Chapter 3: Blood on the Velvet**
A cold fury replaced the shock in Julian’s veins. He tucked the letter securely inside his breast pocket and looked at Victoria, who stood near the grand floral display, nervously tapping her diamond-encrusted phone.
“Who was texting you right before Lily walked in, Victoria?” Julian’s tone was dangerously quiet.
Victoria’s laugh was brittle. “What are you implying? My father’s board members are asking about the merger! Julian, you’re hallucinating because of stress. Let Marcus take this stray child to child protective services.”
“Don’t touch her,” Julian warned.
Suddenly, the ballroom’s crystal chandeliers flickered and died, plunging the opulent room into shadow. Emergency red lights cast long, sinister streaks across the walls.
The heavy oak doors clicked shut from the outside.
“Marcus!” Julian called out.
Before Marcus could respond, two masked men in tactical gear stepped out from behind the velvet curtains, silenced pistols drawn.
“Hand over the girl, Vance,” the taller man hissed. “And maybe you’ll live to keep dreaming about walking.”
Victoria didn't scream. Instead, she took three steps back, retreating safely behind the armed men.
“I’m sorry, Julian,” Victoria said, her voice stripped of all warmth. “The Vance-Sterling merger requires an obedient estate executor. A miraculously recovered CEO doesn’t fit our timeline.”
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Julian realized with sickening clarity that Victoria hadn't just known about the crash six years ago—her family had orchestrated it.
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