message until hi

is ready. S

years of silence. Three years of pretend

uld change

yet. Not

and slipped the phone

cut through his though

ers touched as he reached for Sophia's. She withdrew as though she was burned. "I apologise," he mutt

he dining room. "Father, about the Riverside project. Are we certain th

rrupted. "Some councilmen simply need proper mo

lway, hidden from vie

refuse?" Ri

ld's voice dropped to a sinister calm. "The Ster

project. City council. Bribery. It

t his phone again. He opened the encrypted messaging

dustries. Riverside project. Cit

y came i

ng are you going to play

tened. "As lon

ing to kill

them

rsation and returned

It was barely larger than a closet, with a single window that looked out onto

ressed a hand to his side and felt the sw

the door st

ugh he knew they never wai

inside, still wearing her busines

wly. "Did I fo

ed against it, arms crossed. For a long momen

aught him off

most angry. "You let Richard beat you. You let my pa

ze. "Where els

y anywhere would be

money. No job. No family. Your father made sure of that

d. Just barely

e at least here I have a roof over

ll this

it sur

lse, but the words would not come. Finally, she straig

kno

m go

kno

Father's suggestion.

t, but his face remaine

keep doing this? That every day in this marriage is another day I lose respec

finished quietly

think I wanted to marry you? It was Father's idea. A favour to your

ent ice through Lex's veins

d the wrong people." Sophia turned

phi

her hand on

w," Lex said carefully, "be careful

n and suspicion warring on her f

. be ca

aced by cold dismissal. "Do not pretend you care. And do not pretend you know any

oor clicking sh

back memories of fire and blood. Of his father's broken body in the hospital. O

at only Lex

nother message from

rmits. Council members are taking bribes. If exposed, Ger

ediately. "No. Not

e have enough t

t everything. His company. His reputa

the w

s fingers hoverin

not part

that? She is s

n his mind long after h

watched as two men in suits stepped out, scanning the area wit

r opened, and a t

istance, Lex

ew Z

was Zhang doing here? The dinn

he confidence of a man who owned the w

ntically. "Zhang is here. At the St

is door, pressing

ing laugh. Patricia's delighted greeting. An

ling. But when opportunity knock

f course! Ple

oved toward

the hallway, staying in the shadows. He c

carried through the partially open

le

"My company is not

sale, Mr Sterling.

ice did you

lion. Cash

ence, longe

said slowly. "But Sterling Ind

Riverside permits, Mr Sterling. I know about the bribes. I know about every illegal shortcut you have t

caught. Zhang

" Gerald said, but

ur email. I sen

of a keyboard clicking. Ger

ou get these

ay morning, every news outlet in the city wil

is bla

uss terms, or shall I call my contact

Zhang took over Sterling Industries, Sophia and her family would be ruined

ed to a

ve, a hand clamped ove

oman's voice whispered in