into

sumed by his name. He had always been a shadowy figure in the business world- a billionaire with his hands in every major deal, whose influence reached far beyond what most people could fathom.

just a business riv

or the contracts she had to review. She kept thinking about her father's strange behavior the night before. Why had he mention

quick message to Lucas. We need t

ke long for

there in

ives had been simpler- before everything had spiraled into the chaos of their past. She sat at their usual corner bo

ys, he was impeccably dressed, his sharp suit fitting him like it was tailor-made for him- because i

e said, his voi

t night. He said something about pressure, about moves being made. It sounded l

ing on the table in front of him, eyes never leaving hers. "Victor Hale is the reason I'm doin

do you know?" she asked, her voice a whisper, th

mpire is built on blood money. He's involved in everything from illegal arms deals to underg

idn't belong in her reality. "But my father's always been

fe, but the world he's in now isn't the world you grew up in. I don't know how deep your father is in, but I do know that Victor

aying. "But why would he say something like that to m

hat whatever game Victor's playing is getting out of hand. But he's too deep into it now to turn

his voice, no doubting the conviction behind his every word. But still, something in her stomach twis

his," she admitted, her voi

save him- or at least stop him from making things worse- you

would even recognize the truth when she found it. But she had already taken the first step by agr

ice stronger now, despite the

cts who can help you get close to your father's operations. But remember, Rosie- this isn't

had always been a businesswoman, accustomed to handling pressu

replied, though she

ch his eyes. "I'll be in touch. Stay careful, Rosi

tanding at the edge of a cliff, staring into the abyss below. The game Lucas had wa

ything Lucas had told her. She had expected her life to be complicated, but she never imagine

a beat when she saw the message. Meet me

from he

ut she steeled herself. She had made her decision. She had no

r father again. And she wou

uldn't shake the image of her father, the man she had looked up to her entire life, being involved in something so dark, so dangerous. S

ng with her father. She chose a sleek, tailored black dress- a reflection of her need for cont

hered inside without much fanfare, the usual formalities of servants greeting her now feeling distant and hollow. Every step she too

entirely different space. He stood by the window, staring out at the grounds with a look of contemplation that R

y she felt. She had come here prepared to demand answers,

ion softened, but there was a hardness to it that hadn't been ther

d, stepping farther into the roo

ing to stand. There was no room for formalities between them now,

e began, his voice quiet, almost apologetic. "But you need to understand something

been involved with Victor Hal

ut his gaze faltered for just

ce growing firm. "But now, it's clear that there's no way out. H

things her father hadn't told her, things he had kept hidden beneath layers of careful

?" she demanded. "What have you d

one, though she didn't expect it. She knew her father's habits. He didn't drink when he was upset

r liquid. "He owns everything-banks, businesses, politicians. You name it. If you g

al underworld, but now it seemed so much closer, so much more real than she had ever expected. She had a

he empire you've created- wasn't really yours?" s

't deny it. "I did what I had to do to p

er attempts to stay strong. "Now, you want me to be a

away from this world, Rosie. I promised myself that you wouldn't get involved, that

neath her feet shift. "W

nsolidating power, pulling strings behind the scenes, and it won't be long

sooner?" Rosie asked, her voice br

replied softly. "Because I knew that if I told you everything

ble. She had trusted him, had believed in the man who had always seemed so untouchable, so strong. And

id, her voice cold. "You've involved me in

ked down at the glass in his hand, as if s

he repeated. "But it's too la

to her. She wasn't just dealing with a family issue anymore-she was stepping in

though the fire in her chest burned brighter than ever. "But

something unreadable, but he

leave, but pau

moment you start looking into Victor Hale, you're on his

eath, steeling herse

man she had once trusted m