Chapter 112

Morning light streamed through Victoria's office windows, turning the silver in her hair to platinum. She stood at the head of the conference table, reviewing the Phoenix Grid's reports.

"Power distribution remains stable," she noted, flipping through papers with practiced efficiency. "No anomalies detected overnight."

Camille watched from across the table, noticing something off about Victoria. Her normally flawless complexion had a grayish tinge, and faint shadows underlined her eyes.

"Are

you feeling alright?" Camille asked quietly while Alexander studied technical readouts beside her.

Victoria dismissed the

question with a sharp wave. "I'm fine. Let's focus on Section B. The activation is scheduled for noon." Alexander glanced up. "My security team reports no suspicious activity. If Rose and Herod are planning something, they're being extraordinarily careful."

Victoria nodded, but the movement seemed to throw her off balance

momentarily. She steadied herself against the table so quickly that Camille wondered if she'd imagined it.

"Hannah's team has implemented additional safeguards," Victoria continued, her voice slightly thinner than usual. "Any attempt to interfere with the Grid's operation will trigger immediate..." She stopped mid-sentence, her hand going to her temple.

"Victoria?" Camille half-rose from her chair.

"As I was saying," Victoria pushed on, her words more deliberate now, "any attempt to interfere will trigger immediate... immediate..."

The pen slipped from her fingers, clattering against the polished

table. Victoria stared at it with mild surprise, as if she couldn't quite understand what had happened.

"I think perhaps I should..." she murmured, and then her legs simply gave way.

Alexander moved with startling speed, catching Victoria before she hit the floor. Her body went limp in his arms, her head rolling back unnaturally.

"Victoria!" Camille rushed around the table, dropping to her knees beside

them. "Victoria, can you hear me?"

Victoria's eyes fluttered open, unfocused and confused. "Something's wrong," she whispered, the admission seeming to cost her terribly.

Alexander already had his phone out, barking orders for medical assistance. Camille pressed her fingers to Victoria's wrist, feeling the rapid, fluttering pulse.

"Stay with us," she urged, fighting to keep her voice steady. "Help is coming."

Victoria's hand found Camille's, her grip surprisingly strong. "The Grid," she managed.

"Don't let them...."

Her eyes rolled back, and her body went rigid before beginning to seize.

"Turn her on her side," Alexander commanded. "Keep her airways clear."

The next minutes blurred together. Security personnel burst into the room, followed by a medical team. They pushed Camille and Alexander back, surrounding Victoria with efficient professionalism.

Camille

watched, frozen, as they stabilized Victoria and transferred her to a stretcher. The woman who had saved her, shaped her, made her invincible, suddenly human and

fragile, her face half-covered by an oxygen mask.

"I'm going with her," Camille said, already moving toward the door.

arm. "The helicopter is ready

faster than fighting through city

toward the private elevator. Her mind raced with contradictory thoughts, worry for Victoria warring with

"Go with her," Alexander

B and

hesitated, torn between

Victoria's stable,"

doors closed. Camille turned to the stretcher where Victoria lay. She had

Even in sleep, Victoria had always maintained a formidable presence.

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Chapter 112

her temples

Victoria's vital signs. "How

isn't ill," Camille replied

with his

smelled of antiseptic and stale coffee. Camille paced its length for what felt like the hundredth time. Three hours had passed since they'd rushed Victoria through the double doors mar Her phone buzzed. Alexander. Section B had gone online without incident, exactly as planned. No sign

Kane? I'm Dr. Elizabeth

straightened. "How

for now," Dr. Chen replied. "We've run a series of tests,

Would you like. to sit

same one Victoria had used when explaining why there was no possibility of reconciliation with her old family. The prelude to an

it at a stage where treatment options are still available. With the right approach, there's a realistic chance of ren The words

that Camille hadn't dared expect.

her voice

similar to Ms.

in her movements that Camille had attributed

asked, forcing her

to begin as soon as possible," Dr. Chen

and then immunotherapy. The full

there family we

her daughter," Camille said, the words emerging with

all the family

nodded. "She's asking for you.

like a sleepwalker, the doctor's words cycling through her

drawing a deep breath before

presence that filled boardrooms

as Camille approached the

"I told them... not

you yet," Victoria murmured, her

the edge of the bed, taking Victoria's hand. IV lines snaked from

have you

weeks," Victoria admitted. "Confirmed... three days

"Three days? Why didn't

Grid," Victoria said simply. "Couldn't... risk distraction.

received a cancer diagnosis and said nothing, continuing to fight Rose and Herod's sabotage as if nothing

"The

Camille said, hope threading through her

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Chapter 112

says there's

know," Victoria interrupted. "Already...

"So you'll do it?"

strength returning to her gaze.

one."

the company needs

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