text message she'd received the previous night still burned in her mind. She wasn't sure why she'd come, but the promi

stretched out before her, glittering and vast, a stark contrast to the derelict structure ben

oice was deep, un

pping her bag tightly.

still sharp and calculating. He had a faint resemblance

e said, his voice laced with bitte

th catching. Liam had n

ed, keeping her voice steady despit

stepping closer. "He's built his empire on lies, betrayal, and

hat's a bold accusation.

Because the truth is in here. Contracts, emails, financial records. Liam didn't

documents. They painted a damning picture: evidence suggesting Liam had sabotaged dea

le," she whispered

ng good, something that gave back to the community. Liam didn't just disagree-he made sure Marcus could

cuments looked real. And yet, a part of her couldn't

me this?" she asked

said. "If you dig deeper, you'll find more. And when you do, I w

to the shadows. "Be careful, Ms. Harper. Lia

on the rooftop with the city lights below

-

teraction she'd had with Liam. His guarded demeanor, his cryptic warnings, the way he see

e decided she

-

a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. He turned when she ente

" he said. "

er hands trembling as she held th

gestured for her to sit

he dropped the folder

older, his eyes scanning the contents. When he loo

you get thi

you betrayed your father and everyone w

folder and setting it asi

sing. "But if this is true, then everything you've tol

piercing hers. "Do you think I'm

thing," she shot back. "And

trying to destroy me since the day my father died. He blames me for Marcu

t path w

r, but he didn't understand the reality of the business world. I did what I had to do to save the company-

sounded sincere, but the doubt

ly. "He's bitter and jealous, and he'll do any

ath caught.

d, and passionate. But you're also new to this world, and he se

s gnawed at her. "Then prove it," she sa

e was no humor in it. "Careful, Ms. Harper. The

ng Elena with more questions than answers and the