Chapter 10 - THE WOMAN WHO CHOSE EVIL
I listened to the recording until every word was burned into my memory.
Vivien hadn't stumbled into our family by chance. My father had selected her years earlier, trained her to manipulate me, and promised her a fortune if she secured control of the trust.
She had obeyed.
But she had also developed ambitions of her own.
Rocco found evidence that Vivien had been paying a private investigator to follow me for years. She knew my routines, my weaknesses, and the names of everyone I trusted.
The wedding was not the beginning of her plan.
It was the final step.
I decided to confront her with the evidence, but Elena stopped me.
"She'll destroy everything if she knows you have it."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"Let her think she's still in control."
Elena's voice was steady now. She had spent too long being afraid of Vivien to underestimate her.
We arranged a private meeting at the mansion, telling Vivien that I wanted to discuss the wedding agreement.
She arrived carrying champagne.
"You look serious, darling."
"I've discovered something about the trust."
Her smile remained, but her fingers tightened around the bottle.
"What sort of thing?"
"Someone has been stealing from it."
She poured two glasses.
"Then you should have them arrested."
"Someone close to me."
She handed me a glass.
I didn't drink.
Vivien watched me for several seconds, then set her own glass down.
"You've been listening to Elena."
"No. I've been listening to recordings."
For the first time, her composure disappeared completely.
She stepped toward the door.
Two guards blocked it.
Vivien looked back at me, her face transforming into something cold and unfamiliar.
"You have no idea what your father built, Lorenzo."
"Then explain it."
She laughed.
"Your father didn't just build an empire. He built a system. And people are still protecting it."
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Then she leaned close enough for me to smell the champagne.
"If you expose me, the people who killed Adrian will come for Mia."
