Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO STOLE FOUR YEARS

Elena Hayes had spent her entire life believing one thing.

Power belonged to those willing to take it.

Her father taught her that.

The company taught her that.

The world taught her that.

And Daniel had always been the only person who refused to play by those rules.

That was why she hated him.

Not because he was weak.

Because he was better.

Daniel cared about people.

Elena cared about winning.

And in her mind…

People like Daniel always lost.

She stood inside her office, looking at the city below.

The same city where Camila and Daniel were finally together again.

The thought made her angry.

Four years of planning.

Four years of protecting her position.

Four years of convincing everyone Daniel was gone.

All ruined.

Her assistant entered.

“Everything is ready.”

Elena didn’t turn around.

“Good.”

“What about Camila?”

Elena smiled slightly.

“She is emotional.”

“She is vulnerable.”

“She thinks finding Daniel means she won.”

Her smile disappeared.

“She doesn’t understand.”

“What?”

Elena looked at him.

“Truth is only powerful when people believe it.”

She picked up a file.

Inside were documents.

Fake documents.

Old lies.

New lies.

Enough to destroy anyone.

“Tomorrow, the world will hear a different story.”

Meanwhile, Camila sat beside Daniel.

For the first time in years, she felt something she thought she had lost forever.

Peace.

Daniel watched Isabella sleeping.

“She has your smile.”

Camila smiled.

“She has your stubbornness.”

Daniel laughed softly.

“I’m sorry.”

Camila looked at him.

“For what?”

“For missing everything.”

His voice became heavy.

“Her first steps.”

“Her first words.”

“Her first day of school.”

Camila reached for his hand.

“You didn’t choose to miss it.”

Daniel looked at her.

“But I still missed it.”

The sadness in his eyes hurt her.

“You’re here now.”

Daniel looked at her.

“I don’t deserve you.”

Camila shook her head.

“We both lost years.”

“But we still have today.”

Before Daniel could answer, the television turned on.

A breaking news report appeared.

Camila immediately recognized the building behind the reporter.

The Hayes headquarters.

The reporter spoke.

“Billionaire Daniel Hayes, previously believed missing, has suddenly returned.”

“However, new information raises questions about the woman who claims to be the mother of his child.”

Camila froze.

“What?”

The screen changed.

A photograph of Camila appeared.

Then old accusations.

Claims.

Lies.

The reporter continued.

“Sources close to the Hayes family suggest Camila Alvarez may have manipulated Daniel for financial gain.”

Daniel stood immediately.

“That’s impossible.”

Adrian grabbed the remote.

“They moved faster than expected.”

Camila stared at the screen.

Millions of people were seeing her name.

Her face.

Her life.

Being destroyed.

Again.

Daniel looked furious.

“This is my fault.”

Camila looked at him.

“No.”

Adrian shook his head.

“This is Elena.”

The phone rang.

Unknown number.

Everyone looked at it.

Camila answered.

Elena’s voice appeared.

“Hello, Camila.”

Camila’s blood ran cold.

“What do you want?”

Elena laughed softly.

“I want you to understand something.”

“What?”

“You won the battle.”

“But you won’t win the war.”

Camila tightened her grip.

“You stole four years from me.”

“No.”

Elena replied.

“I protected my family.”

“You destroyed it.”

A pause.

Then Elena whispered.

“Tomorrow, I will prove to everyone that you never belonged with the Hayes family.”

The call ended.

Daniel looked at Camila.

“She’s coming.”

Camila looked at Isabella.

Then back at Daniel.

“Let her.”

Everyone looked at her.

Because something had changed.

The woman who once sat on a park bench had disappeared.

A stronger woman had taken her place.

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