Chapter 127

Rose stared at the photos spread across the marble countertop of Herod's penthouse kitchen. Grainy images captured through a long-

distance lens, yet clear enough to show what mattered. Camille and Alexander outside Boston Memorial Hospital. His hand holding something small. Her visible shock. Their embrace. And most damning of all, "She's engaged," Rose whispered, the words burning her throat like acid. "He proposed and she said yes."

She'd sent one of their hired men to follow Camille that afternoon, a precaution after Walsh had provided them with the misleading Grid information. She hadn't expected this.

"Are you certain?" Herod asked, examining the photos over her shoulder. "The quality isn't great."

Rose's fingernail stabbed at the clearest image. "Look at her finger. That's an engagement ring."

Herod squinted. "Could be any ring."

"It's not just any ring." Rose's voice sharpened. "I know what an engagement ring looks like, and I know my sister's face. She's... happy."

The last word emerged like a curse. Her fingers curled around the edge of the photo, crumpling it slightly.

"Does this change our plans?" Herod asked carefully.

Rose didn't answer. Her mind raced through images from their childhood, Camille always the perfect daughter, the talented musician, the brilliant student. Rose, the adopted outsider, working twice

as hard for half the recognition. And now, after everything Rose had done to destroy her, Camille was

engaged to a Trillionaire who gazed at her with undisguised adoration.

"Rose?" Herod prompted.

Her hand swept across the counter, sending the photos flying.

"It's not fair! Why does she get everything? The career, the money, Victoria's approval and fortune and now him too?"

She stalked across the kitchen, her movements sharp and erratic. Herod watched her warily, keeping the marble island between them.

"We're still going to destroy her," he reminded her. "The Grid launch is in a week. We have the information about the western junction vulnerability..."

"Information she'll protect now more than ever," Rose cut in. "She has a reason to survive, a future to protect. It makes her more dangerous."

She yanked open a cabinet, grabbed a crystal tumbler, and slammed it down. The decanter of bourbon rattled as she poured, amber liquid splashing over the rim.

"She's going to have the life that should have been mine," Rose

continued, her voice rising. "Marriage to someone powerful, Our parents wealth, Victoria's company, respect, admiration, all of it stolen from me."

plan remains the same.

directly. No more sabotage, no more games. I

in her.

with wild eyes and trembling hands, seemed unhinged

way that sent warning signals

exactly?" he asked

sounds like. We've been too subtle. The Grid launch, the press, Victoria, Alexander, all

A chill

They had discussed more aggressive approaches before, but always in

agreed to," he said, keeping his voice even. "Corporate takeover, yes. Financial ruin, yes. Physical harm

be Successfully unlocked! igh business. Why draw the line here?" "Because there's no coming

Don't pretend you haven't thought about

1/4

Chapter 127

had imagined Victoria Kane's

when she recognized him as the architect of her destruction.

imagination and action, between revenge fantasies

be smart about this," he said, trying a different approach. "Hastily planned

mistakes, and mistakes lead

get caught," Rose whispered,

Camille has gotten away with everything. Stealing Stefan. Taking my place at Kane Industries.

approval. And now an engagement ring and a

"No! She doesn't get to win! Not after what I've suffered, what I've worked The crystal tumbler went flying, shattering against the wall in an explosion of glass shar need to calm down," he said, regretting the words

to his, narrowing dangerously. "Don't tell me to calm down. Don't

destruction. You promised me she would lose everything, just

her. "But we do it my way.

plan bom of jealousy over an engagement

Wrong

crack of the slap echoing in the sleek kitchen. "Jealousy?" she hissed. "Is that what

first time since their partnership began, he felt a whisper of fear. Not of Rose's physical capabilities, he outmatched her there, but of her

"I

he said carefully, "that this news has affected you strongly, and we should take time to incorporate it into our

back,

a moment, she seemed to regain some control, smoothing

"We'll plan. But I want her to hurt, Herod. Not just her company, not just her reputation. I want her to feel

the windows,

moments, that her perfect life, her engagement, her future, all

woman he had partnered with for revenge was transforming before his eyes into something mo "I can make that happen," he promised,

Rose didn't

to think. He closed the door behind him, leaning against it as a wave of uncertainty washed over him. This had begun as a business venture, albeit one motivated by vengeance. Take down Victoria Kane, acquire her company. dismantle

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