flash
The morning sun filtered through the imported French glass of the Beverly Hills mansion, casting long, geometric shadows across the pristine marble floor. Where shattered china and spilled red wine had stained the dining room the night before, a team of private cleaners had already scrubbed away every trace of violence. To the outside world, the Cross estate was an oasis of untouchable perfection. / Chapter 4 / 10

Chapter 4 - THE HOUSE OF CARDS"The IRS audit," I murmured, watching the panic flicker behind Camryn’s rigid eyes. "Now, why would a multi-billion-dollar philanthropic foundation be worried about an IRS audit, Camryn? Unless, of course, the foundation is nothing more than a massive shell corporation used to funnel untaxed capital through international shell companies in the Cayman Islands and Panama."

Camryn’s hand twitched toward her phone. "Delete that file. Right now."

"Or what?" I raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "You'll have me fired? From a career I’ve already retired from? You'll cut off my funds? Adrian already tried that, and as you can see, I don't rely on a man's wallet to survive."

"Mother," Adrian stammered, stumbling forward, his voice cracking. "Is... is it true? Are we actually under federal investigation? Did you use my signature for the Cayman accounts?"

Camryn snapped at him, her voice cracking with sudden, venomous fury. "Shut your mouth, you absolute fool! If you hadn't married this low-class liability, none of this would have happened! You were supposed to manage her, not let her infiltrate our inner sanctum!"

"Infiltrate?" I laughed outright. "Camryn, you picked me. Remember? You thought an orphan with an Army background would be easy to manipulate, easy to control, and easy to discard when Adrian got bored. You underestimated me because you measure human worth by bank balances and designer labels. That’s your fatal flaw."

Before Camryn could formulate a response, the heavy oak front doors suddenly shuddered.

BAM. BAM. BAM.

Heavy, authoritative blows echoed through the foyer, followed by a voice that made Adrian drop to his knees.

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The heavy mahogany door of the dressing room seemed to close in on us, trapping the suffocating tension inside. Richard’s hands were shaking as he clutched the small, tarnished silver pendant. His knuckles were bone-white.

The heavy mahogany door of the dressing room seemed to close in on us, t...

The heavy silver fork slipped from my fingers, clattering sharply against the gold-rimmed porcelain of my dinner plate.

The heavy silver fork slipped from my fingers, clattering sharply agains...

The heavy mahogany door of the Fairmont Copley suite clicked shut with a muffled, expensive thud.

The heavy mahogany door of the Fairmont Copley suite clicked shut with a...

"Federal Bureau of Investigation! Open the door!"

Camryn froze, her entire world grinding to a violent, irreversible halt.

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