Chapter 6: The Woman Who Wanted My Empire
The world changed overnight.
By morning, my name was everywhere.
Not as the man who built an empire.
Not as the father who protected his daughter.
But as a headline.
A wealthy businessman losing control.
A dangerous man supposedly unable to manage his own affairs.
Vanessa had created the perfect story.
And people believed it.
At least, they believed the version she showed them.
I sat in my office watching the news.
The television showed Vanessa leaving a courthouse surrounded by cameras.
She looked calm.
Elegant.
Victorious.
"She looks like she already won," Marcus said.
I turned off the screen.
"That's because she thinks this is a business fight.""
Marcus looked at me.
"And it isn't?""
I looked toward the window.
"No.""
My voice became quiet.
"This is personal.""
For the first time in years, I wasn't thinking about my empire.
I wasn't thinking about money.
I was thinking about Sophia.
She sat upstairs with one of my security guards nearby.
She hadn't slept.
Neither had I.
When I walked into her room, she was holding an old picture.
Her mother.
"You miss her?""
Sophia nodded.
"She wouldn't let Vanessa hurt me.""
I sat beside her.
"No.""
I paused.
"She wouldn't.""
Sophia looked at me.
"Daddy?""
"Yes?""
"Are you angry because she hurt you?""
I looked at my daughter.
Then shook my head.
"I'm angry because she made you afraid.""
That was when Sophia reached into her pocket.
"Daddy, I found something.""
She handed me a small piece of paper.
I unfolded it.
It was a note.
A handwritten note.
Sophia whispered:
"I took it from Vanessa's bag before she left.""
I read the words.
My expression changed.
Because the note wasn't from Vanessa.
It was from someone else.
Someone giving her instructions.
Someone who knew everything.
Someone who knew about my fake injury.
Someone who knew about the poisoning.
At the bottom of the page was one name.
A name I never expected to see.
Marcus noticed my expression.
"What is it?""
I handed him the paper.
His face changed immediately.
"No.""
I stared at the name.
"Yes.""
Marcus looked confused.
"But he's been dead for years.""
I folded the paper slowly.
That was impossible.
Unless...
The accident wasn't an accident.
Unless the person who started this entire nightmare had been planning it long before Vanessa entered my life.
I walked back downstairs.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice spoke.
Calm.
Cold.
"You finally found the note.""
My entire body froze.
"Who is this?""
A soft laugh came through the phone.
"You really thought Vanessa was the mastermind?""
I looked at Marcus.
He reached for a trace.
The woman continued.
"She was only the door.""
My grip tightened.
"Where is my daughter?""
The woman laughed.
"Safe.""
I stared at the wall.
"If you hurt her—"
"Vincent.""
She interrupted.
"Your daughter is the reason you're still alive.""
I said nothing.
Then she whispered:
"Because the person who wanted you dead isn't your wife.""
A pause.
Then:
"It's someone who shares your blood.""
The call ended.
Marcus looked at me.
"Vincent...""
I stared at the phone.
My mind went through every possibility.
Every enemy.
Every betrayal.
Every person close enough to reach me.
Then my eyes moved toward the staircase.
Toward the one person who had been with me through everything.
The person I had trusted more than anyone.
May you like
And suddenly...
I wondered if I had been looking for the wrong traitor all along. :::
