But even knowing I sent it wouldn’t help him.
now.
Because I had changed my name, changed
my identity.
I had vanished completely.
A month passed.
I started to let go of the past, embracing my
new life.
But sometimes, late at night, alone, I couldn’t
resist checking the news.
Searching for the latest updates on Damien
Thorne.
I saw the Thorne family’s PR machine working
overtime.
Spending a fortune on lawyers.
Claiming the video was doctored, spliced
together.
Soon enough, Damien was released on bail.
He disappeared from public view.
Meanwhile, Caleb Vance remained elusive.
The reward for his capture was increased
twice, but still nothing.
I worried one of them, or both, might
eventually track me down.
I decided it was time to move on, to another
country.
But just as I finished packing, I looked up.
Damien’s father, Mr. Thorne, stood in my
<
Damien aer, IVII. Untie, StouU II IIу
miunie,
laurel,
doorway, looking utterly exhausted.
“Chloe,” he said, his voice heavy.
“You’ve made us search for a very long time.”
Instantly, alarm bells screamed in my head.
I grabbed the fruit knife from the entryway
table.
Mr. Thorne noticed my movement.
He sighed.
“That video… you released it, didn’t you?”
“I checked the security footage from the base
of the mountain.”
“The only person following Damien that day…
was you.”
My voice was ice.
“So what?”
“Are you here to kill me?”
6
Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
He knew I had the video too.
in my boot Ür
<
nau
He knew I had the video LOO.
So, in my past life, when he forced Damien to
marry me… it wasn’t gratitude for saving his
son’s life.
All his kindness towards me wasn’t because
he approved of me as a daughter–in–law.
It was all about control.
Keeping me docile, sedated with false
affection.
Making sure I never shared that video,
ensuring his precious son never faced
consequences.
This whole fucking family had been acting
around me for ten years.
They let me become paralyzed, isolated me
from everyone.
And once they were sure I was no longer a
threat, they planned to simply dispose of me!
Let me die!
Pure, unadulterated hatred surged up from
く
the depths of my soul.
“Your Thorne empire was built on real estate,
wasn’t it?”
“Or was it really built on being fucking
gangsters behind the scenes?”
A flicker of something – anger? recognition?
– flashed in Mr. Thorne’s eyes.
But it vanished as quickly as it appeared,
replaced by weary resignation.
“Forget it,” he sighed.
“Damien, you talk to her.”
He stepped aside.
Isabelle Moreau wheeled Damien Thorne
forward until he was right in front of me.
I hadn’t seen him in a month.
Damien had clearly lost weight.
He looked rough, scruffy, and utterly pathetic.
Isabelle wasn’t the picture of glamour
anymore either.
A hat and mask obscured most of her face,
く
♬ TIAL ATU 111aɔn visvurdu nivɔl vi tiel taut,
clearly terrified of being recognized.
“Chloe, don’t be afraid,” Damien started, his
voice strained.
“We’re not here to cause trouble.”
“I just… I need you to come back with me and
testify.”
“Testify that on the day Caleb’s mother died…
I was with you, celebrating my birthday.”
I almost laughed.
It was fucking ridiculous.
“Damien, the whole world has seen that
video.”
“Even if I lie for you, what difference would it
make?”
“It makes all the difference!” he insisted,
desperation clawing at his voice.
“If you testify, I can convince people the video
is fake!”
I gestured towards Isabelle behind him.
<
vvny not ask пer?
“She’s your fiancée. Her saying she spent
your birthday with you would be far more
believable.”
Isabelle glared at me, her voice sharp.
“I wasn’t even in the country that day!”
“No one would believe me if I testified!”
“Since you’re the one who filmed the damn
video, you’re the only one whose testimony
matters!”
Damien held up a hand to quiet Isabelle.
He forced a look of profound sadness onto
his face.
“Chloe,” he said, trying for pathetic.
“I know you hate me. I know I’ve done terrible
things.”
“But please, give me a chance to make it up
to you.”
“If you just help me testify, get me through
this… we’ll get married.”
<
יס
“You’ll be the savior of our family.”
Mr. Thorne nodded gravely beside them.
But I held the knife tighter, my gaze clear and
steady.
“I don’t believe a single word you say.”
“You know I released the video. There’s no
way you’d ever actually let me live peacefully
after this.”
Isabelle’s impatience boiled over.
She pointed a shaking finger at me, spitting
words.
“Isn’t this what you wanted all along? All this
drama just to force Damien to marry you?”
“Well, congratulations, bitch! You got your
wish! He just said he’ll marry you!”
“What more could you possibly want?!”
I raised the knife, aiming it squarely at them.
“This whole mess had nothing to do with me
from the start.”
