"Mrs. Centineo," he said gently, "the joint account you share with your husband… it only has fifty dollars left."
I froze. "That’s impossible. There was five million—"
"He emptied it, Ma’am. Every cent."
Darren had stolen not just my dignity, but my security.
"I understand," I whispered, though my voice sounded foreign. "Proceed with the divorce. Send the papers here."
Just then, the bedroom door opened. Darren walked in, grinning far too wide, balancing a tray of pancakes and orange juice.
"Breakfast in bed!" he chirped, placing the tray on my lap like a prize.
I stared at him. As he acted as if everything was perfect.
"Have a bite, Eliana. I made this myself."
"I’m not hungry,"
His smile cracked. "Are you still sulking about the guest room? It’s trivial. Tonight will make you forget all this."
"Tonight?" My stomach clenched.
"The launch of Predict Pro." His chest puffed with pride.
I felt sick. My father’s creation. His legacy. Twisted into Darren’s stepping stone.
He tilted his head, as if trying to coax me into gratitude. "Your dad would be proud of me."
I whispered, "My father would never be proud of a thief."
Hours later, gowns and jewelry were spread across my bed when the shouting started. The heavy drag of footsteps followed.
Two guards shoved a man into the room. Michael, one of Darren's most trusted staff. His face was bruised, his shirt stained with blood.
"How could you, Michael?!" Darren roared. "I trusted you!"
Michael fell to his knees, gasping, but his eyes lifted to me. Wide. Pleading.
"I'm sorry," he choked, "but I was loyal to Mr. Blake's daughter."
The room froze.
Darren's head snapped toward me, his face black with rage. "Eliana?"
Michael nodded, frantic. "Yes! She paid me—she didn’t want Predict Pro launched!"
My lips parted, but no sound came.
ELIANA
"I don’t understand," I said, my voice trembling but clear. "Michael, I haven’t even seen you since I went on maternity leave months ago."
His battered face twitched. Guilt, nerves, fear-it was all there. "But... you threatened my family. You gave me money for my mother's treatment. That's why I did it."
My stomach dropped. The lie was so specific it was almost believable.
Darren’s sharp gaze sliced into me, as if I was the devil. "Eliana, I know you didn't want me to launch the product. But this?" He shook his head. "I didn't know you could go this low."
My pulse pounded. "You actually believe this garbage?"