Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN IN THE GREEN DRESS
Vanessa stood inside Room 1708.
Still wearing the emerald gown from the gala.
No panic.
No tears.
Just exhaustion.
“You took long enough.”
Roman's men raised their weapons.
Vanessa laughed.
“If I wanted Elena dead, she would never have reached the cemetery.”
Elena stepped forward.
“You destroyed five years of my life.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Mason did that.”
“You used him.”
“Yes.”
“You slept with him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vanessa's expression changed.
“Because my father wanted proof he still belonged to us.”
Elena almost pitied her.
Almost.
Vanessa had been raised by Victor Hale to view affection as leverage.
Mason was a tool.
Elena was a key.
Roman was an obstacle.
Even Vanessa herself was an asset.
“Why are you here?”
Vanessa placed a folder down.
“Because my father is coming.”
Roman stiffened.
“With?”
“Enough men.”
“Why warn us?”
Vanessa looked at Elena.
“Because yesterday my father told me what happens after he gets the ledger.”
“What?”
“He kills everyone who knows it exists.”
Including Vanessa.
She finally understood.
There was no inheritance waiting for her.
Only cleanup.
Vanessa showed them where Daniel had hidden the ledger.
Behind the wall.
Seventeen years.
Untouched.
Roman removed it.
Vanessa stared.
“My father destroyed people for that book.”
May you like
Elena took it.
“Then let's make sure it destroys him instead.”
