frame Victoria, they

    left digital fingerprints. Modern document editing leaves traces that are almost impossible to hidepletely."

    "But we still need ess to Alexander''s evidence," Stefan pointed out.

    Hannah smiled for the first time in days. "Leave that to me. Alexander''s been sharing files with Kane Industries systems for months as part of the Phoenix Grid project. Hisputer has been on ourwork.

    If the documents are on hi

    system..."

    "You can ess them remotely?"

    "I can ess them legally. He signed agreements allowing Kane Industries IT support for coborative projects. Those agreements include remote ess for technical assistance."

    Camille felt a spark of hope for the first time since finding the surveince photos. "How long would it take?"

    "A few hours to ess his system. Maybe a day to analyze everything I find." Hannah''s fingers were already flying over her keyboard. "But

    do

    Camille, you need to know - ifve). no

    this, there''s no going back. Whatever we find, whether it proves Victoria''s innocence or guilt, you''ll have to live with the truth."

    Camille thought about Victoria lying unconscious in the hospital room upstairs. About Alexander''s desperate phone calls and letters. About her marriage that had crumbled in a single conversation.

    "I need to know the truth," she said finally. "Whatever it costs me."

    Stefan nodded. "Then let''s find it."

    Hannah''sptop chimed as she connected to Kane Industries'' servers. "I''m in

    Alexander''s system. There are hundreds of files here. Documents, photos, audio recordings..."

    "Audio recordings?" Camille''s stomach dropped.

    "Phone calls. Conversations. Some arebeled with dates going back months." Hannah''s face went pale as she read the file names. "Camille, some of these are recordings of your private conversations with Alexander."

    The cafeteria suddenly felt too small, too bright, too full of the smell of disinfectant

    and despair. Camille gripped the edge of the table.

    "He recorded me?"

    "It looks like he recorded everything. Every conversation, every argument, every intimate moment." Hannah''s voice was horrified. "This goes way beyond gathering evidence about Victoria. This is surveince of you personally." Stefan''s jaw tightened. "What else is there?"

    Hannah scrolled through the files. "Financial records for Kane Industries. Security footage from the corporate offices. Internal memos about board meetings. And..." She paused, her face going white.

    "What?"

    "A folderbeled ''Phase Five - Final Strike.'' It''s password protected, but the metadata shows it was created yesterday. After Victoria''s copse." Camille felt the room spinning around her. "He''s still nning something. Even after everything that''s happened, he''s still nning to attack Victoria." "Not just Victoria," Hannah said quietly, reading the file structure. "There are

    subfolders for Kane Industries, for you personally, and for something called ''Public Exposure Event.""

    "He''s going to destroy all of us," Camille whispered.

    Stefan reached across the table and took her hand. "Not if we stop him first."

    Hannah looked up from herptop, determination recing the shock in her eyes. "I can break the password protection. I can find out exactly what Alexander is nning. But we need to do this fast, before he realizes we''re in his system."

    Camille stared at theptop screen, seeing years of marriage reduced to folders

    of surveince and betrayal. Every private moment catalogued. Every vulnerable conversation recorded. Every trust vited.

    "Do it," she said. "Find out what else my husband has been hiding from me."

    As Hannah''s fingers flew over the keyboard, Camille realized this was just the beginning. Whatever they found in Alexander''s files would either Clear Victoria''s name or confirm her guilt. It would either

    expose a conspiracy against their family or reveal truths that would destroy them all.

 Chapter 203

    Alexander Pierce stood in his empty penthouse, staring at the financial news ticker scrolling across his wall-mounted screen. Kane Industries stock had not only recovered from its morning crash but was now trading higher than before Victoria''s copse. His carefully orchestrated attack had beenpletely neutralized in a matter of hours.

    His hands trembled with rage as he gripped his phone, watching the numbers climb steadily upward. Months of nning. Months of gathering evidence, building his case, positioning himself for the perfect strike. All of it undone by a few phone calls from powerful men he''d never even considered.

    The penthouse felt cavernous around him. Camille''s belongings were gone, taken during his brief absence yesterday. Her books, her clothes, her coffee mug from the kitchen counter - every trace of their life together had been erased. The silence pressed against him like a physical weight.

    His phone buzzed with an encrypted message: *Meeting tonight. Pier 47. 11 PM.*

    Alexander''s jaw clenched. The Guardian wanted to meet in person. That only happened when ns required major adjustments or when things had gone catastrophically wrong.

    The hours crawled by with agonizing slowness. Alexander paced his apartment, reying the morning''s events over and over. He''d watched the stock price plummet during pre-market trading, felt the satisfaction of seeing Victoria''s empire finally cracking under pressure. Then Richard Lewis and Senator Alvarez had appeared like avenging angels, systematically dismantling his attack with surgical precision.

    Who was Senator Alvarez to Camille? Alexander had researched every aspect of her life, every rtionship, every connection. The revtion that one of the most powerful men in Washington would personally intervene to save Kane Industries felt like discovering a hiddenndmine in familiar territory.

    By ten-thirty, Alexander was driving through the industrial district toward the waterfront. Pier 47 was abandoned at this hour, nothing but rusted shipping containers and broken streetlights. The kind of ce where conversations happened that could never be traced or recorded.

    He found the Guardian waiting in the shadows between two storage units, a figure in an expensive coat whose face remained hidden in darkness.

    "You failed," the Guardian said without preamble.

    "The Lewis family intervened. I had no way of predicting Senator Alvarez would get involved."

    "You should have researched deeper. You should have known about every connection, every rtionship, every potential threat."

    Alexander''s hands clenched into fists. "I spent months gathering intelligence on Victoria Kane and Camille. There was no indication that..."

    "There was no indication because you were looking at the wrong targets." The Guardian''s voice carried cold disappointment. "You focused on Victoria''s business rtionships and Camille''s emotional vulnerabilities. You ignored the most dangerous threat of all."

    "Which is?"

    "Old money. Old power. The kind of influence that doesn''t show up in corporate filings or social media profiles." The Guardian stepped closer, his face still obscured by shadow. "Richard Lewises from five generations of New Ennd wealth. His family has been cing senators and judges for over a century. Senator Alvarez owes his entire political career to Lewis family support."

    Alexander felt sick. "You knew about this?"

    "I suspected. But I thought Victoria''s crimes were severe enough that even the Lewis family wouldn''t risk their reputation defending her." The Guardian''s tone was bitter. "I underestimated their loyalty to Camille."

    "So what now? We''ve lost the element of surprise. They know someone is targeting Kane Industries."

    "Now we escte to ensure justice is served."

    Alexander didn''t like the sound of that. "What do you mean?"

    The Guardian pulled out a tablet and showed Alexander a series of financial documents. "The Lewis family''s wealthes from dozens of investments, holdings, and business partnerships. Real estate developments, technologypanies, pharmaceutical research. As long as they can prop up Kane Industries with their connections and capital, Victoria Kane will never face consequences for what she did."

    Alexander studied the documents, his stomach growing heavier with each page. "You want to attack Camille''s parents?"

    "I want to ensure that seventeen innocent people who died in that factory explosion get the justice they deserve. I want to make sure Victoria Kane can''t hide behind powerful friends when the truthes out."

    "This isn''t about Camille''s family. This is about Victoria''s crimes."

    "Is it?" The Guardian''s voice took on a passionate edge. "Think about it, Alexander. Victoria Kane covered up a factory ident that killed seventeen people. She destroyed your uncle''spany and drove him to suicide to protect her own reputation. And now she''s using her adopted daughter''s family connections to escape ountability."

    Alexander felt the familiar anger burning in his chest. "The Lewis family is protecting Kane Industries because they love Camille, not because they know about Victoria''s crimes."

    "Exactly. They''re choosing family loyalty over justice for murder victims. They''re helping a killer escape consequences because she happens to be their daughter''s adoptive mother."

    "They don''t know what Victoria did."

    "Then maybe it''s time they learned." The Guardian gestured to the tablet again. "We expose Victoria''s crimes publicly. We show the world, including the Lewis family, exactly what kind of woman they''re protecting. When they see the evidence of her cover-up, when they understand that seventeen people died because of her greed, they''ll withdraw their support."

    Alexander stared at the documents detailing Richard and Margaret Lewis''s investments. "And if they don''t? If they choose to support Victoria even after knowing the truth?"

    "Then they beplicit in covering up mass murder. Then they be legitimate targets in our quest for justice."

    The words sent a chill down Alexander''s spine. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

    "I''m suggesting that anyone who knowingly protects a killer deserves to face consequences. The Lewis family built their wealth over generations. If they use that wealth to shield Victoria Kane from justice, then perhaps they should lose it."

    "That would destroy Camille too. Everything she inherited, everything her parents built for her."

    jet

    "Camille made her choice when she chose Victoria over you. She chose the woman who killed your uncle over the man who loved her." The Guardian''s voice turned persuasive. "She''s already lost to you, Alexander. The question is whether she''ll lose while Victoria faces justice, or whether she''ll keep everything while seventeen families never get closure for their murdered loved ones."

    Alexander felt torn between rage and doubt. "I don''t want to hurt Camille."

    "You''re not hurting her. You''re

    ensuring that mass murder doesn''t go unpunished. You''re making sure that your uncle''s death means something." The Guardian stepped closer. "Those seventeen people who died in that factory had families, Alexander. They had children who grew up without parents. They had spouses who never got justice. Don''t you think they deserve better than watching their killer live in luxury while being protected by political influence?"

    "Of course they deserve justice."

    "Then help me expose the truth. Help me show the world what Victoria Kane really is. If the Lewis family withdraws their support after learning about the cover- up, then Kane Industries falls naturally. If they choose to protect a killer despite knowing what she did, then they share her guilt."

    Alexander stared at the financial documents on the tablet. Every instinct told him this was wrong, that attacking Camille''s family was crossing a line he couldn''t uncross. But the Guardian''s words echoed in his mind: seventeen people dead, families without justice, a killer protected by wealth and influence.

    "The evidence against Victoria," Alexander said slowly. "You''re certain it''s solid?"

    "I''ve shown you the safety reports your uncle tried to file. I''ve shown you the evidence of Victoria''s bribery and intimidation. I''ve shown you the cover up that followed the factory explosion." The Guardian''s voice was unwavering. "Seventeen people died because Victoria Kane chose profits over safety. Your uncle died because he tried to expose her crimes."

    "And you believe attacking the Lewis family is the only way to get justice?"

    "I believe that justice dyed is justice denied. I believe that letting a killer escape consequences because she has powerful friends is an insult to every victim''s

    memory."

    Alexander closed his eyes, thinking of his uncle''s journal entries, the pain and desperation in those final weeks before his suicide. "What would you need me to do?"

    "Help me expose Victoria''s crimes publicly. Help me show the Lewis family and the world what kind of woman they''re protecting. When the truthes out, when seventeen families finally get the justice they deserve, then your uncle can rest in peace."

    "And if the Lewis family still chooses to support Victoria after seeing the evidence?"

    "Then they be part of the cover-up. Then they share responsibility for keeping a killer out of prison." The Guardian''s voice hardened. "And then we use every legal and financial tool at our disposal to make sure they can''t continue protecting her."

    Alexander felt the weight of decision pressing down on him. Part of him recoiled at the idea of targeting Camille''s family. But another part, the part that had carried grief and anger for months, whispered that maybe this was the only way to honor his uncle''s memory.

    "I need time to think about this."

    "Time is a luxury we don''t have. Kane Industries recovered today because of Lewis family intervention. Every day we wait gives them more opportunity to consolidate their defense of Victoria."

    "One day. Give me one day to decide."

    The Guardian was quiet for a long moment. "Twenty-four hours. But Alexander, remember what''s at stake here. This isn''t about your marriage or your personal feelings for Camille. This is about seventeen innocent people who deserve justice. This is about making sure your uncle''s death meant something." Alexander walked away without responding, his footsteps echoing off the concrete pier. Behind him, the Guardian melted back into the shadows between the shipping containers.

    As Alexander drove home through empty streets, his mind churned with conflicting

    emotions. The evidence against Victoria seemed solid. The Guardian''s passion for justice felt genuine. But something about targeting the Lewis family felt wrong, even if they were protecting a killer.

    His uncle really had died believing Victoria Kane was responsible for destroying his life. The factory explosion really had killed seventeen people. The cover-up really had protected Victoria while the victims'' families suffered without answers. But Camille was innocent. Her parents were innocent. They didn''t know about

    Victoria''s alleged crimes, didn''t understand what kind of woman they were protecting. Alexander pulled into his empty penthouse garage and sat in his car for a long moment. He couldn''t undo what he''d done to Camille. He couldn''t repair the trust he''d shattered or take back the surveince photos or erase the months of lies.

    But maybe he could ensure that his uncle''s death and the deaths of seventeen innocent people finally received the justice they deserved.

    Even if it meant destroying the family of the woman he''d already lost forever.

    As Alexander rode the elevator to his empty apartment, he realized he was facing the most important decision of his life. Honor his uncle''s memory and seek justice for mass murder victims, or protect the family of the woman whose heart he''d

    already broken.

    Twenty-four hours to choose between justice and mercy. Twenty-four hours to decide whether love was stronger than the need for revenge. Twenty-four hours to determine what kind of man he really was.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 204

    Richard Lewis sat in his private study at three in the morning, surrounded by documents that painted a picture of calcted betrayal. The mahogany desk his grandfather had built was covered with financial reports, digital surveince evidence, andmunication records that told a story no father should ever have to read.

    His daughter''s husband had been systematically destroying Kane Industries. The man Camille had trusted with her heart, her future, her most vulnerable moments, had been photographing Victoria at their wedding and stealing security ns during their honeymoon.

    Richard''s hands trembled as he read through the final piece of evidence: an advance copy of a press release scheduled to go live in six hours. The headline made his blood run cold: "Kane Industries CEO Victoria Kane Linked to Cover-Up of Factory Deaths - Exclusive Investigation Reveals Decades of Corporate Murder."

    The release contained detailed allegations about a factory explosion fifteen years ago, iming Victoria had bribed safety inspectors and destroyed evidence to protect herpany''s reputation. It painted her as a cold-blooded killer who valued profits over human lives.

    Richard knew the release was scheduled to hit every major financial news outlet simultaneously. By the time markets opened, Kane Industries would be facing not just stock maniption but criminal allegations that would destroy thepanypletely.

    He picked up his phone and began making calls.

    "Tom, it''s Richard Lewis... I need an emergency favor... There''s a fraudulent press release about to go live targeting my daughter''spany... Yes, I know it''ste, but this can''t wait until morning..."

    One call became ten. Ten became twenty. Richard worked through his contact list with methodical precision, calling in favors umted over thirty years of business rtionships. Newspaper editors who owed him for charitable donations. Television producers whose careers he''d supported. Digital tform executives whosepanies had benefited from Lewis family investments.

    By five AM, the press release had been blocked from every major outlet. Legal injunctions had been filed. Criminalints about securities fraud were being prepared.

    But blocking the attack wasn''t enough. Richard needed to confront the man who had vited his daughter''s trust sopletely.

    At seven AM, Richard Lewis stood outside Alexander Pierce''s penthouse building. The doorman recognized him immediately - the Lewis family name carried weight in every corner of Manhattan society.

    "Mr. Lewis? Is everything all right?"

    "I need to see Alexander Pierce. Tell him it''s urgent."

    The elevator ride to the penthouse felt endless. Richard''s anger had been building for hours, fueled by every document he''d read, every piece of evidence that showed how thoroughly Alexander had deceived Camille.

    Alexander answered the door looking haggard and exhausted. His expensive shirt was wrinkled, his hair ubed, his eyes bloodshot from sleepless nights. When he saw Richard, his face went white.

    "Mr. Lewis? I wasn''t expecting..."

    "We need to talk." Richard pushed past Alexander into the penthouse without invitation.

    The apartment was a mess. Empty bottles on the kitchen counter. Takeout containers scattered across expensive furniture. The remnants of a life that had fallen apart when the lies became too heavy to carry.

    "Sit down," Richardmanded.

    Alexander remained standing, his jaw set in stubborn lines. "If you''re here about Camille..."

    "I''m here about Kane Industries. I''m here about the stock maniption, the stolen security ns, the surveince photos of Victoria." Richard''s voice was deadly quiet. "I''m here about the press release you scheduled to destroy my daughter''spany this morning."

    Alexander''s face crumpled. "How did you..."

    "How did I find out? You mean besides the fact that you''ve been sloppy enough to leave digital fingerprints all over your crimes?" Richard pulled out a folder thick with evidence. "I have documentation of every illegal ess to Kane Industries systems. Every stolen document. Every manipted stock trade."

    "You don''t understand. Victoria Kane is..."

    "Victoria Kane is what? A killer? A criminal? A monster?" Richard''s voice rose for the first time. "Or is she the woman who saved my daughter''s life when everyone else abandoned her?"

    Alexander stared at the floor, unable to meet Richard''s eyes.

    "Look at me when I''m talking to you." Richard''smand was sharp enough to cut ss. "Look at me and exin how you justify using my daughter''s love as a weapon against her family."

    Alexander''s head snapped up, his eyes zing with desperate anger. "She covered up seventeen deaths! She destroyed my uncle''spany and drove him to suicide!"

    "ording to who? Anonymous documents delivered at convenient times? Evidence that appeared exactly when you needed motivation to betray your wife?"

    "The evidence is real..."

    "The evidence is manufactured." Richard mmed the folder down on Alexander''s coffee table. "I''ve had forensic ountants and digital investigators working all night. Your proof has been edited, doctored, and enhanced to support a narrative that doesn''t match the actual court records."

    Alexander went very still. "That''s impossible."

    "Is it? When did youst independently verify the ims against Victoria? When did you speak to any of the victim''s families? When did you review the original safety reports that supposedly show her guilt?"

    "I... the person who gave me the evidence...."

    "Used your grief to turn you into a weapon against my daughter." Richard''s voice was full of cold fury. "Someone fed you exactly what you needed to believe to do exactly what they wanted you to do."

    Alexander sank into a chair, his face pale with dawning horror. "But the factory explosion really happened. People really died."

    "Yes, they did. And the court records show your uncle''spany was responsible for faulty equipment instation. The safety vitions were real, but they weremitted by Meridian Technologies, not Kane Industries."

    "You''re lying."

    "I''m showing you documentation you should have examined before you destroyed your marriage." Richard opened the folder and spread official court documents across the table. "These are the actual legal proceedings. The real safety reports. The testimony of workers who tried to warn your uncle about the dangerous shortcuts he was taking."

    Alexander stared at the documents, his face hardening with stubborn resistance. "This is fake."

    "Your uncle made choices that killed seventeen people. When the families sued, he med Kane Industries to deflect responsibility from his own failures. Victoria Kane defended herpany against false usations, not covered up her own crimes."

    "You''re lying to protect Victoria." Alexander''s voice grew heated. "These documents have been altered just like you im mine were."

    "Were real. Your uncle was consumed by guilt over the deaths he caused. He couldn''t live with the responsibility for those seventeen lives, he tried to me someone else. When that failed, when the

    courts found Meridian Technologies liable, he took his own life rather than face the consequences."

    Alexander pushed the court documents away without reading them carefully. "You think I''m stupid? You think I''ll just ept your version of events because you wave some papers in my face?"

    "I''m not destroying my uncle''s memory based on lies from Victoria Kane''s protector," he said bitterly.

    "You haven''t destroyed anything yet. Victoria Kane is still walking free after murdering seventeen innocent people." Alexander''s eyes zed with unshaken conviction. "You can wave all the fake documents you want, but I know what she did."

    "Someone who benefits from Kane Industries'' copse. Someone who saw your grief as a tool to be used." Richard''s voice softened slightly with frustration. "Someone who is probably nning to continue their attacks even now that you''ve been exposed."

    "Good. Victoria Kane deserves everything that''sing to her." Alexander stood up, his posture defiant. "And if you try to protect her, you''replicit in covering up mass murder."

    "You have to stay away from my daughter." Richard''s voice turned ice-cold again. "And you have to stop this insane vendetta against Victoria."

    "Never." Alexander''s voice was firm with resolution. "Victoria Kane will pay for what she did to my uncle and those seventeen families. If you want to protect a killer, that''s your choice. But I won''t stop seeking justice."

    "Justice?" Richardughed bitterly. "You surveilled her private conversations. You used her wedding day as cover for photographing Victoria. You spent your honeymoon nning how to destroy her family''spany. That''s not justice, Alexander. That''s obsession with revenge."

    Alexander''s face twisted with pain and anger. "My uncle died because of Victoria Kane. Seventeen people died because of her greed. I won''t let her escape consequences just because she has powerful friends protecting her."

    "I know what I have to do," Alexander said firmly. "And I won''t be stopped by threats or fake evidence."

    "Then you''re beyond help." Richard moved closer, his presence intimidating despite his smaller stature. "But hear this clearly - if you continue attacking my daughter''spany, if you hurt Camille any more than you already have, I will destroy you personally."

    "Destroy me for seeking justice? For honoring my uncle''s memory?" Alexander''s voice was bitter. "At least I''ll know I stood up to corruption instead of enabling it."

    "You''re not seeking justice. You''re seeking revenge based on lies." Richard gathered up the documents. "But you''re too blinded by hate to see the truth even when it''s put in front of you."

    "I won''t stop fighting for justice just because you threaten me." Alexander''s jaw was set in stubborn determination. "My uncle deserves better than being forgotten so Victoria Kane can continue living in luxury."

    "Then you give that information to the FBI, not to me." Richard''s voice was grim with finality. "And you stay away from Camille while you destroy yourself with this pointless crusade."

    Alexander''s shoulders straightened with renewed resolve. "I know exactly what I need to do. And tonight, I''m going to take the next step in making Victoria Kane pay for her crimes."

    "When is your next contact with this Guardian person?"

    "Tonight. And I''m going to tell him yes. Victoria Kane and anyone protecting her

    needs to face consequences." Alexander met Richard''s eyes with cold determination.

    Richard went very still. "You''re nning to attack my family?"

    "I''m nning to remove the obstacles preventing justice. If the Lewis family wants

    to protect a killer, then you''re part of the problem."

    "And what did you tell this Guardian?"

    "I''m going to tell him tonight that I''m ready to do whatever it takes." Alexander''s

    voice was cold with resolution. "Victoria Kane has hidden behind wealth and power for too long."

    "You''re making a terrible mistake, Alexander."

    "The only mistake I made was not acting sooner." Alexander moved toward the

    door, clearly wanting Richard to leave. "My uncle and seventeen innocent people deserve justice, and they''re going to get it."

    "You want me to leave so you can continue nning attacks on my family?"

    "I want you to understand that nothing will stop me from exposing Victoria Kane''s crimes. Not threats not fake evidence, not family

    loyalty. Alexander''s eyes burned "Tonight, the Guardian and tare going to n how to bring down everyone who''s been protecting a mass murderer."

    with unwavering convict Durned.

    Richard stared at Alexander with a mixture of anger and disbelief. "You''re beyond reasoning with."

    "I''mmitted to justice. Something you wouldn''t understand since you''re more

    concerned with protecting your daughter''s feelings than exposing the truth." "And if I try to stop you?"

    "Then you''ll be choosing to protect a killer over innocent victims. But you can''t

    stop justice, Mr. Lewis. Victoria Kane''s crimes will be exposed, with or without your cooperation."

    Richard moved toward the door, his face grim with determination. "We''ll see about that."

    "Yes, we will." Alexander''s voice followed him. "And when the truthes out,

    when everyone sees what Victoria Kane really is, you''ll know you chose the wrong side."

    As Richard walked toward the elevator, he could feel Alexander''s defiant stare burning into his back. The young man was lost to reason, consumed by a need for revenge that had be more important to him than truth, love, or basic humanity.

    Richard didn''t turn around when Alexander called after him: "Tell Camille I''m sorry

    she chose to protect a murderer. But my uncle and those seventeen families deserve better."

    The elevator doors closed on Alexander''s unrepentant face, leaving Richard alone with the crushing weight of what he''d learned. His daughter had married a

    man who was willing to destroy innocent people in pursuit of what

    he believed was justice. The attacks on Kane Industries weren''t just continuing - they were about to

    escte to include the entire Lewis

    family.

    Alexander Pierce was no longer just Camille''s betrayed husband. He had be

    a true enemy, willing to sacrifice anyone and everyone in his way.

    Richard pulled out his phone as the elevator descended. It was time to call

    Senator Alvarez and prepare for a battle that was about to be much more dangerous than any of them had anticipated.

 Chapter 205

    Victoria''s eyes opened slowly in the hospital room, focusing on Camille''s face for the first time in three days. The machines around her bed beeped steadily, marking the rhythm of her recovery. Her skin still looked pale against the white pillows, but the dangerous gray color was gone.

    "How long was I out?" Victoria''s voice was barely a whisper.

    Camille squeezed her hand gently. "Three days. You scared us all."

    "Thepany?"

    "Stable. Dad and Uncle Eduardo helped with the stock crisis. We''re okay for now."

    Victoria tried to sit up, wincing at the effort. "There''s something I need to tell you. About Alexander''s usations. About what really happened fifteen years ago." "You don''t need to exin anything right now. Just focus on getting better."

    "No." Victoria''s grip on Camille''s hand tightened. "If Alexander is spreading lies about Meridian Technologies, you need to know the truth. All of it."

    Dr. Martinez appeared in the doorway, checking Victoria''s chart. "Mrs. Kane, it''s good to see you awake. How are you feeling?"

    "Like I''ve been hit by a truck. But I need to speak with my daughter and her colleagues about urgent business matters."

    "I''m not sure that''s wise. Your blood pressure is still elevated..."

    "Doctor, someone is trying to destroy mypany based on false usations about events from fifteen years ago. The stress of not addressing this will be worse for my health than discussing it."

    Dr. Martinez looked between Victoria and Camille, then sighed. "Thirty minutes. No more. And if your blood pressure spikes, we end the conversation immediately."

    After the doctor left, Camille called Stefan and Hannah. Both arrived within twenty minutes, their faces showing relief at seeing Victoria conscious and alert.

    "Before we start," Victoria said, looking at each of them, "what I''m about to share with you has been locked away for fifteen years. Some of it will be painful to hear. But if Alexander is using doctored evidence to attack us, you need to understand what really happened."

    She gestured to her briefcase, which Camille had brought from the office. "In the side pocket, there''s a key. Take it."

    Camille found the small silver key, ornate and old-fashioned, simr to the one she''d found in Alexander''s office.

    "That key opens a private safe in my office. Behind the bookshelf, there''s a hidden panel. The safe contains documents I''ve kept about every major legal challenge Kane Industries has faced. Including the Meridian Technologies case."

    Stefan leaned forward. "Why keep those records separately?"

    "Because some truths are too dangerous to leave in regr files. Because some stories are moreplicated than the public versions." Victoria''s eyes grew distant. "The Meridian Technologies factory explosion wasn''t a simple case of corporate negligence. It was a tragedy caused by multiple failures, multiple people making choices that cost seventeen lives."

    Hannah pulled out herptop. "Should I take notes?"

    "Take everything. Record everything. Because after today, I never want to speak about this again."

    Camille felt her chest tighten. "What really happened, Victoria?"

    Victoria closed her eyes, gathering strength. "Fifteen years ago, Kane Industries and Meridian Technologies werepeting for a major industrial contract. The client wanted the cheapest bid, the fastest instation, the lowest ongoing maintenance costs. Both ourpanies submitted proposals."

    "Alexander said you underbid Meridian to steal the contract," Stefan said carefully.

    "We did underbid them. But not by cutting safety measures. We underbid them by epting lower profit margins." Victoria''s voice grew stronger. "Richard Pierce chose a different strategy. He cut costs by using substandard materials and rushing safety inspections."

    "The factory explosion," Hannah said quietly.

    "Happened six months after instation. Seventeen people died when a pressure valve failed during routine maintenance." Victoria''s voice cracked slightly. "The valve was supposed to be rated for high-pressure industrial use. Instead, Richard Pierce had ordered residential-grade equipment to save money."

    Camille felt sick. "Alexander doesn''t know this?"

    "Alexander has been shown selected pieces of arger story. Someone gave him Richard Pierce''s personal journal, which focused on his anger and me toward me. But they didn''t show him the engineering reports that proved the faulty equipment was Meridian''s responsibility."

    "Why would Richard Pierce me you if hispany was at fault?" Stefan asked.

    Victoria''s expression became pained. "Because I knew about the substandard materials before the explosion happened."

    The room went silent except for the beeping of medical machines.

    "You knew?" Camille''s voice was barely audible.

    "Two weeks before the explosion, one of Meridian''s engineers contacted me. He was concerned about the equipment Richard Pierce was ordering for the instation. He thought Kane Industries should know that ourpetitor was cutting dangerous corners."

    "What did you do?"

    "I documented everything he told me. I had my legal team research whether we had any obligation to report suspected safety vitions by apetitor. I spent sleepless nights debating whether to warn the client or stay out of Meridian''s business."

    Victoria''s heart monitor began beeping faster as her stress levels rose. "And?" Hannah prompted gently.

    "I decided it wasn''t my ce to interfere. We werepetitors. If I reported Meridian''s cost-cutting to the client, it would look like I was trying to sabotage them to win the contract myself." Victoria''s voice was full of old pain. "I told myself that Meridian''s engineers would catch the problems before anyone got hurt. I told myself that Richard Pierce was too experienced to let truly dangerous equipment be installed."

    Camille felt tears starting. "So you did nothing?"

    "I did nothing. And two weekster, seventeen people died."

    The heart monitor''s beeping increased noticeably. Dr. Martinez appeared in the doorway, but Victoria waved him away.

    "When the families sued after the explosion, Richard Pierce tried to im that Kane Industries had sabotaged his equipment. He said we''d deliberately provided him with false specifications to make his instation fail."

    "That''s when you fought back," Stefan said.

    "That''s when I defended mypany against false usations. But Richard Pierce knew that I had prior knowledge of his cost-cutting. He threatened to make that information public, to im that Kane Industries knew about the dangerous equipment and chose not to warn anyone."

    "Which would have made you lookplicit," Hannah realized.

    "Exactly. So when the courts

    investigated the explosion, I

    provided every document showing that Meridian Technologies was

    responsible for the fa

    I proved that Richard Pierce had certified the instation as safe when he knew it wasn''t. defended

    Kane Industries by destroying

    Meridian Technologiespletely."

    Victoria''s voice grew quieter. "But I never told the courts about the engineer who warned me beforehand. I never admitted that I could have prevented those deaths by speaking up two weeks earlier."

    "You protected yourself by staying silent about your prior knowledge," Camille said, understanding dawning.

    "I protected Kane Industries. I protected our employees, our clients, our future. I made sure that Richard Pierce couldn''t drag us down with him by iming we were essories to his negligence."

    "But you felt guilty," Stefan observed.

    "I felt responsible. Not legally, but morally. I could have saved seventeen lives by warning the client about Meridian''s dangerous shortcuts. Instead, I worried about business ethics andpetitive fairness while people were about to die."

    The room fell silent as everyone processed Victoria''s revtion.

    "So when Richard Pierce''spany copsed and he took his own life," Hannah

    said slowly, "you felt like you''d caused his destruction?"

    "I caused his destruction by exposing his crimes. But I could have prevented his crimes by speaking up earlier." Victoria looked directly at Camille. "I''ve carried that weight for fifteen years. The knowledge that I chose business considerations over human lives, even if I didn''t realize people would die."

    "Alexander doesn''t know any of this," Camille said.

    "Alexander has been told a story where I''m a calcting killer who destroyed an innocent man. The truth is moreplicated. I''m someone who made a moral choice that haunts me every day, but I''m not the monster Richard Pierce''s journal makes me out to be."

    "Someone edited the story to make you look worse," Stefan said. "Someone wants Alexander to believe I''m evil enough to deserveplete destruction. They''ve taken real events, real guilt, real consequences, and twisted them into a narrative that justifies revenge."

    Victoria''s monitor began beeping urgently. Dr. Martinez rushed in with a nurse. "That''s enough for today," he said firmly. "Mrs. Kane needs rest." "Wait," Victoria called out as they prepared to leave. "The safe in my office. Get those documents tonight. Study everything. Understand exactly what happened so you can defend Kane Industries when the next attackes."

    "What next attack?" Camille asked.

    "Whoever gave Alexander the false evidence about me won''t stop just because

    he''s been exposed. They''ll find another way to destroy us. And next time, they might target all of you personally."

    As they left Victoria''s room, Camille felt overwhelmed by theplexity of what she''d learned. Victoria wasn''t innocent - she had chosen business considerations over potentially saving lives. But she wasn''t the cold-blooded killer Alexander believed her to be either.

    She was a woman who''d made an impossible choice under pressure, who''d lived with the consequences for fifteen years, and who was now paying the price for someone else''s maniption of the truth.

    "What do you think?" Camille asked Stefan and Hannah as they walked toward

    the elevators.

    "I think Victoria is telling us the truth," Stefan said. "But I also think the truth isplicated enough that someone could easily manipte parts of it to support false usations."

    "I think we need to see those documents tonight," Hannah added. "Because if

    someone has been editing the real story to create fake evidence, we need to understand exactly how they did it."

    Camille nodded, but her heart felt heavy. Alexander had destroyed their marriage based on lies, but those lies contained enough truth to feel believable. Victoria

    had failed to prevent seventeen deaths, even if she wasn''t responsible for causing

    them.

    The elevator doors closed, carrying them toward a night of painful revtions and difficult truths. But at least now they would be fighting back withplete information instead of manufactured lies.

    The question was whether the truth would be enough to save them all.

 Chapter 206

    Alexander sat in his darkened penthouse office, the blue glow of multipleputer screens painting shadows across his face. Empty coffee cups and takeout containers littered his desk - evidence of days spent nning what he believed would be justice for his uncle''s death and the seventeen lives lost in that factory explosion.

    His fingers moved across the keyboard, typing another encrypted message to the Guardian. The same securemunication system they''d used for months, bouncing signals through servers in twelve different countries to hide their conversations from anyone who might try to listen in.

    *Status update: Richard Lewis confronted me today. He showed false documents iming my uncle was responsible for the factory deaths. I didn''t believe his lies. Ready to proceed with Phase Two as discussed.*

    Alexander hit send and leaned back in his chair, exhaustion weighing on him like a physical burden. His reflection in the ckputer screen showed a man who''d aged years in the past few weeks. Stubble covered his jaw, dark circles ringed his eyes, and his expensive clothes hung loose on a frame that had lost weight from stress and sleepless nights.

    The response came back within minutes:

    *Excellent. Lewis family interference was expected. They will do anything to protect their reputation, even defend a killer. Your uncle would be proud of your dedication to justice. Meeting tonight as nned. Pier 47, midnight.*

    Alexander stared at the message, feeling the familiar mix of grief and determination that had driven him for months. Every time doubt crept into his mind, every moment when Camille''s face appeared in his thoughts and made him question his choices, the Guardian''s words reminded him of what was really at stake.

    Seventeen families who''d never received justice. His uncle, who''d died believing the world had abandoned him to protect Victoria Kane''s crimes. The truth that needed to be exposed no matter the personal cost.

    His phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: *Your wife is beautiful when she cries. You should see her at the hospital.*

    Alexander''s blood turned cold. Someone was watching Camille. Someone was threatening her.

    He typed back frantically: *Who is this? If you hurt herˇŞ*

    *Rx. Just reminding you what happens to people who get in the way of justice. Your wife chose her side. Now she lives with the consequences.*

    Alexander stared at the phone, his hands shaking with rage and fear. The Guardian had promised that Camille wouldn''t be harmed, that their fight was only with Victoria Kane and those actively protecting her. But this message suggested something far more sinister.

    He grabbed hisptop and tried to trace the phone number, but it led nowhere - a burner phone, probably already destroyed. Whoever had sent the message knew how to stay hidden.

    Twenty miles away, in a small office above a shipping warehouse, Stefan Rodriguez sat surrounded byputer equipment that would have impressed most government agencies. Multiple monitors disyed streaming code,work maps, andmunication intercepts. Coffee had long since been reced by energy drinks as he worked through his third consecutive night tracking digital ghosts.

    Stefan''s background in international shipping had required him to understand globalmunicationworks, cyber security, and the dark corners of the inte where criminal organizations operated. Skills he''d never expected to use protecting his ex-wife from her current husband''s revenge plot.

    "Come on," he muttered, watching lines of encrypted data scroll across his screen. "Give me something."

    For days, Stefan had been tracking themunication patterns between Alexander and his mysterious contact. The messages bounced through anonymous servers in Russia, China, Eastern Europe - a sophisticatedwork designed to hide the sender''s true location and identity.

    But every digitalmunication left traces. Tiny fragments of data that revealed timing patterns, server preferences, even writing styles that could identify the person behind the encryption.

    Stefan had found something interesting in the message timestamps. While themunications appeared to originate from different countries, they all showed subtle timing patterns that suggested the sender was operating from the Eastern United States. Someone who sent messages during American business hours, who took breaks at times consistent with East Coast meal schedules.

    More importantly, the technical sophistication of the encryption suggested someone with serious resources. Government-level security tools, military-grade anonymizing software, ess toworks that weren''t avable to ordinary criminals.

    Hisputer chimed with an alert. A new message had just passed through one of the servers he was monitoring.

    Stefan''s fingers flew across the keyboard, capturing every fragment of data as the encryptedmunication bounced from server to server. This message was longer than usual, moreplex, with attachment files that suggested detailed nning.

    "Gotcha," Stefan whispered as his tracking software identified a partial routing path.

    The message had originated from a server in Manhattan. Not the final source, but closer to home than the international servers it had been designed to imitate. Someone operating from New York, someone with enough technical knowledge to route theirmunications through globalworks but not quite smart enough topletely hide their location.

    Stefan immediately began working to narrow down the source. Manhattan had thousands of potential inte connection points, but the specific server signature suggested someone usingmercial office space rather than a residential connection.

    His phone rang, interrupting his concentration. Camille''s name appeared on the

    screen.

    "Stefan? Are you still working on tracking Alexander''s contact?"

    "Yes. And I think I''m getting close. Someone in Manhattan, probably operating from an office building." Stefan saved his progress before continuing. "How''s Victoria?"

    "Better. Awake and talking. She told us about what really happened with Meridian Technologies."

    "And?"

    "It''splicated. Victoria isn''t

    innocent, but she''s not the monster

    Alexander believes her to be either

    ?

    Camille''s voice sounded exhausted.

    "Someone has been feeding Alexander just enough truth mixed with lies to make him believe Victoria is a killer."

    Stefan felt cold dread in his stomach. "Camille, I intercepted something earlier tonight. A message that mentioned you specifically. Someone is watching you."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Someone sent Alexander a threatening text about you being at the hospital. They know your movements, and they''re using that information to pressure him."

    The line went quiet for a moment. "Stefan, Alexander is supposed to meet with his contact tonight. At Pier 47 at midnight."

    Stefan looked at hisputer screens, seeing new data streams flowing in real- time. "That''s in two hours. If I can track themunications to tonight''s meeting, I might be able to identify who''s really behind this."

    "Is that safe? If these people are watching me, they might be watching you too."

    "I''ll be careful. But Camille, this might be our only chance to find out who''s been manipting Alexander. If we can prove he''s been deceived, maybe we can stop him before he does something that destroys everyone."

    "Including himself," Camille said quietly.

    Stefan heard the pain in her voice and felt his chest tighten. Despite everything Alexander had done, despite the betrayal and surveince and corporate sabotage, Camille still cared about the man she''d married.

    She still hoped he could be saved from his own rage.

    "I''ll find them," Stefan promised. "Whoever is pulling Alexander''s strings, whoever has been using his grief as a weapon against your family, I''ll expose them."

    "Just be careful. I can''t lose anyone else."

    After ending the call, Stefan returned to hisputers with renewed urgency. Themunication intercepts were showing increased activity, multiple encrypted messages flowing between various parties. Something big was being nned for tonight.

    His tracking software suddenly lit up with alerts. A newmunication had been sent from the Manhattan server, and this time Stefan''s programs had captured enough data to narrow the location significantly.

    The message originated from somewhere in the financial district. A specific building, based on thework signature. Stefan pulled up building records, tenant lists, corporate registrations.

    One name stood out among the listings: Meridian Holdings LLC. Stefan''s blood turned to ice. Someone was operating under a name directly connected to Richard Pierce''s failedpany. Someone who wanted to make sure the connection was clear to anyone who dug deep enough to find it.

    But who had ess to use Richard Pierce''spany name? Who would have both the technical sophistication to run this operation and the personal motivation to destroy Victoria Kane?

    Stefan''sputer chimed again. Another message, this one carrying a different signature. The encryption was identical, but the source was different. Two people were nowmunicating through the same securework.

    One in Manhattan. One in...Stefan''s tracking software worked frantically to identify the second location. The signal bounced through international servers before revealing its origin.

    Boston. Someone in Boston was coordinating with the Manhattan operation.

    Stefan grabbed his phone and started calling Camille back, then stopped. If these people were sophisticated enough to threaten her with surveince, they might be monitoring her phone calls too.

    Instead, he grabbed his keys and headed for his car. Two hours until midnight. Two hours to get to Pier 47 and find out who was really behind the plot to destroy Alexander''s marriage and Victoria''spany.

    As Stefan drove through the dark streets toward the waterfront, his mind raced through possibilities.

    Someone using Richard Pierce''s

    But most disturbing of all, someone who was willing to threaten Camille to keep Alexander motivated. Someone who saw her not just as coteral damage, but as a tool to be used and discarded.

    Stefan checked his phone one more time as he parked near the industrial district. Themunication intercepts showed Alexander was already moving toward the meeting location, his phone''s GPS creating a digital trail that Stefan''s equipment could follow.

    In less than an hour, Stefan would finally see the face of the person who had been manipting them all. The question was whether he would live long enough to warn Camille about what he discovered.

    The pier stretched out into darkness ahead of him, and Stefan realized he was

    walking into a trap that had been months in the making. But it was toote to turn back now.

    Somewhere in the shadows ahead, Alexander was about to learn whether the Guardian he trusted was really an ally or his greatest enemy.

 Chapter 207

    Stefan crouched behind a rusted shipping container at Pier 47, his breath forming small clouds in the cold night air. The abandoned waterfront stretched out before him like a graveyard of industrial dreams - broken concrete, twisted metal, and the constant sound of waterpping against rotting wooden posts.

    His phone showed 11:58 PM. Alexander would arrive any moment for his meeting with the mysterious Guardian. Stefan adjusted the small camera he''d positioned to record whatever happened, making sure the night vision lens had a clear view of the meeting spot.

    Footsteps echoed across the empty pier. Stefan pressed himself lower behind the container, watching as Alexander''s familiar figure appeared under a flickering streetlight. Even from this distance, Stefan could see the tension in Alexander''s posture, the way his shoulders hunched against both the cold and the weight of what he believed he was fighting for.

    Alexander stopped at the designated meeting point and checked his watch. The wind off the water carried the sound of his nervous breathing, the tap of his foot against concrete as he waited.

    More footsteps approached from the opposite direction. Stefan shifted position carefully, trying to get a better view without exposing himself. A second figure emerged from the shadows between two storage buildings.

    Stefan''s heart pounded as he raised his phone to record. Finally, he would see the face of the person who had been manipting Alexander, who had destroyed his marriage to Camille, who had orchestrated the attacks on Kane Industries.

    But as the figure stepped into the dim light, Stefan''s hope turned to frustration. The Guardian wore a dark wool coat and a ck ski mask thatpletely covered his face. Only his eyes were visible through the holes, and from this distance, even those were impossible to make out clearly.

    "You''rete," Alexander said, his voice carrying across the water.

    "I had to make sure you weren''t followed." The Guardian''s voice was muffled by the mask, electronically distorted in a way that made it impossible to identify. "Did Richard Lewis convince you to abandon justice for his daughter''s feelings?"

    Stefan strained to hear every word, his phone recording both audio and video despite the poor lighting conditions.

    "He tried. He showed me fake documents iming my uncle was responsible for the factory deaths." Alexander''s voice was bitter with anger. "He thinks I''m stupid enough to believe Victoria Kane''s lies just because they''re printed on official- looking paper."

    "The Lewis family will say anything to protect their reputation. They''ve spent generations buying judges and senators to shield themselves from consequences." The Guardian moved closer to Alexander, his masked face impossible to read. "Are you ready to proceed with exposing their crimes?"

    Stefan felt his jaw clench. The Guardian was still pushing Alexander toward attacking Camille''s family, still feeding his rage with carefully crafted lies.

    "I''m ready," Alexander said. "But I want to understand exactly what we''re nning. You said we would expose Victoria''s crimes publicly. How?"

    The Guardian pulled out a tablet, the screen''s glow casting eerie shadows on his masked features. "Tomorrow morning, every major news outlet will receive aprehensive package documenting Victoria Kane''s cover-up of the Meridian Technologies factory explosion. Video testimony from the victims'' families. Financial records showing how she bribed safety inspectors. Engineering reports proving she knew about the defective equipment before it was installed."

    Stefan''s blood turned cold. The Guardian had created an entire false narrative,plete with fabricated evidence designed to destroy Victoria''s reputationpletely.

    "What about the Lewis family?" Alexander asked.

    "When Victoria''s crimes are exposed, Richard Lewis and Senator Alvarez will have a choice. They can distance themselves from a mass murderer, or they can continue protecting her and face the consequences."

    "What consequences?"

    The Guardian''s masked face turned toward Alexander with predatory focus. "Financial ruin. Political destruction. Criminal investigation for conspiracy to obstruct justice." His electronically distorted voice carried cold satisfaction. "By tomorrow night, either Victoria Kane will be arrested for murder, or everyone protecting her will share her fate."

    Stefan realized he was witnessing the final stages of a n months in the making. The Guardian wasn''t just trying to destroy Victoria - he was nning to take down the entire Lewis family, Senator Alvarez, and anyone else who stood in his way. "And Camille?" Alexander''s voice was quieter now, uncertain for the first time. "Camille made her choice when she chose Victoria over you. When she decided protecting a killer was more important than standing with her husband." The Guardian''s voice hardened. "She''ll face the consequences of her loyalty to murderers."

    Stefan saw Alexander flinch at those words, saw the moment when doubt crept into his rigid certainty.

    "She doesn''t know about Victoria''s crimes. She''s innocent in all this."

    "Is she? She''s been running Kane Industries during Victoria''s hospitalization. She''s been making decisions to protect thepany built on the graves of seventeen people. She''s chosen her side, Alexander."

    The Guardian moved even closer, his masked presence intimidating despite Alexander being taller and younger. "Don''t let sentiment cloud your judgment now. Your uncle deserves justice. Those seventeen families deserve truth. Camille Kane made her choice to stand with killers."

    Stefan watched Alexander''s internal struggle y out in his bodynguage. The man was torn between his need for revenge and whatever love he still felt for Camille.

    "What if she tries to contact me after the news breaks? What if she wants to hear my side of the story?"

    "Then you ignore her. You''ve already

    given her too many chances to choose justice over family loyalty. When she calls tomorrow, crying and begging, you remember that she chose Victoria Kane over the seventeen people who died in that factory."

    The Guardian handed Alexander a phone. "This contains everything you need. Press releases, media contacts, financial evidence. By dawn, the truth about Victoria Kane will be everywhere."

    Stefan zoomed in with his camera, trying to capture any identifying features of the Guardian, but the mask and coat revealed nothing. Even his hands were covered by ck gloves.

    "There''s something else," the

    Guardian continued. "Someone has been trying to trace our

    tracking, government-level technology. Either the FBI is investigating us, or the Lewis family has hired serious digital security."

    Stefan''s heart nearly stopped. The Guardian knew about his surveince.

    "Should we be worried?" Alexander asked.

    "Not worried. Prepared. If someone is tracking us, they''ll try to interfere with tomorrow''s revtion. They''ll try to stop justice from being served." The Guardian''s voice carried menace. "We need to make sure that doesn''t happen."

    "What do you mean?"

    "I mean we eliminate any obstacles to exposing the truth. Anyone who tries to stop us from revealing Victoria Kane''s crimes bes part of the conspiracy to cover up mass murder."

    Stefan felt sick as he realized the Guardian was talking about Camille, her parents, potentially even himself. This wasn''t just about revenge anymore - it was about destroying anyone who got in the way.

    "I don''t want anyone else to get hurt," Alexander said firmly. "Sometimes justice requires sacrifice. Your uncle sacrificed his life rather than live with what Victoria Kane did to him. Are you willing to sacrifice less than he did?"

    Alexander was quiet for a long moment, staring at the phone in his hands. Stefan could see the war happening inside him, the battle between his love for Camille and his need to honor his uncle''s memory.

    "Twenty-four hours," the Guardian said. "By tomorrow night, Victoria Kane will be exposed as the killer she is. The Lewis family will face consequences for protecting her. And your uncle will finally have the justice he died waiting for

    The Guardian turned to leave, his dark coat billowing in the wind off the water.

    "Wait," Alexander called. "What happens after tomorrow? After Victoria is arrested and the truthes out?"

    The Guardian paused without turning around. "Then you decide what kind of man you want to be. The kind who lets killers hide behind wealth and political connections, or the kind who ensures justice is served no matter the personal cost."

    Stefan watched the Guardian disappear back into the shadows between the storage buildings. He waited until Alexander had also left before emerging from his hiding ce, his mind racing with everything he''d witnessed.

    The Guardian''s face remained hidden, his identity still a mystery. But Stefan had captured something potentially more valuable - the entire n to destroy Victoria and the Lewis family in less than twenty-four hours.

    He checked his phone''s recording, making sure the audio and video were clear despite the poor lighting. The electronic voice distortion would make identification difficult, but maybe technical analysis could reveal something useful.

    As Stefan walked back to his car, he realized the Guardian''s mention ofmunication tracking meant his own investigation had been discovered. He was no longer a hidden observer - he was a known threat to their operation.

    Which meant Camille, her parents, and Victoria were all in immediate danger. Stefan started his car and drove quickly toward Kane Industries, his determination stronger than ever. The Guardian thought wearing a mask would protect his identity, but Stefan had other ways to track him down.

    Themunications originated from Manhattan. The technical sophistication suggested serious resources. The knowledge of the Meridian Technologies case indicated someone with inside information.

    And tomorrow morning, when the false evidence against Victoria hit every news outlet simultaneously, Stefan would be watching for any reaction that might reveal who was really behind the Guardian''s mask.

    The mystery man thought he was untouchable, hidden behind encryption and anonymity. But Stefan Rodriguez had spent years tracking criminals through international shippingworks. He knew how to find people who didn''t want to be

    found.

    The Guardian had made one crucial mistake - he had underestimated the lengths Stefan would go to protect the woman he''d once betrayed.

    And that mistake would be his downfall.

 Chapter 208

    Stefan burst through the doors of Kane Industries at three in the morning, his face pale with urgency. The security guard looked startled at the intrusion, but Stefan''s name was on the authorized visitor list thanks to his recent work helping Camille.

    "I need to get to Hannah Zhao immediately," Stefan said, his voice tight with desperation. "It''s an emergency."

    The elevator ride to the thirty-second floor felt endless. Stefan clutched his phone containing the recording from Pier 47, knowing that what he''d witnessed would change everything. The Guardian''s n would destroy Victoria, Camille''s family, and possibly everyone connected to Kane Industries.

    He found Hannah still in her engineeringb, surrounded byputer screens disying code that looked like digital hieroglyphics. Coffee cups and energy drink cans created a fortress around her workspace, evidence of another all-night session fighting the cyber attacks on Kane Industries.

    "Stefan?" Hannah looked up from her monitors, her eyes red from exhaustion. "What are you doing here? It''s three AM."

    "I recorded Alexander''s meeting with his contact tonight. They''re nning to release false evidence against Victoria in a few hours. Every major news outlet is going to receive fabricated documents iming she''s a mass murderer."

    Hannah''s face went white. "Show me."

    Stefan connected his phone to Hannah''sputer system, pulling up the audio and video from the pier meeting. They watched in horrified silence as the masked Guardian outlined his n to destroy Victoria and anyone protecting her.

    "This is insane," Hannah whispered when the recording ended. "He''s created an entire false narrative with fake evidence, fake testimony, fake financial records."

    "Can you stop it? Can you prevent the story from going public?"

    Hannah''s fingers were already flying across her keyboard, diving into the digitalworks that connected major news organizations. "Maybe. If I can identify how they''re nning to distribute the false evidence, I might be able to intercept it before it reaches the media."

    "How long do we have?"

    "He said by dawn. That gives us maybe three hours." Hannah pulled up multiple screens showingmunicationworks, server farms, and media distribution systems. "Stefan, this isn''t just some amateur operation. Whoever is behind this has professional-grade resources."

    "I know. That''s what makes it so dangerous."

    Hannah began running diagnostic programs, searching for any unusual activity in theworks used by major news organizations. "There," she said, pointing to anomalous data streams. "Someone is preloadingrge data packages to Bloomberg, CNN, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal. Scheduled for automatic release at six AM."

    Stefan felt his heart racing. "Can you stop them?"

    "I can try. But Stefan, what we''re about to do is technically illegal. We''re going to hack into news organization servers and delete information before it can be published."

    "Even if that information is false and designed to destroy innocent people?"

    Hannah stared at her screens, weighing the moral implications. "If we get caught, we could face federal charges for cyber crimes. Our word against theirs about whether the evidence was fabricated."

    "Hannah, if we don''t stop this, Victoria could be arrested for murder. Camille''s parents could be destroyed. Senator Alvarez''s political career could be ruined. All based on lies."

    Hannah nodded grimly and began typingmands with fierce determination. "Then we stop it. But we need to be smart about this. If I just delete the files, they''ll know someone interfered and they''ll try another approach."

    "What do you suggest?"

    "We rece their false evidence with the real documents from Victoria''s private archives. We let the truth fight the lies." Hannah''s eyes zed with intellectual fury. "If they want to y dirty with fake evidence, we''ll show the media what really happened fifteen years ago."

    Stefan watched as Hannah worked with surgical precision, identifying each false document in the Guardian''s media packages and preparing recement files. The real court records, the actual safety reports, the genuine testimony from the Meridian Technologies case.

    "This is incredible," Hannah muttered as she analyzed the fabricated evidence. "They didn''t just edit existing documents. They createdpletely fake testimony from victims'' families, forged engineering reports, even manufactured financial records showing bribes that never happened."

    "How sophisticated is this operation?"

    "Government level. Military level. Whoever is behind this has ess to document creation tools that most intelligence agencies would envy." Hannah paused in her typing. "Stefan, this Guardian person isn''t just some grieving rtive seeking revenge. This is a professional operation designed to destroy specific targets."

    Stefan felt cold dread in his stomach. "Which means Alexander is being used by someone with a muchrger agenda."

    "Exactly. And when they realize their media attack has been stopped, they''ll escte to more direct methods."

    Hannah''sputers chimed with alerts as her infiltration programs gained ess to the news organization servers. "I''m in. I can see the scheduled releases. Bloomberg has a package titled ''Exclusive Investigation: Kane Industries CEO Linked to Factory Deaths.'' CNN has ''Breaking: Federal Investigation Targets Corporate Cover-Up.'' Fox News has ''Mass Murder Scandal Rocks Business Empire.""

    "My God," Stefan whispered. "They were going to destroy herpletely."

    "Not were. Are. I''m recing every false document with real evidence right now." Hannah''s fingers moved across her keyboard like a pianist performing aplex symphony. "But Stefan, this is just the first wave. Once they realize their media attack failed, they''ll try something else."

    "Like what?"

    "Direct attack on Kane Industries servers. Attempted assassination of key witnesses. Physical destruction of evidence." Hannah''s voice was grim. "People this sophisticated don''t just give up when n A fails."

    Stefan watched the recement process on Hannah''s screens, seeing false documents being systematically reced with truth. "How long until the news outlets realize what happened?"

    "Not until they try to publish at six AM. By then, instead of fabricated evidence against Victoria, they''ll have real documentation showing the Meridian Technologies factory explosion was caused by Richard Pierce''spany, not Kane Industries."

    "Will that be enough to clear Victoria''s name?"

    "It should be. The real evidence is pretty clear about who was responsible for the safety vitions." Hannah looked up from herputers. "But Stefan, we need to warn Camille about what''sing. If the Guardian realizes his

    media strategy failed, he might

    target her directly."

    Stefan was already reaching for his phone when Hannah''sputers exploded with new alerts.

    "What''s happening?" Stefan asked.

    "Someone else is in the system. They''re trying to stop what I''m doing." Hannah''s face was pale concentration as she fought a

    real-time cyber battle. "ta with

    the

    Guardian knows we''re interfering. He''s trying to prevent me from recing his false documents."

    On the screens, Stefan could see digital warfare happening in real time. Files being uploaded, then deleted, then re-uploaded. Security protocols being activated and immediately bypassed. Two highly skilled hackers fighting for control of the truth.

    "Can you win?" Stefan asked.

    "I don''t know. Whoever this is, they''re good. Really good." Hannah''s typing became more frantic. "They''re trying to lock me out of the Bloomberg server. If they seed, at least one major news outlet will publish the false story."

    Stefan watched helplessly as the battle raged across Hannah''s screens. Green text indicating sessful file recements mixed with red warnings showing failed attempts and security blocks.

    "There!" Hannah shouted suddenly. "I''ve got administrative ess to the CNN server. The false documents are deleted and reced with real evidence."

    But even as she spoke, new alerts appeared. "They''re retaliating. Someone is trying to crash Kane Industries'' entirework. If they seed, they could destroy all our internal systems, including Victoria''s private archives."

    Stefan felt panic rising in his chest. "What do you need me to do?"

    "Call Camille. Tell her to get to Victoria''s hospital room immediately. If they can''t destroy us with false media reports, they might try a more direct approach."

    Stefan dialed Camille''s number as Hannah continued her digital battle. The phone rang once, twice, three times before Camille''s sleepy voice answered. "Stefan? It''s three-thirty in the morning. What''s wrong?" "Camille, you need to get to Victoria''s hospital room right now. Someone is nning to attack her, to attack all of you. Hannah and I are trying to stop them, but you need to be with Victoria in case they try something physical." "What are you talking about?"

    "The Guardian, Alexander''s contact. He nned to destroy Victoria with false

    media reports this morning. We''re stopping the cyber attack, but he might escte to violence."

    The line went quiet for a moment. "Are you serious?"

    "Dead serious. Please, just get to the hospital. Bring security. Don''t trust anyone

    you don''t know personally."

    "I''m leaving right now."

    As Stefan hung up, Hannah let out a triumphant shout. "Got them! I''ve reced all

    the false documents across every major news tform. When they try to publish

    at six AM, the real story wille out instead of their fabricated lies."

    "Is it over?"

    Hannah''s expression was grim as she monitored her screens. "No. Look at this."

    She pointed

    to a

    a new data stream showing massive file transfers from

    an unknown source. "Someone is uploading gigabytes of new evidence to smaller news outlets,

    blogs, social media tforms. They''re flooding the inte with false information faster than I can stop it."

    Stefan felt despair creeping in. "Can you stop all of it?"

    "Not all of it. But I can make sure the major outlets have the truth." Hannah''s voice

    was determined despite her exhaustion. "Stefan, we need help. This is bigger than just the two of us can handle."

    "What kind of help?"

    "Federal help. FBI cyber crimes division. This operation is too sophisticated for

    amateur hackers. The Guardian has resources that suggest government or military training."

    Stefan nodded, pulling out his phone again. "I''ll call Senator Alvarez. If anyone can get the FBI involved quickly, it''s him."

    As Stefan dialed, Hannah continued her digital battle, fighting to protect the truth

    while the Guardian''s false evidence spread across the inte like a virus. Outside the windows of Kane Industries, dawn was beginning to break over Manhattan. In a few hours, the business world would wake up to discover either the truth about Victoria Kane or a carefully crafted lie designed to destroy her.

    The oue depended on whether Hannah''s skills were enough to defeat an enemy with seemingly unlimited resources and no moral boundaries.

    The digital war for the truth had begun, and everything Camille loved hung in the bnce.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 209

    In a sterile office overlooking Manhattan''s financial district, the Guardian stared at hisputer screens with growing rage. Red error messages shed across multiple monitors, each one marking another failure in his carefully orchestrated n. Bloomberg, CNN, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal - every major outlet that should have published his fabricated evidence about Victoria Kane was now showing system errors.

    His hands trembled as he typed frantically, trying to regain control of the media distributionwork he''d spent months infiltrating. But everymand was blocked, every file upload rejected, everymunication pathway severed.

    "No, no, no," he whispered, his voice echoing in the empty office. "This can''t be happening."

    The Guardian pulled off his ck mask, revealing a face twisted with fifteen years of hatred and obsession. His graying hair was disheveled, his eyes bloodshot from sleepless nights, and deep lines carved by stress and anger marked his features. This was a man who had dedicated half his life to a single purpose: destroying Victoria Kane.

    He mmed his fist against the desk, sending coffee cups and documents flying. The pain in his knuckles felt good - a physical outlet for the rage burning in his chest like acid.

    Fifteen years. Fifteen years of nning, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to make Victoria Kane pay for what she had done. Fifteen years of building false identities, creating fake evidence, manipting grieving rtives like Alexander Pierce. Fifteen years of his life consumed by the need for revenge.

    And now it was crumbling around him like sand.

    The Guardian moved to anotherputer terminal, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he tried to ess backup servers. Maybe he could still salvage something from this disaster. Maybe he could still get the false story published through smaller outlets, through social media, through any tform that would spread his manufactured truth about Victoria''s crimes.

    But every pathway was blocked. Whoever had interfered with his n wasn''t just some amateur hacker. They knew exactly what they were doing, systematically dismantling fifteen years of preparation with surgical precision.

    His phone buzzed with an encrypted message from Alexander: *Something went wrong. News outlets are publishing real court documents instead of our evidence. They''re saying Richard Pierce was responsible for the factory deaths. What happened?*

    The Guardian stared at the message, his hands shaking with fury. Alexander still believed their cause was just, still thought they were fighting for truth and justice. The naive fool had no idea he''d been used as a weapon in someone else''s war.

    He typed back: *Technical difficulties. Stand by for new instructions.*

    But there were no new instructions. The Guardian''s master ny in ruins, his carefully crafted false evidence reced with documentation that made Victoria Kane look like the victim of a smear campaign.

    He walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city where Victoria Kane had built her empire. Somewhere out there, she was recovering in a hospital bed, probablyughing at his failure. Somewhere out there, her adopted daughter was celebrating another victory over the forces trying to destroy her family.

    The Guardian pressed his forehead against the cold ss, his breath fogging the window as memories flooded back. Fifteen years ago, when Victoria Kane had destroyed everything he cared about. When she had used her wealth and influence to crush an honest man who had only wanted to expose the truth.

    He remembered the phone call that had changed his life forever. The voice on the other end, broken and desperate: "She''s going to destroy me. Victoria Kane is going to take everything I''ve worked for and leave me with nothing. Promise me you''ll make her pay. Promise me she won''t get away with this."

    That promise had consumed twenty years of his existence. He had given up rtionships, career advancement, personal happiness - everything sacrificed on the altar of revenge against Victoria Kane.

    The Guardian had studied herpany, her associates, her weaknesses. He had built awork of contacts and resources spanning multiple countries. He had created false identities and borate schemes, all leading to this moment when Victoria Kane would finally face consequences for her crimes.

    And it had all been for nothing.

    Hisputer chimed with another alert. The Guardian turned back to his screens, hoping for some sign that his n could still be salvaged. Instead, he found news articles with headlines that made his blood boil:

    "Kane Industries CEO Vindicated in Historical Legal Challenge"

    "New Evidence Clears Victoria Kane of Factory Death Allegations"

    "Meridian Technologies Founder Responsible for Safety Vitions, Court Documents Reveal"

    The Guardian read each article with growing disbelief. Not only had his false evidence been blocked, but whoever had interfered had somehow obtained and published the real court records from the Meridian Technologies case. Records that made Richard Pierce look like a negligent criminal and Victoria Kane look like an innocent victim of false usations.

    "Twenty years," he said aloud, his voice cracking with emotion. "Fifteen years of my life wasted because of some hacker with a conscience."

    But even as despair threatened to overwhelm him, the Guardian felt his rage hardening into something colder and more dangerous. If he couldn''t destroy Victoria Kane with lies, he would find another way. If the legal system wouldn''t punish her for her crimes, he would deliver justice personally.

    He opened a differentputer program, one that tracked the locations of cell phones registered to Kane Industries employees.

    Victoria Kane''s device

    she

    was still at Mount Sinai Hospital, probably surrounded by security and family members who thought they had won this battle.

    They were wrong.

    The Guardian pulled up building schematics for the hospital, studying entry points and security protocols. He essed employee databases, looking for anyone who might provide ess to restricted areas. He reviewed delivery schedules, maintenance routines, visiting hour regtions.

    If Victoria Kane thought she was safe in that hospital bed, she was about to learn

    how wrong she could be.

    His phone rang. The disy showed Alexander''s number.

    "The news articles," Alexander said without preamble. "They''re saying my uncle was responsible for the factory deaths. They''re saying Victoria Kane was innocent."

    "The news articles are lies," the Guardian replied, his voice steady despite the chaos in his mind. "Victoria Kane has powerful friends who control the media. They''re rewriting history to protect her."

    "But the court documents...."

    "Were altered just like everything else the Kane family touches. Alexander, you can''t trust anything you see in the news. The only truth is what we know happened fifteen years ago."

    Alexander was quiet for a long moment. "I don''t know what to believe anymore."

    "Believe in justice for your uncle. Believe in ountability for seventeen innocent deaths. Believe that Victoria Kane must pay for what she did, regardless of how many powerful friends try to protect her."

    After hanging up, the Guardian returned to his hospital surveince. Alexander was weakening, beginning to doubt the narrative that had driven him for months. Soon, the Guardian would have to proceed without his unwitting aplice. The thought didn''t frighten him. If anything, it brought a sense of relief. Alexander had been useful for infiltrating Camille''s life and essing Kane Industries from within, but his emotional attachment to his ex-wife had always been a liability. Now the Guardian could focus on what really mattered: making Victoria Kane suffer the way she had made others suffer fifteen years ago.

    He pulled up a new file on hisputer, onebeled "Final Solution." Inside were detailed ns that went far beyond media maniption or financial warfare. These were blueprints for permanent solutions to the Victoria Kane problem.

    The Guardian had hoped it wouldn''te to this. He had preferred the elegance of destroying her reputation and watching her empire crumble around her. But if she insisted on fighting back, if she refused to ept the consequences

    of her past actions, then he would

    be forced to use more direct methods.

    He looked at the photograph taped to his monitor - a picture taken fifteen years ago of the man Victoria Kane had destroyed. The face that stared back at him was younger, hopeful, unaware of the tragedy that was about to consume his life.

    "I promised you she would pay," the Guardian whispered to the photograph. "I promised you justice would be served, no matter how long it took."

    He stood up and walked to a safe hidden behind a false wall. Inside were items

    he had hoped never to use: false identification documents, untraceable weapons, detailed maps of Victoria Kane''s known locations.

    Tools for a war that had just escted beyond digital battles and media maniption.

    The Guardian selected what he needed and began preparing for the next phase

    of his fifteen-year campaign. Victoria Kane had won this round by turning his own weapons against him, by recing his lies with inconvenient truths.

    But wars weren''t won by single battles. And the Guardian had been fighting this war longer than anyone else involved had even known it existed.

    As he loaded equipment into a ck duffel bag, the Guardian spoke aloud to the empty office, his voice carrying the weight of fifteen years of obsession and rage: "You think you''ve won, Victoria Kane. You think your powerful friends and clever hackers have saved you from the consequences of your crimes. But you''re wrong. I''ve spent fifteen years of my life preparing for this moment, and I won''t let you escape now."

    He turned off theputer monitors, plunging the office into darkness except for the city lights filtering through the windows.

    "One way or another, Victoria Kane, you won''t escape my wrath. I promised that fifteen years ago, and I keep my promises."

    The Guardian walked toward the door, his footsteps echoing in the empty space. Behind him, the photograph on the monitor sat in darkness, a reminder of the debt that still needed to be paid.

 Chapter 210

    The Kane Industries conference room smelled like stale coffee and exhaustion. Stefan sat across from Hannah, surrounded by financial documents,puter printouts, and empty takeout containers from their third consecutive day of investigation. Dark circles under both their eyes testified to sleepless nights spent chasing digital ghosts through fifteen-year-old corporate records.

    Hannah rubbed her temples, her usually perfect hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. "Look at this," she said, pointing to a spreadsheet on herptop screen. "Two weeks before the Meridian Technologies factory explosion, someone transferred $2.3 million from thepany''s safety equipment fund to an offshore ount."

    Stefan leaned closer, catching the faint scent of hervender shampoo mixed with the sharp smell of energy drinks. "Who authorized the transfer?"

    "That''s the interesting part." Hannah''s fingers danced across the keyboard, pulling up digital bank records. "The authorization came from someone with high-level ess to Meridian''s financial systems, but the electronic signature doesn''t match Richard Pierce''s usual pattern."

    "You think someone else made the transfer using Pierce''s credentials?"

    "More than that. I think someone deliberately sabotaged Meridian''s safety budget right before the instation that killed seventeen people." Hannah''s voice carried quiet outrage. "They stole money that should have been used for proper equipment, then let Richard Pierce take the me when everything fell apart."

    Stefan studied the financial trail, his business background helping him understand the implications. "If someone diverted the safety funds, then Richard Pierce might not have known about the substandard equipment until it was toote."

    "Which means he was set up. Just like Alexander is being set up now." Hannah pulled up another document. "Stefan, look at the timing. The money transfer happened exactly two weeks before someone warned Victoria about Meridian''s cost-cutting measures."

    "You think the same person who stole the money also contacted Victoria?"

    "I think someone orchestrated the entire situation. They stole Meridian''s safety funds, ensured Victoria knew about the resulting problems, then sat back and watched twopanies destroy each other." Hannah''s eyes zed with intellectual fury. "Fifteen yearster, they''re using the aftermath to manipte Alexander into finishing what they started."

    The conference room door opened, and Camille entered carrying three cups of fresh coffee. She looked tired but determined, wearing a simple ck dress that made her appear older than her years. The stress of recent weeks had carved subtle lines around her eyes, but her posture remained strong.

    "Any progress?" she asked, setting the coffee down and settling into a chair beside Stefan.

    Hannah turned herptop screen toward Camille. "We found something that changes everything. Someone inside Meridian Technologies stole millions from their safety budget right before the factory explosion."

    Camille studied the financial records, her face growing pale as she understood the implications. "This proves Richard Pierce was sabotaged?"

    "It proves someone wanted both Meridian and Kane Industries to suffer," Stefan said. "They created a situation where Victoria would look guilty of covering up safety vitions, while Richard Pierce would look guilty of cutting corners that killed people."

    "But who would benefit from destroying bothpanies?" Camille asked.

    Hannah pulled up a new set of documents. "Someone who wanted to acquire their clients, their technology, or their market share. Someone with the patience to wait fifteen years for the perfect moment to finish what they started."

    Stefan watched Hannah as she exined her findings, noticing how her voice grew stronger when she talked about technical details. Her passion for uncovering truth transformed her from a tired engineer into someone radiant with purpose. When she brushed a strand of hair from her face, Stefan found himself staring at the graceful movement of her fingers.

    "Stefan?" Camille''s voice brought him back to focus. "What do you think?"

    Stefan cleared his throat, feeling heat rise in his cheeks. "I think Hannah is right. The timeline proves Alexander''s information is wrong about Victoria''s role in Meridian''s copse."

    Hannah smiled at his support, and Stefan felt something warm flutter in his chest. When had he started noticing the way her eyes lit up when she smiled? When had her dedication to protecting Camille be something that drew him to her personally?

    "The financial transfers follow a specific pattern," Hannah continued, seemingly unaware of Stefan''s attention. "Whoever did this knew exactly how corporate ounting systems worked fifteen years ago. They understood bothpanies'' internal structures well enough to manipte them without being detected."

    "An insider," Camille said quietly.

    "Or someone with insider ess. Maybe a consultant, an ountant, a legal advisor who worked with bothpanies." Stefan forced himself to focus on the investigation instead of the way Hannah bit her lower lip when she concentrated. Hannah pulled up another screen. "I''ve been analyzing the electronic signatures on all the suspicious transactions. They''re too perfect, too consistent. Real people have variations in their digital signatures - slight timing differences, pressure variations, personal quirks that are almost impossible to fake."

    "You''re saying the signatures were created by aputer program?" Camille asked.

    "I''m saying whoever did this had ess to sophisticated forgery software fifteen years ago. Technology that wasn''t avable to most people back then." Hannah''s excitement was infectious as she exined her discovery. "Stefan, do you remember what government agencies were developing automated signature systems in the early 2000s?"

    Stefan felt a chill as the implications hit him. "Intelligence agencies. Military contractors. People with security clearances and ess to ssified technology."

    "Exactly. We''re not dealing with some grieving rtive or corporate rival. We''re dealing with someone who had professional-level resources fifteen years ago and has been nning this revenge ever since."

    Camille stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the city where her husband was being manipted by forces he didn''t understand. "Alexander thinks he''s fighting for justice, but he''s really just another victim."

    "The question is whether we can prove that to him before he does something he can''t take back," Stefan said.

    Hannah saved her work and closed herptop. "We need to trace the offshore ounts where the stolen money went. If we can follow the financial trail, we might be able to identify who''s really behind this."

    "How long will that take?" Camille asked.

    "With Stefan''s help? Maybe a day or two. International shipping records might show connections we can''t find through banking alone." Hannah looked at Stefan with professional respect that carried an undertone of Something warmer. "Your

    experience with global financialworks could be exactly what we need."

    Stefan felt his pulse quicken at the prospect of working closely with Hannah for

    several more days. "I''d be d to help."

    "Good. We''ll start first thing

    tomorrow morning." Hannah gathered her papers, her movements efficient and graceful. "Stefan could you bring your shipping contact databases The ones that track corporate ownership through multiple countries?"

    "Of course. Whatever you need."

    As Hannah reached for a file on the table, her hand briefly touched Stefan''s. The contactsted only a moment, but Stefan felt electricity shoot up his arm. When Hannah met his eyes, her cheeks flushed slightly pink.

    Camille watched this exchange with quiet interest, a small smile ying at the corners of her mouth despite the seriousness of their situation.

    "I should get back to Victoria," Camille said diplomatically. "Keep working together on this. I have a feeling you two make a good team."

    After Camille left, Stefan and Hannah found themselves alone in the conference room, suddenly aware of the intimate atmosphere created by hours of shared investigation.

    "Thank you for believing in my analysis," Hannah said softly. "Most people think engineering is just numbers and forms. They don''t understand that it''s really about finding truth hidden in data."

    "I understand," Stefan replied. "In shipping, you learn that every document tells a story. You just have to know how to read between the lines."

    Hannah began packing herptop, her movements more careful now that they were alone. "Stefan, can I ask you something personal?"

    "Of course."

    "Why are you doing this? Helping Camille investigate the man who reced you

    in her life? Most people would walk away."

    Stefan considered the question,

    thinking about his motivations. "Because failed her once. I betrayed her trust and almost destroyed her ability to love again. If I can help protect her from another betrayal, maybe I can start to make amends for what I did."

    "That''s very noble," Hannah said quietly.

    "It''s very necessary," Stefan corrected. "Camille deserves better than the men

    who have hurt her. She deserves someone who puts her happiness above their own agenda."

    Hannah looked at him with new understanding. "Is that why you''ve never tried to win her back? Even after saving her life?"

    "I tried to win her back through grand gestures and dramatic sacrifices. But real

    love isn''t about winning someone back. It''s about wanting them to be happy, even

    if that happiness doesn''t include you."

    Hannah was quiet for a moment, studying Stefan''s face. "For what it''s worth, I

    think you''ve be a better man than the one who hurt her."

    "I hope so. I''m trying to be."

    As they gathered their materials and prepared to leave, Stefan found himself

    looking forward to tomorrow''s work session with anticipation that had nothing to do with corporate investigations.

    Hannah paused at the door. "Stefan? Tomorrow, when we''re tracing those

    offshore ounts... would you like to get dinner afterward? To discuss our findings, I mean."

    Stefan smiled, feeling something hopeful stir in his chest for the first time in months. "I''d like that very much."

    As they walked toward the elevators together, both carrying the weight of their

    investigation and the lighter burden of new possibilities, neither noticed the figure watching them from across the street.

    The Guardian had been tracking all of Kane Industries'' key personnel, and now he had identified two more obstacles to his Twenty-year n for revenge. Stefan Rodriguez and Hannah Zhao were getting too close to the truth. Soon, he

    would have to decide whether to eliminate them or find another way toplete his mission.

    But tonight, Stefan and Hannah walked away unaware of the danger, focused instead on the financial trail that might finally expose the puppet master who had been manipting them all.

 Chapter 211

    The Kane Industries conference room felt warm andfortable for the first time in weeks. Chinese takeout containers sat open on the polished table, mixed with financial documents andptopputers. The overhead lights had been dimmed, reced by the softer glow of deskmps that made the evening feel less like work and more like friends sharing a meal.

    Camille sat at the head of the table, picking at her lo mein while reviewing thetest evidence Hannah and Stefan had uncovered. After days of intense investigation, they had finally allowed themselves to rx slightly, to eat real food instead of surviving on coffee and energy drinks.

    "This connection to the Cayman Inds ount is brilliant," Camille said, gesturing with her chopsticks toward Hannah''sptop screen. "How did you think to look there?"

    Hannah smiled, her face flushed with quiet pride. "Stefan suggested it. He said shellpanies always use certain banking patterns in international shipping, and those same patterns might apply to financial fraud."

    Stefan felt warmth spread through his chest at Hannah''s praise. Over the past three days, their professional partnership had evolved into something deeper. They worked together with an ease that surprised both of them, their different expertisebining to create insights neither could have reached alone.

    "The timing of the transfers proves everything," Stefan said, leaning forward to point at a specific document. "Someone stole Meridian''s safety funds exactly two weeks before they contacted Victoria about the cost-cutting measures."

    As Stefan reached across the table, he ced his hand gently on Hannah''s shoulder to steady himself while examining the document she was holding. The gesture was casual, friendly, the kind of unconscious contact that happens between people who have grownfortable with each other.

    Hannah didn''t pull away. If anything, she leaned slightly into the touch, her eyes meeting Stefan''s for a moment thatsted longer than strictly necessary for discussing financial records.

    Camille watched this interaction with a mixture of amusement and approval. After everything Stefan had been through, after the guilt and self-doubt that had consumed him since his betrayal of her marriage, it was good to see him finding connection with someone who appreciated his better qualities.

    The conference room door burst open without warning.

    Alexander stood in the doorway, his hair disheveled and his expensive shirt wrinkled. His eyes were bloodshot from stress and sleepless nights, and his face carried the haggard look of a man pushed beyond his emotional limits.

    "What the hell is this?" Alexander''s voice cut through thefortable atmosphere like a knife.

    Camille felt her heart sink. "Alexander? How did you get in here?"

    "I still have my ess card from the Phoenix Grid project." Alexander''s gaze moved between the three of them, focusing with burning intensity on Stefan''s hand still resting on Hannah''s shoulder. "I came to talk to you about the lies your father told me, but I see you''re busy entertaining other men."

    Stefan immediately removed his hand from Hannah''s shoulder and stood up. "Alexander, calm down. We''re working together toˇŞ"

    "Working together?" Alexander''s voice rose to a shout. "Is that what you call it? Moving in on my wife the moment my back is turned?"

    "Your wife?" Stefan''s own anger began to rise. "You''re the one who destroyed your marriage with surveince and lies. You''re the one who chose revenge over love."

    Alexander stepped further into the room, his hands clenched into fists. "And you think that gives you the right to swoop in andfort her? You think you can y the hero again?"

    Camille stood up quickly, trying to position herself between the two men. "Alexander, stop. Stefan isn''t pursuing me. We''re investigating the allegations against Victoria, trying to find the truth about what really happened fifteen years ago."

    "The truth?" Alexanderughed bitterly. "The truth is that Stefan Rodriguez will use any excuse to get close to you again. He''s manipting this entire situation to make himself look like your savior."

    Hannah rose from her chair, her face pale with confusion and growing rm. "Mr. Pierce, you''re misunderstanding what you saw. Stefan and I were just "

    "You''re defending him now?" Alexander''s attention turned to Hannah withser focus. "How long have you been working together? How long has this been going on?"

    Stefan moved protectively closer to Hannah, his jaw tightening with anger. "Leave her out of this. Your problem is with me, not with Hannah."

    "My problem is with anyone who helps destroy my marriage!" Alexander''s voice cracked with pain and rage. "I know what I saw, Stefan. I know what it looks like when a man is trying to seduce a woman."

    "You don''t know anything," Stefan said, his voice deadly quiet. "You don''t know what loyalty looks like, or trust, or putting someone else''s happiness above your own revenge."

    Alexander''s face twisted with fury. "Don''t lecture me about loyalty. You''re the one who cheated on Camille with her sister. You''re the one who destroyed her ability to trust anyone."

    "And I''ve spent every day since then trying to make amends for that betrayal. Unlike you, who''s still choosing your vendetta over her wellbeing."

    "I''m fighting for justice!"

    "You''re fighting for revenge based on lies someone fed you." Stefan stepped closer to Alexander, his own anger finally boiling over. "You''ve been manipted by whoever wants to destroy Victoria, and you''re too blinded by hate to see it."

    Alexander''s control snappedpletely. "I''m tired of listening to your self- righteous..."

    His fist connected with Stefan''s jaw before anyone could react. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the conference room like a gunshot.

    Stefan staggered backward, his hand flying to his face where a red mark was already beginning to swell. Hannah gasped and moved toward him instinctively, her hands reaching out to check his injury.

    "Stefan! Are you okay?" Hannah''s voice was filled with genuine concern as she gently touched his bruised jaw.

    The tenderness in Hannah''s voice, the way she immediately moved tofort Stefan, the obvious care between them - it all hit Alexander like a second punch to the stomach.

    "Oh my God," Alexander whispered, the reality of what he''d witnessed finally prating his jealous rage. "You''re not after Camille. You''re... you and Hannah..."

    Camille was already reaching for the phone to call security. "That''s enough, Alexander. You need to leave."

    "I didn''t know," Alexander said, his voice broken with shame and confusion. "I thought... when I saw him touching you..."

    "He was touching me," Hannah said quietly, her arm still around Stefan''s shoulders as she examined his injury. "We''ve been working together. We''ve be... close."

    Alexander stared at them, seeing clearly for the first time the way Hannah positioned herself

    protectively near Stefan, the wa

    Stefan''s free hand found hers without conscious thought, the way they looked at each other

    with

    something that was definitely more than professional respect.

    "I''m sorry," Alexander said, but the words sounded hollow even to his own ears. "I didn''t understand. I thought..."

    "You thought Stefan was like you," Camille said, her voice cold with disappointment. "You thought he would use any situation to try to win me back, because that''s what you would do."

    Security guards appeared in the doorway, summoned by Camille''s call. "Ma''am? Is there a problem?"

    "Mr. Pierce is leaving," Camille said firmly. "Please escort him from the building and revoke his ess credentials."

    As the security guards moved toward Alexander, he looked desperately at Camille. "Please. I came here to tell you that your father showed me false documents. I came here to warn you that someone is still trying to destroy Victoria."

    "By punching Stefan? By attacking the people trying to help us find the truth?" Camille''s voice carried more sadness than anger. "Alexander, you''ve lost the ability to distinguish between helping and hurting."

    The security guards took Alexander''s arms gently but firmly. As they led him toward the door, he called back over his shoulder: "Camille, please. Someone is manipting all of us. The Guardian isn''t who I thought he was. You''re all in danger."

    "The only danger we''re in is from you," Camille replied. "Stay away from us, Alexander. Stay away from me."

    After Alexander was escorted from the building, the conference room fell into stunned silence. Hannah was still holding a bag of ice against Stefan''s swollen jaw, her fingers gentle as she adjusted the coldpress.

    "I''m sorry," Stefan said quietly. "I''m sorry he hurt you by involving you in our history."

    "He didn''t hurt me," Hannah replied. "But he hurt you, and that makes me angry."

    Camille watched their interaction with a mixture of sadness and hope. Sadness for what her marriage had be, but hope for what she saw developing between Stefan and Hannah.

    "You care about him," Camille said to Hannah. It wasn''t a question.

    Hannah looked up, her cheeks flushing pink. "Yes. I do."

    "And you?" Camille asked Stefan. "How do you feel about Hannah?"

    Stefan met Hannah''s eyes, his expression vulnerable despite his bruised jaw: "I feel like maybe I''m learning what healthy love looks like. Love that doesn''t require grand gestures or dramatic sacrifices. Love that grows from respect and shared purpose."

    Hannah smiled, her hand still gentle against his face. "I feel the same way."

    Camille felt tears prick her eyes, but they weren''t tears of sadness. For the first time in months, she was witnessing something pure and hopeful growing from the wreckage of recent events.

    "Alexander was right about one thing," Camille said quietly. "We are all in danger. But not from each other. From whoever has been manipting him, whoever wants to destroy Victoria and anyone who protects her."

    Stefan nodded, wincing slightly at the movement. "Tomorrow we trace those offshore ounts. We find out who''s really behind this."

    "Together," Hannah added, her fingers intertwining with Stefan''s.

    As they cleaned up the conference room and prepared to leave, Camille felt a strange sense ofpletion Alexander''s jealous attack had

    revealed the growing connectiol.ne

    between Stefan and Hannah had forced them to acknowledge feelings that might have remained

    unspoken for weeks longer.

    Sometimes, Camille reflected, even destructive actions could lead to constructive

    realizations.

    But as they walked toward the elevators, none of them noticed the figure watching

    from the building across the street, or the telephoto lens capturing their every movement.

    The Guardian had seen everything through the conference room windows. He had watched Alexander''s attack, witnessed the obvious connection between Stefan and Hannah, observed Camille''s protective response to her friends. Now he knew exactly which pressure points to use when the time came to destroy them all.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 212

    Alexander sat alone in his darkened penthouse, staring at his bruised knuckles. The skin was split where his fist had connected with Stefan''s jaw, dried blood marking the moment when he hadpletely lost control of himself. His hand throbbed with each heartbeat, a physical reminder of how far he had fallen from the man he used to be.

    The silence in the apartment was deafening. No sounds of Camille moving through their shared space, no gentle humming from the kitchen as she made coffee, no soft breathing beside him in bed. The emptiness pressed against him like a weight he couldn''t escape.

    His phoney on the coffee table, screen dark and silent. No messages from Camille. No calls from anyone who cared whether he lived or died. The istion wasplete, and Alexander realized he had built this prison himself with his choices, his obsessions, his inability to see past his need for revenge.

    He reyed the scene at Kane Industries over and over in his mind. The way Stefan had ced his hand on Hannah''s shoulder - such a simple gesture, but Alexander had seen betrayal where there was only friendship. He had seen maniption where there was genuine connection. His jealousy had twisted reality into something ugly and threatening.

    The look on Camille''s face when the security guards led him away haunted him. Not anger, which he could have understood. Not hatred, which he probably deserved. Just profound sadness, as if she was watching someone she once loved destroy himself beyond recognition.

    And maybe that''s exactly what she had been watching.

    Alexander stood up and walked to the bathroom, studying his reflection in the mirror. The man staring back at him looked like a stranger. Hollow cheeks, bloodshot eyes, stubble that spoke of days without proper self-care. When had he be this person? When had his grief for his uncle transformed him into someone who could punch an innocent man in a jealous rage?

    He sshed cold water on his face, the shock of it bringing momentary rity. The events of the evening began to rey in his mind, but this time he forced himself to see them without the filter of his paranoia and pain.

    Stefan and Hannah had been working together, sitting close because they were sharing documents. The way Hannah had immediately rushed to tend Stefan''s injury wasn''t the reaction of someone helping a married woman''s lover - it was the response of someone who cared deeply about the injured person.

    "Stefan and Hannah," Alexander said aloud to his reflection. "Not Stefan and Camille."

    The realization hit him like another punch, this one to his chest rather than his face. He had been so consumed by his assumption that every man in Camille''s life was trying to win her back that he hadpletely misread what was actually happening.

    Alexander returned to the living room and slumped onto the couch, his mind churning through other moments when his jealousy might have blinded him to reality. How many times had he interpreted innocent interactions as threats? How many times had his need to see enemies everywhere prevented him from seeing the truth?

    Hisptop sat open on the side table, disying thest encrypted message from the Guardian: *Phase Three will proceed as nned. Victoria Kane and her allies must face consequences for their interference with justice.*

    Alexander stared at the message, feeling doubt creep into his mind like ice water in his veins. The Guardian''snguage had always been cold, calcted, focused on destruction rather than justice. Tonight, seeing Stefan and Hannah''s obvious care for each other, seeing Camille''s genuine sadness at his behavior, Alexander began to wonder if he had been fighting for the wrong cause.

    What if Richard Lewis had been telling the truth about the court documents? What if the evidence Alexander had received about Victoria''s crimes was deliberately misleading? What if his uncle''s death was tragic but not the result of some borate conspiracy?

    Alexander opened his uncle''s journal, the pages worn from months of reading and rereading. The entries that had once seemed like clear evidence of Victoria''s guilt now appeared different to his questioning eyes.

    *Victoria Kane is destroying everything I built. She nted those safety vitions.*

    But what if Victoria hadn''t nted the vitions? What if someone else had sabotaged Meridian Technologies and let Richard Pierce take the me? The financial records Stefan and Hannah were investigating might hold answers that Alexander had been too angry to seek.

    *The banks are calling in our loans. Victoria''s influence reaches everywhere.*

    Or maybe the banks were responding to legitimate concerns about Meridian''s financial stability after the factory ident. Maybe Victoria''s influence had nothing to do with it.

    *I won''t let her win. I won''t let her destroy what my father built.*

    Alexander felt tears burning his eyes as he read his uncle''s final entries. The pain was real, the desperation genuine. But pain and desperation didn''t always lead to urate understanding of events.

    His phone buzzed with a new message from the Guardian: *Your emotional attachment to your former wife ispromising the mission. If you cannot maintain focus on justice for your uncle, perhaps it''s time to proceed without your assistance.*

    Alexander stared at the message, feeling something cold settle in his stomach. The Guardian''s tone had shifted from supportive ally to calcting maniptor. When had their partnership started feeling like a threat rather than a coboration?

    He typed back: *I need to see the original evidence again. The documents about Victoria''s crimes. I want to verify them independently.*

    The response came quickly: *The evidence has been provided. Your uncle''s journal speaks for itself. Doubt is a luxury that justice cannot afford.*

    *That''s not an answer. I want to see source documents, not just summaries and interpretations.*

    The Guardian''s next message was ice-cold: *Alexander, your uncle died believing Victoria Kane was responsible for destroying his life. Are you now saying he was wrong? Are you betraying his memory for a woman who chose her adopted family over her husband?*

    Alexander felt anger re in his chest, but this time it wasn''t directed at Victoria or Stefan or even Camille. It was directed at the faceless person who had been pulling his strings for months, who seemed more interested in maintaining Alexander''s rage than in finding actual truth.

    *I''m saying I want to honor my uncle''s memory by making sure we have the facts right. If Victoria is guilty, the evidence should be able to withstand scrutiny.*

    The Guardian''s response took longer this time: *Facts are what we make them, Alexander. Justice is what we decide it should be. Your uncle trusted you to avenge his death. Don''t fail him now.*

    Alexander stared at that message for a long time, feeling pieces of a puzzle finally clicking into ce. Facts are what we make them.. Justice is what we decide it should be. Those weren''t the words of someone seeking truth - they were the words of someone creating narrative to serve their own purposes.

    He thought about the timing of the Guardian''s first contact. The night before his engagement party to Camille, exactly when Alexander wasmitting to a future that didn''t include revenge against anyone.

    Someone had wanted to poison that

    Victoria.

    But why? Who benefited from destroying both Alexander''s marriage and Victoria''s reputation?

    Alexander closed hisptop and walked to the window, looking out at the city

    where his life had fallen apart..

    For the first time in months,

    Alexander allowed himself to

    consider the possibility that he had

    been wrong. Not just wrong about

    Stefan''s intentions tonight, but wrong about everything. Wrong about Victoria''s guilt, wrong about the Guardian''s motives, wrong about sacrificing his marriage for a cause that might be built on lies.

    The thought terrified him more than any enemy he could face. If he was wrong about Victoria, then he had destroyed his rtionship with Camille for nothing. If he was wrong about the Guardian, then he was being used as a weapon by someone with an agenda he didn''t understand.

    If he was wrong about everything, then his uncle''s real killer was still out there, probablyughing at how effectively they had turned Alexander into their unwitting aplice.

    Alexander pulled out his phone and scrolled to Camille''s number. His finger hovered over the call button for a long moment before he set the phone aside. He had forfeited his right to contact her when he chose revenge over trust, when he chose the Guardian''s narrative over his wife''s love.

    But maybe he could still honor his uncle''s memory by finding the real truth instead of the convenient fiction he had been fed. Maybe he could still protect Camille from whateverrger scheme was unfolding around them.

    The first step would be investigating the Guardian himself. Finding out who was really behind the encrypted messages and mysterious meetings. Discovering what agenda Alexander had been unknowingly serving.

    As Alexander began nning his investigation into his supposed ally, he felt something he hadn''t experienced in months: hope. Not hope for reconciliation with Camille - that bridge might be burned beyond repair. But hope that he could still be the man she had once believed him to be.

    The man who chose truth over convenient lies, who chose protection over destruction, who chose love over the seductive poison of revenge.

    The questions that had been building in his mind finally crystallized into a single,

    terrifying possibility:

    What if everything he thought he knew about his uncle''s death was wrong?

 Chapter 213

    Victoria Kane sat in her favorite armchair by the window of her estate''s study, afternoon sunlight streaming across the financial documents spread on herp. Three days out of the hospital, she still moved carefully, her body reminding her with every breath how close the stress had brought her toplete copse. The cancer treatments had weakened her physically, but her mind remained sharp as a de.

    Camille watched from the doorway, relief and worry warring in her chest. Victoria looked fragile in the oversized chair, her usuallymanding presence diminished by the loose cardigan draped over her shoulders and the reading sses perched on her nose. But her eyes burned with the same intellectual fire that had built Kane Industries from nothing.

    "You should be resting," Camille said softly, entering the study with a cup of herbal tea.

    "I''ve been resting for three days. My body might be weak, but my brain is fine." Victoria epted the tea gratefully, her hands trembling slightly as she lifted the cup. "Besides, someone has been trying to destroy everything we''ve built. I''m not going to recover while lying in bed ignoring the threat."

    Stefan and Hannah sat at therge oak desk across the room, theirptops disying financial records that painted aplex picture of corporate maniption spanning fifteen years. The past week of investigation had brought them closer to the truth, but also revealed how sophisticated their enemy really

    was.

    "Show me what you''ve found," Victoria said, gesturing for them to bring their materials closer.

    Hannah carried herptop over first, settling cross-legged on the floor beside Victoria''s chair. The informal seating arrangement would have shocked Kane Industries employees who knew Victoria as an intimidating boardroom presence, but illness had stripped away some of her corporate armor.

    "The financial transfers we traced all lead back to shellpanies," Hannah exined, her screen showing a web of offshore ounts and dummy corporations. "But Stefan found something interesting about the timing patterns." Stefan joined them, carrying a stack of printed documents. His jaw still showed a faint bruise from Alexander''s punch, but his focus remained entirely on the investigation. "Every suspicious transaction happened within seventy-two hours of Richard Pierce receiving specific pieces of information about Kane Industries."

    "What kind of information?" Victoria asked.

    "Internal memos about safety protocols. Financial projections for the industrial sector. Details about Kane Industries'' bidding strategies." Stefan spread the documents on the side table. "Someone was feeding Richard Pierce inside knowledge about yourpany''s operations."

    Victoria studied the timeline Stefan had created, her expression growing darker with each connection. "This proves Richard wasn''t making independent business decisions. Someone was guiding his choices, probably encouraging him to take shortcuts that would make his bids morepetitive."

    "And when those shortcuts led to the factory explosion," Camille said quietly, "the same person made sure Richard med you instead of examining his own choices."

    Hannah pulled up another screen on herptop. "But here''s the really interesting part. The person feeding information to Richard Pierce had ess to Kane Industries internal systems fifteen years ago."

    Victoria went very still. "Internal ess? You mean someone inside mypany was working with Richard?"

    "Or someone with legitimate ess who was secretly working against you." Stefan leaned forward, his voice intense with discovery. "Victoria, we need to know who had high-level ess to Kane Industries financial and strategic information fifteen years ago."

    Victoria set down her tea cup, her hands now steady as her mind shifted into analytical mode. "Fifteen years ago, Kane Industries was much smaller. High-level ess was limited to maybe twenty people. Board members, senior executives, key department heads."

    "Anyone who might have had a grudge against you?" Camille asked.

    "Half the business world had grudges against me. I didn''t build thispany by making friends." Victoria''s smile was rueful. "But internal betrayal... that would have required someone I trustedpletely."

    Hannah scrolled through more financial records. "The shellpanies that received the stolen funds all trace back to a single point of origin. A managementpany called Whitfield Holdings."

    Victoria''s face went white. "Whitfield?"

    "You recognize the name?" Stefan asked urgently.

    "James Whitfield." Victoria''s voice was barely a whisper. "He was Richard Pierce''s business partner before Meridian Technologies was founded. They started theirpany together, but James sold his share to Richard about six months before the factory project began."

    Camille felt ice in her veins. "He sold his share six months before the explosion?"

    "I remember because James came to me after the sale. He said he was concerned about the direction Richard was taking thepany, that Richard was cutting costs in ways thatpromised safety." Victoria''s hands were shaking again, but this time from memory rather than illness. "I thought he was just bitter about being bought out."

    Stefan was already typing on hisptop, searching for more information about James Whitfield. "Victoria, if James knew about the safety problems but sold his shares before the explosion, he protected himself financially while letting seventeen people die."

    "And then he manipted Richard into ming me for the disaster he helped create." Victoria''s voice carried the weight of fifteen years of guilt lifting from her shoulders. "James knew about the defective equipment because he was part of the decision to use it. When people died, he made sure Richard focused his anger on Kane Industries instead of examining their own choices."

    Hannah was pulling up more financial records, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "If James Whitfield was behind the original maniption, he might still be active. The Guardian that Alexander has been working with could be..."

    "James." Victoria finished the thought, her voice full of cold fury. "After fifteen years, he''s still trying to destroy me."

    Camille sank into the chair opposite Victoria, processing the implications. "Alexander has been working with the man who actually killed his uncle."

    "Not directly killed," Stefan corrected grimly. "But James created the conditions that led to Richard''s suicide. He stole the safety funds, encouraged the cost- cutting, then made sure Richard med Victoria when everything fell apart."

    Victoria stood up slowly, her movements careful but determined. "I need to see everything you have on James Whitfield. Financial records, current address, business associations. If he''s the Guardian, if he''s been manipting Alexander to finish what he started fifteen years ago..."

    "What?" Camille asked.

    "Then he''s not going to stop with destroying my reputation. He''s going to try to destroy everyone I care about." Victoria''s eyes zed with protective fury. "Including you."

    Hannah pulled up more search results on her screen. "James Whitfield currently operates several businesses through holdingpanies. Real estate, consulting, private investment. He has offices in Manhattan and Boston."

    "Manhattan," Stefan said grimly. "That matches the location we traced for the Guardian''smunications."

    Victoria walked to her private safe, entering thebination with steady fingers. Inside were documents she had hoped never to need again - files on every person who had ever posed a threat to Kane Industries over the years.

    "I kept records on James after the Meridian copse," Victoria said, pulling out a

    thick folder. "I suspected he was involved in the sabotage, but I could never prove

    it. The evidence was always just circumstantial."

    She opened the folder, revealing

    photographs, financial records, and detailed notes spanning fifteen years. "James Whitfield med me for destroying his partnership with Richard, even though he''s the one who sold his shares before the explosion. He''s spent fifteen years building resources and nning revenge."

    Camille studied a photograph of James Whitfield taken at a corporate event years ago. He looked ordinary, unremarkable - exactly the kind of person who could manipte events from the shadows without drawing attention.

    "He''s been patient," she said quietly. "Fifteen years of nning for the perfect moment to strike."

    "The perfect moment being when I was weakened by cancer and distracted by family issues," Victoria said bitterly. "He used Alexander''s grief as a weapon, turned my daughter''s husband against me, nearly killed me with stress."

    Stefan was reading through

    Victoria''s files on James, his

    expression growing darker with each page. "Victoria, ording to this, James Whitfield has connections to military contractors, intelligence consulting firms, people with ess to sophisticated surveince and cyber warfare tools."

    "Which exins how he''s been able to orchestrate such aplex operation," Hannah added. "False documents, encryptedmunications, financial maniption - he has professional-level resources."

    Victoria closed the folder and looked at each of them with grim determination. "James Whitfield destroyed Richard Pierce''s life fifteen years ago, then convinced Alexander that I was responsible. He''s been using both men as weapons against me while staying safely in the shadows."

    "What do we do?" Camille asked.

    "We expose him. We prove that James Whitfield is the Guardian, that he''s been manipting Alexander, that he''s responsible for

    everything Alexander mes me for."Victoria''s voice carried steel despite her physical weakness. "And then we make sure he faces consequences for what he''s done."

    Stefan looked up from hisptop, his face pale with new discovery. "Victoria,

    there''s something else. James Whitfield has been tracking all of us. Our phones, our locations, our daily routines. He knows everything about our investigation."

    The room fell silent as the implications sank in.

    "He knows we''re close to exposing him," Camille whispered. Victoria nodded grimly. "Which means he''s going to escte. If James can''t destroy us with lies and maniption, he''ll try more direct methods." Hannah''sptop chimed with an urgent alert. She looked at the screen and her face went white. "Someone just essed the Kane Industries server remotely. They''re downloading everything - financial records, employee information, internal

    "James," Victoria said simply.

    "I can''t stop the d******d," Hannah said frantically, typingmands. "Whoever is doing this has administrator-level ess."

    Victoria walked to the window, looking out at the grounds of her estate where she had hoped to recover in peace. Instead, she was facing the final battle in a fifteen-

    year war she hadn''t even known she was fighting.

    "Let him d******d everything," she said quietly.

    "What?" Camille asked, shocked.

    "Let James Whitfield take our files. Because now we know who he is, and we''re

    going to take his."

    Victoria turned back to face them, her expression carrying the dangerous calm that had made her feared in boardrooms across the world.

    "It''s time to stop ying defense. James Whitfield wants a war? Then he''s going to get one."

 Chapter 214

    Alexander sat in his penthouse office, surrounded by documents that no longer made sense. For three days, he had been conducting his own investigation into the Guardian''s evidence, and every piece of information he verified independently contradicted the narrative he had believed for months.

    Hisptop disyed two versions of the same engineering report from the Meridian Technologies factory explosion. The version the Guardian had provided showed clear evidence of Victoria Kane''s interference with safety protocols. The version Alexander had obtained directly from the engineering firm''s archives showed no such interference - only Richard Pierce''s signature approving substandard materials to reduce costs.

    Alexander rubbed his eyes, feeling the weight of sleepless nights and growing doubt. His coffee had gone cold hours ago, but he barely noticed. The physical difort was nothingpared to the emotional turmoil of watching his entire worldview crumble piece by piece.

    The engineering firm''s original report was damning in ways the Guardian''s version had hidden. Richard Pierce had personally signed off on using residential-grade pressure valves in an industrial setting. The cost savings were significant - nearly forty percent less than proper equipment. But the safety margins were nonexistent.

    Alexander pulled up another document - a financial audit of Meridian Technologies from six months before the explosion. The Guardian had shown him selected pages suggesting Victoria Kane had somehow manipted Meridian''s budget. But theplete audit told a different story entirely.

    Richard Pierce had been hemorrhaging money on personal expenses. Company funds diverted to his gambling debts. Safety equipment purchases dyed to cover cash flow problems that had nothing to do with outside interference.

    "This can''t be right," Alexander whispered to the empty apartment.

    His phone buzzed with an encrypted message from the Guardian: *Your recent inquiries have been noted. Independent verification is unnecessary when justice is clear. Trust the evidence provided.*

    Alexander stared at the message, feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature in his apartment. How did the Guardian know about his independent research? Had hismunications been monitored all along?

    He typed back: *I found discrepancies in the engineering reports. The versions you provided don''t match the original documents.*

    The response came quickly: *Original documents can be falsified by those with sufficient resources. Victoria Kane has had fifteen years to alter records in her favor.*

    Alexander looked at the timestamps on both versions of the engineering report. The Guardian''s version showed a creation date from fifteen years ago. But the metadata revealed it had actually been createdst year - eleven months before the Guardian first contacted Alexander.

    *Then exin why the digital timestamps on your versions are more recent than the supposed originals.*

    There was a longer pause before the Guardian replied: *Technical details are irrelevant. Your uncle''s journal provides all the proof necessary. Do not let academic curiosity undermine yourmitment to justice.*

    Academic curiosity? Alexander felt anger building in his chest, but this time it wasn''t directed at Victoria. It was directed at the faceless person who had been manipting his grief for months, who seemed more interested in maintaining his rage than in finding actual truth.

    He pulled out his uncle''s journal, reading the entries with new eyes. The pain was real, the desperation genuine. But what if Richard Pierce''s understanding of events had been influenced by someone else? What if his uncle had been manipted just as Alexander was being manipted now?

    *June 15th - James called today. He''s concerned about some irregrities he found in Kane Industries'' bidding practices. Says Victoria Kane might be using inside information to undercut our proposals.*

    Alexander had read that entry dozens of times, always focusing on Victoria''s alleged crimes. Now he focused on a different name: James.

    Who was James? The journal never gave ast name, never identified this person who seemed to have so much influence over Richard Pierce''s understanding of events.

    Alexander searched through more journal entries, finding reference after reference to this mysterious James who provided information, offered advice, and gradually convinced Richard Pierce that Victoria Kane was his enemy.

    *June 22nd - James showed me documents proving Victoria Kane knew about our safety issues before the instation. She could have warned the client but chose to let us fail instead.*

    *July 3rd - James says the engineering firms are covering for Victoria Kane. The only way to get justice is to take our story directly to the media.*

    *July 10th - James is right. Victoria Kane has too much influence with the regtory agencies. They''re protecting her while destroying us.*

    The journal painted a picture of Richard Pierce being systematically influenced by someone named James who seemed to have detailed knowledge of both Meridian Technologies and Kane Industries operations.

    Alexander grabbed hisptop and began searching corporate records from fifteen years ago. Meridian Technologies had been founded by Richard Pierce and a business partner. The partner had sold his shares six months before the factory explosion.

    The name on the corporate filing was partially obscured in the digital scan, but Alexander could make out "James W..." The rest was illegible due to poor image quality.

    Alexander stared at the screen, feeling like he was grasping at pieces of a puzzle he couldn''t quite assemble. Someone named James had influenced his uncle''s thinking about Victoria Kane. Someone named James had been Richard Pierce''s business partner before abandoning him months before the disaster.

    But was it the same James? And if so, what did that mean for everything the Guardian had told him?

    Alexander''s hands shook as he typed a new message to the Guardian: *I want to meet in person. Tonight. I have questions that require face-to-face answers.*

    *That is not advisable. Our security depends on maintainingmunication protocols.*

    *Then tell me about James Whitfield. Tell me about my uncle''s business partner who sold his shares before the explosion.*

    The pause was longer this time. When the response came, it carried a different tone: *James Whitfield was a coward who abandoned your uncle when he needed support most. His betrayal made Richard vulnerable to Victoria Kane''s maniption.*

    Alexander felt more confused than enlightened. *But if James was my uncle''s partner, wouldn''t he know the truth about what really happened? Wouldn''t he be able to provide evidence about Victoria''s crimes?*

    *James Whitfield is unreliable. His guilt over abandoning thepany makes him an unsuitable witness. Trust the evidence I have provided.*

    Something in that response felt wrong to Alexander, though he couldn''t put his finger on what. The Guardian''s usual confidence seemed shaken, his exnations more defensive than authoritative.

    *I need to understand this better. Meet me tonight at Pier 47. Same ce as before. If you''re really seeking justice for my uncle, you''ll have no problem answering my questions face to face.*

    *That is not possible.*

    *Then I''ll continue investigating on my own until I understand what really happened.*

    Alexander hit send and immediately turned off his phone. If the Guardian was monitoring hismunications, at least now there would be silence.

    He spent the next two hours reading through more documents, each one revealing anotheryer ofplexity he hadn''t understood before. The safety vitions at Meridian. Technologies were clearly documented, but the reasons behind them remained murky. The financial

    pressures that led to those

    ove

    decisions seemed to involve

    multiple factors he couldn''t

    untangle.

    And the mysterious James Whitfield remained a shadow figure whose role in everything was unclear.

    When his phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number, Alexander almost didn''t answer. But curiosity overcame caution.

    "Hello, Alexander." The voice was electronically distorted, just like the Guardian''s had been during their in-person meetings. "I understand you''ve been asking questions."

    "I''ve been trying to understand what really happened to my uncle. Your evidence doesn''t match what I''m finding in independent sources."

    "Independent sources can bepromised. Victoria Kane has had fifteen years to alter records and influence witnesses."

    "Then help me understand. Who is James Whitfield? What was his rtionship to my uncle? Why did he sell his shares before the explosion?"

    The line was quiet for a long moment. When the Guardian spoke again, his voice carried irritation: "James Whitfield is irrelevant to your uncle''s story. Focus on Victoria Kane''s crimes, not on minor details that distract from therger truth."

    "Minor details? He was my uncle''s business partner. He might have answers about what really happened."

    "He has no answers that will help you achieve justice. Continue with our original n, Alexander. Don''t let curiosity undermine yourmitment to your uncle''s

    memory."

    Alexander felt frustration building in his chest. "I''m not undermining anything. I''m trying to understand the full picture before I take actions I can''t undo." "Understanding is a luxury that justice cannot afford. Your uncle died believing Victoria Kane was responsible for his destruction. Honor his memory bypleting what he started."

    "What if he was wrong? What if someone else was responsible and he just didn''t know it?"

    The Guardian''s electronicugh was cold and humorless. "Then you''ve chosen to

    believe Victoria Kane''s lies over your own uncle''s dying words."

    "I''m choosing to investigate thoroughly instead of acting on iplete information."

    "Then you''ve be useless to this cause."

    The line went dead.

    Alexander stared at his phone, feeling more confused and isted than ever. The Guardian''s evasiveness about James Whitfield suggested there was more to the story, but Alexander couldn''t piece together what that might be.

    For months, he had been following the Guardian''s guidance without question. Now, for the first time, he was beginning to doubt not just the evidence but the person providing it.

    But doubt wasn''t the same as understanding. Alexander still didn''t know what the truth was - only that it might be moreplicated than he had been led to believe.

    He looked around his empty penthouse, realizing howpletely alone he had be in his pursuit of what he thought was justice. He had no one to call, no one who would help him sort through these confusing revtions.

    The documents

    scattered across his desk told contradictory stories. His uncle''s journal reflected pain and anger but might have been based on iplete information. The Guardian''s evidence supported his uncle''s beliefs but didn''t match independent sources.

    And somewhere in the middle of all these contradictions, seventeen people had

    died and his uncle had taken his own life.

    Alexander picked up his uncle''s journal and read the final entry one more time:

    *I won''t let Victoria Kane escape consequences for what she''s done. Someone has to make her pay. If I can''t do it myself, I pray that someone who understands justice will finish what I started.*

    The words carried his uncle''s pain, but they also raised new questions in Alexander''s mind. What if Richard Pierce''s understanding of Victoria''s role had been based on false information? What if the person who was supposed to "finish what he

    started" was actually the one who had destroyed him in the first ce?

    Alexander closed the journal and stared out at the city lights, feeling lost in a

    maze of possibilities he couldn''t navigate alone.

    For the first time since this all began, he wondered if he needed help from

    someone who understood the situation better than he did.

    But who could he trust when everyone involved had reasons to lie?

 Chapter 215

    The Metropolitan Children''s Hospital charity g buzzed with the quiet energy of New York''s elite gathering for a worthy cause. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over designer gowns and expensive suits while waiters moved silently through the crowd carrying silver trays of champagne and canap¨¦s.

    Camille stood beside the auction disy table, examining the donated items while trying to focus on anything other than the constant ache in her chest. She wore a simple ck dress that made her look elegant but understated, as if she was trying to disappear into the background of her own life.

    Stefan and Hannah stood nearby, their conversation about the hospital''s new cardiac wing punctuated by small gestures that revealed their growing connection. Hannah''s hand briefly touched Stefan''s arm when sheughed at something he said. Stefan''s eyes lingered on her face when she wasn''t looking. The ease between them was obvious to anyone paying attention.

    "They look happy together," Camille said quietly, nodding toward Stefan and Hannah.

    Victoria, who had insisted on attending despite her recent hospitalization, followed Camille''s gaze. "They do. Stefan deserves someone who sees his better qualities."

    "We all deserve that," Camille replied, her voice carrying the weight of recent heartbreak.

    The crowd shifted around them as more guests arrived for the evening''s program. Camille was reading the description of a donated vacation package when she felt someone approach from behind. She turned and found herself face to face with Alexander.

    He looked terrible. His usually perfect appearance was reced by rumpled clothes that hung loose on his frame. Dark circles under his eyes spoke of sleepless nights, and his hair showed days without proper care. But it was his expression that caught Camille''s attention - raw vulnerability mixed with desperate hope.

    "Camille," Alexander said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Could I... could I speak with you for a moment?"

    Victoria stepped protectively closer to Camille, her eyes cold as they fixed on Alexander. "I don''t think that''s appropriate."

    "Please," Alexander said, looking directly at Victoria. "I know I have no right to ask. But there are things I need to say. Things that might change how you understand this situation."

    Stefan and Hannah had noticed Alexander''s presence and moved closer, forming a protective circle around Camille and Victoria. Stefan''s jaw was still slightly bruised from Alexander''s punch, a visible reminder of theirst encounter.

    "Alexander," Stefan said carefully, "this isn''t the ce for..."

    "I know," Alexander interrupted, his voice cracking slightly. "I know this isn''t the ce, and I know I don''t deserve your time. But I''ve discovered things that make me question everything I thought I knew."

    Hannah looked between Stefan and Alexander, her engineering mind analyzing the situation with scientific precision. "What kind of things?"

    Alexander looked around at the four people surrounding him - the wife he had betrayed, the woman he had tried to destroy, the man he had attacked, and the engineer whose loyalty he had underestimated. Each face showed varying degrees of suspicion and pain.

    "The evidence I was given about Victoria," Alexander said slowly, "it doesn''t match what I''m finding when I investigate independently. Someone has been lying to me, manipting the facts to make Victoria look guilty of crimes I''m not sure shemitted."

    The words hung in the air like smoke from an extinguished candle. Victoria''s expression remained carefully neutral, but Camille could see surprise flickering in her eyes.

    "You''re saying you were wrong about Victoria?" Camille asked, her voice barely steady.

    "I''m saying I might have been wrong about some things. The situation appears moreplex than I understood." Alexander''s hands shook as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "This is an apology I wrote. For Stefan."

    He held the paper toward Stefan, who made no move to take it.

    "I don''t need your written apology," Stefan said quietly. "But I''ll listen if you have something real to say."

    Alexander crumpled the paper slightly, hisposure beginning to crack. "I hit you because I thought you were trying to win Camille back. I was jealous and paranoid and Ipletely misread what was happening between you and Hannah."

    Stefan and Hannah exchanged a quick nce, their rtionship no longer a secret they needed to hide.

    "I saw what I expected to see instead of what was actually there," Alexander continued. "And I reacted like a man who had already lost everything important to him."

    "You lost everything because of your own choices," Camille said, her voice carrying both pain and anger. "Because you chose revenge over trust, lies over honesty, surveince over love."

    "I know." Alexander''s voice brokepletely on those two words. "I know I destroyed our marriage. I know I vited your privacy and used your love as a weapon against your family. I know I nearly killed Victoria with the stress of my attacks."

    Victoria studied Alexander''s face, looking for signs of deception or maniption. "If you know all that, why are you here? What do you want from us?"

    "I want to tell you that the evidence against you has inconsistencies I can''t exin. I want to admit that my contact - the person who gave me information about your supposed crimes - bes evasive when I ask for verification." Alexander looked directly at Victoria. "I want to say that I might have been manipted into believing you were a killer when you might actually be another victim."

    The charity g continued around them, but their small group felt isted in a bubble of tense conversation. Other guests moved past without paying attention to the drama unfolding near the auction table.

    "Might have been?" Hannah asked. "You''re still not certain?"

    "I''m not certain of anything anymore," Alexander admitted. "For months, I believed I was seeking justice for my uncle and seventeen innocent people who died in a factory explosion. Now I''m finding evidence that suggests someone else might have been responsible for those deaths."

    Stefan leaned forward slightly. "Someone else like who?"

    "My uncle''s former business partner. James Whitfield. He sold his shares in Meridian Technologies six months before the explosion. The timing seems... convenient."

    Victoria went very still at the mention of James Whitfield''s name, but she said nothing.

    "You think James Whitfield was involved in the factory explosion?" Camille asked.

    "I think James Whitfield knew more about the safety problems than he admitted. I think he might have influenced my uncle''s understanding of events. And I think the person who has been feeding me evidence against Victoria might not be who he ims to be."

    Alexander looked around at their faces, seeing skepticism mixed with cautious interest.

    "I''m not asking for forgiveness," he said quietly. "I''m not asking for another chance with our marriage, Camille. I know I destroyed that beyond repair. I''m asking for help understanding what really happened fifteen years ago."

    "Why should we help you?" Victoria asked. "Why should we trust anything you say after months of attacks and surveince?"

    "Because if I''m right, if someone has been manipting me to attack you, then they''re still out there. They''re still nning to hurt all of you. And they might escte to more dangerous methods now that their original n has failed."

    Hannah looked at Stefan,municating something wordless through their shared nce. Stefan nodded slightly.

    "What specific inconsistencies did you find?" Stefan asked.

    ovel.n

    Alexander seemed surprised by the question, as if he hadn''t expected anyone to take his ims seriously "The digital timestamps on documents don''t match their supposed creation dates. Engineering reports that contradict each other. Financial records that suggest my uncle was making poor

    decisions independently, not because of outside pressure."

    "And your contact''s exnations for these inconsistencies?" Victoria asked.

    "Weak. Defensive. He ims you have the resources to alter historical documents, but he can''t exin why you would leave so much evidence of your supposed crimes in other records."

    The group fell silent for a moment, processing Alexander''s admissions. The

    charity auction was beginning in the main ballroom, and guests were moving toward their assigned tables.

    "We should sit down," Camille said finally. "If we''re going to discuss this, we need

    privacy."

    She led them to a quieter corner of

    the venue, where several

    high-backed chairs had been

    arranged around a small table. they settled into the seating, Alexander remained standing, clearly

    ufortable with the idea of sitting as an equal among people he had wronged.

    "Sit down, Alexander," Stefan said. "If we''re going to talk about this, we''re going to do it like adults."

    Alexander sat carefully, as if the chair might copse under the weight of his guilt.

    "I need you to understand something," he said, looking directly at Camille. "When

    I married you, when I told you I loved you, that wasn''t part of any n. Those feelings were real."

    "Until you decided revenge was more important," Camille replied.

    "Until someone convinced me that justice was more important. That seventeen families deserved answers more than our marriage deserved protection."

    "And now?"

    Alexander was quiet for a long moment. "Now I think those seventeen families might deserve the truth, not the convenient lie I was sold. And our marriage... our marriage deserved better than being sacrificed for someone else''s vendetta." Hannah had been listening carefully to the entire conversation. "Alexander, if you''re genuinely questioning your contact''s motives, would you be willing to help us investigate him?"

    "What do you mean?"

    "We mean setting up a situation where we can identify who he really is," Stefan exined. "Drawing him out into the open where we can see his face and understand his true agenda."

    Alexander looked around the table at the four people whose lives he had tried to destroy. "You would trust me to help with that?"

    "We would supervise you closely," Victoria said dryly. "But yes, if you''re genuinelymitted to finding the truth instead of pursuing revenge."

    "I am," Alexander said immediately. "I want to know who has been using my uncle''s death to manipte me. I want to understand what really happened fifteen years ago. And I want to stop whoever is behind this before they hurt any of you." Camille studied Alexander''s face, looking for signs of deception or hidden agenda. What she saw was exhaustion, regret, and something that might have been genuine remorse.

    "This doesn''t fix what you did to our marriage," she said quietly.

    "I know."

    "This doesn''t erase the surveince or the lies or the months of betrayal."

    "I know."

    "And this doesn''t mean I can ever trust you the way I did before." Alexander''s face crumpled slightly, but his voice remained steady. "I know. I''m not asking for forgiveness or reconciliation. I''m asking for the chance to do something right for once. To protect the people I should have been protecting all along."

    Stefan reached across the table and briefly touched Hannah''s hand, drawing strength from her presence. "If we''re going to do this, we needplete honesty from you. No more secrets, no more hidden agendas." "Complete honesty," Alexander agreed.

    Victoria leaned forward, her expression still skeptical but curious. "Then tell us

    everything you know about your contact. Everything he''s told you, everywhere you''ve met him, every piece of evidence he''s provided."

    "And Alexander?" Camille added, her voice carrying both pain and possibility. "If we discover that you''ve been manipted, if we prove that someone else was responsible for your uncle''s death, what will you do with that information?"

    Alexander looked at his ex-wife, the

    woman whose love he had thrown away in pursuit of false justice. "I''l

    spend the rest of my life trying to make@mends for the damage ?''ve caused. Starting with helping you destroy whoever has been using all of us as weapons in their private

    war."

    As the charity auction continued in the background, five people who had been

    enemies just hours before began nning to work together against amon

    threat. It wasn''t forgiveness, and it wasn''t reconciliation.

    But it was, perhaps, the beginning of truth.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 216

    The Kane Industries conference room had been transformed into a war room. Documents covered every surface,ptops disyed multiple screens of data, and arge whiteboard showed a timeline spanning fifteen years. Alexander sat at the table he had once nned to destroy, now opening his most guarded secrets to the people he had tried to hurt.

    "This is everything," Alexander said, cing his encrypted phone on the table. "Every message from James, every document he provided, every instruction he gave me."

    Hannah connected Alexander''s phone to herputer system, her fingers moving across the keyboard with practiced efficiency. "I''ll need your passwords for allmunication tforms."

    "Of course." Alexander recited a series of passwords while Camille watched from across the table. The careful distance between them spoke of trust broken but notpletely destroyed.

    Stefan studied the printed messages Alexander had provided. "The psychological maniption is sophisticated. James knew exactly which emotional buttons to push."

    Victoria sat at the head of the table, still pale from her recent hospitalization but alert as she reviewed Alexander''s evidence. Her reading sses reflected the light from multipleputer screens as she examined document after document. "These fabricated safety reports," Victoria said, holding up a folder. "They''re based on real incidents at Meridian Technologies, but the details have been altered to make me look responsible for covering up vitions."

    Alexander winced as he watched Victoria read through the lies he had believed for months. "I should have verified everything independently before acting on it."

    "James knew you wouldn''t," Camille said quietly. "He counted on your grief making you vulnerable to maniption."

    The statement hung between Alexander and Camille like a bridge neither was ready to crosspletely. They were talking to each other directly for the first time since their confrontation, but their words carried the weight of everything that had been broken.

    Hannah looked up from herputer analysis. "Alexander, James has been monitoring your location through your phone. He knows where you are right now."

    "Then he knows I''m working with you instead of against you," Alexander said. "He''ll probably try to make contact soon."

    Stefan moved his chair closer to Hannah''s as she exined her findings, their shoulders touching as they examined the tracking data together. "Look at this pattern," Hannah said, pointing to her screen. "James has been watching all of us for months."

    "Not just watching," Stefan corrected, reading over her shoulder. "nning. These are surveince schedules for Victoria''s hospital visits, Camille''s daily routines, even my shipping business activities."

    As Stefan leaned closer to study Hannah''s analysis, she turned to ask him a question and found their faces inches apart. For a moment, neither moved, the air between them charged with unspoken feelings.

    "The tracking data," Hannah said softly, not pulling away, "shows he''s been preparing for multiple scenarios."

    Stefan''s voice was equally quiet. "Including scenarios where we figured out his identity."

    Camille noticed their exchange and felt aplicated mix of emotions. Sadness for her own broken marriage, but genuine happiness that Stefan was finding connection with someone who valued his better qualities.

    Alexander was so focused on his guilt and the evidence spread before them that he missed the growing intimacy between Stefan and Hannah entirely. His attention remained fixed on Victoria as she continued reading through his files.

    "This journal entry from your uncle," Victoria said, holding up a photocopy. "It mentions someone named James providing information about Kane Industries'' bidding practices. But the handwriting looks different from Richard''s usual style." Alexander studied the page Victoria indicated. "Different how?"

    "More careful. Less emotional than his other entries. As if someone else wrote it, or as if Richard was copying information someone else provided."

    Hannah and Stefan worked together topare the journal entries with samples of Richard Pierce''s authenticated handwriting from corporate documents. Their analysis required them to sit close together, sharing documents and pointing out details on the screen.

    "The pressure patterns are inconsistent," Hannah observed, her voice taking on the excitement of discovery. "Some entries show the natural variation of someone writing their own thoughts. Others show the careful formation of someone copying text."

    Stefan nodded, understanding her analysis immediately. "Which means James was dictating what Richard should write, probably convincing him these were his own insights about Victoria''s behavior."

    "Exactly," Hannah said, turning to smile at Stefan. "You understand the implications perfectly."

    The warmth in Hannah''s voice when she spoke to Stefan was obvious to everyone in the room. Alexander finally noticed their connection and felt a stab of recognition - this was how Camille used to look at him when they worked together on projects, before he had destroyed her trust.

    "James used the same tactics on both my uncle and me," Alexander said slowly. "He provided information that seemed credible, encouraged us to reach our own conclusions, then gradually guided those conclusions toward hatred of Victoria."

    Victoria removed her reading sses and rubbed her tired eyes. "Richard Pierce wasn''t a bad man. He was under enormous financial pressure, making poor decisions, but he wasn''t intentionally malicious. James exploited his vulnerabilities."

    "The same way he exploited mine," Alexander said, his voice heavy with self- recrimination.

    Camille spoke without looking directly at Alexander. "James knew your grief would make you want someone to me. He gave you a target for your pain."

    "And I was so eager to have an enemy that I never questioned whether Victoria was really guilty," Alexander replied. "I wanted someone to pay for my uncle''s death, and James convinced me that someone should be you."

    The raw honesty in Alexander''s voice created a moment of ufortable silence. Everyone in the room could feel the weight of what his misguided revenge had cost them all.

    Hannah cleared her throat and returned attention to herputer analysis. "James has been nning this operation for years. The encryptedmunications show contact with multiple sources, sophisticated resource

    acquisition, detailed psychological profiles of everyone involved."

    "Including profiles of us?" Stefan asked, moving closer to read Hannah''s screen.

    "Especially us, He knows about your guilt over betraying Camille, Stefan. He knows about my loyalty to

    Victoria and Kane Industries. H

    know about Camille''s tendency to trust people she loves." Hannah''s voice grew grim as she read through more files. "And he knows about Victoria''s determination to protect her family at any cost."

    Victoria leaned forward with interest. "What else do those files contain?"

    Hannah and Stefan worked together to navigate through the decoded information, their coboration seamless and efficient. "Contingency ns," Stefan said. "Multiple scenarios for destroying Kane Industries and everyone connected to it."

    "Including physical elimination if other methods fail," Hannah added quietly. The room fell silent as the implications sank in. James Whitfield wasn''t just seeking financial revenge - he was prepared to kill anyone who stood in his way. Alexander''s phone buzzed with a new message. Everyone looked at it as if it might explode.

    "It''s from James," Alexander said, reading the screen. "He wants to meet tonight. He says my recent behavior has been disappointing, and we need to discuss mymitment to justice."

    Camille felt fear twist in her stomach. "He knows you''re working with us."

    "Which means he''s probably nning to eliminate Alexander as a liability," Stefan said grimly.

    Victoria studied Alexander''s face, seeing genuine fear mixed with determination. "Are you prepared to help us catch him? Even if it means putting yourself in danger?"

    Alexander looked around the table at the people whose lives he had tried to destroy Camille, who was talking to him again but might never trust him. Victoria, who was reading his evidence instead of having him arrested. Stefan and Hannah, who were finding love despite the chaos he had created.

    "I''m prepared to do whatever it takes to stop him," Alexander said. "James used

    my uncle''s memory as a weapon. He turned my grief into hatred. He nearly killed

    Victoria with stress and destroyed my marriage with lies."

    Camille met Alexander''s eyes for the first time since he had sat down. "You destroyed our marriage with your choices. James just gave you the excuse you were looking for."

    The words stung, but Alexander didn''t argue. "You''re right. I chose revenge over trust. I chose maniption over honestmunication. James provided the opportunity, but I made the decisions that hurt you."

    Something in Alexander''s eptance of responsibility seemed to shift the dynamic between them slightly. Not forgiveness, but perhaps the beginning of understanding.

    Hannah looked up from her analysis of the meeting location James had specified. "The ce he wants to meet has no security cameras, multiple exit routes, and limited cell phone coverage. Perfect for making someone disappear."

    "Or perfect for making him think he''s in control while we surround him," Stefan suggested.

    Victoria closed the folder of fabricated evidence and looked directly at Alexander. "James manipted your uncle by convincing him that I was his enemy. He manipted you by using your uncle''s pain as leverage. He''s spent fifteen years farning good people into weapons against innocent targets."

    "And now we turn the tables," Alexander said. "We use his own tactics against

    him."

    As they began nning their operation to expose James Whitfield, the unlikely alliance between former enemies started to feel like something stronger. Not friendship - too much damage had been done for that. But a sharedmitment to stopping someone who had hurt them all.

    Hannah and Stefan continued working side by side, their mutual attraction bing more obvious with each shared nce and brief touch. Camille and Alexander spoke to each other with careful civility, rebuildingmunication slowly and cautiously.

    And Victoria watched over them all, seeing in their coboration the possibility that truth might finally triumph over the lies that had divided them.

 Chapter 217

    James Whitfield stood in his Manhattan office, watching surveince footage of Alexander talking to Camille, Stefan, Hannah, and Victoria at the event, he saw the look of remorse on Alexander''s face. His hands gripped the edge of his desk so tightly his knuckles turned white as he watched Alexander talk to them, and betray everything they had built together.

    "Twenty years," James whispered to the empty room. "Twenty years of nning, and this weak-minded fool throws it all away for a woman who destroyed his uncle."

    The rage burning in James''s chest felt familiar,fortable even. He had carried this anger for so long it had be part of his identity, as essential to his existence as breathing. But watching Alexander coborate with the enemy brought that fury to a boiling point that threatened to consume everything in its path.

    James turned away from the surveince screens and walked to the wall where a single photograph hung in an expensive frame. The image showed a man in his fifties wearing a business suit, standing proudly in front of a construction site. The man''s smile was genuine, his posture confident, his eyes bright with the satisfaction of honest workpleted well.

    "I''m sorry, Dad," James said to the photograph. "I''m sorry it''s taken me so long to get justice for what they did to you."

    The photograph showed Thomas Smith, a contractor who had built half the schools and hospitals in upstate New York before Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce destroyed his life. James touched the ss covering his father''s face, remembering the strong hands that had taught him to use tools, the patient voice that had exined how buildings were constructed tost for generations.

    Before Victoria Kane turned his father into a criminal.

    James closed his eyes and let the memories wash over him, painful as acid but necessary to fuel his determination. Twenty years ago, Thomas Smith Construction had beenpeting for thergest municipal contract in the state''s history - a new hospitalplex that would employ hundreds of workers and establish the family business for the next generation.

    Thomas Smith had submitted a fraudulent bid based on substandard materials and exploited immigrant workers who couldn''t report safety vitions. Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce had submitted an honest bid that exposed Thomas Smith''s illegal practices when they reported him to the authorities.

    When federal investigators discovered Thomas Smith''s criminal enterprise, they found evidence of years of fraud, bribery, and safety vitions. Workers had been injured on his construction sites because he used defective materials. Families had been cheated out of their savings through inted contracts. Municipal officials had been bribed to overlook building code vitions.

    James remembered the day the federal agents came to arrest his father. The rage in Thomas Smith''s eyes as they read charges of fraud, bribery, and conspiracy. The way his voice turned cold as he promised revenge against the people who had exposed his crimes.

    "They think they''ve won," Thomas had said as they led him away in handcuffs. "But I''ll make them pay for destroying my business. Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce will regret the day they crossed the Smith family."

    But Thomas Smith never got his revenge. He died in federal prison three years into his sentence, killed by inmates who discovered he had been skimming money from a children''s hospital construction fund.

    James had been twenty-two when his father was arrested, a recent college graduate who had known about the family business''s illegal activities but had chosen to look the other way. When the conviction became public, when the newspapers detailed Thomas Smith''s extensive criminal history, James had changed his surname to Whitfield and disappeared from his old life.

    He had spent three years building a new identity, creating a respectable background that had no connection to Thomas Smith Construction. By the time James emerged as James Whitfield, businessman and consultant, no one remembered that he was the son of a convicted criminal.

    But James had never forgotten what Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce had done to his father''s empire.

    "I should have helped you get revenge," James said to the photograph. "I should have made them pay for exposing your business instead of running away and changing my name."

    The investigation that followed had consumed James''s life, but not to discover the truth about his father''s innocence. James knew Thomas Smith had been guilty of every charge brought against him. Instead, James had spent years learning how to destroy Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce the way they had destroyed his father''s criminal empire.

    James had discovered that Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce were honestpetitors who had simply reported criminal activity to the proper authorities. His father''s downfall hadn''t been the result of any conspiracy - it had been the natural consequence of years of fraud and corruption finally being exposed.

    But James didn''t care about justice or morality. He cared about revenge for the family business that had been taken away, for the wealth that had been confiscated, for the empire his father had built through crime and violence.

    Victoria Kane had cost the Smith family millions of dors by exposing their illegal construction practices. Richard Pierce had provided testimony that helped convict Thomas Smith and shut down the family''s criminal enterprise.

    But by the time James understood the truth, Victoria Kane had moved on to bigger enterprises. She had founded Kane Industries and left the construction business behind. Richard Pierce had started Meridian Technologies and seemed to have forgotten their partnership in destroying innocent people. James had spent years nning his revenge, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. When the factory explosion happened at Meridian Technologies, when Richard Pierce faced his own downfall, James had seen divine justice in action.

    But that justice hadn''t beenplete. Victoria Kane had survived the scandal, even thrived after Richard''s death. She had built an empire while James''s father rotted in an unmarked grave, forgotten by everyone except the son who had failed him.

    So James had decided to finish

    T.n

    what the factory explosion had started. He had manipted Richard Pierce, fed him information that would turn him against Victoria, encouraged his paranoia and desperation until Richard was ready to destroy himself if necessary to hurt the woman who had destroyed them both.

    But Richard had grown weak at the end. When James pushed him to take more extreme action against Victoria Kane, Richard had balked. He had started talking about going to the authorities, about admitting his own mistakes, about finding legal ways to expose Victoria''s crimes.

    James couldn''t allow that. Richard Pierce knew too much about James''s involvement, too much about the evidence that had been fabricated and the witnesses who had been bought. If Richard confessed to the authorities, James would be exposed as the puppet master behind years of fraud and maniption. So James had arranged for Richard to die. Not suicide, as the world believed, but murder made to look like a man overwhelmed by guilt taking his own life. A tragic end to a tragic story, with Victoria Kane left to carry the me for driving an innocent man to despair.

    Except Victoria Kane had survived that too. She had rebuilt her reputation, recovered from the scandal, and continued building her empire as if Richard Pierce had never existed.

    That was when James had started nning his final campaign. Fifteen years of patient preparation, waiting for the perfect weapon toplete his father''s revenge. When Alexander Pierce appeared, consumed by grief for his uncle''s death, James had seen the tool he needed.

    A grieving nephew who could be manipted into destroying Victoria Kane from within. A man with ess to her inner circle, someone she would never suspect until it was toote.

    James had crafted Alexander''s

    revenge carefully, feeding him just

    enough truth mixed with lies to keep

    him motivated. The factory

    explosion had really happened Richard Pierce had really died. Victoria Kane had really defended herpany against ac¨¦usations. But James had twisted those facts into a narrative that painted Victoria as a cold-blooded killer who destroyed innocent people for profit.

    And it had almost worked. Alexander had infiltrated Camille''s life, gained ess

    to Kane Industries, and systematically attacked Victoria''spany and reputation. James had watched with satisfaction as his fifteen-year n finally came to fruition.

    Until now. Until Alexander''s weakness and sentimentality had ruined everything.

    James turned back to the surveince screens, watching Alexander talking with the very people James had spent decades trying to destroy. The sight filled him with a rage that went beyond anger into something approaching madness. "You want to betray your uncle''s memory for a woman who exposed my father''s business?" James said to Alexander''s image on the screen. "You want to protect the people who destroyed everything my family built through years of hard work?" James walked to his desk and opened the bottom drawer, revealing a collection of items he had hoped never to use. False identification documents. Untraceable weapons. Detailed floor ns of Kane Industries, Victoria''s estate, and the hospital where she had been treated.

    Tools for ending this war permanently.

    If Alexander Pierce wanted to abandon their cause for sentiment, if he wanted to protect Victoria Kane instead of helping James reim

    what his family had lost, thes

    would handle the situation personally. He had waited fifteen years to get revenge for his father''s destroyed empire. He wouldn''t let a

    weak-willed romantic destroy

    everything he had built.

    James picked up his phone and began making calls. Not to Alexander this time,

    but to other contacts. People who understood that sometimes revenge required methods thew couldn''t provide.

    "It''s time," he said into the phone when the first contact answered. "The Kane situation requires direct intervention. All targets, all locations,plete elimination."

    As James gave his final instructions, he looked one more time at his father''s photograph. Thomas Smith stared back from the frame, forever frozen in a moment of pride and power, before Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce had exposed his crimes and destroyed his criminal empire.

    "Soon, Dad," James whispered. "Soon they''ll all pay for what they did to our family business. And this time, no one will survive to rebuild from the ashes."

    The war that had been fought in shadows for Twenty years was about to end in

    blood and fire. And James Whitfield intended to be the only one left standing when the smoke cleared.

 Chapter 218

    The Kane Industries conference room felt suffocating as Hannah''sputer disyed the final pieces of information that would change everything they thought they knew. For hours, they had been tracing digital footprints, following money trails, and uncoveringyers of deception that stretched back twenty years.

    Now, the truth stared back at them from multiple screens, devastating in its rity.

    "James Smith," Hannah said quietly, reading from herptop. "Born James Thomas Smith. Changed his legal name to James Whitfield in 2006 two years after his father Thomas Smith died in federal prison."

    Alexander stared at the screen showing his uncle''s business partner''s real identity. The man he had known only as the Guardian, the person who had fed him lies for months, had been hiding behind a false name from the beginning.

    "Thomas Smith Construction," Stefan read from another document. "Convicted of federal fraud, bribery, and safety vitions. Thepany was systematically cheating municipal contracts by using substandard materials and exploiting immigrant workers."

    Victoria sat back in her chair, pieces of a twenty-year-old puzzle finally clicking into ce. "I remember Thomas Smith. Richard and I werepeting against hispany for the hospital contract when we discovered his illegal practices."

    "You reported him to the authorities," Camille said, understanding beginning to dawn.

    "We had to. Workers were being injured on his construction sites because he was using defective concrete and steel. Families were being cheated out of their life savings through inted contracts." Victoria''s voice carried the weight of old memories. "When we found evidence of his crimes, we turned it over to federal investigators."

    Alexander''s hands shook as he processed what he was hearing. "James Whitfield is Thomas Smith''s son. The Guardian is the son of a criminal who was legitimately convicted for fraud."

    Hannah pulled up more records, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "Thomas Smith died in prison in 2004. Killed by other inmates after they discovered he had been stealing money from a children''s hospital construction fund."

    The silence in the room was deafening as everyone absorbed the implications. Alexander felt like the ground was shifting beneath his feet, everything he had believed crumbling into dust.

    "James wasn''t seeking justice," Alexander whispered. "He was seeking revenge for his father''s criminal empire being destroyed."

    Stefan leaned forward, studying the financial records Hannah had uncovered. "Look at this timeline. James started nning his revenge campaign almost immediately after his father''s death. He spent years building resources, creating false identities, gathering information on Victoria and Richard."

    "And waiting for the perfect weapon," Camille added, looking at Alexander with a mixture of pity and understanding.

    Alexander stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. The sound echoed in the quiet room like a gunshot. "My uncle. What really happened to my uncle?"

    Hannah''s face grew pale as she pulled up another set of documents. "ording to the coroner''s report, Richard Pierce died by suicide. But look at these medical records from his final weeks."

    The screens showed detailed medical reports, toxicology results, and witness statements that painted a very different picture of Richard Pierce''s final days.

    "James had been feeding Richard false information for months," Hannah continued. "Convincing him that Victoria was responsible for Meridian Technologies'' problems. But when Richard started questioning the narrative, when he wanted to go to the authorities with the truth..."

    "James couldn''t let that happen," Stefan finished grimly. "Richard knew too much about James''s maniption."

    Alexander felt rage building in his chest like moltenva. "The toxicology report. What does it show?"

    "Traces of sedatives that weren''t prescribed to Richard," Hannah said quietly. "Enough to incapacitate someone but not enough to show up as obvious poisoning."

    Victoria examined the medical records, her business instincts recognizing the patterns of systematic deception. "James drugged Richard and staged his death to look like suicide. He murdered your uncle to protect his own criminal conspiracy."

    The words hit Alexander like physical blows. His uncle hadn''t died by suicide, overwhelmed by guilt and despair. Richard Pierce had been murdered by the man who had spent months manipting him, who had convinced him to me Victoria for problems James himself had created.

    "Fifteen years," Alexander said, his voice breaking. "I spent fifteen years believing my uncle killed himself because of guilt over the factory explosion. I destroyed my marriage, nearly killed Victoria with stress, betrayed everyone I should have protected... all based on lies told by my uncle''s killer."

    Camille felt tears burning her eyes as she watched Alexander''s world copse around him. Despite everything he had done to her, despite the surveince and betrayal and months of deception, she couldn''t help feelingpassion for the man who had been so thoroughly manipted.

    "Alexander," she said softly, "you couldn''t have known."

    "I should have questioned everything. I should have investigated independently before acting on James''s information." Alexander''s hands clenched into fists. "I should have honored my uncle''s memory by seeking truth instead of epting convenient lies."

    Stefan studied Alexander''s face, seeing the raw pain and growing fury in his expression. "What are you thinking?"

    Alexander turned to face the group, his eyes zing with a rage that went beyond anything they had seen before. This wasn''t the jealous anger that had driven him to punch Stefan, or the desperate fury that had motivated his attacks on Kane

    Industries. This was something colder and more dangerous.

    "I''m thinking that James Whitfield murdered my uncle and used his death to manipte me into destroying innocent people," Alexander said, his voice deadly quiet. "I''m thinking that he spent fifteen years nning this campaign of revenge, turning me into his weapon whileughing at how easily I could be controlled."

    Hannah looked up from herputer analysis, concern evident in her voice. "Alexander, themunication patterns show James has been escting his ns. The failed media attack, your defection to our side - he''s probably nning something desperate."

    "Good," Alexander said, surprising everyone with the venom in his voice. "Let hime. Let him try whatever move he''s nning next."

    Victoria leaned forward, studying Alexander''s expression with growing rm. "Alexander, you can''t take justice into your own hands. We need to involvew enforcement, let them handle James Whitfield properly."

    "Law enforcement?" Alexanderughed bitterly. "James has beenmitting crimes for fifteen years and no one has stopped him. He murdered my uncle and made it look like suicide. He manipted me into nearly killing you with stress. He turned my grief into a weapon against innocent people."

    "Which is exactly why we need to handle this legally," Camille said firmly. "We have evidence now. We can prove James''s crimes and get real justice for your uncle."

    Alexander looked at Camille, seeing the concern in her eyes, the fear that he was about to make another terrible mistake driven by rage and pain.

    "Camille, this man used my uncle''s death to destroy our marriage. He turned my love for you into a tool for his revenge. He made me betray everything I should have protected." Alexander''s voice cracked with emotion. "How can I just hand him over towyers and hope the system works this time?"

    Stefan stood up, moving closer to Alexander. "Because that''s what separates you from him. James Whitfield has spent twenty years choosing revenge over justice, maniption over truth. Don''t be the same kind of person who destroyed your uncle."

    "My uncle was murdered," Alexander said, his voice rising. "Richard Pierce was drugged and killed by the man who had been feeding him lies for months. The factory explosion, the financial problems, the stress that supposedly drove him to suicide - all of it was orchestrated by James to cover up his own crimes."

    Hannah''sputer chimed with an urgent alert. She looked at the screen and her face went white. "James is moving. Financial transactions,munications

    patterns - something big is happening."

    "What kind of movements?" Victoria asked sharply.

    "Liquidating assets, closing ounts, erasing digital footprints," Hannah''s voice

    was tight with concern. "He''s not nning to hide anymore. He''s nning to disappearpletely."

    Alexander felt something cold settle in his stomach. The rage was still there, burning like fire in his chest, but it was joined by a calcting calm that surprised

    him.

    "He knows we''ve uncovered the truth," Alexander said.

    "Which means he''s either running," Stefan said, reading over Hannah''s shoulder,

    "or preparing for something final."

    Alexander looked around at the four people who had been his enemies just days ago. Victoria, who he had tried to destroy based on lies. Camille, whose marriage he had sacrificed for false justice. Stefan, whose loyalty he had questioned and whose face he had damaged with his jealous rage. Hannah, whose dedication he had underestimated and whose rtionship with Stefan he had nearly destroyed through paranoia.

    "James Whitfield thinks he can escape justice," Alexander said. "He thinks he canplete his fifteen-year n and disappear before anyone can stop him." "What are you suggesting?" Camille asked, though something in his tone made her afraid of the answer.

    Alexander''s expression hardened into something none of them had seen before. Not the desperate man seeking revenge for his uncle''s death. Not the jealous husband attacking perceived rivals. This was someone who had finally understood the true scope of the enemy they faced.

    "I''m suggesting we stop running from James Whitfield and start hunting him

    instead."

    The conference room fell silent as everyone processed Alexander''s words. Outside the windows, the sun was setting over Manhattan, painting the sky in shades of red and gold that looked disturbingly like fire and blood. Somewhere in the city, James Whitfield was moving his pieces into position for what he intended to be his final escape from justice.

    But for the first time since this war began, Alexander Pierce was ready to fight back with the full knowledge of who his real enemy was.

    The question was whether they could stop a man who had spent twenty years nning his revenge, or whether James Whitfield would finally slip away from the consequences of his crimes.

 Chapter 219

    The conference room emptied slowly as Victoria, Stefan, and Hannah left to coordinate security preparations for James''s impending attack. Their voices faded down the hallway, discussing evacuation routes and emergency protocols, leaving behind only the quiet hum ofputer equipment and the weight of everything that had been revealed.

    Alexander stood by the windows, staring out at the Manhattan skyline as

    darkness settled over the city. His reflection in the ss showed a man hollowed out by the truth, his face gaunt with the realization of howpletely he had been manipted. The lights below twinkled like stars, beautiful and distant, while inside him everything felt broken and sharp.

    Camille remained at the conference table, watching Alexander''s silhouette against the window. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands hung at his sides like he didn''t know what to do with them anymore. For months, those hands had typed messages to his uncle''s killer. For months, those hands had gathered evidence against innocent people.

    "Everyone''s gone," Camille said quietly.

    Alexander didn''t turn around. "I know."

    The silence stretched between them, filled with months of pain and betrayal and misunderstanding. Alexander''s reflection in the window looked like a ghost, transparent and haunting. Camille could see her own reflection too, sitting small and still at therge table where they had once nned their future together.

    "I destroyed everything," Alexander said, his voice barely audible. "Our marriage. Your trust. Victoria''s health. I nearly got people killed because I believed the lies of a murderer."

    Camille stood up slowly, her chair making a soft sound against the floor. "Alexander."

    "I surveince on you, Camille. I recorded our private conversations. I used our wedding day as cover to photograph Victoria." Alexander''s voice cracked with each admission. "I turned our love into a weapon against your family."

    "Alexander, look at me.''

    "

    He turned from the window, and Camille saw tears streaming down his face. His eyes were red with exhaustion and grief, his usualposurepletely shattered. This wasn''t the confident businessman who had swept her off her feet, or the jealous husband who had attacked Stefan in rage. This was someone broken by the weight of his own actions and the truth of how he had been used. "I''m so sorry," Alexander whispered. "I''m so sorry for everything I did to you."

    The distance between them felt enormous. Ten feet of conference room floor that might as well have been an ocean. Alexander looked at Camille standing there in her simple ck dress, her hair falling softly around her shoulders, and remembered how beautiful she had looked on their wedding day. How happy they had been during those first months of marriage, before James''s poison had infected everything.

    "Camille, I need to ask you something," Alexander said, his voice shaking. "And I understand if you can''t give me an answer."

    "What?"

    Alexander walked toward her slowly, each step feeling like a confession. When he reached the middle of the room, he stopped and looked into her eyes. The tears on his cheeks caught the fluorescent lights, making them shine like silver tracks down his face.

    Then, to Camille''s shock, Alexander dropped to his knees.

    The sound of his knees hitting the floor echoed in the empty conference room. Alexander looked up at her from where he knelt, his hands pressed against his thighs, his entire body shaking with emotion.

    "I''m asking for your forgiveness," he said, his voice breakingpletely. "I know I don''t deserve it. I know I destroyed our marriage and vited your trust and nearly killed the woman who saved your life. But I''m asking anyway."

    Camille stared down at him, her heart racing. She had imagined this moment during the darkest nights of the past few months. Had pictured Alexander finally understanding what he had done, finally apologizing for the pain he had caused. But seeing him actually kneeling before her, tears streaming down his face, broke something open in her chest.

    "Alexander, get up."

    "Please," he said, staying on his knees. "Please let me say this. I need to say this."

    Camille felt her own tears starting, hot and unstoppable. "You''re scaring me." "I''m not asking you to take me back. I''m not asking you to forgive me so we can rebuild our marriage. I know that''s impossible now." Alexander''s words came out in a rush, like he was afraid he would lose his courage. "I''m asking you to forgive me so you can heal. So you can move forward without carrying the weight of what I did to you."

    "Alexander..."

    "I let a murderer convince me that revenge was more important than love. I let James Whitfield use my grief to turn me into someone who could hurt the person I loved most in the world." Alexander''s voice was raw with pain. "You deserved a husband who trusted you, who protected you, who chose you over everything else. Instead, you got someone who surveilled you and lied to you and used your love as a tool for someone else''s vendetta."

    Camille could barely see him through her tears. The man kneeling before her looked so different from the confident person she had married. Broken, yes, but also somehow more real than he had been in months. The lies and maniption had been stripped away, leaving only raw truth and desperate regret.

    "I want to make things right," Alexander continued. "Not our marriage, I know that''s over. But I want to protect you from James. I want to stop the man who used my uncle''s death to destroy both our lives. I want to do something good for once instead of just causing more pain."

    Camille knelt down in front of him, her dress pooling around her on the floor. Now they were at eye level, both of them on their knees in the empty conference room, surrounded by the evidence of James''s fifteen-year campaign of lies.

    "Alexander, look at me," she said softly.

    He met her eyes, and she saw in them the man she had fallen in love with. Not the paranoid stranger who had surveilled her conversations, not the jealous husband who had attacked Stefan. This was the Alexander who had held her when she cried about Rose''s betrayal, who had promised to love and protect her forever.

    "It wasn''t your fault," Camille said, her voice steady despite her tears. Alexander''s face crumpled. "Of course it was my fault. I made every choice that hurt you."

    "You made choices based on lies

    1.no

    told by a master maniptor who spent fifteen years nning how to use your grief against innocent people." Camille reached out and touched his face, her fingers gentle against his wet cheeks. "James Whitfield murdered your uncle and convinced you that Victoria was responsible. He used your love for Richard against you, the same way he used your love for me."

    "But I should have questioned...."

    "You should have, yes. You should have trusted me when I tried to tell you something was wrong. You should have investigated

    independently before acting ol

    James''s information." Camille''s voice was firm but not angry. "But Alexander, you were grieving. You were in pain. And someone who is very good at maniption took advantage of that pain."

    Alexander stared at her, unable to believe what he was hearing. "You''re defending me."

    "I''m not defending your actions. I''m trying to help you understand that you were a victim too." Camille''s tears fell freely now. "James Whitfield destroyed our marriage as surely as he destroyed your uncle. He turned you into someone you''re not, someone who could hurt the people you love."

    "I hurt you so badly," Alexander whispered.

    "Yes, you did, You surveince on me, you lied to me, you used our love as a weapon against my family. And I may never be able to trust you the way I did before." Camille''s Voice e''s voice was honest, painful in its rity. "But Alexander, you weren''t the only one who got fooled. James spent fifteen years nning this. He studied all of us, learned our weaknesses, figured out exactly how to turn us against each other."

    Alexander felt something shifting inside him, a weight he had been carrying beginning to lift slightly. "Does that mean you can forgive me?"

    Camille looked into his eyes, seeing the desperate hope there mixed with genuine remorse. This was the hardest question she had ever been asked, and the most important answer she would ever give.

    "Yes," she said simply. "I forgive you."

    The words hit Alexander like a physical force. He closed his eyes and let out a sound that was half sob, half relief. When he opened his eyes again, Camille was still there, still kneeling in front of him, still touching his face with gentle fingers.

    "I don''t deserve it," he said.

    "Forgiveness isn''t about what you deserve. It''s about what I choose to give." Camille''s voice was soft but sure. "I choose to forgive you, Alexander. Not for your sake, but for mine. Because carrying anger and hatred is too heavy, and I want to be free of it."

    Alexander felt himself breaking apart and rebuilding at the same time. The guilt was still there, the regret still burned in his chest. But alongside it was something

    he hadn''t felt in months: hope.

    "What happens now?" he asked.

    "Now we stop James Whitfield from hurting anyone else. We get justice for your uncle, real justice, not the twisted revenge James has been nning." Camille moved closer to him, and before Alexander realized what was happening, she had wrapped her arms around him.

    The hug was warm and fierce and unexpected. Alexander felt Camille''s arms around his shoulders, felt her tears against his neck, and for a moment he couldn''t breathe. This woman whose life he had nearly destroyed was holding him while he fell apart, offeringfort when she should have been demanding justice.

    "I''m so sorry," he whispered into her hair. "I''m so sorry for everything." "I know," Camille whispered back. "I know you are."

    They held each other on the floor of the conference room, two people who had been torn apart by lies and maniption finding their way back to something like peace. Not romantic love, that might be broken forever. Not the easy trust they had once shared, that would take time to rebuild, if it could be rebuilt at all.

    But forgiveness. Understanding. The recognition that they had both been weapons in someone else''s war, and that the real enemy was still out there, nning to destroy everything they cared about.

    When they finally pulled apart, both their faces were wet with tears. But for the first time in months, Alexander looked like himself again. Notpletely healed, not entirely forgiven for his actions, but no longer consumed by rage and pain and the need for revenge.

    "We should rejoin the others," Camille said, standing up and smoothing her dress.

    Alexander stood too, feeling steadier than he had in months. "Camille? Thank

    you. For forgiving me. For helping me understand that I was manipted instead of just evil."

    "You''re not evil, Alexander. You''re human. You made terrible mistakes because someone very clever convinced you that the people you loved were your enemies." Camille looked at him with eyes that were clear despite her tears. "But now you know the truth. And now you can choose to do better."

    As they walked toward the door to rejoin Victoria, Stefan, and Hannah, Alexander

    felt something he hadn''t experienced since before his uncle''s death: the possibility of redemption.

    James Whitfield was still out there, still nning to destroy them all. The final confrontation was stilling, and Alexander might not survive it.

    But for the first time in months, he felt like he was fighting for the right side. And that made all the difference in the world.

 Chapter 220

    The rooftop of Kane Industries stretched out like a concrete garden forty stories above Manhattan''s glittering streets. Stefan stood at the edge, his hands gripping the safety railing as he looked out over the city that had witnessed so much pain and betrayal in recent months. The night air was cool against his face, carrying the distant sounds of traffic and the faint smell of rain that mighte before dawn.

    Hannah emerged from the rooftop ess door, carrying two steaming cups of coffee from the break room downstairs. She had been working for sixteen straight hours, analyzingmunication patterns and tracking James Whitfield''s movements, but she moved with the determined energy of someone who refused to let exhaustion slow her down.P

    "I thought you might need this," Hannah said, offering Stefan one of the cups.

    Stefan turned from the railing and epted the coffee gratefully. Their fingers brushed as he took the cup, and both of them noticed the brief contact. The warmth of Hannah''s touch lingered on Stefan''s skin even after she stepped back.

    "Thank you," Stefan said. "I didn''t realize how cold it was up here."

    Hannah joined him at the railing, standing close enough that their shoulders almost touched. The city spread out below them like a circuit board, all glowing lines and blinking lights that seemed to pulse with electronic life.

    "I needed air that didn''t smell like stress andputer equipment," Hannah said, breathing deeply. "Sometimes I forget there''s a world outside that conference room."

    Stefan studied Hannah''s profile in the starlight. Her usually perfect appearance was rumpled from hours of intense work, her hair escaping from its ponytail in soft strands that caught the light from the building''s exterior illumination. But there was something beautiful about seeing her this way - not the polished professional engineer, but the real person underneath all thepetence and dedication.

    "You''ve been incredible through all of this," Stefan said quietly. "The way you tracked down James''s real identity, the digital forensics work, stopping his media attack on Victoria. I don''t think any of us would have survived without your skills."

    Hannah turned to look at him, surprised by the admiration in his voice. "I was just doing my job."

    "No, you were doing much more than your job. You were protecting people you care about." Stefan met her eyes. "You were protecting Camille and Victoria, yes. But you were also protecting me."

    The words hung between them in the cool night air. Hannah felt her heart beating faster as she recognized the shift in Stefan''s tone from professional gratitude to something more personal.

    "Stefan," she said softly.

    "I know I''m probably thest person who should be thinking about rtionships right now," Stefan continued, his voice growing more uncertain. "I know I have aplicated history with Camille, and I know you''ve seen me at my worst moments. But Hannah, working with you these past weeks has been..."

    He paused, searching for words that wouldn''t sound inadequate.

    "Has been what?" Hannah prompted gently.

    "Has been the first time in years that I''ve felt like myself again. Not the man who betrayed Camille, not the man carrying guilt for destroying someone else''s trust. Just Stefan, working alongside someone who sees my better qualities instead of my worst mistakes."

    Hannah set down her coffee cup on the ledge beside her, giving Stefan her full attention. The starlight made her eyes look deeper, more mysterious than they appeared under the harsh fluorescent lights of the office.

    "I do see your better qualities," she said. "I see someone who''s dedicated to finding truth, who refuses to give up when things getplicated. I see someone who''s worked harder than anyone to make amends for past mistakes."

    "And is that enough?" Stefan asked, his voice vulnerable in a way that made Hannah''s chest tight. "Is that enough to build something real on?"

    The question carried weight beyond romance. Stefan was asking whether he was worthy of love again, whether someone could see past his history of betrayal to the person he was trying to be.

    Hannah moved closer to him, close enough that she could see the uncertainty in his expression, the fear that she might reject him the way he probably felt he deserved to be rejected.

    "Stefan, can I tell you something?"

    "Of course."

    "When I first started working at Kane Industries, I thought I understood what loyalty meant. I thought it meant doing your job well, followingpany policies, being professional with your colleagues." Hannah''s voice was soft but clear. "But watching you these past weeks has taught me that real loyalty is much moreplicated."

    Stefan waited for her to continue, afraid to interrupt what felt like an important moment.

    "Real loyalty means staying with someone when they''re at their worst and helping them find their way back to their best. It means seeing someone''s potential even when they can''t see it themselves." Hannah looked directly into Stefan''s eyes. "You''ve shown that kind of loyalty to Camille, even after she had every right to hate you. You''ve worked tirelessly to protect her from Alexander''s maniption, to help her rebuild her trust in people."

    "I was trying to make amends."

    "You were trying way, even when it meant giving up any chance of winning her back." Hannah''s voice carried deep respect. "Stefan, do you know h

    to love her the right

    rare that is? How few people

    can

    love someone enough to want their happiness more than their own?"

    Stefan felt something warm spreading through his chest at Hannah''s words. She understood what he had been trying to do, understood the sacrifice involved in protecting Camille without expecting anything in return.

    "Hannah," he said quietly, "I need to ask you something, and I want you to bepletely honest with me."

    "Always."

    Stefan took a deep breath, gathering courage for what felt like the most important question he''d ever asked. The stars above them seemed to brighten as if they were listening too.

    "Would you like to have dinner with me sometime? Not as colleagues working on an investigation, not as people brought together by crisis. Just as Stefan and Hannah, seeing if there might be something worth exploring between us."

    The words came out more formally than Stefan had intended, but they carried genuine hope and carefully contained emotion. He had been hurt so badly by his own mistakes with Camille that the idea of opening his heart again felt both necessary and terrifying.

    Hannah was quiet for a long moment, and Stefan felt his pulse quicken with anxiety. Maybe he had misread the signs between them. Maybe she saw him only as a colleague, someone useful for the current crisis but not someone she could imagine building a future with.

    "Stefan," Hannah said finally, and there was something in her voice that made him look at her more closely.

    "Yes?"

    Hannah reached out and took his hand, her fingers intertwining with his in a gesture that felt both natural and electric. "I would love to have dinner with you." The relief that flooded through Stefan was so intense it made him dizzy. "Really?"

    "Really." Hannah''s smile was radiant in the starlight. "I''ve been hoping you would ask, but I wasn''t sure if you were ready for something like that. After everything with Camille, after all the chaos with Alexander and James..."

    "I''m ready," Stefan said, squeezing her hand gently. "I''m ready to stop living in the past and start building something new with someone who understands who I''m trying to be."

    Hannah stepped closer to him, and Stefan felt his breath catch as her free hand came up to touch his face. Her fingers were warm against his skin, gentle as she traced the line of his jaw.

    "I understand," she said softly. "And Stefan? I like who you''re bing. I like who you are right now,plicated history and all."

    The space between them seemed to shrink as they looked into each other''s eyes. Stefan could smell Hannah''svender shampoo mixed with the coffee on her breath, could feel the warmth of her body in the cool night air.

    "Hannah," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

    "Yes?"

    "When this is all over, when James is stopped and everyone is safe, I want to take

    you somewhere beautiful. Somewhere we can talk without worrying about surveince or corporate espionage or people trying to hurt the ones we care

    about."

    Hannah''s smile grew wider. "I''d like that very much."

    They stood there on the rooftop, holding hands and looking into each other''s eyes, while the stars wheeled overhead and the city hummed with life below them. For a few precious minutes, there was no James Whitfield nning their destruction, no corporate crisis threatening their livelihoods, noplicated history of betrayal and forgiveness.

    There was just Stefan and Hannah, two people who had found each other in the

    midst of chaos and discovered that sometimes the best things grow from the most difficult circumstances.

    "We should probably get back," Hannah said eventually, though she made no move to let go of Stefan''s hand.

    "Probably," Stefan agreed, equally reluctant to end this moment.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 221

    Alexander stood in the abandoned warehouse at Pier 47, surrounded by the ghosts of his own mistakes. The meeting location James had chosen was fitting - a ce where lies had been spoken and truth had been twisted into weapons. The same concrete floor where Alexander had once believed he was fighting for justice now felt cold beneath his feet as he waited for his uncle''s killer to arrive.

    The folder in Alexander''s hands contained everything: financial records proving James''s real identity,munication logs showing his maniption tactics, forensic evidence about Richard Pierce''s murder. Months of investigation condensed into irrefutable proof that would destroy the man who had destroyed so many lives.

    Footsteps echoed across the empty warehouse as a figure emerged from the shadows between stacked shipping containers. James Whitfield walked with the confident stride of someone who believed he still held all the advantages, his expensive coat billowing behind him in the wind that whistled through broken windows.

    "Alexander," James said, his voice carrying the same electronic distortion he had used during their previous meetings. "I''m disappointed in your recent choices. We had an understanding about justice for your uncle."

    "We had an understanding based on lies," Alexander replied, his voice steady despite the rage burning in his chest. "Lies you told about Victoria. Lies you told about my uncle''s death. Lies you told about who you really are."

    James stopped about twenty feet away, maintaining the distance that had always existed between them. Even now, even when his deception was about to be exposed, he kept himself separate and untouchable.

    "I told you what you needed to hear to seek proper revenge for Richard Pierce''s death," James said. "The details were less important than the oue."

    Alexander held up the folder, letting James see the thick stack of documents inside. "The details include your real name, James Smith. The details include your father''s criminal conviction for fraud and safety vitions. The details include the fact that Victoria and Richard were honestpetitors who reported your father''s crimes to federal authorities."

    James went very still. For the first time since Alexander had known him, the man who called himself the Guardian seemed genuinely surprised.

    "You''ve been busy," James said quietly.

    "I''ve been learning the truth. Something I should have done months ago instead of trusting the word of a stranger who contacted me through encrypted messages." Alexander''s voice grew stronger with each word. "Thomas Smith wasn''t an innocent victim destroyed by corporate conspiracy. He was a criminal who used substandard materials, exploited immigrant workers, and stole money from construction contracts."

    "My father built a sessful business from nothing," James said, his electronic voice carrying an edge of defensiveness. "He provided jobs for hundreds of people, built schools and hospitals that servedmunities for decades."

    "He built those schools and hospitals with defective concrete and stolen funds. Children attended sses in buildings that could have copsed because your father cut safety corners to increase his profits." Alexander stepped closer, feeling his fear transform into righteous anger. "Your father was exactly the kind of person who deserved to be stopped."

    James removed a small device from his pocket and pressed a button. The electronic distortion in his voice disappeared, revealing the raw emotion underneath.

    "My father died in prison because Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce couldn''t stand to lose a contract to someone who understood how business really works," James said, his natural voice carrying twenty years of umted rage. "They destroyed him because he was more sessful than they were."

    "They reported him because he was breaking thew and endangering people''s lives," Alexander corrected. "They did what anyone with a conscience would do when they discovered evidence of criminal activity."

    Jamesughed, but the sound carried no humor. "Conscience? Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce destroyed my father''s life and then went on to build their own empires on the ruins. Where was their conscience when my father died alone in a federal prison cell?"

    Alexander studied James''s face, seeing for the first time the pain that drove his fifteen-year campaign of revenge. The electronic distortion had hidden more than just his voice - it had hidden the raw anguish of a son who had lost his father and never recovered from that loss.

    "I understand your pain," Alexander said quietly. "I understand what it feels like to lose someone important and want someone to me for that loss."

    "Do you?" James stepped closer, his eyes zing with the intensity of someone who had carried his burden alone for too long. "Do you understand what it feels like to watch your father die believing his own son thought he was guilty? Do you understand the guilt of abandoning someone when they needed you most?"

    The words hit Alexander like physical blows. He saw himself reflected in James''s pain - the guilt, the rage, the desperate need to make someone pay for a loss that felt too enormous to bear alone.

    "Yes," Alexander said simply. "I do understand that."

    "Then you understand why Victoria Kane and Richard Pierce had to be destroyed. They took everything from my family and suffered no consequences. They built sessful careers while my father rotted in prison for crimes they could have prevented if they had chosen honesty overpetition."

    Alexander felt the familiar pull of James''s maniption, the way he twisted truth into something that supported his narrative of victimhood and revenge. But now Alexander recognized the technique for what it was.

    "James, your father''s crimes weren''t caused by Victoria and Richard''s reporting. Your father chose to use substandard materials. Your father chose to exploit workers. Your father chose to steal money from construction funds." Alexander''s voice was firm but not unsympathetic. "Victoria and Richard didn''t force him to make those choices."

    "They forced him topete in a system that rewarded the lowest bidder regardless of how those low costs were achieved," James countered. "They created the pressure that made corners-cutting necessary for survival."

    "No, James. Your father created that pressure by choosing illegal shortcuts instead of honestpetition. Victoria and Richard submitted legitimate bids based on quality materials and fair wages. Your father chose crime as hispetitive advantage."

    James was quiet for a long moment, staring at Alexander with an expression that mixed hatred with something that might have been recognition.

    "You sound like the prosecutors who convicted him," James said finally. "All moral certainty and legal technicalities, no understanding of the real world pressures that drive people to desperate choices."

    "I sound like someone who''s learned the difference between exnation and justification," Alexander replied. "I understand why your father might have felt pressured to cut costs. I understand why you might have felt abandoned when you believed his conviction was unjust. But understanding those feelings doesn''t justify the crimes that followed."

    "Crimes?" James''s voice rose with indignation. "I sought justice for an innocent man destroyed by corruptpetitors."

    "You murdered my uncle when he wanted to confess the truth about your maniption. You spent fifteen years nning to destroy innocent people based on lies about their supposed guilt. You turned my grief into a weapon against people who had never harmed you." Alexander''s voice cracked with emotion. "James, you became everything your father was used of being - someone who destroyed innocent lives for personal gain."

    The words hung in the air between them like smoke from an extinguished fire. James stared at Alexander, seeing his own reflection in the younger man''s pain and recognizing the path Alexander had chosen to walk away from revenge.

    "My uncle was an innocent man who died because you couldn''t ept that your father was guilty," Alexander continued. "Richard Pierce tried to expose your maniption, and you killed him rather than face the truth about what you had be."

    "Richard Pierce was weak," James said, but his voicecked its earlier conviction. "He started questioning the narrative when he should have stayed focused on destroying Victoria Kane."

    "Richard Pierce started questioning the narrative because he realized you were using his pain to make himplicit in destroying innocent people. He tried to do the right thing, and you murdered him for it."

    James was quiet for a long moment, his expression cycling through rage, pain, and something that might have been self-recognition.

    "You think you understand me," James said finally. "You think because you''ve felt loss and grief that you can judge the choices I''ve made. But you don''t understand what it''s like to carry this burden for twenty years."

    "You''re right," Alexander said. "I don''t understand what it''s like to carry grief for twenty years. But I understand what it''s like to let grief turn into something poisonous that destroys everything you touch."

    Alexander looked at James - really looked at him - and saw not the master maniptor who had destroyed his marriage, but a broken man who had never learned how to process loss in a healthy way.

    "James, we both lost people we loved. We both felt rage at the

    unfairness of those losses. We both

    wanted someone to me,

    someone to make pay for our pain."

    Alexander''s voice was gentle despite everything James had done to him. "The difference is that I found people who helped me understand that revenge only creates more pain. You spent twenty years in istion, feeding your anger until it consumed everything else."

    "Don''t psychoanalyze me," James snapped. "Don''t pretend we''re the same just because we''ve both experienced loss."

    "We''re not the same," Alexander agreed. "I had Camille, who loved me enough to forgive me when I made terrible mistakes. I had people who cared about my healing more than they cared about my usefulness to their own agendas. You had no one."

    The simple statement seemed to hit James harder than any usation. For a moment, his carefully maintainedposure cracked, revealing the lonely man underneath all the rage and maniption.

    "I had my father," James said quietly.

    "You had your memory of your father, and you let that memory be more important than the lives of living people," Alexander corrected. "You turned your father into a symbol instead of remembering him as a wed human being who made choices that hurt people."

    James stared at Alexander, and for the first time, Alexander saw uncertainty in his eyes.

    "What are you suggesting?" James asked.

    "I''m suggesting that maybe it''s time to stop fighting a war that ended twenty years ago. Maybe it''s time to face the truth about your father''s crimes and your own choices, and find a way to heal instead of continuing to destroy." Jamesughed, but the sound was hollow. "You want me to just give up everything I''ve worked for? Just walk away from twenty years of nning?"

    "I want you to choose healing over revenge. I want you to stop using your pain as

    an excuse to hurt innocent people." Alexander held up the folder again. "James, I have enough evidence to destroy youpletely. I could hand this to the FBI and watch you spend the rest of your life in prison. But I''m offering you a choice."

    "What choice?"

    "Surrender. Confess to Richard''s murder. ept responsibility for the maniption and fraud. Stop this war before more innocent people. get hurt." Alexander''s voice was steady, offering something he had never expected to offer his uncle''s

    killer. "I won''t promise you''ll avoid prison. But I will promise that if you choose confession over continued violence, I''ll make sure people understand that grief drove you to these choices."

    James stared at Alexander for a long moment, processing the unexpected offer of

    mercy from someone he had spent months manipting and betraying.

    "And if I refuse?"

    "Then I''ll stop you by whatever means necessary," Alexander said simply.

    "Because I won''t let you hurt Camille or Victoria or anyone else who doesn''t deserve to pay for your father''s crimes."

    The warehouse fell silent except for the sound of wind whistling through broken windows and the distant noise of traffic from the city beyond. Two men stood

    facing each other, both shaped by loss, both scarred by grief, but choosing very different paths forward.

    James looked at Alexander and saw the man he might have be if he had chosen healing over revenge twenty years ago.

    The question was whether it was toote for him to make a different choice now.

 Chapter 222

    Camille sat in the small caf¨¦ near Kane Industries, stirring her coffee without drinking it. The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting warm patterns on the wooden tables where other customers read newspapers and checked their phones. Everything looked normal, peaceful even, but Camille felt like she was sitting in the eye of a storm that could explode into violence at any moment.

    Alexander walked through the caf¨¦ door, and Camille''s heart did somethingplicated in her chest. He looked tired, older than his years, but there was something different about his posture. The desperate edge that had consumed him for months was gone, reced by a quieter sadness that somehow felt more honest.

    "Thank you for meeting me," Alexander said, sliding into the chair across from her. "I wasn''t sure you woulde."

    "I almost didn''t," Camille admitted. "But we need to talk about what happens next."

    Alexander nodded, understanding that she wasn''t just talking about James Whitfield''s threats or the security concerns that kept them all looking over their shoulders. She was talking about them - about whether anything could be salvaged from the wreckage of their marriage.

    "How did the meeting with James go?" Camille asked.

    "He''s still out there. Still nning something." Alexander''s jaw tightened with frustration. "I offered him a chance to surrender, to confess to Richard''s murder and end this peacefully. He didn''t take it."

    Camille felt fear crawl up her spine. "So he''s going to escte."

    "Probably. Victoria''s security team is monitoring all his known locations, but James has had fifteen years to n for this scenario. He won''t be easy to find or stop."

    They sat in ufortable silence for a moment, both thinking about the danger that lurked somewhere in the city. James Whitfield had murdered Richard Pierce and manipted Alexander for months. There was no reason to believe he would show mercy to anyone who stood in his way now.

    "Alexander," Camille said quietly, "I''ve been thinking about what you said yesterday. About wanting to make things right."

    Alexander looked up from his untouched coffee cup, hope and fear warring in his expression. "And?"

    "I meant what I said about forgiving you. I understand that you were manipted, that James used your grief against you in ways you couldn''t have anticipated." Camille chose her words carefully, knowing they carried the weight of both their futures. "But forgiveness doesn''t automatically fix what was broken."

    "I know," Alexander said. "I know our marriage might be over. I know I vited your trust in ways that might be impossible to repair."

    Camille studied his face, seeing genuine eptance of responsibility rather than the desperate bargaining she had expected. This wasn''t the Alexander who had surveilled her conversations or attacked Stefan in jealous rage. This was someone who had been forced to confront the worst parts of himself and was trying to be better.

    "I don''t know if our marriage can be saved," Camille said honestly. "But I think... I think maybe we can try. Maybe we can learn to trust each other again and rebuild what we had."

    Alexander felt his heart leap with unexpected hope. "Do you really mean that?"

    "I mean I''m willing to try if you are. It won''t be easy, and it won''t be quick. But Alexander, I still love you." Camille''s voice broke slightly on the admission. "Despite everything that''s happened, despite the surveince and the lies and the betrayal, I still love the man I married."

    Alexander felt tears burning his eyes. "I love you too, Camille. I never stopped loving you, even when I was destroying everything we had built together."

    "Then maybe we can work on our marriage. Maybe we can find our way back to each other." Camille reached across the table and took his hand properly this time, their fingers intertwining. "But it has to be different. It has to be built onplete honesty and trust."

    Camille reached across the table and touched his hand briefly. The contact was warm, familiar, carrying echoes of the connection they had once shared.

    "We''ll have to take it slowly," she said. "I need time to learn how to trust you again. And you need time to prove that you''ve really changed, that you choose our marriage over anything else."

    "I understand. But Camille, I need you to know something."

    "What?"

    Alexander looked into her eyes, seeing the woman he had fallen in love with and recognizing that he still felt exactly the same way about her.

    "I love you more than I''ve ever loved anything in my life. I know I didn''t show it these past months, I know I chose revenge over our marriage, but you are the most important thing in my world."

    Camille felt tears streaming down her face at the raw honesty in his voice. "I love you too, Alexander. That''s why this hurt so much. That''s why I''m willing to try to rebuild what we had."

    "When this is over, when James is stopped and we''re all safe, I want to take you on a real honeymoon. One where I''m not nning revenge or carrying secrets or photographing your family." Alexander''s voice was filled with hope and determination. "I want to show you that I can be the husband you deserved from the beginning."

    Camille felt more tears falling as she heard the love andmitment in his voice. "I would like that very much."

    They sat quietly for a few minutes, both processing the significance of this moment. Not just forgiveness, but the decision to fight for their marriage, to rebuild their love on a foundation of truth instead of the lies that had nearly destroyed them.

    "There''s something else I need to tell you," Alexander said. "About James, about what he revealed during our confrontation."

    Camille tensed, preparing for more devastating revtions.

    "He''s not just seeking revenge for his father''s conviction. He genuinely believes that Victoria and Richard were responsible for destroying an innocent man." Alexander''s voice was thoughtful, analytical. "I his mind, he''s the hero of this story, fighting to correct a terrible injustice."

    "That doesn''t excuse murder," Camille said firmly.

    "No, it doesn''t. But it helps me understand how someone could spend fifteen years nning such an borate campaign of revenge. James isn''t just evil - he''s broken. He''s someone who never learned how to process grief in a healthy way." Camille studied Alexander''s expression, seeingpassion mixed with determination. "You feel sorry for him."

    "I feel sorry for the man he might have been if he had made different choices twenty years ago. I feel sorry for someone who carried his pain atone for so long that it poisoned everything else in his life." Alexander met her eyes. "But I also understand that feeling sorry for James doesn''t mean I can let him hurt the people I care about."

    "The people you care about," Camille repeated softly.

    Alexander nodded. "You, Victoria, even Stefan and Hannah. You''re all innocent in this, and James wants to destroy you to satisfy his need for revenge against

    people who have been dead for years."

    "Alexander, what are you nning to do?"

    "Whatever it takes to stop him. Not for revenge, not to satisfy my own anger, but to protect the people who don''t deserve to pay for crimes they didn''tmit." Camille saw something in Alexander''s expression that reminded her of the man she had married - determined, protective, willing to sacrifice for others. But there was a maturity there now, a thoughtfulness that had been missing during his months of maniption by James.

    "I want to help," she said.

    Alexander shook his head immediately. "Camille, no. James has already targeted you once through me. I won''t let you put yourself in danger."

    "This doesn''t mean everything is magically fixed," Camille said, needing to be clear about the work ahead of them. "We have a lot to rebuild. Trust,munication, the basic foundations of our marriage."

    "I know. And I''m willing to do whatever it takes." Alexander squeezed her hand gently. "Couples therapy,plete transparency about everything I do, whatever you need to feel safe with me again."

    Alexander stared at her, seeing the love in her eyes and feeling overwhelmed by her willingness to give their marriage another chance.

    "If we''re going to do this, if we''re going to rebuild our marriage, then we face everything together," he said. "Including stopping James. We watch each other''s backs, wemunicate honestly about everything, and we never let anyonee between us again."

    "Agreed," Camille said. "But Alexander, I need you to promise me something."

    "Anything."

    "Promise me that no matter what happens with James, no matter what he threatens or what he reveals, you''ll choose our marriage. You''ll choose us over revenge or anger or anything else."

    "I promise," Alexander said without hesitation. "I choose you, Camille. I choose our marriage. I choose our future together over everything else." Camille felt warmth flooding through her chest at hismitment. This was what she had needed to hear - that Alexander understood their marriage was the most important thing, that he wouldn''t let anythinge between them again. "There''s one more thing," Alexander said. "I want you to know that I''m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret giving me this second chance. I''m going to be the husband you deserve, the man you fell in love with." Camille felt fresh tears starting, but these were tears of hope rather than pain. "Alexander, can I tell you something?"

    "Anything."

    "I loved you. I still love you. And I want to build a marriage with you that''s stronger than what we had before, something that can''t be destroyed by lies or maniption or outside interference."

    Alexander''s face lit up with joy at her words. "That''s all I want too. To love you the

    way you deserve to be loved."

    As they prepared to leave the caf¨¦,

    I.ne

    both of them felt something profound shift between them. The passionate love that had driven. them to marriage was still there, but it was deeper now, tempered by pain and forgiveness and the choice to fight for their rtionship despite everything that had tried to destroy it.

    It wasn''t the fairy tale ending either of them had imagined for their love story. But it

    was something better - a love that had been tested and chosen to survive, a marriage they were bothmitted to rebuilding on truth rather than the lies that had nearly torn them apart.

 Chapter 223

    The Phoenix Grid control center erupted into chaos at 3:47 AM when every screen in the facility turned bright red and began shing warning messages. Hannah Zhao sat at her workstation, watching months of careful engineering work being attacked by malicious code that spread through the system like wildfire.

    "Full system intrusion detected," she announced, her voice steady despite the panic rising in her chest. "Someone''s released a virus into the Phoenix Grid''s corework."

    rms red throughout Kane Industries as automated safety protocols kicked in, isting infected sections of the power grid to prevent cascading failures across the city. The emergency lighting cast eerie shadows across the control room where Hannah''s team scrambled to contain damage that could affect millions of people.

    Stefan burst through the control room doors, still wearing yesterday''s clothes after spending the night monitoring James''s movements. "How bad is it?"

    "Bad," Hannah replied, her fingers flying across multiple keyboards as she fought the digital invasion. "The virus is targeting our backup systems, trying to causeplete grid failure during peak morning usage."

    On the main disy screen, a map of Manhattan showed sections of the Phoenix Grid going dark one by one. Red warning indicators spread across the boroughs

    like blood poisoning, each failure representing thousands of homes and businesses that would lose power if Hannah couldn''t stop the attack.

    "This is James," Stefan said grimly, pulling up a chair beside Hannah''s

    workstation. "He''s escting to infrastructure attacks."

    Hannah nodded without taking her eyes off the scrolling code. "The virus is sophisticated, military-grade. But whoever designed it made one mistake - they assumed our security architecture followed standard protocols."

    "What does that mean?"

    "It means I designed the Phoenix Grid''s security system myself, using non- standard encryption and istion protocols that most hackers wouldn''t expect." Hannah''s voice carried fierce determination as she initiated countermeasures. "The virus can''t spread as fast as it was designed to because it keeps hitting barriers that shouldn''t exist."

    Stefan watched Hannah work with something approaching awe. Her hands moved across the keyboards like a pianist performing aplex symphony, each keystroke deliberate and precise. The stress of fighting a cyberattack that could cripple the city''s power infrastructure showed in the tight line of her shoulders, but her focus never wavered.

    "How can I help?" Stefan asked.

    "Monitor themunication channels. If James is watching this attack in real time, he might try tomunicate with his virus or send additional instructions." Hannah gestured toward a secondary workstation. "And Stefan? Stay close. I might need someone to physically disconnect systems if the virus tries to jump to our backup generators."

    As Stefan settled at the monitoring station, he felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. Hannah was fighting to save the city''s power grid, and he was the only person here who could support her efforts. The woman he was falling in love with was engaged in digital warfare against a man who had already proven willing to kill anyone who stood in his way.

    Across the city, Camille''s phone buzzed with emergency alerts as she sat in the Kane Industries crisis management center. Alexander stood beside her, both of them watching news reports of rolling ckouts affecting downtown Manhattan. "The Phoenix Grid is under attack," Camille said, reading updates from Hannah''s team. "James released a virus designed to causeplete system failure."

    Alexander felt rage burning in his chest as he realized the scope of James''s esction. "He''s not just targeting us anymore. He''s willing to leave millions of people without power to satisfy his need for revenge."

    "We need to coordinate the corporate response," Camille said, already reaching for the phone to contact their legal team. "If the Phoenix Grid fails, Kane Industries will facewsuits, regtory investigations, criminal charges for negligence."

    Alexander moved to the second phone line, his business instincts taking over despite his emotional turmoil. "I''ll handle media rtions. We need to get ahead of this story before James can control the narrative."

    As they worked side by side, fielding calls from investors, regtors, and news outlets, Camille felt something familiar settling between them. The easy partnership they had once shared, the way they could anticipate each other''s needs andplement each other''s strengths.

    "Channel Seven wants a statement about system security," Alexander said, covering the phone receiver. "What should I tell them?"

    "That Kane Industries designed the Phoenix Grid with multiple redundancy systems specifically to prevent attacks like this," Camille replied without looking up from her own call. "That our engineering team is actively containing the threat and expect full system restoration within hours."

    Alexander nodded and returned to his conversation, impressed by Camille''s quick thinking under pressure. This was the woman he had fallen in love with - brilliant, decisive, unshakeable in a crisis. Working with her now reminded him why he had been so attracted to her intelligence and strength.

    Back in the control room, Hannah''s battle against the virus intensified as the malicious code adapted to her countermeasures. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she rewrote security protocols in real time, building digital walls faster than the virus could tear them down.

    "It''s learning," she muttered, watching the virus probe for new vulnerabilities. "The code is modifying itself based on our defensive responses."

    Stefan looked up from his monitoring station. "Can you stop it?"

    "I''m trying. But Stefan, if this virus was designed by someone with military-level resources, it might have capabilities I haven''t discovered yet." Hannah''s voice carried strain as she fought to stay ahead of the attack. "We might need to consider shutting down the entire Phoenix Grid to prevent citywide power failure."

    "That would mean admitting defeat to James."

    "That would mean protecting innocent people from the consequences of his revenge." Hannah turned to look at Stefan, her eyes zing with determination. "I won''t let millions of people suffer because one man can''t let go of his hatred."

    Stefan felt his chest tighten with emotion as he saw the depth of Hannah''smitment to protecting others, even at the cost of their professional reputations. This was why he was falling in love with her - not just her technical brilliance, but her moral rity in moments of crisis.

    "What do you need me to do?" Stefan asked.

    "Help me iste the infected systems manually. If we can disconnect thepromised sections without triggering automatic shutdowns, we might be able

    to save sixty percent of the grid."

    They worked together for the next hour, Stefan following Hannah''s rapid-fire instructions to physically disconnectwork cables and

    reroute power through

    systems. The control room filled with the heat of overworkedputers and the tension of a battle being fought in both digital and physical space.

    "There," Hannah said finally, leaning back in her chair as thest red warning disappeared from the main disy. "The virus is contained in isted systems. It can''t spread further, and we''ve restored power to all essential services."

    Stefan looked at the grid status disy, seeing green indicators slowly recing the red warnings that had painted the map of Manhattan. "You did it. You stopped James''s attack."

    Hannah smiled for the first time in hours, exhaustion and relief making her look younger and more vulnerable. "We did it. I couldn''t have managed the manual disconnections without your help."

    As Hannah began initiating full grid restoration, Stefan felt overwhelmed by admiration for her skills and character. city. from @cyberattack that could Rave left millions without power, and she was already focusing on the next steps rather than celebrating her victory.

    She had saved the et

    "Hannah," Stefan said quietly.

    "Yes?"

    "You''re incredible. The way you fought that virus, the way you protected all those innocent people... I''ve never seen anything like it."

    Hannah looked at him with surprise, seeing genuine awe in his expression. "I was just doing my job."

    "No, you were doing much more than your job. You were protecting the entire city from a man who''s willing to hurt anyone to get his revenge." Stefan moved closer

    to her chair. "Hannah, I need you to know something."

    "What?"

    "I''m falling in love with you. With your brilliance, your dedication, your moral courage. With the way you fight for what''s right even when it''s dangerous."

    Hannah felt her heart racing as she heard the raw honesty in Stefan''s voice. After hours of intense technical work, his words hit her like a wave of warmth.

    "Stefan," she said softly.

    "I know this isn''t the time or ce for romantic derations. I know we''re in the middle of a crisis and James is still out there nning worse attacks." Stefan looked into her eyes. "But I needed you to know how I feel, in case something happens to one of us."

    Hannah reached out and took his hand, her fingers still slightly trembling from adrenaline and exhaustion. "I''m falling in love with you too. With the way you support me, the way you trust my judgment, the way you''re willing to help even when you don''t understand the technical details."

    As they looked into each other''s eyes, both of them felt the intensity of shared crisis bonding them together. They had fought side by side against James''s digital attack and won, protecting innocent people from the consequences of one man''s twisted need for revenge.

    Meanwhile, in the crisis management center, Camille and Alexander finished theirst calls to investors and regtory agencies. The corporate response had been swift and professional, containing the public rtions damage while Hannah''s team handled the technical crisis.

    "That was well coordinated," Alexander said, reviewing their call logs. "We managed to reassure most of the major stakeholders that Kane Industries can handle security threats."

    Camille nodded, feeling the satisfaction of crisis management done well. "It felt like old times, working together like that. We always were a good team in business situations."

    "We were a good team in everything, before I let James''s maniption poison our rtionship." Alexander met her eyes. "Camille, fighting this crisis together reminded me why I fell in love with you. Your intelligence, your strength, your ability to stay calm under pressure."

    "It reminded me of the same things about you," Camille replied. "The way you handle media rtions, the way you can think strategically even when emotions are running high. We work well together, Alexander."

    As they prepared to leave the crisis center, both of them felt their reconnection deepening through shared professional sess. They had faced James''stest attack as partners, protecting theirpany and their city from the consequences

    of his hatred.

    But as Camille and Alexander walked toward the elevator, and as Hannah and

    Stefan held hands in the control room, none of them realized that James Whitfield was already nning his next esction.

    The virus attack had been a test of their capabilities and response time. Now

    James knew exactly how effective their defenses were, and exactly how much damage he would need to inflict to break thempletely.

    The digital warfare was just the beginning of what James had nned for the people who had interfered with his twenty-year quest for revenge.

 Chapter 224

    Victoria Kane sat in the back seat of her ck sedan, watching the familiar streets of Manhattan blur past the tinted windows. The follow-up appointment at Mount Sinai Hospital had gone well - her cancer markers were stable, her blood pressure had normalized, and her doctor had finally cleared her for full activity. After weeks of forced rest and medical monitoring, she felt ready to reim control of her life and herpany.

    The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the city as her driver navigated through midtown traffic. Victoria used the quiet time to review reports on her phone, catching up on business decisions that had been made during her recovery. Kane Industries had weathered James''s virus attack on the Phoenix Grid, thanks to Hannah''s technical expertise and the coordinated response from Camille and Alexander.

    Reading about her daughter''s effective crisis management filled Victoria with pride. Camille had grown into the leader Victoria always knew she could be, handling the media storm and regtory pressures with grace and intelligence. The fact that she and Alexander were working together again gave Victoria hope that their marriage might survive the damage James had inflicted.

    Victoria''s driver slowed to a stop at a red light on Park Avenue. The usual sounds of the city filtered through the car''s soundproofing - car horns, construction noise, the distant hum of millions of people going about their daily lives. Everything felt normal, peaceful even, after the chaos of recent weeks.

    That''s when she saw him.

    James Whitfield stood on the sidewalk beside her car, close enough to touch the window if he wanted to. He wore an expensive gray suit that made him look like any other businessman walking through Manhattan, but Victoria recognized his face from the surveince photos her security team had shown her.

    Her blood turned to ice as James smiled and tapped gently on the window.

    "Mrs. Kane," he said, his voice muffled by the ss but clearly audible. "We need to talk."

    Victoria''s hand moved toward the panic button that would summon her security team, but James shook his head slowly.

    "I wouldn''t do that if I were you. Not when your daughter''s safety depends on how this conversation goes."

    The words hit Victoria like a physical blow. She pressed the button to lower the window slightly, just enough to hear James clearly without giving him ess to the car''s interior.

    "What do you want?" Victoria asked, her voice steady despite the fear wing at her chest.

    "I want you to understand the situation you''re in," James replied. "Twenty years ago, you destroyed my father''s business and sent him to die in federal prison. Now I''m going to return the favor."

    "Your father was a criminal who endangered people''s lives with substandard construction materials," Victoria said firmly. "Richard Pierce and I reported his crimes to protect innocent workers and families."

    James''s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "Such righteous words from someone who''s about to lose everything she cares about."

    Victoria felt her heart racing as she realized the full extent of James''s threat. This wasn''t just about business revenge anymore. This was personal, targeting the people she loved most.

    "James, whatever you think my father and Richard did to your family, Camille had nothing to do with it. She was a child when those events happened. She''s innocent in all of this."

    "Innocent?" Jamesughed coldly. "Your precious daughter has been helping Alexander investigate my activities. She''s been working to expose my identity and stop my ns for justice. That makes her just as guilty as you are."

    Victoria''s protective instincts red like fire in her chest. Every maternal feeling she had developed for Camille over the past two years crystallized into fierce determination to shield her daughter from this madman''s revenge.

    "Leave Camille out of this," Victoria said, her voice carrying the authority that had built Kane Industries from nothing. "Your quarrel is with me. Deal with me directly."

    "Oh, I intend to deal with you directly," James said, leaning closer to the window. "But first, I want you to suffer the way my father suffered. I want you to watch everything you''ve built crumble around you. I want you to feel helpless and abandoned before I finish what I started."

    Victoria''s driver kept his eyes straight ahead, but she could see his tension in the rigid line of his shoulders. The traffic light was still red, trapping them in this moment of confrontation with a man who had already proven willing tomit murder.

    "The virus attack on the Phoenix Grid was just the beginning," James continued. "A small demonstration of what I can do to yourpany''s infrastructure. But that was nothingpared to whates next."

    "What are you nning?" Victoria asked, dreading the answer.

    "I''m nning to take everything from you, piece by piece. Yourpany, your reputation, your freedom, your health." James''s voice dropped to a whisper that somehow felt more threatening than shouting. "And then I''m going to take your daughter."

    Victoria felt her world shift around her at those words. The threat to her business, her reputation, even her own life - she could handle all of that. But the threat to Camille touched something primal and fierce in her heart.

    "If you hurt her-"

    "You''ll what?" James interrupted. "You''ll call the police? You''ll hire more security? You''ll try to hide her away somewhere safe?" He shook his head mockingly. "Mrs. Kane, I''ve been nning this campaign for fifteen years. I know where Camille lives, where she works, where she shops, where she goes for her morning coffee. I know her routines, her habits, her weaknesses."

    Victoria''s hands clenched into fists as she fought to control her rising panic. "What do you want from me?"

    "I want you to suffer. I want you to live with the fear that at any moment, someone you love might disappear forever. I want you to experience the helplessness my father felt when your usations destroyed his life."

    The traffic light turned green, and Victoria''s driver began to elerate. But James walked alongside the car, matching its speed as it moved through the intersection.

    "This isn''t over, Mrs. Kane," James called through the window. "In fact, it''s just beginning. By the time I''m finished with you, you''ll wish you had never interfered with the Smith family business."

    Victoria watched James fall behind as the car picked up speed, but his final words.echoed in her mind like a death sentence. The casual way he had mentioned taking Camille, the detailed knowledge of her daughter''s daily life, the calm

    certainty that he could strike

    whenever he chose.

    "Drive faster," Victoria told her driver, her voice shaking for the first time.

    "Yes, ma''am. Should I contact security?"

    "Yes. Full protection detail for Camille immediately. I want her surrounded by guards every moment of every day until James Whitfield is in custody or dead." Victoria pulled out her phone with trembling fingers and speed-dialed Camille''s number. Each ring felt like an eternity as she prayed her daughter would answer, that she was safe, that James hadn''t already acted on his threats. "Victoria?" Camille''s voice came through the phone, sounding tired but alive. "Camille, where are you right now?" Victoria asked, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

    "I''m at Kane Industries with Alexander. We''re reviewing the damage reports from the virus attack. Why? You sound strange."

    Victoria closed her eyes with relief. Camille was safe, surrounded by security at the office building. But for how long?

    "I need you to stay exactly where you are until I get there. Don''t leave the building, don''t go anywhere alone, don''t trust anyone you don''t know personally."

    "Victoria, what''s wrong? What happened?"

    Victoria looked out the rear window of the car, half expecting to see James following them. The street behind her looked normal, but she knew that didn''t mean anything. A man who had spent fifteen years nning revenge would know how to stay invisible when he wanted to.

    "James confronted me," Victoria said quietly. "He threatened you directly. Camille, he knows your routines, your habits, where you go every day. He''s been watching you."

    The silence on the other end of the phonested so long that Victoria wondered if the call had dropped.

    "Camille? Are you there?"

    "I''m here," Camille replied, her voice small and frightened. "Victoria, I''m scared."

    The admission broke Victoria''s heart. For two years, she had watched Camille grow from a

    broken woman fleeing her sister et

    betrayal into a strong leader capable of running a major corporation. But underneath all that strength, Camille was still someone who had been hurt too many times by people she trusted.

    "I know you''re scared. I''m scared too," Victoria admitted. "But we''re going to get through this together. I''m implementing full security protocols immediately. You''ll have protection everywhere you go until James is stopped."

    "What about Alexander? What about Stefan and Hannah? James knows about all

    of us."

    Victoria felt her protective instincts

    expand to include the entire group of

    people who had be her extended family. Alexander, despite his mistakes, was Camille''s husband and deserved protection. Stefan had risked his life to save Camille from Rose. Hannah had just saved the city from James''s cyberattack.

    "Everyone gets protection," Victoria decided. "I''m not letting James hurt anyone

    else I care about."

    As Victoria''s car pulled up to Kane Industries, she could see security guards already taking positions around the building. Her head of security had acted quickly on her instructions, implementing protocols designed to protect against exactly this kind of threat.

    But as Victoria looked up at the tower that housed her life''s work, she realized that no amount of security couldpletely protect the people she loved from a man who had spent fifteen years learning how to destroy them.

    James Whitfield wasn''t just seeking revenge anymore. He had dered war on

    Victoria''s entire family, and he had made it clear that he would use any means necessary to win that war.

    The question was whether Victoria could stop him before he carried out his threats against the daughter she loved more than her own life.

    As Victoria rode the elevator up to Kane Industries'' executive floors, she made a silent vow. James Whitfield had made the mistake of threatening her child. Now

    he was about to learn what happened when someone tried to harm the one

    person Victoria Kane would kill to protect.

    The war James had started twenty years ago was finally going to end. One way or

    another.

 Chapter 225

    Alexander walked out of Kane Industries into the cool evening air, feeling

    cautiously optimistic for the first time in months. The crisis with the Phoenix Grid had been contained, his rtionship with Camille was slowly healing, and they finally had solid evidence against James Whitfield. Tomorrow, they would present everything to the FBI and end this nightmare once and for all.

    The parking garage beneath the building was nearly empty at this hour, with only a few cars belonging to security staff andte-working employees. Alexander''s footsteps echoed off the concrete walls as he walked toward his car, keys already in his hand. The fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows between the parked vehicles, creating pockets of darkness that seemed deeper than usual.

    Alexander was thinking about dinner ns with Camille when he heard the soft sound of footsteps behind him. He turned, expecting to see another employee heading home, but found himself face to face with James Whitfield.

    James stood about twenty feet away, no longer hiding behind electronic voice distortion or carefully maintained distance. His expensive suit was wrinkled, his hair disheveled, and his eyes burned with the intensity of someone who had nothing left to lose.

    "Hello, Alexander," James said, his natural voice carrying a coldness that made Alexander''s blood freeze. "We need to discuss your recent betrayal."

    Alexander''s hand moved instinctively toward his phone, but James shook his head slowly.

    "I wouldn''t do that. Not when we have so much to talk about regarding your uncle''s memory and your obligations to justice."

    "My obligations?" Alexander felt anger re in his chest, pushing aside his initial fear. "My obligations are to the truth, not to the lies you''ve been feeding me for months."

    James stepped closer, and Alexander could see the rage simmering beneath his controlled exterior. "I gave you everything you needed to destroy Victoria Kane. I provided evidence of her crimes, motivation for your revenge, opportunities to strike at her through her precious daughter. And how do you repay my guidance?"

    "I repay it by refusing to be your weapon anymore," Alexander said firmly. "I know who you really are, James Smith. I know your father was a criminal who deserved to be stopped. I know you murdered my uncle when he wanted to confess your maniption."

    James''s mask of calmposure cracked slightly at the mention of his real name. "Your uncle was weak. He lost his nerve when he should have stayed focused on making Victoria Kane pay for her crimes."

    "Victoria Kane didn''tmit any crimes. She reported your father''s illegal activities to protect innocent people." Alexander took a step back, creating more distance between them. "You''ve spent fifteen years seeking revenge against people who did the right thing."

    "The right thing?" Jamesughed, but the sound carried no humor. "The right thing would have been letting my father''s business seed instead of destroying it with false usations and manufactured evidence."

    "The evidence wasn''t manufactured. Your father really did use substandard materials. Workers really were injured on his construction sites. Families really were cheated by his fraudulent contracts." Alexander''s voice grew stronger with each word. "James, your father was exactly the kind of person who needed to be stopped."

    James pulled something from his jacket pocket - a small ck device that Alexander didn''t recognize. "You sound just like the prosecutors who sent an innocent man to die in prison. All moral certainty and legal technicalities."

    "I sound like someone who''s learned the difference between justice and revenge," Alexander replied. "James, it''s over. We have evidence of your real identity, proof that you manipted me and killed my uncle. The FBI will be looking for you by tomorrow morning."

    "The FBI?" James''s smile turned predatory. "Alexander, do you really think I''ve spent fifteen years nning this campaign without preparing forw enforcement involvement?"

    Before Alexander could respond, James pressed a button on the device in his hand. Alexander heard a soft hissing sound and suddenly felt dizzy. The air around him seemed to shimmer, and he realized with growing horror that James had released some kind of gas into the parking garage.

    "What did you do?" Alexander demanded, his voice already starting to slur.

    "I gave you a choice, Alexander. Work with me toplete your uncle''s revenge, or face the consequences of betraying someone who trusted you with sacred justice." James watched with cold satisfaction as Alexander staggered backward. "You chose betrayal. Now you face the consequences."

    Alexander''s vision began to blur, but he forced himself to stay focused. Whatever James had released wasn''t immediately lethal - more like a sedative designed to incapacitate rather than kill. Which meant James had something worse nned than a quick death in a parking garage.

    "You won''t get away with this," Alexander said, fighting to keep his bnce as the world tilted around him. "Camille knows where I am. Security will find us."

    "Security won''t find anything except your car and some evidence that you''ve been nning to harm Victoria Kane and her daughter," James replied. "By the time anyone realizes you''re missing, you''ll be somewhere very different, having a much longer conversation about loyalty and justice."

    Alexander felt his knees buckle as the sedative took full effect. But as he fell, his hand managed to activate the emergency alert on his phone - a panic button that would immediately notify Kane Industries security and send his GPS location tow enforcement.

    James heard the soft chime from Alexander''s phone and cursed under his breath. He moved quickly to Alexander''s unconscious form and grabbed the phone, but it was toote. The alert had already been sent.

    "Clever," James muttered, looking down at Alexander''s still form. "But not clever enough."

    James had nned to take Alexander to a secondary location for interrogation and eventual disposal. But the emergency alert changed everything. Security would be here within minutes, and James couldn''t afford to be caught with an unconscious victim.

    Instead, James pulled out a different device - a small explosive that would destroy evidence while making Alexander''s death look like an ident. He was cing it near Alexander''s car when the sound of sirens began echoing through the parking garage.

    The security response was faster than James had anticipated. He could hear multiple vehicles converging on the building, along with what sounded like police sirens in the distance. Alexander''s emergency alert had triggered a massive response.

    James looked down at Alexander onest time, rage burning in his eyes. "This isn''t over. Your betrayal will be answered, even if I have to wait longer than nned."

    He activated a smoke device and disappeared into the chemical fog just as the first security guards burst into the parking garage. The smoke was thick and acrid, making it impossible to see more than a few feet in any direction.

    "Man down!" one of the guards shouted, finding Alexander''s unconscious form beside his car. "We need paramedics immediately!"

    More security personnel flooded into the garage, followed quickly by NYPD officers responding to the emergency alert. As the smoke began to clear, they found Alexander barely breathing but alive, with no sign of his attacker.

    The explosive device James had nted was discovered and defused by the bomb squad, but forensic analysis wouldter show it had been powerful enough

    to kill Alexander and destroy most of the evidence around his car.

    Within an hour, the parking garage was crawling with FBI agents, NYPD detectives, and forensic specialists. Alexander was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where doctors determined he had been exposed to a military-grade sedative that could have been fatal in a higher dose.

    FBI Special Agent Diana Chen stood in the parking garage, reviewing the evidence that clearly pointed to an attempted murder by someone with ess to sophisticated weapons and chemicals.

    "James Whitfield has escted to direct violence," she told her team. "Issue a

    federal manhunt warrant immediately. Armed and extremely dangerous. Consider

    him a terrorist threat to critical infrastructure."

    The manhunt began within hours of Alexander''s attack. FBI field offices across the northeast received

    James''s photograph and description. Airport security was

    notified. Border crossings were alerted. Everyw enforcement agency in the region was mobilized to find a man who had just attempted to murder someone in broad daylight.

    Meanwhile, at Mount Sinai Hospital, Camille sat beside Alexander''s bed as he slowly regained consciousness. The sedative had left him groggy and disoriented,

    but alive.

    "Camille?" Alexander''s voice was hoarse from the chemical exposure.

    "I''m here," she said, taking his hand. "You''re safe. James is gone, but the FBI is looking for him now."

    Alexander squeezed her hand weakly. "He wanted to take me somewhere. To make me pay for betraying him. If I hadn''t activated the emergency alert..."

    "You saved your own life by thinking quickly under pressure," Camille said, tears streaming down her face. "Alexander, I thought I was going to lose you." "You''re not going to lose me," Alexander replied, his voice growing stronger. "James made a mistake by attacking me directly. Noww enforcement knows exactly what kind of threat he represents."

    Victoria arrived at the hospital within minutes of receiving the news, her face pale with worry and rage. The attack on Alexander confirmed her worst fears about James''s willingness to escte to violence.

    "How is he?" Victoria asked Camille.

    "He''ll recover. But Victoria, James ispletely unhinged now. He''s not hiding anymore, not trying to maintain usible deniability. He''s ready to kill anyone who stands in his way."

    Victoria nodded grimly. "Which means we''re all in immediate danger. The FBI

    manhunt will help, but James has been nning for this scenario for fifteen years.

    He won''t be easy to find or stop."

    As news of the attack spread, Stefan

    and Hannah joined them at the

    hospital. The five people who had

    1.

    worked together to expose James''s identity now found themselves united by the reality that they were

    all targets of a man who had just proven willing tomit murder.

    "What do we do now?" Stefan asked.

    "We letw enforcement handle the manhunt while we focus on staying alive,"

    Victoria replied. "James Whitfield just made the mistake of attacking someone under FBI protection. Now he''s facing the full weight of federalw enforcement."

    But as they sat in the hospital room, discussing security arrangements and protection protocols, none of them realized that James Whitfield was already nning his next move.

    The attack on Alexander had been improvised, a reaction to betrayal rather than

    part of hisrger strategy. But it had served a purpose - it had forced his enemies

    to reveal their security procedures and response capabilities.

    Now James knew exactly how they would react to direct threats. And that

    knowledge would make his final assault even more devastating when he was ready to unleash it.

    The hunter had be the hunted. But James Whitfield had spent Twenty years preparing for this exact scenario, and he wasn''t finished with his campaign of revenge yet.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!