Chapter 10 - THE EX-FIANCÉE'S FINAL OFFER
Camilla Davenport had lied about the ledger.
She had lied about Nora.
Now she appeared to be working with the man holding Nora's father hostage.
Victor watched the video again, looking for anything that might reveal where it had been recorded.
Nora stood beside him.
“Why isn't she tied up?”
“Because she isn't a prisoner.”
“Then she's helping Adrian.”
“Or she's pretending to.”
Nora looked at him sharply.
“After what she did to me, you're still defending her?”
Victor turned.
“No. I'm considering every possibility because your father's life depends on us understanding who controls that room.”
The distinction stopped Nora's anger.
She nodded slowly.
“What do we do?”
“We make them believe they have leverage.”
Victor arranged a meeting through an intermediary.
Camilla responded within minutes.
She agreed to meet him at an old hotel near the river.
Alone.
Nora immediately objected.
“It's a trap.”
“Probably.”
“Then why go?”
“Because people who think they've won make mistakes.”
At the hotel, Camilla waited in a private lounge.
She wore a black coat and looked as though she hadn't slept.
Victor entered while his security team remained nearby.
“You've caused quite a mess,” Camilla said.
Victor stayed standing.
“Where's Thomas Hastings?”
Camilla glanced toward the windows.
“You should be more concerned about yourself.”
“I'm listening.”
“My father can make the investigation disappear. The accounts can be restored. Your businesses can continue operating.”
“In exchange for what?”
She approached him.
“Marry me.”
Victor stared.
Camilla's voice trembled.
“Publicly. Immediately. We announce our reconciliation, you dismiss Nora Hastings, and my father handles Adrian.”
Victor gave a cold smile.
“You think marriage will make me forget everything you've done?”
“I think you'll do anything to protect your empire.”
He shook his head.
“You never understood me.”
Camilla stepped closer.
“I know you better than she ever will.”
“No. You know the man I was willing to pretend to be.”
Camilla's eyes filled.
“And what is she to you?”
Victor answered without hesitation.
“Someone I refuse to sacrifice.”
Camilla slapped him.
He didn't move.
Then he turned toward the door.
She caught his sleeve.
“Victor, wait.”
He looked down.
Her expression had changed.
She leaned close enough that only he could hear.
“My father has been keeping Adrian alive because Adrian knows where Anthony Romano is.”
Victor froze.
“My father's dead.”
Camilla shook her head.
“No.”
She pressed something into his hand.
A small storage device.
“He staged the funeral.”
Victor stared at her.
May you like
Camilla whispered the words that destroyed everything he believed.
“Your father is alive, Victor. And he's the one who ordered Thomas Hastings taken.”
